Remedies for eyebags, dark circles & a pepermint scrub!

Hello guys! If you've read my earlier posts, you'd probably be farmiliar with my lamenting about my dark eye circles (which are yes, panda black kind!). I have been trying out so many eye creams and eye products that I ended up with milia seeds under my eye and crows feet *upset*. Since my homemade facial products did well, I decided to explore homemaking some eye remedies, mainly either for puffy eyes and/or dark undereye rings. My dark undereye rings are unbeatable. I have to use both the bobbi brown corrector and concealer to turn my eyes to normal state... any eye highlighter or pure concealer is unable to fully cover! *Sobs* However I do have a problem with Bobbi's eye corrector/concealer as the cream based product cracks up after half a day even after sealing them with fine powder. Any touching up will only attempt to make it worse! 

So I decided... instead of focusing so much on covering these panda-cum-goldfish eyes with make-up, I have committed to try to solve the problem directly.

Today I'm going to share with you a few items (remedies for the eyes & peppermint face scrub) again! I'm so sorry for all the lengthy posts but I just can't wait to share these things with you! So enjoy and yup grab your cuppa tea before scrolling down! Enjoy!

Part A: All about Eyes 

1. Herbal Tea bags & Eyes

(Chamomile, Green Tea, Peppermint, Rose Hip etc)

Why chilled tea bags? They relieve puffy and swollen eyes. Applying with eyes closed will also help keep the lids and eyes moist. 

[However if you have sty (bump on eyelid/edge which happens due to bacteria getting into eyelashes and under the eye lids) try a hot mint tea compress which can be placed over your eyes 3 times a day for just 5 minutes each. It is said that the heat can help bacteria in the sty come to surface, therefore allowing you to directly eliminate the problem!] 

I particularly like peppermint tea bags for a few reasons:

(i) a cold mint tea eye compress (i.e. chilled tea bag) can help cleanse, reduce swelling of eyes with a cooling effect

(ii) they aid dry eyes more effectively

(iiI) more than often, dark eye rings can be linked to skin allergies and sinuses. Mint tea has healing effects for those due to its strong menthol aroma which will cause eyes to water and sinuses to tingle. All you need to do is to inhale the steam from mint tea. 

Chamomile tea will help to dis-inflame!  

How to get a cold compress eye treatment

(a) Put two tea bags in boiling water for 2 minutes

(b) Remove and place them in a tupperware or ziplock bag (cool it abit if you're using a ziplock) 

(c) cool in the refrigerator for 15 - 20 minutes

(d) After they are cooled, place them over closed eyes for 10 - 15 minutes! 

Tadah~ you're done! 

2. Cucumber, Potatoes & Apple

Both potatoes and cucumbers aid puffy eyes as they both help to reduce water retention. 

Cucumbers: has high amounts of ascorbic acid and caffeic acid

Potatoes: effective for dark eye circles due to liquid starch and an enzyme (cathecholase) used as a skin lightener

Apples: eliminates pigmentation issues in skin, regulate fine lines under the eyes

If you just want a cooling and soothing treat, a slice of chilled cucumber or a slice of chilled potato  on each eye is great too! It will moisturize

Cucumber & Potato Eye Mask - grate both ingredients (chilled) in equal portions, mix and squeeze the juices out! Apply the paste directly on your eyes or put them in an empty teabag before applying. 

You can do the same with apples + potatoes too. Just use 1 portion of apple for 4 portions of potatoes! 

3. Diet - avoid too much caffeine, salt and alcohol (unfortunately I'm a sucker for those things! *sobs*) 

4. Apply your eye moisturizers diligently! Try to use a cream moisturizer in the morning before applying eye makeup (they help to moisturizer your eyes and thereby keeping your makeup on better) and a gel moisturizer at night as they will firm and tighten the area better (this reduces swelling!)

5. Give your eyes sufficient rest - look away from your computer from time and time and get sufficient sleep! 

Part B: Peppermint Face Scrub 

So we've used the peppermint tea bags as cooling eye compress treats, then how do we make sure it doesn't waste? 

1. Drink it with or without honey! 

Peppermint tea is naturally caffeine free but provides a quick perk-me-up effect due to its menthol content. Apart from common knowledge of mint tea containing stress relieving effects (calms and relaxes muscles along intestinal tract) and warding off common colds, it is said to ease problems such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, spasms, colic, intestinal gas, indigestion and headaches (due to properties in peppermint that relax the lower esophageal sphincter, allowing the contents of the stomach to move upwards into the esophagus). Avoid drinking if you have reflux issues. 

2. Make a face scrub! (You can use this for your feet too!)

Ingredients: 

• 5 Tbsp Sugar
• 1 tsp baby oil 
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 1/4 tbsp thick peppermint tea

How to? 

(a) infuse 2 bags of peppermint tea in 1/3 cup boiling water, cool for 15 minutes

(b) add 3 tbsp sugar into bowl

(c) add 1 1/4 tbsp thick peppermint tea in 

(d) add 1 tsp baby oil

(e) add 2 tbsp sugar

(f) add 1 tbsp honey 

(g) mix and you're ready for your facial treat 

We should exfoliate once to thrice weekly, this will keep dead skin from building and getting into pores!