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6 home ingredients that will get rid of dark circles
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Here is the secret to getting rid of annoying puffiness and those pesky dark circles! - photo by Liset Rivet
Do your under eye circles seem to be getting bigger and bigger lately? Other than throwing on some concealer, there is nothing you can do about them, right?

Wrong!

The truth is, many remedies that remove eye puffiness can be made with items you have in your kitchen.

But first off, here are two important things that greatly contribute to the dark circles in the first place:

For one, sleep is the biggest priority for any person when it comes to health and beauty. Your body takes time to rejuvenate your skin, hair, nails and other health priorities when you are asleep. Most average adults need eight hours of sleep every night, and it is crucial that you try to get an ample amount of sleep.

Also, taking multi-vitamins will replenish your body's needs. Personally I take vitamin E, which acts as an antioxidant for your body. Vitamin E contributes to protecting sensitive skin cells from harmful radicals and rebuilds lost energy.

Regardless of those two options, here are six easy ingredients that might help you remove all your under eye baggage:

1. Ice

You read correctly. Ice is water and seeing that your body is made up of mostly water, frozen water can help especially with those bags and any puffiness. Holding ice under your eyes for three to five minutes every night will help bring down swelling. Make sure you apply the ice with no makeup on and let the area cool on its own after.

2. Cucumbers

Most women have heard of this trick and I have been using it for years now so I can testify about its miracles! Cut a slice from a cucumber and just cut that piece in half and place it under your eyes for 20 minutes. Cucumbers can be an extra treat to your skin even after taking your vitamins and getting enough sleep. I normally pair the cucumbers with a facemask just to give my skin some extra pampering.

3. Aloe vera

My mother taught me this trick. You cut a stem of the plant (being careful with the thorns along the sides) and cut the stem in half so the inside can be mashed together into a sticky consistency. After blending, apply the clear remedy under your eyes and go to sleep for the night. Your skin will absorb all of the antioxidants the plant offers.

4. Almond oil

You can easily buy this oil online or in your local drugstore. Applying almond oil every night will alleviate dark circles and also help your overall skin health. Almonds are rich in vitamin E and contain proteins that are essential to promoting the skin.

5. Raw potato

I know this one sounds strange but apart from that, it truly makes a difference! Potatoes work as a natural bleacher against your skin and will reduce the appearance of those dark circles. They also have anti-inflammatory properties that will reduce bags under your eyes. Leave it on your eyes for 10 minutes every night to allow your skin to absorb its properties.

6. Tea bags

Green or black tea bags work best for this method. Refrigerate your tea bags over night and place them on your under eye area for 15 minutes the following morning. The contents in the bags have substances that work to reduce swelling and any inflammation. Of all the ingredients mentioned, I find this one to be the quickest and most potent. Don't leave the tea bags on your eyes longer than 15 minutes because it could easily dry out your skin.

People have been trying to make those puffy under bags disappear for years! Keeping yourself healthy is the one sure way to keep yourself looking great, and being committed to the methods mentioned above will aid in that process.
Its toxic: New study says blue light from tech devices can speed up blindness
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A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers. - photo by Herb Scribner
It turns out checking Twitter or Facebook before bed is bad for your health.

A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers.

That process can lead to age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, according to the researchs extract.

Blue light is a common issue for many modern Americans. Blue light is emitted from screens, most notably at night, causing sleep loss, eye strain and a number of other issues.

Dr. Ajith Karunarathne, assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said our constant exposure to blue light cant be blocked by the lens or cornea.

"It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina. Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop, he said.

Macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease that often affects those in their 50s or 60s. It occurs after the death of photoreceptor cells in the retina. Those cells need retinal to sense light and help signal the brain.

The research team found blue light exposure created poisonous chemical molecules that killed photoreceptor cells

"It's toxic. If you shine blue light on retinal, the retinal kills photoreceptor cells as the signaling molecule on the membrane dissolves," said Kasun Ratnayake, a Ph.D. student researcher working in Karunarathne's cellular photo chemistry group. "Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they're dead, they're dead for good."

However, the researchers found a molecule called alpha-tocopherol, which comes from Vitamin E, can help prevent cell death, according to Futurism.

The researchers plan to review how light from TVs, cellphones and tablet screens affect the eyes as well.

"If you look at the amount of light coming out of your cellphone, it's not great but it seems tolerable," said Dr. John Payton, visiting assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "Some cellphone companies are adding blue-light filters to the screens, and I think that is a good idea."

Indeed, Apple released a Night Shift mode two years ago to help quell blue lights strain on the eyes, according to The Verge. The screen will dim into a warmer, orange light that will cause less stress on the eyes.