Dark circles under the eyes? For some women, this is not a problem at all but there are those women (you’re probably one) who are, and have been, affected by this condition ever since they can remember. Discoloration under the eyes can make any woman look more mature, tired and run-down – a look that no one goes for. This is precisely why women who have this type of skin discoloration make an effort to correct the situation. Nobody wants to look like a panda!

It’s not as simple as it sounds, however. Also known as periorbital dark circles, most people think that getting rid of these is a good night’s sleep away but that couldn’t be farther from reality as most women who have dark circles under their eyes know.

This is because dark circles are not only the result of:

• Staying up late
• Sleeping less
• Stressing out too much on something
• Working too hard

And so on..

There are different factors as to why these dark circles appear. Some of these factors include:

• Aging
• Genes
• Skin tone
• Hyper pigmentation
• Diet
• Allergies

The list has more to it but this, basically, tells us that fatigue isn’t the only culprit. There are a ton of remedies available in the market like creams, peels, gels, masks and so on but only a select few really work. This is because the underlying cause needs to be identified.

If you’re decided on really going for creams or peels, we suggest not starting with those just yet. As an alternative why not try DIY dark circle removers and see if that brings you the results you want? Here’s what we had in mind:

So what are my 6 natural home remedies for dark circles?

DIY Dark Circle Remover: Nutrition Changes

1. A little bit of iron on your diet won’t hurt.

A majority of women suffer from iron deficiency or anemia. This is commonly caused by a nutritional deficiency rather than an underlying disease. As a result, this condition usually causes the skin to look pale, making the eye’s orbit or inner hallows appear more prominently. In this case a simple correction in nutrition can remedy the dark circles:

Research on foods that are rich in iron and make sure that you introduce these foods in your diet. Some examples of foods rich in iron are red meats and dark green and leafy vegetables.

2. Goodbye caffeine.

Coffee, soda and energy drinks are all rich in caffeine. Unfortunately, no matter how good they taste, they can make dark circles worse. Drinking too much caffeinated beverage causes dehydration which can worsen the appearance of dark circles.

Slowly cut back on your caffeine consumption until you eliminate it from your diet. While you’re at it, don’t forget the recommended 6-8 glasses of water a day.

DIY Dark Circle Remover: Kitchen Ingredients

3. Cucumber Circles

This one is a no brainer because we usually see this done in spas and TV commercials. Cut out two slices of cucumber to put on your eyes.

Because cucumber has skin lightening effects and mild astringent properties, it helps lighten the under eye area naturally. It also has a soothing effect on your skin.

4. Potato Slices

Cut two thick slices of potato and apply it directly onto your eye. The slices have to be big enough to cover your entire eye, including your dark circles.

The potato slices work the same way as the cucumber. The potato, however, has natural bleaching agents instead of mild astringent properties.

DIY Dark Circle Remover: Costs Next to Nothing Options

5. Chilled Spoons

Before going to bed at night, put two metal spoons in the freezer. Get them out as soon as you wake up and apply the two spoons underneath your eyes or over your eyes. Take a break if you feel like the spoons are getting too cold.

The cold will constrict blood vessels underneath your eye and make them look thinner. The cold also has a refreshing effect.

6. Ice Cubes

Ice cubes are a great alternative if you don’t have enough spoons around the house. As soon as you wake up, apply ice cubes underneath your eyes. Again, if it gets too cold for you, take a break but make sure that you’ve applied the cubes at least for 2-3 minutes under each eye.

The same principle applies. The cold constricts the blood vessels that are visible underneath your eyes because of thin skin.

Brighter Eyes through Natural Means

Aside from these 6 DIY suggestions, you may also consider drinking enough glasses of water a day, eating healthy and protecting your skin from the sun. These natural means may not give you the results you need in an instant but they do have proven long-term benefits on your skin so why not give it a go?