“Fatigued” under eyes appearance characterized by thin, dark discolored skin under the eyes can be frustrating. At times, the skin lines of the lower eyelid appear more prominent than usual and the skin may appear even thin and saggy.
Remedies & Recommendations:
A natural ingredient that may help relieve the appearance of under eye puffiness is vaseline or petroleum jelly. This natural ingredient helps moisturize the skin around the eyes, locking in moisture and reducing puffiness and dryness that contribute that that “tired” look.
Vitamin C is another natural ingredient that functions as an antioxidant, protecting our skin from damage from free radicals. An added benefit of Vitamin C is it’s ability to lighten and brighten the appearance of the skin.
Coconut oil has been used for decades as an effective and relatively inexpensive moisturizer for skin, hair and nails due to its ability to lock in moisture and maintain the protective skin barrier. Containing lauric acid, coconut oil lubricates and softens the skin while also functioning as a mild antiseptic and normalizes the skin’s pH level—excellent qualities for healing dry, irritated skin. Coconut oil may also function in improving redness and 'wrinkly' appearance of dry skin under the eyes.
Caution with using potent retinol or retinoids close to the eye as these ingredients may be irritating and drying. The skin under the eye is delicate and it is of the utmost importance to moisturize the skin rather than dry the skin. A recommended product to improve the "creepiness" under the eye: La Roche-Posay Redermic R eyes retinol eye cream containing retinol, promoting firmness and hydration. Ingredients are safe and above all else provide optimum hydration with minimal irritation, both of which are favorites among my skin of color patients with acne-prone skin.
Products (other than what is mentioned above):
Use a hemorrhoid cream— Preparation H is a vasoconstrictor to help reduce under eye puffiness and aids in the blue-violaceous discoloration, contributing to the “tired” appearance. This easy trick can help maintain the coveted “well-rested” look, while saving you a few bucks (Preparation H, $20 Amazon). A word of caution for this inside beauty hack is to start with a small test spot and short contact time (<10 minutes) to avoid any unwanted irritation or rashes, especially in those with sensitive skin.
Cerave eye repair cream contains hyaluronic acid and ceramics which are both hydrating and plump the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines. This cream also contains niacinamide, an ingredient that helps reduce the redness and has some anti-inflammatory properties. An added bonus this product is hypoallergenic, fragrance-free and non-comedogenic (i.e. won't cause acne breakouts) making it ideal for acne-prone, sensitive skin.
EltaMD eye renew gel contains an ingredient called "HDI/Trimethylol hexyllactone crosspolymer" which helps brighten the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines by diffusing light as well as glycosaminoglycans, which is an ingredient that promotes collagen in the skin and around the blood vessels to help reduce the appearance of dark circles. This product also contains vitamin c, niacinamide as well as hydrating ingredients to help target and reduce redness and puffiness of the under eyes. I recommend using this eye gel twice daily (morning and evening) for optimal results.