Out of the mouth of a babe?
Quite a few years ago, around the age of 40, I was given a compliment that, at first, you’d think was not a compliment at all, more of a comment. But really, I love this kind of backhanded compliment or perhaps it’s just me finding the silver lining in a somewhat tactless remark.
You don’t see it coming, and even when it hits you right between your tired eyes, you’re not quite sure whether to be offended or flattered. It’s the kind of comment that stays with you forever, and on this occasion, it was from a guy I’d been seeing. Yes, he was younger than me, quite a bit younger, but it was a lovely time in my life, and as they say, umm, I don’t know what they say. Anyway, don’t judge; let’s just get on with it, shall we?
It was so simple; my young man informed me that despite my dotage (remembering I was 40 at the time, which now at 54 seems positively youthful), he was amazed that I didn’t have that tired look that most ‘old’ people have!!! Yep, pretty romantic, right? He meant well. Looking at me through his youthful eyes, I was remarkably well-preserved or at least; I didn’t look tired!
So what is this tired look we old people get? Usually, dark circles are made worse as the skin under the eye area begins to lose the supporting fat pads.
Are you feeling bad about your dark circles?
So why do we begin to look tired even after a good night of sleep? Are we just tired, getting older or is it something else?
Lines of expression around the eyes can appear very early on in life. Personally, a few well-worn laugh lines don’t bother me. And as the late but forever lovely Lauren Bacall reflected, “I think your whole life reflects in your face, and you should be proud of that” I agree; however, Lauren said nothing about looking tired.
What causes dark circles?
It can be hereditary. Yes, some of us just have darkness around or under our eyes. It’s in our genes. But it’s not the dark, bleak tired look, more just a dark shadow or darker pigmented skin, and even though it’s genetic, sometimes the cause can be allergies, sinus congestion or digestive problems (the last one, I shall discuss in a moment).
You’re just tired. Get some sleep. If you are burning the candle at both ends, it doesn’t matter how old you are; you will end up with dark circles. But if insomnia is your problem, don’t just suffer night after night. See your doctor; there may be an underlying cause; they may be able to offer solutions. Although hopefully, not sleeping tablets can be addictive and life-shortening.
I recently came across which goes into great detail on all things sleep. An excellent read if insomnia is your problem.
Vitamin Deficiencies. I’m a big fan of ensuring you get all the nutrients you need from whole foods, but sometimes our body doesn’t assimilate everything we need from our diet, which can show up as dark circles. Perhaps a simple blood test or a visit to a natural health practitioner will provide the answers.
Eye Strain. No matter who you are or your 20/20 eye vision, you’ll begin to develop problems with your vision one day. Before you admit to this, you’ll go through a period of denial, and it’s during this time eye strain can lead to dark circles. Embrace your next big fashion statement and get your eyes checked; you’ll look fabulous in those Prada frames!
Smoking. I have nothing to say about this except perhaps just one thing. Are you crazy? Do you smoke? Okay, maybe once upon a time, it looked glamorous. But really? If you insist. But, please remember this; you’re going to look tired as you starve every cell of your body of oxygen every time you imbibe the insidious weed known as tobacco. That’s all. Rant over.
Digestive issues. Doctors and naturopaths who practise preventive medicine would say, just by looking at your face, they can see your digestion issues. The idea gives me a somewhat naked feeling but as bashful as I might feel, I believe it to be an accurate statement.
Dark circles could be the clue to your inner world. It’s essential to fix any digestive issues, as it’s not just your beauty that will be affected; your overall health will be compromised. Of course, there are obvious solutions, such as increasing your consumption of high-fibre vegetables and foods rich in probiotics, but it’s also important to investigate any underlying health issues.
You could visit this website here if you want a complete list and a few more answers to the digestive problem.
Loss of the little fat pads under your eyes? As we age, we tend to put on weight. Annoying areas like our torso begin accumulating fat and, depending on your diet, can be challenging to shift. Unfortunately, the fat under your eyes, where you’d like it to stay right where it is, begins to slowly exit the area under your eyes. When this happens, the blood vessels under those little fat pads reveal themselves, making the area appear dark and sunken.
Okay, that’s a list of possible causes for your tired-looking eyes. But I know what you’re after is solutions. If you’re sure that some kind of internal disruption is not causing your dark circles and it’s just the march of time, then you may want to consider the following solutions.
Solutions for dark circles.
Eye Creams. Firstly, any eye cream that suggests you’ll get rid of your dark circles is false. You’re just going to be disappointed. Sorry.
However, a well-formulated and sophisticated eye cream can still help with the texture, tone and hydration of your skin.
However, when it comes to dark circles, you’ll need a lot more than the topical application of eye cream or gel.
Environ has recently reformulated its Youth EssentiA Vita-Peptide Eye Gel. Loaded with the peptide, Matryxl® 3000 (Palmitoyl tripeptide-1 + Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 + Sodium Lactate) supports the skin’s structure.
Vitamin A improves cell turnover and protects the DNA of the cell.
Argireline® (Acetyl Hexapeptide-8) to soften muscle contractions.
Optim Hyal™ (Hydrolyzed Yeast Extract + Cetyl Hydroxyethycelluose + Lecithin) restore optimal levels of hyaluronic acid found naturally in your skin.
And lastly, lipid-soluble Vitman C (Ascorbyl Tertraisopalmitate) for collagen synthesis.
Chemical peels. Yes, this solution can help with dark circles. The best option is lactic or mandelic acid peels as they not only improve cell turnover; they encourage hydrating enzymes to plump up the eye area and lessen the appearance of dark circles.
Most beauty therapists and cosmetic physicians will steer clear of the eye area for fear of getting any of the peel in your eyes or because the skin is thinner and too delicate. A fair concern, although I do believe if you are in the hands of a skilled and confident practitioner, it can be done, and the results are worth any initial discomfort or redness.
Injectable Fillers. Yep, you can get the skin under the eyes filled with an anti-ageing injectable filler. The tear trough, as it’s known, is injected with a filler like hyaluronic acid. If you’re going down this path, find yourself an experienced injecting nurse or doctor. Filling in the wrong part of the under-eye area can make it look worse. If you’re in Australia, I suggest heading to this website directory for a cosmetic physician near you.
Laser Therapy. I’m a fan of lasers for improving the skin, but when it comes to dark circles, some say it can help, while others say not so much. In any case, it will depend on the underlying causes. Once again, if you decide on laser, the overall improvement to your skin and the boost to your collagen will make a big difference and potentially alleviate the appearance of dark circles.
Get a full professional consult first so you can make a well-considered and informed decision before you proceed.
Finally, what about home remedies?
Remember, most dark circles are either caused by internal or genetic factors. As for tea bags, cucumbers and any other home remedy, there are trillions on youtube you could try; okay, maybe not a trillion, but either way, I’m not a fan of the home remedies, not because they don’t work. It’s just all a bit too messy for me, and there are much better solutions to this problem, and I just don’t think it’s a teabag.
And now you.
If you have a remedy or solution that you think works brilliantly, then don’t be shy, shoot me an email here. Or, if you think this article could benefit a friend, please share it on your favourite social media channel. Thanks so much for doing so.
See you next time.
