Most of us at some point will have to deal with dark circles under our eyes. Whether it be due to stress, lack of sleep, a hang-over, or just from ageing. The good news is that there are a lot of simple at-home ways to treat them. There is no need for surgery or laser treatments, all you really need is a trip to the grocery store and a couple of minutes to relax.

Reasons for Under-eye Circles

There are several causes for the formation of dark circles under the eyes. The most common reason is due to genetics. Dark circles under the eyes are practically unavoidable if they run in your family, but that isn't to say that there aren't treatments out there for them (see below). But for those whose genetic background doesn't predispose them to dark circles the reasons can be numerous- dehydration, stress, lack of sleep, diet, or any combination.

Prevention of Under-eye Circles

It is said that the best medicine is always prevention. There are several ways to fully prevent or reduce the appearance of under-eye circles (even if you are genetically predisposed). Since dark circles can be caused by dehydration be sure to drink enough water (eight 8-oz glasses per day) and avoid things that cause dehydration, including alcohol, caffeine, and sugar. Diet and exercise can also lead to dark circles; these dark circles are actually an indication that you are not getting proper nutrients. Evaluating your diet to be sure you are getting enough to fill your daily needs is important. Stress and lack of sleep also lead to dark under-eye circles; if this is the case it is recommended getting an additional hour of sleep a night. All of this prevention is a lot easier said than done, most of us don't have time for extra 5 minutes of sleep, let alone an extra hour, and I highly doubt most of us can give up our morning coffee, fortunately there are quite a few at natural home remedies to combat dark under-eye circles (see below).

Natural Remedies

There are three keys to these home remedies: moisturizing the skin, cooling the skin, and stimulating the skin. Moisturizing helps eliminate dark circles by dehydrating the skin, cooling the skin helps by relieving the stress around the eyes, and stimulating the skin brings blood flow into the area causing it to look more alive. The following are a couple home remedies which complete one or a combination of these treatments. Remember that each person and skin type is different, so if one doesn't work for you, try another.

• Cut an unwaxed cucumber into slices, cool in refrigerator and place on eyes for 10 minutes.
• Massage with almond oil under and around eyes.
• Massage with peanut oil under and around eyes.
• Place two tea bags (preferably chamomile tea) in cold water for 5 minutes, than place on eyes for 10 minutes.
• Apply a paste of turmeric powder with pineapple juice, rinse after 5 minutes (be sure not to get into eyes).
• Grate an unwaxed cucumber or a small scrubbed (preferably red) potato. Put the gratings on two gauze pads, than place on eyes for 10 minutes.
• Apply a mixture of lemon juice and tomato juice, let sit for 5 minutes, than rinse (be sure not to get into eyes).
• Apply crushed mint leaves under the eyes for 20 minutes.
• Dip cotton balls in rose water and apply to under eye for 10 minutes.
• Eat foods rich in vitamin E, vitamin C, and iron.

Cosmetics

For those of us who have dark circles running in our family, prevention and home remedies can only due so much. There are many beauty products on the market and it can be confusing about which one is best for dark under-eye circles. I recommend a concealer with a white or green tone to contradict the dark color under the eye, however each skin tone is different so it is best to play around with a few shades to find the best (department stores are a great place to sample cosmetics, however be sure they are clean!). Look for a concealer which has chamomile; chamomile has long been known as a natural remedy for skin, and some concealers contain this ingredient which can help cure as it covers. Be sure to apply moisturizer with vitamin E before using the cosmetic. Cosmetics can often dry and damage the skin, which will only make the dark under-eye circles appear worse in the long run, applying moisturizer will help combat this problem.