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How to Get Rid of Black Circles Under Your Eyes

Skin discoloration under the eyes affects just about everybody at some time or another. For some of us, however, these “dark circles” are a near-constant bother. While these conditions are occasionally symptomatic of other illnesses, the usual cause is allergies, tiredness, or, unfortunately, heredity. No matter what the cause, you can still reduce the appearance of dark circles, and in some cases, you may be able to get rid of them altogether.

Steps

1. Identify allergens. Allergies may be the most common cause of skin discoloration under the eyes. If allergies are the root of your problem, you simply need to treat them or remove the allergen (i.e., the thing to which you are allergic). Seasonal allergy problems such as the hay fever can frequently be effectively treated with over-the-counter and prescription medications. For other allergies the best course of action is usually avoidance. If your dark circles or puffiness are constant, you may have an undetected food allergy or an allergy to a chemical in your home or workplace. Talk to a dermatologist for help determining what you may be allergic to. People with allergies also tend again to be deficient in B6, folic acid and B12 on occasion. Taking a multivitamin, if you don't already, may help with your allergies as well as black circles.
2. Get plenty of sleep nightly. It’s not entirely clear why inadequate sleep results in dark circles under the eyes, but we’ve all seen it happen either to ourselves or someone we know. For one thing, lack of sleep tends to cause the skin to become paler (thus increasing the appearance of darkness under the eyes), and it reduces circulation. It’s also believed that too little time lying down is a cause in itself. Determine how much sleep you need (it’s usually 7-9 hours per night, but varies throughout different people) and try to get that amount regularly for a couple of weeks to see if that helps. Remember that alcohol and drugs can adversely affect the quality of your sleep; abstain from these products or use only in moderation for best results. A lack of sleep, coupled with poor vitamin absorption also tends to reduce adrenal function. The less adrenal function you have the less B6 you tend to absorb, the less B6 you absorb, the less well your adrenal glands work and alas you end up in a vicious circle. Sleep, regular vitamins for those that need them, and good calcium/magnesium support in the form of milk or good mineral supplement restores adrenal function. So if you want to break the cycle and the black circles under your eyes, you've got to reduce your stress, sleep more and take the proper vitamins and minerals to support the adrenal function in general.
3. Treat your skin while you sleep. There are overnight facial masques available that may help reduce the appearance of puffiness or discoloration, but you can also make your own. Just before you go to bed, take a washcloth and wet it just a bit with cold water. Then squeeze out any excess water and place it over your eyes as you sleep. Treating your skin may help, but the real problem may also be that you have a poor vitamin and mineral absorption problem that must also be corrected. Seeing a naturopathic physician may help for those people who suffer other ailments such as miscellaneous aches and pains that come and go and a general run down feeling.
4. Apply cool tea bags, an ice cube wrapped in soft cloth, or cucumber slices to your eyes daily. The tannin in tea bags has been shown to reduce swelling and discoloration, and cucumber slices have long been used to reduce puffiness and refresh the appearance of skin around the eyes. Lie down, preferably in the morning, and leave fresh cucumber slices or cool, damp caffeinated tea bags (you can refrigerate them overnight so they’ll be ready) over your eyes for about 10-15 minutes. Keep your eyes closed.
5. Try to relax the space. You can do this by wetting a cotton swab and then freezing it for a little while. Then you should gently wipe under your eyes in the areas where the circles are occurring. When wiping, close your eyes and try not to flinch.
6. Apply an eye cream containing vitamin K and retinol. Dark circles may be caused by a deficiency of vitamin K. Regardless of the cause, however, recent research has shown that skin creams containing these two ingredients reduce puffiness and discoloration significantly in many patients. Long-term daily use seems to have the greatest effect.
7. Avoid rubbing your eyes. Usually rubbing of the eyes is brought on by allergies, but not always. Regardless of the reason, stop doing it. The rubbing irritates the skin and can break tiny capillaries beneath the skin, causing both puffiness and discoloration.
8. Eat a healthy, balanced diet, take vitamins, and drink plenty of water. A whole host of cosmetic problems can be attributed to vitamin deficiencies. Dark circles and puffiness are often attributed to lack of vitamin K or inadequate antioxidants. Also, a deficiency in B12 (usually anemia-related) can result in dark circles. Be sure to get plenty of fruits and vegetables—especially cabbage, spinach, and other leafy green vegetables—and take a daily vitamin supplement if necessary. Get adequate fluids to improve circulation.
9. Reduce salt intake. Excess salt causes the body to retain water in unusual places, and this can result in puffiness under the eyes. Too much salt can also impair your circulation, and cause the blood vessels under the skin to appear bluer.
10. Quit smoking. Smoking causes vascular (blood vessel) problems that can not only threaten your life, but also make your blood vessels appear more prominent and bluer beneath the skin.
11. Cover the problem up with cosmetics. If all else fails, use a yellow or peach-toned concealer which will camouflage the problem under your eyes. The yellow/peach undertones in the makeup will help cancel out the purple, blue, and brownish colors of your undereye circles. Pink-toned concealers can actually make your circles more noticeable. After applying, set the concealer with a light dusting of translucent powder.
12. Schedule a blood test with your physician. Establish whether or not this condition runs in your family. Dark circles are believed to frequently be hereditary. This doesn’t mean that you can’t do anything about the conditions, but you should be prepared for minimal success actually trying to get rid of them. Dark circles under the eye may also, in fact, be light carbon deposits that result from incomplete protein digestion. Incomplete protein digestion may result from insufficient hydrochloric acid in your stomach that may be caused from a lack of primarily B6 and Folic Acid. About 30% of the population does not absorb regular B6 (pydroxine) or folic acid and need to take in these vitamins in a different form or another way.

The benefits of Calendula oil, which contains active ingredients of marigold flower, are primarily associated with skin care

Article Source: http://www.syl.com/hb/calendulaoilisusedtopreservethefreshnessoftheskinandtreatskinproblems.html

The Calendula oil is extracted by way of steam distillation. Its consistency is thin liquid. It is characterized by strong spicy-sweet, bitter-warm aroma. The positive effect of Calendula preparations on the skin were known as far back in history as at the time of ancient Egyptians. And yet it remains one of the most popular herbal anti-fungal and anti-bacterial remedies to promote skin healing and cell regeneration.

It was truly invaluable cure for open wounds during the wartime. Mention must be made of the fact that Calendula oil is equally beneficial for all skin types. It is considered to be an excellent remedy for all kinds of skin damage, such as wounds, scars, burns, scalds, abrasions, infections, various inflammations and other injuries. The powerful action of Calendula oil lies in improving the blood flow to the inflicted area and in further tissue regeneration. Its anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic properties have been proved by substantial scientific evidence.

Whereas it is applicable for all skin types, in the case of dry or ageing skin it is especially efficient as a tonic, soothing oil. The effect produced by Calendula cream and Calendula lotion is similar. Apart from being a restorative means, provided regular application, these products attribute pleasant olive shine to the skin, and still provide the powerful protection from age-related thinning.

The benefits of Calendula oil related to healing, scar-prevention are truly magical. In less than no time this herbal panacea is sure to soothe the pain and stop bleeding without any negative side effects, sometimes caused by conventional antiseptics. In addition to the abovementioned cases, Calendula oil is successfully used for chapped skin and lips, scrapes, gashes, insect stings and bites, eczema, bed and pressure sores. It is safe to be applied in the area around eyes. It can also make much use in healing leg ulcers, varicose veins, chilblains, bed sores. Calendula oil is salubrious for cracked nipples from breast-feeding and still it is harmless for the child.

Calendula oil has been long recognized as powerful aphrodisiac. It provides with fast relief in case of flatulence and colic. It is also used to help digestive problems and mental strain. Its application is extended to cookery, as it is widely used as culinary spice for meat dishes, pickles, various sauces, soups, salads, cookies, cheeses, cakes, and drinks. Calendula oil is frequent ingredient of masculine colognes due to its special aroma. Calendula provides with a wonderful base not only for Calendula oil, but also for various creams, lotions, salves, herbal ointments, and other kinds of natural cosmetics.

Eczema Remedies - 3 Hemp Seed Oil Tips

By J R Simpson

There are a lot of eczema remedies on the market today, most of them involve using creams and potions or taking drugs. Have you tried Hemp Seed Oil yet? There are many reasons why you should give it a try, but let's look at three of the most important ones.

Tip # 1 - First, as eczema remedies go, Hemp Seed Oil is one of the best natural moisturizers you can find. That's because it contains essential fatty acids. You see, the outer layer of your skin is called the epidermis and if your epidermal layer is not well hydrated and moisturized, it can cause any number of skin problems, including eczema. This is one of the best eczema remedies available because it contains compounds that closely resemble the lipids in your skin. Lipids are fats that hold your skin cells together and keep your epidermal layer of skin strong and smooth. So, this oil doesn't just moisturize your skin by sitting on the surface, it actually penetrates and invigorates it making it one of the best hydrating remedies.

Tip # 2 - The second tip, one of the qualities that puts this oil on the list of best eczema remedies is that it reduces itching and inflammation. It does that because it contains gamolenic acid (GLA), which is also known as gamma linolenic acid. GLA, is an essential fatty acid that is excellent at reducing itchiness, irritation and inflammation. If you have eczema, you know that that is, by far, the biggest problem an eczema sufferer has. Any successful treatment must absolutely reduce your itching, if they are going to be useful at all.

Tip # 3 - The third, tip is Hemp oil is natural. If you aren't a fan of commercial medications, which often come with nasty side-effects, you should try this natural oil. If other eczema treatments have come up short of your expectations, a more holistic approach might just be the answer you're looking for. So, reap the rewards of natural treatment for eczema. Hemp Seed Oil has many benefits, which could make it one of the best eczema remedies you've tried.

Beating Oily Skin

By: Louise Forrest

So you have oily skin. There is no need to be ashamed! The truth is that there are a whole lot of other people in the world with the same problem. Sometimes the condition has a tendency towards adult acne or some other type of skin disorder, but for the most part sufferers of oily skin are just looking for a way to beat that shine and ward off the odd zit! So how can you stop your skin from pouring out the oil and becoming a slippery, shiny mess by 10:00 in the morning? The real key is consistency in your facial regime. With daily use of simple bathroom accessories like gentle soaps, astringents and moisturisers (yes, moisturisers!) your skin can begin to settle into a regular treatment and please you with a healthy, oily free glow!

The first thing to remember about oily skin is that, like most conditions, it is governed by three things: genetics, skin imbalance and diet. Genetics, as you will already know, are unavoidable and sometimes unfortunate. If your mother, aunt and grandmother have oily skin, then there is little chance of you avoiding it! There are ways to control it, however, and the main way to right a radical skin imbalance is with good, regular hygiene and a healthy diet. Sure, you have heard this before, but how much did you really understand about these factors when it comes to your own oily skin? The truth is that most of us take in the information, wash our faces a few more times a day, do not bother to change our diets and therefore still complain of the condition! There is no need to be depressed at the word diet; this does not always mean a life of bland, tiny meals.

The causes of oily skin are generally genetic at the root, but genetics are nothing if not easily manipulated! Sure, you may have oily skin because it is hereditary, but keep in mind that the chances of your family members eating similar foods and leading similar lifestyles is also a factor. If you were to change certain things about your lifestyle, your oily skin gene may have no reason to be active! Take a look at your diet, and note how much processed food you ingest in any given week. You may be surprised that the amount is quite high frozen dinners, ready meals, canned sauces, candy, the list for most busy people gets rather long. So what is wrong with processed foods? They may be quick and easy, but they contain very few vitamins and minerals (which are eliminated by processing) and high levels of sugars, fats and salts: all bad ingredients when it comes to your skin! You need to get in some high fibre, high vitamin foods. It is relatively simple, honest! Buy whole wheat pasta and bread instead of white, and incorporate as much fresh vegetables and fruit into your meals as you can. Add an apple or pear to the morning bowl of cereal, a big garden salad to your sandwich at lunchtime, and perhaps a fruit salad to the end of the evening meal instead of a sugary desert.

Once you get used to these simple changes, you will feel a real change not only in your skin, but in your energy levels and overall health. As for your chemical imbalance that leads to oily skin, the solution is consistency. Skin is naturally sensitive, and it needs a regular routine to be able to maintain itself in a healthy state. To keep your skin at its best, there are a few things you need to incorporate into your daily regimen. Exfoliate lightly, use a very mild soap several times a day, and do not forget to moisturise! Exfoliation will help uncover pockets of bacteria that can lead to pimples, and a mild soap will not strip your skin of natural oils. If you use a harsher soap, your skin will fight back by producing even more oil afterwards. Keep it mild! Finally, moisturizing is an important step towards oily free skin. It may sound strange, but your skin needs moisture to maintain health, and scrubbing away every ounce of oil will not benefit you in the long run. Keep these factors in mind and you will see great results!