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. 

The Clarisonic Opal Sonic Infusion is the newest gadget in skin care. It is designed to treat puffiness and wrinkles under the eyes. The gadget whirls at 125 times per second to massage in an eye serum stored within the device. One or two presses of the top button delivers a pea sized amount of product recommended for both eyes. The serum plumps lines immediatly with firming peptides and hydrating trehalose ( a sugar). The device has a soft concave tip that pulsates for 30 seconds as it pumps the serum into the skin. The pulsating stimulates lymphatic drainage which decreases puffiness. The device runs for a preset period of time. $245 at Clairisonic.

While nothing short of a laser treatment can permanently and completely get rid of dark under eye circles, Hylexin is the best on the market for reducing them.

By the makers of Strivectin SD, Hylexin is formulated for the delicate skin around the eyes and specifically treats dark circles and puffiness. It's not a concealer, but using active ingredients that work to reduce the appearance of serious dark circles and discoloration in the peri-orbital (eye) area. Hylexin reduces the appearance of dark circles by reducing hemoglobin degradation byproducts by stimulating enzyme activity in the peri-orbital tissue. Optimal results can be expected in 30 days.

Available at NewSkinOasis, $75

I think it looks a bit painful, but apparently the skin derma roller can bring about a flawless complexion. There have been rumors that it is Angelina Jolie's secret to to her beautiful skin. It is a small hand held device, covered with tiny steel spikes, sharp, but not quite needles. You roll it over your skin, causing trauma to the epidermis and stimulating the repair process, thus boosting collagen production for a coveted youthful glow. The theory is the same behind lasers, which do work miracles. I would know, I swear by laser facials. The derma roller is safe for all skin types. Here are claimed results:

The derma rollers cost between $75 and $85, depending on 'needle' length.  

Allure magazine has picked it's best beauty and skincare treatments for 2009, and Relastin Eye Silk Firming Complex was named the best for treating under eye bags and puffiness. It is a topical skin treatment that stimulates new elastin growth, which results in tighter, more supple skin and a visible reduction in lines and wrinkles around the eyes.

How it works: Elastin is the protein in young skin that makes it spring back after every smile or frown.  With time, elastin production diminishes.  So the delicate under-eye skin can start to wrinkle or sag. Relastin eye silk clinically demonstrates an increase in elastin and significantly improves elasticity in the eye area.

The results: fewer lines and wrinkles, less puffiness and dark circles. 

Reviews: out of 19 surveyed who have used the product over 3 weeks, Relastin Eye Silk received 4.5 out of 5 stars, and some of the complaints were directed at the bottle and pump.

Costs: $69 at drugstore.com

Dark circles under the eyes can make even the most young and beautiful look old and tired. They can add years to your face, and are one of the most common beauty problems.

What causes them? Dark circles under the eye are the result of blood that pools in the vessels that lie close to the skins surface, which is why they can be almost impossible to hide. They can also arise when fat bulges out: light cannot be reflected properly, casting a shadow under the eye. Also, sun exposure can aggravate under eye darkness by boosting melanin production, as can allergies since they cause the veins to become congested and enlarged. A lack of sleep, as well as dehydration, can emphasize dark under eye circles.

How to prevent them? Some under eye darkness is genetic and related to inherently thin skin. The thinner the skin is under the eye the, more pigmentation shows through. Loading up on Vitamin K, both internally and with topical products, is a good option since it strengthens and clots blood vessels to stop the pooling that causes the darkness.

There are four ways to deal with the dark circles: a topical solution, an injectable solution, a laser solution, and a surgical solution.

The product solution: Hydroquinone based skin care products can help, but take some time to work and do not completely fade the circles. They will however lighten them. Murad Age Spot and Pigmentation Lightening Gel is a good product for this purpose.

The injectable solution: A way to counteract dark circles if they are the result of excess fat is with hyaluronic acid fillers. When injected into the shadows under the bag, they can camouflage the darkness by plumping up the area.

The laser solution: The most effective way to remove under eye circles caused by thin skin due to age or heredity is with a CO2 laser. The laser treats the whole face, plumping the skin, including the skin under the eyes. It also results in more under eye collagen production, ensuring lasting results.

The surgical solution: For the most dramatic difference in under eye circles due to bagginess is lower eyelid surgery. Once the protruding fat bag is removed, there is no puffy area to create a shadow.