They say that eyes are the mirror of our soul. But, when black circles surround those eyes, all that they portray is the lack of sleep, long working hours which require constant sitting in front of the computer, unhealthy diet, stress, prolonged crying, dry skin, aging and what not. These are some of the many reasons why dark circles appear. Though they’re not a severe skin problem, they do have an adverse impact on the overall look of a person’s face. It is easy to look tired, exhausted and older than one’s actual age when one has dark circles. Also, they can be quite stubborn to deal with. But no problem comes without its solutions. Here is a list of some fantastic tips and home remedies to fight these off and make your face look the way it is supposed to look. Let’s start with the tips:

1. To reduce puffiness around your eyes, also known as eye bags, you need to alter your sleeping patterns. Use a good quality pillow so that your head remains elevated from the rest of your body.

2. If you apply make-up, make sure you remove all of it, especially around the eyes before you go to sleep.

3. If your eyes have an allergy to something, make sure you take proper medication for that. Dust allergies are common because of the high prevalence of smoke and dust in the environment. Use dust covers on pillows and mattress and regularly remove the dust that collects on furniture, clothes, and books you keep at home. These allergies, if left untreated can cause dark circles and puffiness.

4. It is important for you to give your eyes an exercise on a daily basis to regulate blood and fluid flow in and around them. Yoga can be of a lot of help as it improves breathing and makes your skin look fresh.

5. A diet change is a wonderful way to get rid of dark circles. Foods such as green vegetables and fruits that are rich in Vitamin C ward off dark circles. Iron rich foods such as legumes and whole grains should also be included in your diet.

6. Hydration is the key to everything. It prevents the skin from sagging and keeps it moisturized. Make sure you remain hydrated at all times.

Here are some highly effective home remedies that will make your dark circles a story of the past”

• Almond Oil: Almond is famous for being rich in nutrients. It has vitamin E which works wonders on the skin. The oil lightens dark circles and over time, with regular use, they completely vanish. All you have to do is apply it around your eyes, over your dark circles and massage it gently till your skin absorbs it. You can then leave it overnight and wash it off the next day using cold water.
• Cucumber: Cucumber naturally has astringent like properties that have a cooling effect when placed over closed eyes. They also have skin lightening properties that will help you ward off those raccoon eyes in the easiest way possible.
  All you have to do is cut a fresh cucumber into slices and place them in your refrigerator. After around 30 minutes, take them out and place them on your eyes for 10 minutes.
  Another option is mixing lemon juice with cucumber juice in equal quantity and applying it to the area around the eyes using cotton balls. Leave it for 15 minutes and then wash it off using water. Follow this procedure for at least a week depending on the darkness of the circles.
• Raw Potato: Potato has bleaching properties which not only fights off the dark circles but also reduces eye bags or puffiness. Take a raw potato and grate it to obtain its juice. Use a cotton ball, soaked in the potato juice and apply it around your eyes. Let it remain for at least 15 minutes before you wash it with cold water. Repeat as long as you feel you need it.
  If this seems like too much of a task, all you need to do is cut thick slices of a raw potato and place it on closed eyes just like you do with a cucumber slice.
• Rose Water: Nothing can beat rose water when it comes to skin care. It cleans, tones and moisturizes the skin all the same time. If you have a rose plant at your home, then you can extract pure rose water at home by boiling rose petals in water for a few hours. If not, you can also buy it from any drug store. Just like other remedies, you need to put cotton pads soaked in rose water for 10 to 15 minutes twice on a daily basis. Follow this for a few weeks and notice a significant reduction in your dark circles.