Who said that to take care of your skin you need to apply very expensive products with many ingredients? When it comes to nature, simplicity is the real secret. And so, today we will see how to make a gel dedicated to the eye contour area at home and in a few steps, useful for combating dark circles, bags under the eyes and crow's feet. This gel is made with few ingredients, such as sodium hyaluronate, which is derived from hyaluronic acid, rose water, green tea, vitamin A and vitamin C, all easily available in pharmacies, herbalists and specialty stores, including online shops. But before seeing how to make this cosmetic let's try to understand what science says about the properties of the used ingredients!
Anti-dark circles ingredients, what science says
Sodium hyaluronate is a low molecular weight hyaluronic acid salt, a feature that makes it easier for this substance to overcome the barrier of the epidermis and act with anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, moisturizing and regenerating properties, also capable of stimulating collagen production, giving the skin tone and elasticity (Schlesinger et al, J Clin Aesthet Dermatol., 2014 - Bauer et al, J Oncol Pharm Pract, 2009). Green tea contains caffeine that, when added to eye contour cosmetics, has been shown to counteract dark circles and bags under the eyes (Ahmadraji et al, Adv Biomed Res, 2015). Not only that, green tea also provides antioxidants that protect this delicate area from the processes of aging, dry and dehydrated skin (Katiyar et al, Curr Drug Targets Immune Endocr Metabol Disord, 2003). Against bags under the eyes, John Hopkins University recommends using cold compresses, in order to reduce inflammation and swelling. Finally, studies have observed that using an eye contour gel containing vitamin A and vitamin C, precisely in the quantities that will be used in the cosmetic that we are going to prepare, effectively countered dark circles, dark coloring around the eyes and wrinkles (Mitsuishi et al, J Cosmet Dermaol, 2004).
DIY gel against bags and dark circles
In a bowl pour 100 grams of rose water, which also has an anti-dark circle action (Duroux et al, Molecules, 2020). If you do not have rose water, you can use distilled water or, in the absence of distilled water, previously boiled water. Add 2 tablespoons of green tea and steep for a day. Then filter, add 5 grams of sodium hyaluronate, 2 drops of vitamin A and 2 drops of vitamin C. Place the gel that will have formed in a closed jar to keep in the refrigerator for no more than a month. Use in the evening, tapping the product on the eye contour.
