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

When we talk about the care routine, we often talk about hydration, oily T zone, pronounced pores, pimples, but the least talked about around the eye area . Your eye area requires the same amount of care as the rest of your face, so if you've ever wondered why you have puffy eyes, dry eye area 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 puffiness under the eyes

• High salt diet - eating a lot of salty food 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, the skin naturally loses collagen becomes thinner and thinner, and regardless of what kind of skin you have or how good your habits are, veins will inevitably begin to show through the thin skin around the eyes. As we already know, exposure to the sun accelerates the process of collagen breakdown, so your best weapon against dark circles is a disciplined and consistent habit of applying sunscreen, including wearing sunglasses – less squinting, less lines!

Also, with age, the skin relaxes and falls more and more and becomes more prone to the formation of wrinkles. When we talk about the eye area, the muscles and tissue around the eye weaken over time and add the so-called baggy eyes. The aforementioned weakening allows the fat surrounding the eye to bulge and create the appearance of bubbles.

DOES GENETICS INFLUENCE THE APPEARANCE OF UNDER-EYES?

Furthermore, even the best habits cannot change your genes. Genetics is the biggest determinant of what kind of skin we will have and how we will look as we age. Those of you who have inherited fair or thin skin tend to see under the capillary circles and dark circles more easily than others. Because 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 dark circles.

But for others, dark circles aren't caused by aging, sun exposure, or genetics. Sometimes it's simply a matter of allergies. Year-round allergies such as those to dust, mold or seasonal allergies that many of us experience in the spring - trigger the release of histamine that causes an inflammatory reaction.

HOW TO REDUCE DARK EYES AND TAKE CARE OF THE SURROUNDING EYE AREA?

There are different approaches to reducing puffiness under the eyes, depending on its cause. At-home treatments can temporarily reduce the lower eyelids, which are sometimes swollen due to fluid build-up in the under-eye area. However, cosmetics cannot work miracles.

Below are ways you can work on your eye area. But don't forget that you need to be patient and consistent when trying out 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 circles.

Cold compresses

Cooling the eye area 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. L'ADRIA Eye patches are also a fantastic choice. biodegradable pads for dark circles that give a cooling effect and cannot cause frostbite.

Caffeine

Caffeine is a vasoconstrictor, which means it narrows blood vessels. This is precisely why L'ADRIA Eye patches also contain caffeine, as it has been proven to reduce puffiness under the eyes. You can also try putting chilled black tea bags on your eyelids – it should help.

3. Reduce your salt intake and drink more water

Water, when you drink it, moves in your body from places with the most water to those with the least. Parts of your body that are low in sodium (salt) contain more water, while parts of your body that are high in sodium contain less water, and when your body is low on water but has too much salt, you can look and feel bloated.

The skin around the 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 dehydrates, but nothing dehydrates like alcohol. Whenever possible, stick to no more than two drinks, drink plenty of water before bed, and apply a night cream or heavy eye moisturizer after a night out.

Also, foods such as carrots, peppers, pineapples, as well as foods rich in vitamin C, have an anti-inflammatory effect and help with bloating problems.

4. Sleep for 8 hours

Nothing removes dark circles like a full 8 hours of sleep! But sleeping on your side or stomach allows gravity to do its work, 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 you 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, but it does the same for your body. If you have trouble sleeping, try cutting back on screen time before bed and try a number of natural sleep aids.

5. Exercise and meditation

Regular exercise improves circulation, leads to blood flow, which provides a more blood-supplied, i.e. more 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 training, before going to bed or when you get up, additionally helps you relax your mind and properly start or end the day. Meditation can also be done in the form of yoga or a few minutes of silence and rest after training.

6. Apply moisturizing cream for the eye area

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 moisturizing cream with anti-aging benefits , such as L'ADRIA Eye cream. This cream will nourish and hydrate the eye area, gradually rejuvenating it by reducing wrinkles, and at the same time it is an excellent base for make-up.

Another method is lymphatic drainage in the form of gua sha stone massage. Focus on moving upwards and outwards to encourage lymph movement. Another option is the ever popular jade roller which helps improve lymphatic drainage. The correct way to use the roller is to gently roll towards the nose, not away from it. Also, you can 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

Do not go to sleep with make-up on and do not rub mascara and eyeliner. It is important to be as gentle as possible with the eye area. Remove make-up with the selected make-up remover 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

Care of the eye area is extremely important, but it is greatly influenced not only by genetics, but also by your lifestyle. For the smooth appearance of this sensitive area, as well as for a rested look, you need to be disciplined - both in life and in your care routine.