Dark Circles? 3 Natural Remedies for Under Eye Bags

There are two types of people in the world: those who wake up with puffy eyes and dark circles and those who don’t. If you’re the latter, consider yourself a lucky one. Most aren’t as fortunate. No matter how much deep sleep your Oura Ring congratulates you on, you still seem to wake up looking like your neighborhood raccoon (hey, raccoons are kinda cute!). But fear not, because there are natural remedies for under eye bags and dark circles. In this article, I share three natural and simple fixes for your dark, puffy eyes. 

Causes of dark circles around eyes 

Poor Sleep & Adrenal Fatigue 

Poor sleep is the number one cause of dark circles around the eyes, for most people at least. If you haven’t had dark circles or puffy eyes since you were a child, there’s a good chance you’re lacking good Z’s. 

But what are the causes of poor sleep? Adrenal fatigue (AF) is one of the causes of poor sleep, and unfortunately, one of the effects. Yup, this is what we call a vicious cycle. Chronic stress from financial issues, relationship problems, media, and a pandemic can all wear on the adrenal glands. Most people who suffer from AF not only don’t know they’re suffering from AF, but also don’t know that it’s the main thing wreaking havoc on their sleep cycle. Even if you are getting a solid 8 hours a night of sleep, you still wake up fatigued and exhausted if you have AF. And chances are, your under eyes are your proof. Addressing and healing adrenal fatigue is crucial to clearing up those dreaded dark circles and looking and feeling alive and rejuvenated—more on this in the simple fixes section below. 

Bone structure 

Deep tear troughs under your eyes can cause shadowing and indentations that can show the appearance of darkness. As you age, collagen production slows in the body, potentially exacerbating this issue. Supporting collagen production is essential to clear this cause. 

Hereditary 

I don’t want you to call up your parents and blame them, but well…it could be their fault. Mom and Dad can be responsible for passing on dark circles and puffy under eye bags—especially if they are of Italian or Mediterranean heritage. But don’t worry, just because you were born with it doesn’t mean you can’t give that area some internal and external love for a brighter complexion. 

Sleeping on stomach 

I’m going to step on some people’s toes here (probably my own). Sleeping on your stomach harnesses gravity in all the worst ways. It causes water to pool under your eyes and applies pressure to delicate skin, eventually leading to bigger bags. If you want your eyes to stay tight, try sleeping on your back with your head slightly propped up so fluid can’t form around your eyes. 

Kidney energetic deficiency 

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, under eye puffiness and darkness can be a result of kidney energetic deficiency. When kidney energy is out of balance, it may manifest as chronic fear, anxiety, insecurity, and feelings of aloofness or isolation. It’s important to restore kidney energy. You can do this by seeing a Chinese Medicine Doctor for an herbal formula or seeing an acupuncturist. 

Allergies and sensitivities

Puffy eyes and dark circles can be a result of allergies. Allergies trigger a histamine response in our body, which causes blood vessels to dilate. Not only can this enhance the blueish purple appearance, but it can also stuff you up, exacerbating bagginess. When I say allergies, I’m not just talking about pollen from spring flowers; I’m also talking about food intolerances like gluten. Yup, try ditching gluten for 30 days and see how much your under eye complexion changes. More on the foods to avoid in the fixes section below. 

3 Natural Remedies for Under Eye Bags and Dark Circles

Now that we know all the causes, it’s time to call up your parents. Just kidding. It’s time to take control of your life and under eyes! Here are 3 natural remedies. 

1.Befriend Nature 

We talked about how poor sleep and adrenal fatigue are major players in under eye circles and bags, so how do we fix it? First things first, you must incorporate a stress management plan into your daily routine. This can look like morning/nighttime dump journaling, a meditation practice, calming movement, dancing, singing, walking in nature, etc. After you commit to a daily stress-reduction plan, it’s time to befriend nature a little more. 

When I say befriend nature, I mean to harness the power of nature to nourish your body! Incorporate herbs and foods great for blood circulation, like dark leafy greens. (Don’t like to eat greens, try our Organic Immunity Greens powder, it’s absolutely delicious and so easy to use!). 

Focus on stress-reducing herbs and adaptogens like ashwagandha, reishi, and Schisandra. Add clinically proven collagen into your morning routine as well. This has been a game-changer for me. Our clinically proven collagen (which has ashwagandha and Schisandra in it!) can be added to coffee, water, pancakes, oatmeal, or alternative milk for a delicious collagen boost and stress reduction. 

The beauty of focusing on healthy foods and nutrients means that you’ll crowd out more of the bad stuff like processed foods! Ditch processed sugars and foods that raise blood sugar and cause a crash. This is essential for healing adrenal fatigue and fighting dark circles. 

2. Stay Hydrated 

Your morning cup of coffee may make you feel slightly more alert, but it’s not going to change the look of your under eyes. In fact, it’s just going to make it worse. Caffeine is naturally dehydrating, so not only are we losing our glow factor, we’re exacerbating dark circles. We’re also making ourselves more tired with this placebo energy boost. Our brain and organs need water to function properly. Alcohol is also naturally dehydrating, causing the eye skin to look darker and saggier. Consuming alcohol and coffee regularly can speed up the loss of collagen from our skin. 

The key here is to stay hydrated and healthy. That means increasing your intake of pure water and electrolytes. One of my favorite ways to stay properly hydrated is with our Hydration Superfood Energy. Our strawberry-kiwi powder makes drinking water easy. Not only does it have powerful electrolytes, but it also contains naturally energy-boosting vitamins and minerals. Adding this product to your daily routine is sure to have incredible benefits for your insides and outsides, especially your skin complexion. 

3. Support Your Skin Topically  

While internal remedies are going to have the most impact on your under eyes, you can also use topical remedies to help with quick fixes. Here are some of the best ways to support your under eyes topically:

Using tea bags under your eyes is an old wives’ tale that actually works. Caffeine may be bad when used internally, but when used externally, it can be an effective treatment. Brew two tea bags and let caffeinated tea (like green tea) chill in the fridge. Once cool, place a bag over each eye and relax for 10 to 15 minutes. (this is also a great trick for helping with adrenal fatigue0. 

Cucumber slices are also another old wives tale that helps reduce puffiness and increase hydration to the area. Apply a cucumber slice to each eye for 10-15 minutes. 

Turmeric and rosewater are an incredible anti-inflammatory combo for your under eyes. Sprinkle turmeric into pure rose water and soak two large organic cotton balls in the concoction. Squeeze excess from cotton balls and place over eyes for 10-15 minutes. 

I also love to use geranium essential oil facial steep to combat dark circles. Learn more about the power of geranium essential oil for skin and anti-aging here. 

Lastly, consider rolling it out with a facial roller! A rose quartz facial roller can help reduce puffiness and bring clean blood to the under eyes for a brighter complexion. 

Now that you understand the causes of dark under eye bags and circles, I hope you’ve made a plan of action. What are your favorite tips and tricks that I mentioned in the article? 

Let me know in the comments below. If you think you are suffering from adrenal fatigue and that is your root cause, don’t forget to check out our  Superfoods Bundle. When you bundle, you’ll get a free superfood whisk (incredible frother!) and recipe guide. And remember, you are BEAUTIFUL!