HT City

TRAVEL HEALTH FOOD REDUCE DARK CIRCLES NATURALLY

A few lifestyle changes coupled with quick and easy home remedies can solve your problem

- HTC (With inputs by beauty expert Richa Aggarwal and nutritioni­st Sunaina K Arora)

The skin around the eyes remains most delicate and thinner than the rest of the face. And since, the under-eye skin doesn’t have oil glands, it needs extra care and attention. Top reasons that aggravate dark circles include stressful and erratic lifestyle, lack of nutritious diet, inadequate sleep or oversleepi­ng, and exposure to the sun. A wholesome diet coupled with regular exercise, breathing and meditation can help minimise the problem. Here’s what to keep in mind, and also home remedies that would prove fruitful: You must remove makeup before going to sleep, as makeup clogs the skin. Use a makeup remover that is organic and natural and contains almond oil. You can apply fresh aloe vera gel before going to bed. You must provide nutrition to the under-eye area. Gently massage the area with lighter oils like almond oil or castor oil or Argan oil for five minutes before sleeping. Ensure to remove oil with cotton wool dabbed in warm water. You can also massage with kumkumadi tailamsand­alwood, turmeric and lotus pollen. This evens out the skin tone and reduces blemishes. Saffron and raw milk pack for dark circles would help. Mix some strands of saffron in raw milk, and apply every day. Saffron helps enhance the complexion and is loaded with anti-inflammato­ry and antioxidan­t compounds. Avoid creams laden with chemicals. Also, try to opt for products that are free from fragrance. You must apply a toner that is natural and loaded with benefits. Make your multipurpo­se eye toner by mixing cucumber juice, tomato juice, potato juice and lemon juice. Mix in equal quantity and apply on top of your eyelids and under-eye area. This concoction is a powerhouse of nutrition. Potato, tomato and lemon will work as a natural bleach, while cucumber will condition and soothe the skin. Cucumber contains antioxidan­ts that help in removing dark circles. Tomatoes contain lycopene a phytochemi­cal that protects skin from damage.

Applying an eye pack that is soothing to the skin is very important. You can go for raw milk and banana pulp pack, as this shall enrich the skin with vitamins and minerals. Raw milk is another natural bleach that you can apply on a daily basis.

There is another very effective pack made with juice of rose water and milk powder. This will prove to be extremely soothing for the skin and would help lighten and tighten the skin.

DIET AND NUTRITION

It’s important to include the right ingredient­s in your diet. Vitamin A directly helps to get rid of dark circles, food rich in vitamin A promotes digestion, slushing out toxins from kidney and liver. Vitamin C-rich food should be consumed on a daily basis to get clear skin. Kale, strawberri­es, guava, red and green chilli peppers, parsley, cauliflowe­r, broccoli, lemon juice and oranges, are rich in vitamin C. Vitamin K heals damaged capillarie­s and arteries, hence improves blood circulatio­n that promotes healthy skin. This is good for under eyes puffiness, too. Increase your intake of spinach, dried basil leaves, turnip greens, beet greens, broccoli, spring onion, lettuce, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, cabbage, cucumber, prunes are loaded with vitamin K . Vitamin E fights against free radicals that spoil glow of the skin. Include vitamin E-rich food in your diet. Include spinach, soaked almonds, asparagus, avocado, olives, kiwi, mango, corn, sunflower seeds.

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