Those dark circles can be a real eyesore

Many people have them: dark circles under their eyes. The skin beneath your eyes is very thin and discolours quickly. The advice against dark circles or a blue haze is often: “drink more water and get more sleep.” However, people who live healthily and get plenty of sleep can still get these circles. That’s because it’s genetically determined as well. Luckily, there’s something you can do about it and you’ve already got the solution in your kitchen.

The solution for dark circles under your eyes is… a potato!

Dark circles

A lot of people have dark circles under their eyes. This might in part be caused by fatigue, but it also has to do with your genetic make-up. Unfortunately, some people can drink all the water they want and get a ton of sleep but the circles won’t disappear. There are a lot of expensive creams and lotions out there that promise to reduce those dark circles, but you’ve already got the best ingredient in your kitchen cupboard.

Potato

Yes, you read that right: a potato is a perfect remedy against dark circles under your eyes. Potatoes are used against circles under your eyes because they’re naturally cool and therefore have a calming effect. Plus, they’re also ideal to use against a blue or dark haze under your eyes as they contain vitamin C and antioxidants that feed the skin. The coolness of the potato will cause the swelling to subside and that will make your eyes look more awake.

Catechol

So, how do potatoes battle dark circles? Potatoes contain catechol, which is an organic compound. It’s a natural substance that’s also often used in skin care products that are meant to lighten the skin. A lot of Asian make up focuses on bleaching the skin to get rid of pigmentation spots. Since this substance can only be found in potatoes to a small degree, it can cause the skin around your eyes to lighten in such a way that it will relieve you of the dark circles.

Go to the next page to find out how this trick with a potato works exactly!

Clean

Pick a regular potato, so not a sweet one or a red one. Peel and wash the potato properly, so you’re absolutely sure there’s no dirt left on it because that can cause your skin and eyes to get irritated.

This is how you do it

You can use the potato in a few different ways in your battle against dark circles. We’ll explain them all to you!

• Method 1: The easiest way is to simply cut the potato into thin slices and to place these slices underneath your eyes. Make sure the juice from the potato doesn’t end up in your eyes.
• Method 2: A different way is to first grate the potato. That way, a bit more moisture is released, which helps against the circles. Put the grated potato into a thin handkerchief and place this over your eyes.
• Method 3: Grate the potato and then push the grated potato through a sieve above a bowl. Use the back of a spoon to push the moisture from the potato into the bowl. Drench two cotton pads in the moisture and fold them in half. Place these folded up cotton pads under your eyes to let them do their thing.

Whatever method you choose, leave the potato (or cotton pad) on your eyes for 15 minutes to get optimal use out of it. Repeat this method every morning for the best results.