The skin under your eyes is delicate and often becomes prone to forming dark circles due to a lack of sleep and dehydration. Dark under-eye circles a.k.a periorbital hyperpigmentation may also be caused due to hormonal issues, ageing, environmental factors, allergies, and certain medications that dilate the blood vessels.
Most people think that you need to use eye masks, moisturizers, eye creams, apply expensive beauty products, or even undergo expensive salon treatments to get rid of dark under-eye circles. While these can certainly help treat dark under-eye circles, it is also possible to remove dark circles under your eye using natural remedies such as applying coconut oil on your eyes.
How applying coconut oil can help get rid of dark circles?
Coconut oil is known as a superfood that provides a host of health benefits. However, when it comes to using coconut oil for dark circles, you should always use extra virgin coconut oil instead of refined coconut oil since the former is cold-pressed and doesn’t go through a bleaching process.
As a result, extra virgin coconut oil retains high concentrations of small-chain fatty acids and antioxidants that help to reduce inflammation, moisturize the skin, improve blood circulation, and protect the skin from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun.
A few studies have also suggested that applying plant oils such as extra virgin coconut oil under your eyes can improve cell turnover which may thicken the skin barrier. A thicker skin helps to make dark under-eye circles look less prominent. Plus, it also helps to reduce the puffiness associated with dehydration and causes the delicate skin under your eyes to heal faster if it has suffered any damage.
How to use coconut oil for dark circles?
To get rid of dark circles using coconut oil, you must have the right product and follow the correct process. Thus, you must get your hands on high-quality extra virgin coconut oil that is pure and free of any preservatives.
Now, simply follow the steps listed below to properly apply the extra virgin coconut oil on your eyes:
Gently wash your face and hands to get rid of any impurity on the skin. Make sure to thoroughly remove any makeup and other forms of beauty products on the face using a cleanser to allow the skin to better absorb the extra virgin coconut oil.
Pat dry the area under your eye using a tissue or soft towel.
Next, use your fingertips to apply a pea-size amount of extra virgin coconut oil over the affected area and gently massage the area in a circular motion for about 30 seconds. Make sure the oil is at room temperature.
Alternatively, you may simply pat the extra virgin coconut oil over the dark circles using two cotton balls instead of rubbing it to prevent damaging the delicate skin under the eye.
Since applying coconut oil makes your skin oily and greasy, it is recommended that you apply the coconut oil under your eyes just before bedtime. This also lets the skin absorb it completely. Rinse off the oil in the morning and follow the steps again every day or every alternate day until you start to notice the results.
Is it safe to apply coconut oil on the eyes?
Coconut oil is non-toxic and is considered safe to use, especially as a topical skin ingredient. However, a small minority of people may be allergic to it if they suffer from certain medical conditions. Thus, it’s necessary to make sure that you don’t have any side effects to coconut oil before applying it under your eyes.
To reduce any potential risks, you can do a test run by applying a tiny amount of coconut oil over a small portion of your skin, preferable over your forearms. Then, you have to monitor the patch of skin on your forearm for any negative reaction over 24 hours. If you don’t notice any allergic reaction to coconut oil, it should be safe to apply it under your eye to get rid of dark circles. Still, it is advised that you try to prevent the oil from getting into your eyes, mouth, or nose.
How long does it take to work?
Once you start to apply extra virgin coconut oil under your eyes every day or every alternate day, you should typically start to notice the results within two weeks. However, depending on the severity of the condition, it may take longer to get rid of the dark under-eye circles completely.
You should note that using coconut oil for treating dark circles is only a temporary solution. If you don’t notice any improvement even after regularly applying coconut oil under your eyes for over two weeks, you should consult a health professional to figure out the cause since it may indicate an underlying disease.
Can you boost the effectiveness of the treatment?
Extra virgin coconut oil can be combined with other natural ingredients to improve the effectiveness of the treatment. Here are a few suggestions:
Combining extra virgin coconut oil with lavender essential oil can give a boost to the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Coconut oil works well together with almond oil to make the skin supple, soft, and hydrated.
Coconut oil with lemon juice and honey helps to moisturize the skin better and also brightens the appearance of the skin.
Coconut oil with cucumber and potato offers a better hydrating effect on the skin and helps to reduce the swelling of your under-eyes.
Coconut oil and turmeric helps to make the skin lighter and keeps it moisturized.
Dark under-eye circles can be caused due to many reasons and it is crucial to take care of your overall health and practice healthy lifestyle habits such as maintaining a proper sleep schedule to manage this condition. It is safe and effective for most people to use natural ingredients such as coconut oil to treat dark under-eye circles.
The Extra Virgin Coconut Oil from Coconutty is made from 100% freshwater grown coconuts. It’s perfect as a natural skincare supplement since it’s pure, rich in antioxidants. and also helps to reduce inflammation naturally.