History describes her as a woman of extraordinary beauty, almost fairytale, capable of making leaders fall in love with her. If we close our eyes we can probably imagine her taking care of her skin with masks with Nile mud, sandalwood essences and donkey milk baths. We are talking about Cleopatra, probably the most famous and admired among the queens of Egypt. And how many times, probably with a hint of envy, have we idealized her face, imagining it perfect, without flaws. Well, the truth seems a little different. What if I told you that Cleopatra had a long chin, thin lips and a nice pair of bags under her eyes? The queen of Egypt had to be just like that, in fact there is a representation of her on an ancient Roman coin dating back to 32 BC. and currently kept in the Museum of the University of Newcastle, Great Britain. In short, the portrait of a woman of almost 40 years who, between worries and four children, could show on her face some human signs of fatigue that did not, however, affect her charm at all. In any case, starting with Cleopatra, bags and dark circles under the eyes have resisted for centuries and we too can find ourselves struggling with these small signs of fatigue and of difficult microcirculation. However, with some tricks and natural remedies, it is possible to relieve tired eyes, move stagnation and decongest the area around the eyes, for a fresher look.
Nature and science against dark circles and bags under the eyes
Parsley can be a precious ally against dark circles! Indeed, parsley contains vitamins K and C which have been shown to counteract the dark circles around the eyes (Ahmadraji et al, Adv Biomed res, 2015). While for the swelling around the eyes, a help comes from tea which, thanks to its content in tannins and polyphenols, is decongestant and reduces swelling around the eyes (Koch et al, Molecules, 2019). Bring a cup of water to a boil. Then remove from the heat and add 2 teaspoon of black tea and 1 teaspoon of chopped parsley. Let it rest for ten minutes, then filter and place in the fridge to cool down for half an hour. Then take the lotion from the fridge, add ice cubes, soak two gauze pads and use them as a compress on the eyes. Change the gauze after a few minutes. Finally, rinse your face and apply a nourishing product. Excellent is prickly pear oil which, due to its high content of vitamin E, improves circulation around the eyes and fights bags and dark circles, counteracting hyperpigmentation (Gendler et al, Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 2005). In the area around the eyes, you can perform a gentle massage with your fingers lightly soaked in the oil, sliding your fingers from the nose towards the temples and gently tapping the area, to counteract swelling and stimulate drainage (Gendler et al, Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 2005). However, don't overdo it because the skin around the eyes is very delicate. Finally, don't forget a grandmother's remedy that is really timeless. It may be useful, in fact, to counteract the swelling around the eyes to apply a slice of potato directly on the eyelids (Umadevi et al, Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies, 2013). The potato is soothing, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, thanks to the presence of vitamin C, decongestant and capable of counteracting eye fatigue. Wash the potato well and, without peeling it, cut a couple of slices to place on the closed eyelids for about ten minutes. Then rinse and apply a cream or serum to the area.
