My sleeping habits have gone from bad to worse. My working hours start from 11 pm and end at conservatively 3 am… I might as well be living in a different time zone. Thus, the sad reality of my raccoon eyes. But did you know that even if you do get plenty of sleep, you still can get dark circles under your eyes?

Here are some of the most common causes of under-eye circles: (according to Mayo Clinic)

1. Allergies
2. Atopic dermatitis (more commonly known as eczema)
3. Lifestyle factors, such as smoking and drinking alcohol AND caffeinated sodas (oh no! does that mean COKE??????!!!!)
4. Nasal Congestion (which dilates and darkens the veins that drain from your eyes to your nose) – hmmm now I know…
5. Pigmentation irregularites
6. Sun exposure, which prompts your body to produce MELANIN, the pigment that gives skin its color
7. Thinning skin and loss of fat and collagen – common as you age (whaaaaat?) which makes the reddish-blue blood vessels under your eyes more obvious

What to do???

Who wants to have “twilight” eyes? Well, if you’re into New Moon and True Blood (is that correct?) then you wouldn’t probably mind. For those who do, here are a few things to remember to take care of those peepers and eventually avoid those dark circles:

• Keep it cool. Try placing a cold compress, a bag of frozen peas or two cucumber slices on your eyes to reduce dilated and discolored under-eye blood vessels.
• Keep it high. Elevate your head with two or more pillows to prevent puffiness that develops when fluid accumulates in your lower eyelids.
• More is more. Short nights don’t usually cause under-eye circles but a lack of sleep makes you paler and more hollow-eyed, so shadows and circles are more obvious. OUCH! I need to get more sleep Ü
• I wear my sunglasses at night. Although a tan might hide dark circles in the short term, in the long run, the extra pigment it produces can make circles worse. Use sunscreen!!!
• Keep it clear. Rinsing your sinuses with a saltwater solution (mix 1/4 teaspoon sea salt with 2 cups warm water) or over the counter saline spray can help relieve and clear nasal congestion. I’ve seen this done, but I don’t think I’m brave enough to shoot water up my nostrils. ewww!
• Keep it hydrated. Hundreds of cosmetics and skin creams are out there waiting for you. Look for one that has vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin E and retinol in its formulation.
• Keep it hidden. If worse comes to worse and you need a quick solution pronto, then the right concealer can do the trick for you. If the circles under your eyes are bluish, use a peach-colored concealer, not one that’s white or gray.
• Handle with care. Don’t forget, the skin around our eyes is delicate, that’s why we need to be gentle whenever we apply anything to it. Use your ring finger to dab eye make up or apply night creams.

So I must do as I preach because it’s way past my bedtime. I’m off to bed!!!!

Later, folks!