Brighten Your Eyes

Have you ever heard the saying "eyes are the window to the soul"? Well it's true. Eyes are a very big part of how we connect with a person. If you're anything like me, when you look at a person's face, the first thing you see is their eyes, and depending on your relationship with a person determines the different ways you share eye contact. So what do people say when they see you with puffy or dark ringed eyes? "You look tired", "are you unwell?", "well you look terrible". And that's just a lovely few. Imagine the comments if you never suffered these annoyances at all. Here I will share with you a few natural remedies for ridding of your tired, sore eyes.

Dark Under Eye Circles

The skin below our eyes is very thin and is sparsely dotted with oil glands. Unfortunately, due to all sorts of reasons, the skin under our eyes can become thin and dry. This can make the veins below our eyes appear far more prominent and gives the area that dark appearance. But what are the causes of this happening?

The most obvious reason for dark circles under your eyes is lack of sleep and fatigue! Partying, illness, even pregnancy all cause a paleness of the skin which in turn makes your blood vessels more prominent and gives the appearance of dark circles under your eyes. Your bone structure also plays a major role in the appearance of under eye circles. Eyes set deep in the skull bones tend to develop a dark shadow under them, but unfortunately, even with make-up this is hard to rid of. Hormonal imbalances during pregnancy, menstruation, menopause etc all cause paleness of the skin much like fatigue, as does poor nutrition. Excessive and unprotected exposure to sunlight increases the level of pigmentation and causes tanning, whereas medications which cause blood vessels to dilate allow more blood to flow through them which causes these blood vessels to appear more prominent through thin under eye skin. A build up of toxins or an illness you are unaware of can sometimes be the cause of dark eye circles. Now, last but not least, age is a large contributor to the appearance of dark under eye circles because with age, skin becomes more dry and wrinkled which makes the area under your eyes appear dark due to shadowing.

Tips and Tricks

An easy way of ridding or at best, reducing dark circles is to drink a glass of warm water with one whole lemon. It is recommended that you do this first thing in the morning 15-20 minutes before eating anything. This remedy also cleanses your liver as it acts as a detoxifier.

This cure for dark under eye circles is probably the most obvious and fast working of all known remedies and cures. Can you guess? That's right. SLEEP! Sleep is so important for the body to heal and revitalise, so it is no wonder we get those nasty bags under our eyes when we're exhausted. I know at times it is difficult, but it is recommended that we sleep for at least eight hours a night.


Some say this remedy is a wives tale, but I have found that is does reduce the blackness of under eye circles. All you have to do is place a teaspoon in the freezer for approximately 10 minutes, then take it out and apply it to the under eye area. Do this to each eye for about 3 minutes however, do this carefully so the spoon doesn't become stuck to your skin.

We have all heard of this one before. Cucumber slices. Cucumber relaxes your eyes and relieves tiredness, as it works to constrict blood vessels around your eyes, thus reducing the swelling considerably. All you need to do is slice some up and place it on your eyes, maybe with a yummy face mask, lie back and relax for 20 minutes. This remedy is considered the best for ridding of dark under eye circles.

This is becoming highly repetitive, but I cannot stress enough how important it is. In fact my continuous mention of it should show you how amazing, healing and beneficial it is to your life. And that is water! It is believed that unhealthy kidney's is made obvious by the darkness around your eyes, so it only makes sense that water would be the best way to flush all those nasties out. It is recommended that drinking as much as ten glasses a day will reduce the appearance of dark circles. SO GET DRINKING!

This is one some of us find hard to quit, and they are sweets and chocolates. Sugar feeds a yeast bacteria called Candida which affects your gut. An unhealthy gut means dark under eye circles. You don't have to cut it out completely, but reducing your intake will benefit both your gut and your eyes.


 Reducing your stress levels is very important if you want to sleep soundly and in turn rid of those dark rings. Practising Yoga and Meditation has been found to dramatically reduce the signs of stress which has been proven to not only reduce dark circles but also increase the glow of your skin.

This is a new one for you and it has been proven to be very effective in the reduction of dark circles however, if you have nut allergies I would not attempt the use of this oil. Applying Almond oil under your eyes daily on unmoisturised skin has been found to remove dark under eye circles all together.

Puffy Eyes

Puffy eyes are usually the result of an eye infection, severe fatigue, a sti (caused by a small amount of dirt inside your eyelid) and other rashes. 




Tips and Tricks

 
The most important thing to do when you have irritated, puffy eyes is to not rub and aggravate your eyes. This is the most detrimental thing you could do, so keep those grubby fingers away!

Another way to soothe your puffy eyes is to wrap ice cubes in a wash cloth or make a cold compress and apply to the area. When the cloth begins feeling warm, refill with ice, and repeat this at least 4-5 times or until you feel your eyes swelling go down.

If you are suffering from puffy eyes, it is quite important to avoid eating salty foods like chips and pickles, and drinking alcohol as all retain fluids that settle in the eye area.


This remedy has also been found to be quite effective against puffy eyes and that is to soak cotton wool pads in ice cold milk. Lie down with dampened pads over your closed eyes and replace them when they become warm. As with the ice compress, repeat this until the puffiness reduces. This remedy also brightens the whites of your eyes.

This is my final remedy for puffy eyes, but this involves a little more commitment and routine, much like the lemon and water detox above. You may have heard of this before, but you may not have, and if not, you are about to be stunned! If you are a lover of green tea like me (it's fantastic for your metabolism), make sure you use tea bags and never throw them away. Then, close your eyes and place those bags on your eyes and stay there for 15-20 minutes. For best results, do this twice a day for two weeks. Tea contains tannin which helps to tighten your skin and reduce puffiness.




I hope these remedies will help you with you eye difficulties and if you have more questions or suggestions for future posts feel free to email me at thesixthscentskincare@gmail.com or find some of my wonderful natural products at www.facebook.com/thesixthscent.

Enjoy!

The Sixth Scent.

Tips For Your Lips

Sometimes, through the hustle and bustle of busy life, we forget completely about taking care of our lips and strange things begin to happen. They get cracked, chapped, dry, discoloured and down right unattractive, but don't you just slap on some lip balm and you're "all good"? No. Unfortunately it isn't that simple, as your lips are in fact more delicate than your skin so they too need a good lip care routine, but fortunately it does not need to be repeated daily. Lip care is more a "now and then" necessity because its sensitivity means too much poking, prodding and applying can worsen the situation.

In today's world, full, moist and luscious lips enhance the sensuality of a woman however, lips have no sweat or oil glands which typically add a protective layer to your skin and lightly moisturise. This means it is essential to take care of your lips to protect them from the elements such as the sun, wind and cold weather as they are affected much quicker.

 Stop Smoking!

Okay, so obviously not everyone smokes cigarettes, but for those that do, this is very important, not only for your health and the longevity of your life, but for your lips too. If you want your lips to look healthy and amazing, quitting smoking is probably the most beneficial thing you could do. Smoking causes damage to your lips because of the thousands of toxic ingredients they contain, the harmful free radicals contributing to premature ageing and they make your lips turn dark, dull and dry.

Eat More Fruit and Veg..

Fruit and vegetables are rich sources of vitamins and minerals. They are filled with Vitamin C, Vitamin E, antioxidants, and minerals like Silicium amongst others, help make not only your body beautiful and vibrant, but they make your lips voluptuous and youthful.

Drink Plenty of Water

I know, I keep saying it, but our skin is made up of 90 percent water, so drinking plenty of water not only helps you stay hydrated, it also controls and regulates your lips and skins natural balance by stimulating the circulation of blood, fluids, and other elements within your body. In addition, it also helps replace the moisture you lose throughout your days activities.

Go Easy on the Lippy!

I know lipstick can be stunning. I too sometimes want that extra "wow" factor on my lips however, if you are an excessive lipstick applier, I would seriously consider slowing down. Too much lipstick can actually stain and that leaves you with unfortunate dark, dull and marked lips.

Exfoliate..

When I first discovered that exfoliating your lips was a wonderful way to gently remove dead skin and make your dry, sore lips soft, I was slightly shocked. It seemed strange to me. However, it is a beautiful way to give your lips that extra soft feel and it's yummy! All you have to do is put some raw sugar in the palm of your hand, mix in a tiny amount of water so it becomes a paste and rub onto your lips. To remove, either lick it off or rinse with some warm water. After the lip scrub is removed, apply some olive oil to your lips and allow it to soak in. Don't do this everyday, but a few times a week is perfectly safe.

Overdose On Lip Balm

Lip balm helps keep your lips moisturised and beautiful, and also acts as a protective layer against moisture loss which is particularly bad in harsher weather conditions. Lip balm is like your yucky lips prevention and cure. Lip balm helps heal dry and chapped lips, and with regular use, combined with my above tips, your lips will begin looking beautiful and healthy.


Always remember, taking care of your lips is just as important as taking care of any other part of you body. It's not just important because it makes your smile that little brighter, it also makes you feel beautiful!

Have a Happy Skin Health Day!

The Sixth Scent.