All-natural care for the skin around your eyes

The skin around your eyes is extremely sensitive and requires special care. Eye creams provide moisture to this delicate skin, which must be kept properly hydrated. Learn what else you can do to help to treat dark circles and wrinkles.

• Plant-based eye creams are available in most pharmacies: they contain eyebright, pot marigold, aloe vera, and oils such as wheat germ, avocado, and macadamia. Apply them morning and night.
• Using easily-spreadable plant oils, such as almond, apricot, jojoba, and coconut oil, is an excellent way to moisturize the sensitive areas around your eyes and keep your skin smooth. Apply a few drops directly on your skin or moisten a gauze bandage or cotton pad with oil and place it onto your closed eyes and the surrounding skin.

Whether the cause is lack of sleep, allergies, or even just aging, no one looks their best with dark circles under the eyes. Dark circles appear when your blood vessels show through the delicate skin under your eyes.

• Eye creams or gels containing horse chestnut or butcher's broom promote circulation, helping to banish circles under your eyes.
• Mix 15 millilitres (one tablespoon) of egg white mixed with 45 millilitres (three tablespoons) of plain yogurt to make a refreshing eye mask. Dab onto the circles under your eyes and let the mask dry, then rinse with warm water.
• To make an invigorating eye compress, pour 250 millilitres (one cup) of boiling water over five millilitres (one teaspoon) each of eyebright and linden flowers. Steep for five minutes and strain. Moisten two cotton pads or balls with the cooled liquid and place onto your closed eyes for a few minutes.
• One easy way to eliminate circles under the eyes is to place fresh, cold cucumber slices onto your eyelids. If you're in a hurry, use concealer to cover circles and provide a little visual first aid.

Before applying an eye moisturizer, cream, or oil, clean the area around your eye by dabbing it carefully with a plant-based cleanser on a cotton pad. Since the skin around your eyes is very delicate, eye care products should not be rubbed in. Instead, carefully apply them with your fingertip and pat them in gently below the eye, starting from the outside in.