Ever heard someone tease you for being unable to sleep based on the dark circles on your eyes and you just say, yes?  Then, you might be in for a long lecture.  A common misconception about eyebags is that it is caused by lack of sleep.  Eyebags is a collective word pertaining to anything under the eye: swell-like or puffy area, actual bags, dark circles and even, shadows and they are not entirely caused by lack of sleep. 

Eye bags are generally caused by age and improper diet and lifestyle.  It is theorized that age makes your body weak and this includes the ligaments that hold the little fat under the eye area and as a result, pushes the fat forward causing the bag.  Another theory is eating too much salty food which retains water while another is lack of exercise and body rest which makes the body weaker and thus reduced blood circulation.  Nasal allergies may also cause under-eye puffiness.

Plastic surgery or blepharoplasty is the fastest way to remove eye bags.  Botox and face lifts are often considered as part of the procedure.  But before you subject yourself to the knife, you should know that there are other natural ways to get rid of eyebags.

 (1) Proper Diet, Exercise and Sleep.  Any form of ailment is usually a result of abuse on the body.  Treating the body will help treat the problem.  Avoid salty food, exercise to remove excess salt and fat and give your body enough time to recuperate by sleeping at least 8 hours a day.  Drinking plenty of liquids will also help reduce salt and fat in the body.  Minimize smoking and alcohol and eat food rich in Vitamin K and Vitamin E.

(2) Relax the eye area.  Massage the eye area by gently tapping the eye area with your finger tips.  This will increase blood circulation and relax your eye muscles a bit.  Do at least once a day.  You may also apply a cold compress to help minimize the swelling and relax your eye further.  Usual cold compress regiments are potato slices, cucumber slices, back of the spoon, tea bags and or flower leaves.  Do at least once a day, leaving the cold compress 10-15 minutes with your eyes closed.

(3) Apply an eye cream with Vitamin K and Retinol or use under eye treatment available in drugstores.  This is not ultimately natural but use creams that are based on natural products.  You may also extract the liquid from Vitamin E capsules and place them over your eye (eyes closed) to help reduce eye bags.

The key to a successful natural treatment is discipline.  The natural way is something that is done on a regular basis and is not a one or two-session treatment compared to the surgery option.  It does not deliver immediate results but does help a person become healthy in totality, not just for the purposes of removing the eye bags. 

We all want tolook young and to look and feel younger some of us have declared war againstthose unsightly lines and marks. Since they were introduced, wrinkle creams havebecome rather popular among women since they are easy to find and they areaffordable as well. However, not all creams were created equal –while some areeffective, some aren’t the right fit for some women.

Retinol, which is bothan antioxidant and also a compound of Vitamin A, is one of the ingredients abuyer should look for. Retinol can erase existing wrinkles and also prevent theappearance of new ones. This ingredient is also good against fighting acne. TheCoenzyme Q10, like Retinol,has been gaining popularity as well. This is a nutrient which keeps cell energyproduction. This ingredient has no known side effects, and can reduce finewrinkles around the eyes. Sometimes, copper peptides can heal skin wounds andincrease collagen production. This helps keep skin supple and therefore,younger-looking. Copper peptides help enhance the effects of retinol. Naturalextracts from fruits and herbs can help rebuild elastin and collagen stores inthe skin. Pomegranate extract, Padina Pavonica, Indian Mulberry and Vitamin C,to name a few. Vitamin C, especially, can fight free radicals, and can helpagainst sun exposure.

Overall, it is good to search for products that are approved and tested inclinical trials, giving them more credibility. Look for before and afterphotographs in order to assess their effectivity and find out what works foryou.

I was in Sephoria last week shopping for a self tanner when the sales lady talked me into the Tarte CellufIGHT Self Tanner. I was told it would give a self tan but would also decrease cellulite. Here is what the company says:

celluFIGHT™ is formulated with skinTIGHT™ complex , a proprietary anti-cellulite complex that firms and tones skin while improving elasticity. Plant and bio-nutrient extracts boost cellular metabolism shedding excess fat tissue. Caffeine helps stimulate blood flow immediately reducing “the orange peel” effect on problem areas such as waist, hips, thighs and buttocks. This anti-cellulite natural self-tanner contains clinically-proven antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that prevent the long-term build-up of fat tissue under the skin.

Clinical Results:

My Review: The lotion is very thick, but not greasy and it makes my skin super soft. I used it on my face and it didn't make my skin look oily. I haven't noticed any cellulite reduction, but it's only been a week. As for the self tanner, it's very, very light and you have to apply it twice to notice any difference. That said, once the color does appear it's flawless in the even distribution on my whole body and face. There isn't a line or darker spot to be found, even by my wrists. It's rather expensive for self tanner, $40, but if you have the extra money, it's worth it.

Many people are cursed with over productive  sebaceous glands and are annoyed by it. Thegood news is, those with oily skin do not develop wrinkles as fast as thosewith dry skin. However, if your skin is too oily for comfort you should followthese simple rules:

Wash your Face

Washing your face three times daily is suggested for those withvery oily skin. Never use steaming hot water while washing because this onlydamages your skin and strip it off its much needed moisture. You should uselukewarm water.

Cleansers

Do not use skin cleansers that will make your skin very drybecause it only makes your skin produce more oil to keep it moisturized.

Moisturizers

If the usual cream moisturizer just makes your face look andfeel oily, you should get a water-based moisturizer. Water-based moisturizersare more advisable for people with very oily skin because they do notexacerbate the production of oil on the surface of your skin.

Retinoids

If you think you cannot fix your oily skin with the oneslisted above, you should talk to your dermatologist and ask for retinoids. Thisdrug reduces the production of oil in your skin. They are not sold over thecounter so it is best to consult your dermatologist first.

While many people have very oily skin, some belong to theother end of the spectrum. Having dry and flaky skin can be really annoying andif moisturizers are not enough, you should start a dry skin diet.

The right type of diet is vital to keep skin moisturized.Eating lots of vegetables is your no.1 priority. Although you must have heardthis a thousand times before, fruits and vegetables are good for you and goodfor your skin too. It provides the skin all the carbohydrates and proteins itneeds. Adding a handful of nuts in your every day diet is also essentialbecause nuts have essential fats that are good for the skin.

People with dry skin need to drink plenty of water every dayso that the skin is well hydrated. This alone can make you feel much better andyour skin look a lot better than before.

Eat eggs, garlic and onions. They are not only tasty butthey make your skin silky smooth. Apart from that, you should also use oliveoil instead of processed vegetable oils. Olive oil is the best oil in themarket and offers a wide range of other benefits aside from being a good ingredientfor those with dry skin.

Having dry skin is something you cannot change but if you eat the right types of food every day, you can make your skin look better.