Help! I Look Like a Zombie!

Do you suffer from dark circles and puffy skin under your eyes? Do you sometimes feel like you

My favorite little zombies!

should have a part in a zombie movie? I feel your pain. I've had hereditary dark circles and bags under my eyes all of my life so I've found some easy dark circle remedies that might help you.

Here are some of the causes of puffy eyes and dark circles:

• Allergies - (I'll write some articles later on natural allergy remedies)
• Heredity - Can't do much about that one except grab the cover-ups and try to use the remedies for the other causes in case they contribute.
• Too little sleep - I used to go to bed at 8pm when I was 12 in an attempt to get rid of my dark circles. That was in the days before I could use make up to cover them-lol
• Too much alcohol - Guilty of that a time or two.
• Too much sun - Guilty of that one too in years past.
• Not drinking enough water to flush out your system - Drinking those 8 glasses of water daily is probably the best and cheapest beauty tip you'll ever find.

Here are some remedies you can try to reduce dark circles and puffy eyes to look younger and more vibrant:

1. Cut back on alcohol, especially as you get older. Alcoholic drinks cause us to retain water and some of that excess fluid gets into the under eye area and causes puffiness. Alcohol dilates the blood vessels under the eyes as well, plus it causes inflammation in the body.
2. Get a good night’s sleep. Besides reducing stress and helping us to stay healthy, getting at least 7 hours sleep each night can help reduce the under eye circles and puffiness. Lack of sleep can cause fluid to collect under your eyes so the term “beauty sleep” is a very true one.
3. Limit sun exposure to your eye area – always wear sunglasses, plus apply a good sunscreen especially made for the delicate area under your eyes.
4. Be sure to get plenty of vitamins, such as A, B, C and E, which help overall skin and eye health. Fruits and veggies, especially greens can make a huge difference in the appearance of your eyes. Try adding a quality multivitamin to your anti-aging skincare routine.
5. Use a product with alpha hydroxy acids, which reduces under eyes darkness and puffiness. Alpha hydroxy acids help to plump up the thin skin under the eyes to help mask the blood vessels that help to create dark circles.
6. Avoid irritating your eyes and causing redness by choosing a lotion or cream specifically made for the sensitive skin under the eyes.
7. Applying cold compresses can decrease swelling and puffiness around your eyes and minimize dark circles. One old wives trick is to use cucumber slices fresh from the frig as an eye compress for younger looking eyes.
8. Under eye cover-ups can also help mask the dark circles. Be sure when you apply any cream or make up to the delicate under eye area, you use light, careful strokes and sweep upward and inward. Too much pulling and pressure can cause lines and wrinkles to appear as we get older.

Avon offers some great under eye cover-ups, as well as treatments and creams made especially for that delicate under eye area. Check out the Anew Genics Eye Treatment or my personal favorite, Anew Rejuvenate 24 hour Eye Moisturizer with SPF 25. Simply go to my website and click "Shop Now," then go to the skincare and make up sections to scan dozens of helpful products to help you be your most beautiful you.

It's not always possible to totally avoid under eye dark circles and eye puffiness, but using these tips, maybe you won't look like a zombie either. Have you found any good tips for more beautiful eyes? I would love to hear from you.