Life is full of unplanned, sudden, and inevitable outcomes or situations. But there are outcomes that we can influence, such as whether we take off our makeup before bed, wear sunscreen even when it's snowing, go to bed earlier instead of binge-watching an entire season of our favorite Netflix series, and so on.

When we talk about skincare routines, we often talk about hydration, an oily T-zone, large pores, and pimples, but the area around the eyes is the least talked about.

The area around your eyes requires the same amount of care as the rest of your face, so if you've ever wondered why you have puffy eyes, dry under-eye areas, or dark circles, keep reading.

WHAT CAUSES BAGS UNDER THE EYES?

There are several reasons why people have puffy eyes, including:

• Allergies - congestion and inflammation caused by allergies can sometimes worsen under-eye puffiness
• High-salt diet - eating a lot of salty foods causes water retention and leads to swelling
• Genetics
• Medical conditions - some medical conditions such as thyroid problems can cause eye swelling
• Natural aging process - loss of skin and muscle firmness occurs as you age

AGING IS INEVITABLE

Let's be honest, even if you've spent your life taking constant and meticulous care of your skin, aging and the signs of aging are inevitable – and that includes the appearance of some form of dark circles.

Over time, skin naturally loses collagen and becomes thinner, and no matter what kind of skin you have or how good your habits are, veins will inevitably start to appear through the thin skin around your eyes.

As we already know, sun exposure speeds up the collagen breakdown process, so your best weapon against dark circles is a disciplined and consistent sunscreen application habit, including wearing sunglasses – less squinting, fewer lines!

Also, with age, the skin becomes more relaxed and droopy and becomes more prone to wrinkles. When talking about the area around the eyes, the muscles and tissue around the eye weaken over time, adding to the so-called wide eyes.

The aforementioned weight loss allows the fatty tissue surrounding the eye to bulge and create a bubble appearance.

DO GENETICS AFFECT THE APPEARANCE OF UNDER-EYE PACKS?

Furthermore, even the best habits can't change your genes. Genetics are the biggest determinant of what kind of skin we'll have and how we'll look as we age.

Those of you who have inherited fair or thin skin tend to see under-eye circles and dark circles more easily than others.

As more and more blood accumulates there, your delicate capillaries begin to stretch and strain under the weight – leading to more leakage and pooling of blood and ultimately even darker circles.

But for others, dark circles aren't caused by aging, sun exposure, or genetics. Sometimes it's simply allergies.

Year-round allergies—such as those to dust, mold, or the seasonal allergies that many of us experience in the spring—cause the release of histamine, which triggers an inflammatory reaction.

HOW TO REDUCE DARKNESS UNDER EYES AND CARE FOR THE EYE AREA?

There are different approaches to reducing under-eye puffiness, depending on its cause. Home treatments can temporarily reduce lower eyelids, which are sometimes puffy due to fluid accumulation in the under-eye area.

However, cosmetics cannot work miracles.

Below are some ways you can work on your eye area. But remember to be patient and consistent when trying a new routine. Follow the routine every day for 4 to 6 weeks.

If after this time you still don't see the results you want, move on to the next practice and see if it works better for reducing dark circles and undereye circles.

1. Cold compresses

Cooling the area around your eyes reduces inflammation and swelling by reducing blood flow. You can place anything cold, such as an ice pack, a frozen bag of vegetables, chilled cucumber slices, or chilled spoons, over your closed eyes for a few minutes.

A fantastic choice are L'ADRIA Eye patches, biodegradable pads for dark circles that provide a cooling effect and cannot cause frostbite.

2. Caffeine

Caffeine is a vasoconstrictor, meaning it constricts blood vessels. This is why L'ADRIA Eye patches contain caffeine, as it has been shown to reduce puffiness under the eyes. You can also try placing chilled black tea bags on your eyelids - that should help.

3. Reduce salt intake and drink more water.

Water, when you drink it, moves through your body from areas with the most water to areas with the least. Parts of your body that are low in sodium (salt) contain more water, while parts of your body with more sodium contain less water, and when your body doesn't get enough water.

But with too much salt, you can look and feel bloated.

The skin around your eyes is especially thin and sensitive to dehydration. When you eat a salty meal but don't drink enough water, your body will literally "look" dehydrated - like red and puffy eyes.

So if you plan to enjoy a salty meal, soften the effects with plenty of water.

Salt is dehydrating, but nothing is as dehydrating as alcohol. Whenever possible, stick to two drinks, drink plenty of water before bed, and apply a night cream or heavy eye moisturizer after a night out.

Also, foods like carrots, peppers, pineapple, as well as foods rich in vitamin C, have anti-inflammatory effects and help with bloating problems.

4. Sleep for 8 hours.

Nothing gets rid of dark circles like a full 8 hours of sleep! But sleeping on your side or stomach lets gravity do its job, which means fluid can pool under your eyes, so try sleeping on your back with an extra pillow under your head.

Rest is generally important because it will reduce your stress levels, and therefore your cortisol levels, which ultimately helps prevent dark circles. Rest not only gives your mind time to regenerate and rejuvenate, it does the same for your body.

If you have trouble sleeping, try reducing the time spent before bed and try some natural sleep aids.

5. Exercise and meditation

Regular exercise improves circulation, leading to better blood flow, which provides a more blood-filled, youthful complexion. What's more, the daily release of endorphins into your bloodstream protects against depression and anxiety, making you a happier and calmer person.

Also, meditating after a workout, before bed, or when you wake up, further helps you relax your mind and start or end your day properly. Meditation can also be done in the form of yoga or a few minutes of silence and rest after a workout.

6. Apply a moisturizing cream to the area around the eyes.

Don't forget the most basic good habit - apply moisturizer twice a day. Many people like to use retinoid creams for the eye area, but they can further dry out this sensitive area. That's why we suggest a moisturizer with anti-aging benefits, such as L'ADRIA Eye cream.

This cream will nourish and hydrate the area around the eyes, gradually rejuvenating it by reducing wrinkles, and is also an excellent base for makeup.

Another method is lymphatic drainage in the form of a gua sha stone massage. Focus on an upward and outward motion to encourage lymph movement.

Another option is the ever-popular jade roller, which helps improve lymphatic drainage. The proper way to use the roller is to gently roll towards your nose, not away from it.

You can also put the roller in the refrigerator first. Much like putting ice on a bruise to reduce swelling, a cold roller, gua sha stone is essential for tightening dark circles.

7. Remove makeup properly

Don't go to bed with makeup on and don't rub mascara or eyeliner in. It's important to be as gentle as possible around your eyes. Remove makeup with a cleanser ideal for your skin type and wash with warm or lukewarm water.

Water that is too hot acts as an inflammatory agent and will only make your eyes redder and puffier.

CONCLUSION

Eye care is extremely important, but it's not just genetics that play a big role, but also your lifestyle. To keep this sensitive area looking smooth and rested, you need to be disciplined - both in your life and in your skincare routine.