Sunken Eyes: 5 Ways to Visibly Improve Hollow Under Eyes

How To Get Rid Of Sunken Eyes

For many, the answer will lie in the root cause. As each individual is different, understanding what may be causing your under eyes to appear sunken, hollow and dark will help to reveal the best action plan for addressing sunken eyes.

So, before you turn to expensive cosmetic procedures, you may just discover that the solution to your skin woes lies in the comfort of your own home. In this guide, we will cover common causes for hollowness and reveal natural ways that help to minimize the appearance of sunken eyes. Let’s get to it.

Sunken Eyes Causes

Sunken eyes, also referred to as “tear through hollows”, are caused by the natural aging process, genetics, as well as lifestyle factors ranging from chronic stress, poor nutrition, lack of sleep and physical exhaustion.

Aging

As we always say, aging is a privilege. However, we understand that the physical changes our body goes through are not always welcomed with open arms. As we age, we lose fat, bone density and collagen production decreases, causing a hollowing in the face that is especially noticeable around the eyes.

Unhealthy Diet

A diet lacking in fresh, nutrient-rich food can have a negative effect on your overall health, which in return can also shows up in your physical appearance, sometimes causing dark circles, rough skin texture and eyes to appear sunken and hollow.

Dehydration

Chronic dehydration caused by a lack of daily water intake over an extended period of time can have a negative effect on skin, causing early signs of aging such as wrinkles and sunken eyes. Consuming excessive amounts of caffeine can also have a diuretic effect, causing dehydration.

Lack Of Sleep

The beauty benefits of getting quality sleep are unparalleled. Your skin goes into repair mode when you are sleeping, producing collagen and repairing damage from UV exposure. This is why not getting enough sleep can cause eyes to appear sunken and a darkening of the skin.

Weight Loss

When you lose weight, the fat loss can cause eyes to appear sunken and hollow. If your diet is lacking healthy fats like omega-3 fatty acids (not all fat is bad) , it could be having a negative effect on other areas of the body, such as your skin.

Fatigue

Today’s fast paced life has a lot of people feeling stressed, overwhelmed and exhausted. And sometimes that leads to drinking an extra cup of coffee or energy drinks to make it through the day. This combination of exhaustion and excess caffein can be detrimental to health and cause your eyes to appear sunken.

How To Improve The Appearance of Sunken Eyes & Dark Circles Naturally

The best plan of action for addressing the appearance of sunken, hollow and dark eye area will depend on your unique needs and should be discussed with a professional. Below we share our top natural ways to address common causes of sunken eyes in the comfort of your own home.

Get On A Consistent Sleep Schedule

Healthy adults need 7-9 hours of quality sleep. And a consistent sleep schedule will outperform any skincare product. Set an alarm that reminds you to go to bed and wake up the same time every day. Avoid screens and any blue light electronics before going to bed. Re-evaluate your evening habits and look at the foods you consume in the evening. See if there are any tweaks that could promote a more restorative sleep. Even an innocent and healthy habit of consuming dark chocolate after dinner could be affecting you as dark chocolate contains roughly 12 mg of caffein per ounce.

Eat Foods That Support Skin Health

Many will argue that the foundation for healthy skin is a healthy diet. We recommend incorporating healthy fats (sardines, avocados, walnuts) and nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables (we’re looking at you kale and cantaloupe) into every meal to support optimal skin health. Supplements are not a substitute for a healthy diet. Also, reducing caffeine, inflammatory oils (canola, vegetable oil) and processed foods will undoubtedly have a positive effect on your complexion, not to mention boost your energy levels and natural glow.

Hydrate

Maintaining optimal hydration is great for your overall health and helps to reduce the appearance of sunken eyes; however, that doesn’t mean you should solely rely on drinking water. Water-rich foods help you to stay hydrated throughout the day. Some of our favorite, nutritionally-dense foods that help us hydrate our skin from within include: cucumber, lettuce, avocado, berries, cantaloupe and honeydew melon. It’s easier for your body (and skin) to retain hydration when it comes from whole foods. So, remember, drink and eat your water.

Incorporate Relaxing Activities

Studies show that relaxing activities such as mediation and yoga help to reduce stress hormones in our body, such as cortisol. These stress hormones disrupt your body’s processes which can lead to a break down in healthy collagen and elastin production. Incorporating stress reducing activities weekly may not only help to possibly reduce the appearance of sunken eyes, but can also positively benefit your mind and body.

Apply Topical Treatments For Sunken Eyes

And last but certainly not least, use a topical eye treatment that supports and cares for the delicate skin around the eyes, such as our Bright Eye Serum. Vitamin C, found in our Arctic-C Vitamin C Brightening Serum is a must have ingredient in any skincare routine. Studies show that topical vitamin C has the ability to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines and improve the look of uneven skin tone and dark spots.

Antioxidants also play a major role in promoting healthy-looking skin. Some of the most powerful antioxidants found in skincare include astaxanthin, vitamin E, C and A. When these are combined in a formula, antioxidants become more potent and effective at protecting our skin from free-radical damage. Also, don’t forget to apply sunscreen and wear a hat when going outdoors to protect your skin from UV damage.

Word of Caution: There are numerous articles that recommend using natural remedies such as lemon juice and apple cider vinegar on skin. We highly recommend that you NOT apply these to your skin as there are no benefits and they actually have the potential to do more harm than good to the delicate skin around the eyes.

The Bottom Line

As much as sunken eyes can be bothersome, let us kindly remind you that when it comes to your skin, a healthy dose of acceptance is good for the mind, body and soul. We should not aim for perfection or unrealistic results, after all, skin is a living organ and imperfections are normal signs of a life lived. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t care for your skin in the best way you can. So next time you cleanse your face or apply your vitamin C serum, repeat after us “I am beautiful just as I am.” Because you really are!

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