Left: Sheetal Rawal, scientist (human genetics) & founder of Apsara Skin Care
By: Sheetal Rawal
Under eye circles are a menace. We all agree. What is more frustrating, however, is the fact that they are the most stubborn skin care issue there is. Right up there with cystic acne. Yep! As in many aspects of life, genetics plays a significant role in the genesis of dark under eye circles. Do you have someone in your family that struggled with raccoon eyes? Yes? Chances are you are likely to develop them as well.
But epigenetics cannot be ignored. Simply put, epigenetics means external factors that can influence the ways our genes are programmed to function. Thus we can do many things to prevent dark under eye circles from forming, and if already present, reduce their appearance.
Alright then. So what lifestyle changes (epigenetics) can positively influence dark under eye circles (meaning reduce them)? Let’s dive right in.
1. Get Deep Sleep: In my opinion, the number of hours you need is less important. the most important is the quality of your sleep. If are in bed for 10 hours tossing and turning, you may as well not even sleep in the first place. When I have one of those nights I wake up far more tired than when I hit the bed previous night. Deep restful sleep means that your body relaxes and your mind slows down enough that healing can happen. So that damage can be undone. So that dark circles can be reduced and prevented from becoming visible in the first place.
"I used [Apsara's Cucumber Under Eye Serum] and within a month, it significantly reduced my wrinkles and fine lines around my eye area. It’s worth every penny, and I highly recommend it."
2. Reduce Stress: It is the culprit behind many a disorder and disease. Some daily stress can be positive, but when it becomes chronic and takes over your experience of life, it can cause you to walk around with dark circles and tired looking eyes. Since too much stress also causes sleeplessness, the impact on your overall health can be quite worrisome. So? Reduce stress. Easier said than done I know. Here is what I believe and hope it can help you. “Change is constant and learning to adapt to it is wiser than resisting it. A skyscraper swings to adapt to gusty winds up in the sky? Why? Because if it didn’t, it could come crashing down.”
3. Make Sure Your Diet & Nutrition Is Adequate: Most of us are depleted in this area. Genetically modified and pesticide-ridden food loses most of its vitality (prana) and nutrient profile anyway. Long transportation from farm to supermarket adds insult to injury. Enter preserved things that look like food and fast food. Oh well, where can I start! These foods (demi) leave us craving for more (since our nutrition needs are not satisfied). In eating more we also ingest more toxins. The skin around the eye area being as thin as it is tells the tale of our nutritional imbalance quite truthfully. So go natural and organic. Eat with attention. Your eyes will love the sight of healthy, vibrant food and you will also notice that you need far less food to feel satiated.
If you have dark circles or puffy eyes, watch this video and learn how you can get rid of them with this sheet mask remedy. Enjoy and please subscribe to my YouTube channel!
4. Get Plenty of Hydration: Did you know that skin that is dehydrated tends to look darker? So being hydrated is very important in avoiding dark under eye circles. Other than lukewarm water over the course of my day, I love to drink organic and raw coconut water whenever I can. I get the hydration of course, but also the electrolytes that come with coconut water. Simply awesome!
5. Dim the Brightness Button & Buy Good Quality Sunglasses: This is extremely important to keep those dark under eye circles in check. Install an anti-glare screen on your monitor and dim down all gadget screens to the point where you can comfortably read. Increase the font of the text and you are all set to read comfortably without getting hit by unnecessarily bright light. Your eyes will be less stressed and far less prone to dark circles and crow’s feet. Similarly with sunlight. Going out in the bright sun can take a massive toll on your eye health. Reduce the chances of dark circles and fine lines and wrinkles (related to squinting in bright sun) by wearing a polarized pair of sunnies. Remember to clean those lenses too. What point is it if you still need to squint because the lenses are foggy. I have to remind myself to do this almost every day.
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Go natural. It is good karma!
