10 Remedies for Dark Circles and Puffy Eyes

One of the main reasons that we get dark circles around are eyes is genetics, but also getting older, dry skin, crying, long hours facing a computer screen, stress, lack of sleep and an unhealthy diet. Men and women from different age groups can suffer from this problem, and even though it's not a health risk, no one looks to look exhausted and tired.

Luckily, there are a number of handy home remedies that'll get rid of those dark shadows with a few common ingredients found in any home. 

1. Turmeric 

Turmeric has both antioxidants and anti-inflammation properties and so can be used to freshen your skin and fix that tired look. Take the powder and mix it with pineapple water to create a thick mix. Smear the mix under your eyes, leave for 10 minutes and then wipe with a moist, soft cloth. Aside from removing the circles, it will soften your skin. Use daily until you see the desired effects. 

2. Raw Potato 

Potatoes have natural bleaching agents that can help you brighten up those circles. Take 1-2 cool potatoes and smash them until you can get the juice out. Now, dip a cotton ball in the potato juice and put on your (closed) eyes. Make sure the juice covers the black circles as well as the lids. Leave for 10-15 minutes and then rinse your eyelids well with cold water. If you don't want to use the juice, you can also just slice it like the cucumber with the same process, but the juice will be more potent. 

3. Tomatoes 

 

Yes, tomatoes too can help lighten the skin under your eyes. Take a spoon of tomato juice and mix with one spoon of lemon juice. Put the mix (using cotton balls again) gently on the eyes and leave for 10 minutes. Then, rinse with clean water. Do this twice a day to get rid of puffiness and dark circles.

4. Rose Water 

A quick fix for those circles makes use of the great skin care benefits of rose water. Take cotton bandages and soak them in rose water for a few minutes. Then, place them on your closed eyelids for about 15 minutes. The rose water has a calming effect on the eyes and the skin around it. This solution can remove the dark circles completely if used twice a day for several weeks.

5. Almond Oil  

Almond oil is another natural ingredient that benefits the delicate skin around our eyes. Regular use of almond oil can brighten the skin as well as nourish it. Take a little almond oil, place on the dark circles and gently massage it into the skin. Leave it overnight and wash with cold water in the morning. 

Do this every day until the circles are completely gone. If you don't have almond oil, you can also use a Vitamin E enriched oil.

6. Lemon Juice 

The high vitamin C content in lemon juice can serve to remove the circles. Dip a cotton ball in fresh lemon juice and apply to the skin around your eyes for 10 minutes before washing it off. 

Another option is to make a thick mix by mixing one table spoon of lemon juice with 2 table spoons of tomato paste, a smidgen of humus flour and turmeric powder. Smear the mix gently around the eyes and leave on for 10-15 minutes, then wash with clean water. Repeat this 2-3 times a week and the skin will soon become much lighter. 

7. Cold Water 

Cold water can narrow the blood vessels underneath the eyes and help reduce puffiness and dark circles. Dip a clean, soft cloth in cold water or milk and put directly on the eyelids for several minutes. Another option is to wrap a few ice cubes in a soft cloth and hold them under the eyes. A bag of frozen peas, of cold tea or even a cold spoon can also help. Repeat this 3-4 times a week for several weeks. 

8. Apple 

An apple too can provide a natural solution for removing those stubborn circles. Slice them up thickly and put under your eyes for 30 minutes before washing with cold water. Put some relaxing cream after this is done. 

Another course of action is to make a mash of green, cooked apples and put under the eyes for half an hour, then wash with lukewarm water. 

9. Mint 

Mint has a cooling effect on the skin that naturally removes the dark skin. Take a few fresh mint leaves and mash them gently. Smear the mix on your eyes and leave for 10-15 minutes. Gently rub away with a clean cloth. Another option is adding mint leaves to tomato juice and smearing under the eyes, leaving it for several minutes and then washing with cold water. 

10. Cucumber 

 

The cucumber is an age old solution for black circles. It is good at making your skin look lighter. For a quick fix for those circles, take a fresh cucumber and slice it into thick slices. Put them in the fridge for 30 minutes, then put the slices on the area of your eye for 10 minutes and rinse with water. This solution has a calming and refreshing effect.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for food, medicines, exercises and so on.   

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6 Homemade Shampoos For Various Hair Types and Conditions

Shampoo is one of those essential items most of us pick up at the store without giving it a second thought. Making homemade shampoo sounds like a tedious task for some people, but the ability to control and customize the exact ingredients that go into your shampoo has many benefits. It allows you to create a custom-made product that’s perfectly suited for your hair and scalp using natural ingredients at a budget price. This article offers guidance to those who want to start making their own shampoo at home.

Who will benefit from homemade shampoo? 

Anyone who isn’t happy with their current shampoo can try making homemade shampoo. Like store-bought shampoo formulas, homemade shampoo concoctions have different properties: some nourish and moisturize the hair whereas others clarify the scalp or relieve an itchy and irritated scalp. People sensitive to harsh chemical ingredients may actually find that homemade shampoo makes their hair healthier and shinier than store-bought shampoo.

If you’re usually using a medicated shampoo that keeps a specific skin or hair issue at bay, it’s important that you consult a dermatologist to make sure that using homemade shampoo is right for you. Patch testing any shampoo on a small skin area will help prevent adverse skin reactions. Note that preparing liquid homemade shampoo usually yields a runnier consistency because store-bought shampoos usually have special thickening agents added. 

 

Most of the ingredients we feature in this article contain Castille soap as the main lathering ingredient. The recipe for this soap was first made in the Castile region of Spain. Castille soap is a natural, biodegradable soap made from vegetable oils. This natural soap is great at gently clarifying and has a very low risk of scalp sensitivity, but it may make hair dye fade a bit faster because it has a slightly higher pH level. 

 

To learn more about the uses of Castile soap, read my next post titled Not Using Castile Soap Yet? Here Are 10 Reasons You Must. Generally speaking, though, homemade shampoo is a good choice for any hair type, even though it may take a few weeks for some hair types to adjust to the new, natural hair care routine. 

 

Homemade Shampoo Recipes 

 

The basis for any homemade shampoo is a lathering ingredient, water, and a few drops of natural oil. It’s best to use distilled or boiled water because it will allow you to extend the shelf life of a liquid shampoo to about 2 weeks if kept refrigerated. Depending on your hair type and hair care needs, you’ll need a different balance of these three basic ingredients. 

 

Certain hair types will also benefit from essential oils and plant-based ingredients. Essential oils will also extend the shelf-life of your homemade shampoo, and allow you to customize the scent of your shampoo. Below, we list 6 shampoo recipes that address different hair concerns, such as an oily scalp, thinning hair, or brittle and dry hair.  

 

1. Stimulating shampoo for volume and growth

If your hair is looking a bit flat or limp, or your goal is to stimulate hair growth, it’s useful to customize the formula with peppermint oil, aloe, and carrot seed oil. Peppermint oil and aloe have a pleasant cooling sensation that stimulates the scalp without irritating it, whereas carrot seed oil has been shown to stimulate hair growth and gently cleanse the scalp due to its antifungal properties. This recipe also contains green tea and honey, which are beneficial for cleansing and nourishing the scalp.  

 

Ingredients: 

- ¼ cup castile soap 

- ½ cup strong green tea 

- 1 teaspoon aloe vera juice (or aloe gel)

- 1 tablespoon honey 

- 7 drops carrot seed oil

- 10 drops of peppermint essential oil

- Bottle. 

 

Instructions:  

1. Brew a strong cup of green tea and let it cool. 

2. Whisk in the remaining ingredients and transfer them to a bottle. Shake well before use.

2. Moisturizing shampoo for dry and brittle hair

If you have brittle, dry, curly, or color-treated hair, using Castille soap every wash may be a bit too much for your hair. If that is the case, you can easily alternate between a stronger shampoo and this moisturizing version that’s free of Castille soap. This shampoo doesn’t lather and it contains plenty of restorative and moisturizing ingredients like honey and coconut milk. 

 

Ingredients: 

- ½ can coconut milk 

- 1 tablespoon vinegar 

- 1 tablespoon honey 

- ½ teaspoon jojoba oil 

- ½ teaspoon castor oil 

- ½ teaspoon vanilla essential oil 

- Bottle.  

 

Instructions: 

1. Combine all the ingredients in a bowl, blending them together in an even mixture. 

2. Transfer into a bottle. Make sure to shake the mixture well before use.

3. Tea tree and rosemary shampoo for itchy scalps

Both tea tree oil and rosemary have potent antimicrobial and restorative properties. This shampoo will fit any hair type, but it’s especially soothing for an itchy or slightly flaky scalp. 

 

Ingredients: 

- ½ cup water 

- ¼ cup liquid unscented Castile soap 

- ½ teaspoon grapeseed or sweet almond oil 

- 3 stalks of lemongrass (or 1 tablespoon of lemongrass powder) 

- 3 sprigs of rosemary (or 1 tablespoon dried rosemary) 

- 2 teaspoons tea tree oil 

- 1 teaspoon vanilla essential oil 

- Bottle. 

 

Instructions: 

 

1. Bring the water to a boil, add the rosemary and lemongrass, and boil at low heat for 20-30 minutes. 

2. Let the mixture cool down, then strain the leaves. You should be left with about ¼ cup of liquid. 

3. Transfer the liquid into your shampoo bottle and add in all the remaining ingredients. Use as you would any shampoo, store in a cool place. 

 

4. Chamomile shampoo for sensitive scalp

Castille soap is quite a nice soothing ingredient on its own, but you can boost its calming properties with chamomile and lavender essential oil. Lastly, this homemade shampoo contains glycerin, a wonderfully soothing, softening, and conditioning ingredient.  

 

Ingredients: 

- ¼ cup water 

- ¼ cup Castille soap 

- 2 chamomile tea bags 

- 2 teaspoons glycerin 

- Bottle.  

 

Instructions: 

1. Bring the water to a boil, add the chamomile teabags, and step for 20-30 minutes. 

2. Discard the tea bags and let the liquid cool to room temperature. 

3. In a bottle, combine all ingredients and shake well to blend in the glycerin.

 

5. Clarifying rinse 

Clarifying rinses and shampoos are used to remove product and mineral buildup from the hair. If you use hair styling products or live in an area with hard water, it’s beneficial to use a clarifying shampoo or rinse once every two weeks to restore a healthy shine to your hair. 

 

If you have a store-bought clarifying shampoo, you can use it in place of your usual shampoo. But you can make your own clarifying rinse with just 2 ingredients that you can use after washing and conditioning your hair. 

 

Ingredients: 

- 2 cups water 

- 3-4 tablespoons vinegar 

- Bottle.  

 

Instructions: 

1. Shake to combine ingredients. Use as the last step of your hair washing routine. 

 

6. DIY shampoo bar

 

Not all homemade shampoo recipes are liquids. Shampoo bars are becoming increasingly popular these days, as they're more portable, last for a long time, and are more environmentally friendly since they don't require any packaging. Here is a basic solid shampoo recipe suitable for all hair types. The recipe uses a Castile melt-and-pour soap base that can be easily purchased online. 

 

Ingredients: 

- 1 cup Castile melt-and-pour soap base, cut into cubes 

- 1 teaspoon sweet almond oil 

- ½ teaspoon castor oil 

- 15 drops rosemary or vanilla essential oil 

- 1 soap mold (you can also use any plastic container or a yogurt cup).  

 

Directions: 

1. In a double boiler or any metal bowl in a bigger pan half-filled with water, melt the soap base on low heat. 

2. Stir continuously and add in the almond and castor oils. 

3. Take the mixture off the heat and let it cool only slightly. Then add in the essential oils. 

4. Pour the mixture into your mold and let cool for a day. Then store in a cool dry place for up to 2-3 months.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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