Hello!
Welcome to Sundar!
For the first entry into the blog I wanted to address a concern everyone that burns the candle at both ends wants a fix for - tired eyes and dark circles. Whether you're out late dancing with friends, after hours at the office or burning the midnight oil to cram for a test, you know the drill; and you dread looking in the morning mirror. Its usually when we have to look good for a date or event that we fret over tired eyes most...yikes!
The tender under eye area has few oil glands and thinner, less pliable skin than the rest of the face, so its no wonder fatigue shows up on this spot first. There are quite a few pick me ups for this area, so I figured I'd share the ones I have found useful. You'll get the best results with a cleansed face. If you have sensitive skin or allergies, always test a small skin area first or ask your physician's advice.
The Tea Bag Fix
I had really severe dark circles when I was younger. Between allergies and insomnia I regularly looked a wreck when I was only eighteen. I used store brand black tea bags; first steeped in the hot water to release the volatile oils, (and to enjoy an antioxidant-rich cup of tea)then placed in the freezer until they were chilled. You just lie back in the chair for about 15 minutes with the cool tea bags placed under your eyes. It feels great, and you emerge refreshed with lesser "bags" on your face. Its worth the extra time in your routine, and you can take advantage of this time to meditate, repeat affirmations, or get an extra wink in...I've been known to have the tea bags in the fridge; (no need to freeze if in overnight)then pop up with the alarm, grab the bags, and reset the alarm for 15 more blissful minutes-yay! You can tuck the tea bags in a baggie and stow them in your purse for later if you need another "pick up". I like to freeze them first if I'm carrying them with me - just watch out for the condensation as they warm, you could end up with a wet purse!
The tea bag that really is over the top outstanding for this procedure is my beloved Papaya Mint tea bags! These guys are hard to find, but worth seeking out at a health food store or Internet herb source. They are pretty inexpensive, too. I notice less dark circles with these.
Grandma's Standby - The Cucumber
Oops, that doesn't sound so good...oh well. My grandma is one of the most resourceful women I know, and she is never short on a solution or two cents worth of advice. I'm fortunate to have living grandparents at age 40, and one of the reasons is surely that these two eat so many fruits and veggies. So grandma saves about 2 inches of every cucumber that enters her fridge for her beauty regimen (she has lovely skin at 83). She slices the peeled cucumber very thin, and makes use of any chunks that didn't slice well by rubbing them all over her face. Then she relaxes in her recliner with the thin slices of cucumber under her eyes from 15 minutes to half an hour. They can be placed over the entire eye area too. Sometimes the pieces will slide a bit, so you just readjust them, or lie down instead. I use this technique whenever my grandma sends a cucumber home with me (I know, stop laughing, she really loves cucumbers!)and it works. You can apply your moisturizer right over the juice when you're through, unless you have sensitive skin. Cucumber is an excellent skin toner for the entire face, and they are inexpensive. The juice is also a natural diuretic. I slice cucumber in water in the summer..it sounds odd, but it is extremely refreshing with no burps! Remember that products with cucumber extract are good, but can never live up to the fresh enzymes of the real thing...cucumbers are indeed a girl's best friend!
Rose Quartz
Believe it or not, this mineral really lends itself to beauty. A stone of love and compassion, Rose Quartz is inexpensive due to its abundant supply and is a great rock to keep around the house, in the car, in the purse, or on your person to keep the love flowing and negative energies at bay. I seek out thin, flat, polished pieces to use on my face, and make sure they are thoroughly clean. Make sure the stones are not excessively heavy, as this is not good for your skin. We use these in my massage office for the face when someone gets a hot stone massage. You can order special rose quartz face stones from online suppliers. The stone stays naturally cool, and you can leave them in the fridge for a bit to cool them even more. Lie down, and gently place the stones around any "puffy" zones. After about 15 minutes, remove the stones, and check out your smoothed face. Sometimes the skin will feel damp if there was some edema, and may show a bit of redness. Jade is another great stone to use. In Japan, women massage their faces with polished jade for beauty.
Potatoes
Yup, having a strong Irish heritage, I always did believe potatoes were good for everything! They are good for under eyes circles and puffys for sure.
Wash, peel, and then thinly, thinly slice about and inch or so off a raw potato...watch your fingers! Cutting the portion of the potato resting on the counter flat makes it easier to slice it. Secure a relaxing place to lie down, and take the potato and a napkin/little towel with you. The slices tend to get drippy after a bit. Place the slices under your eyes, and avoid getting the juice in your eyes, it may irritate. Relax for about 15 minutes, discard the potatoes (after offering gratitude, of course:)) and rinse your face well. This is another trick I always go back to.
Well this is getting kinda long so I guess I'll have to list more eye fixes on another post. Enjoy!
Namaste,
Kim
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