One of the most common and strongly disliked beauty pitfalls that most of us have experienced is dark circles and bags under the eyes. Depending on your age and health, these are usually caused by sleep deprivation and/or nutritional deficiencies, and it is sometimes possible to correct them by addressing the underlying cause. However, it is important to note that aging plays a significant role, and no method can work miracles. With that said, if you’ve recently noticed that you’re starting to develop dark circles or bags under your eyes, here are some things you can do restore the area:

1. Get More Sleep

By far the most common cause of this unsightly condition other than aging is lack of sleep. When you’re awake and upright, gravity is always pulling down on your skin, and the area around the eyes is particularly prone to sagging due to the weight of facial muscles and the softer area of skin that covers the bottom of the eyeball. It doesn’t matter if you’re working two jobs and studying for a masters in business administration online, make it your highest priority to get 8 hours of sleep per night and you’ll see an improvement.

2. Focus on Building Collagen

Another factor that plays a role is the production of collagen, which determines how full your lips look as well. Try to stay well-hydrated, eat collagen-building foods, and use facial creams that are known to boost collagen levels. However, be selective and don’t overdo it with the creams, as excessive use of some topical products could actually make the problem worse. Furthermore, many people make the mistake of massaging the creams into the area, which only serves to stretch and move the skin around – not good when you want conformity.

3. Apply Cold Water in the Morning

Apart from the force of gravity, the vascular features of the areas around the eye socket are also critical. When the blood vessels under the eyes are dilated, they allow a higher rate of fluid exchange between the tissues, which leads to puffiness that inflates and stretches the skin. This problem is greatest in the morning when blood pressure temporarily increases to accommodate the transition from lying down to standing. Applying cold water and/or ice for brief periods in the morning throughout the day will cause the blood vessels to constrict, thereby tightening the skin in the area.

4. Sleep with Two Pillows

Many people have found that sleeping with their head slightly elevated works to reduce the pooling of fluids to the area that often takes place during sleep. Likewise, some people have had good results doing the opposite during the day, by using a decompression table to suspend themselves upside down, which also can have excellent spinal benefits when done properly.

5. Eat the Right Foods and Do the Right Exercises

Diet and nutrition also play an important role in skin health, especially around the eyes. Take common sense steps to cut out junk food and eat more whole fruits and vegetables. Also, exercise is great, but try to limited the amount of jogging and running you’re doing, as the up and down motions create a lot of pressure.

Don’t Stress About It

Finally, stress can drastically worsen dark circles and bags under the eyes, along with exacerbating just about all other conditions as well. Just design a simple regimen based on the tips above and further research, stick to it, and don’t think about it too often. I personally used these tips to get rid of this problem when I was working towards my MBA degree online while also working a tough job, so I know they will be effective for you.

 *This is a collaborative post