Skin Care
Here's How to Get Rid of Dark Circles Under Your Eyes — and Never Look Tired AgainWe called in an expert for a solution to the wintertime beauty woe that affects the most of our readers |
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"Smoking can definitely produce dark circles, as it interferes with the blood flow to the skin under the eyes," says Jaliman. Smoking breaks down your collagen, which makes your skin thin and weak. Not only will this encourage wrinkles, it also thins out your already-thin under eye area.
Research also shows that smokers are four times more likely than non-smokers to feel unrested after a night's sleep, and it ain't called beauty rest for nothing. All that tossing and turning doesn't allow your skin to repair itself overnight, and instead of leaving you rested, it leaves you with bags under your eyes.
"Dark circles can also come from alcohol, as alcohol dehydrates you so you can more easily see the vessels under the eyes," says Jaliman. Like cigarettes, alcohol — even one drink before bed — can sabotage your sleep efforts. While alcohol may help you fall asleep, it doesn't help you stay asleep. In fact, in the wee hours of the morning, it makes you toss and turn, so that your sleep is anything but restful.
The Solution: The good news: Studies have shown that blood flow improves within months of quitting smoking. Over time, damage to blood vessels is repaired. That's no excuse to keep it up now, promising you'll quit "one day," though. Those "smoker's lines" (from constantly pursed lips) can't be reversed. Someone, knock that weekly American Spirit out of Gwyneth Paltrow's hand!
SEE NEXT PAGE: Your Allergies Are Giving You Under-Eye Bags
