For radiance that doesn't rinse off with your face wash, trade your bronzes for a blender. Ian Stephen, a psychologist at Australia's Aquamarine University, and other researchers found that beta-carotene supplements give skin a healthy glow. Now Stephen is leading a team to test if drinking a daily smoothie rich in carotids—think: carrots, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, even romaine lettuce—has the same effect. Studies are ongoing, but he says the results look promising. Here's to a natural summery glow—minus the sun damage.
So many of the creams that claim to combat dark, puffy under-eye circles either aren't effective (“Eye cream is a marketing bonanza!” says Cybele Fish-man, MD, an integrative dermatologist in New York City), or are full of can’t-pronounce-them chemicals. But why would you treat such a sensitive, delicate part of your face so harshly?
Fortunately, mellower options abound, and they can effectively erase those blue half-moons—up to a point. “How deep your eye sockets are in relation to your brow and cheek bones will make light reflect in different ways,” Fish-man explains. “That’s why some patients say, I've always had dark circles, even when I was a child and got lots of sleep.’ ”
Here are 7 natural under-eye remedies that’ll help you work what your mom ma gave you.
I do my best to exercise 5 to 6 times a week, but there are days when I simply cannot pull myself out of bed in time to sweat before work, or when I'm traveling and my normal routine is completely thrown off track. Instead of completely scrapping my routine, I’ll try and squeeze in a few body weight exercises—namely squats, planks, chair dips and push-ups—throughout the day. These four moves give you a full-body toning and strength session in just a few minutes. I find that they also boost my energy and mood on days when I'm feeling tired, stressed or overwhelmed, too. (Are you tired, too? See 11 Fast Fixes For Energy.)
Many other fitness experts agree: "I like these moves because they use body weight for resistance," says Alice Barron, 45, a mother of four and a personal trainer in Cheyenne, Wyoming. "That means they're simple but still challenging, convenient, and inexpensive—and they work." To sneak in one set of all of these exercises would only take you about 5 minutes. To build muscle and burn calories, try to do three 5-minute mini workouts with these moves in one day. All in all, you’re only working out for 15 minutes.
: 25 Ways To Sneak In 10 Minutes Of Exercise
Personal trainer and co-author of Thin in 10 Weight-Loss Plan Liz Deponent agrees: "When you do these four moves you're hitting all of your major muscle groups effectively. And they're efficient because you don't waste time isolating one muscle group at a time, as some exercises tend to do, and instead work several major muscle groups in tandem. These integrated muscle movements use the body exactly as intended— the way you typically use them in daily activities and when you do sports and fitness activities. This helps you perform better and prevent injuries." (If you're injured, check out . How to Exercise When You're Hurting.)
Want to give it a try? Follow this workout from Barron and Deponent. Start with 1 set of 8 to 15 reps of each move (unless otherwise noted), and gradually build to 2 or 3 sets.
Great for toning your triceps and core
Sit on the edge of a sturdy, stable chair with legs together, knees bent and feet flat on floor a few feet in front of chair. Place your hands about six inches apart, and firmly grip the edges of the chair. Slide your butt just off the front of the chair so that your upper body is pointing straight down. Keep your abdominal s pulled in and your head centered between your shoulders. Bend your elbows and lower your body in a straight line. When your upper arms are parallel to the floor, push yourself back up, being careful not to lock elbows. Repeat. (Want more arms? Here's how to Tone Your Arms—In 10 Minutes!)
Make it easier: Keep feet close to the chair and the dip slow, controlled, and shallow.
Add a challenge: If you’re intermediate, position feet a little farther from chair, and deepen your dip. If you’re advanced, straighten your legs completely, and place heels on floor, or place one or both feet on another chair, bench or exercise ball. Perform deep but controlled dips.
Great for toning your chest, shoulders, triceps, back, hips, and abs
Start in a basic push-up position with hands directly beneath shoulders and body in a straight line. Bend elbows out to sides and lower body almost to floor (or as far as you can). Keep abs tight and body in a line. Hold for 1 second, then push back up. Repeat.
Make it easier: If you’re a beginner, do push-ups on knees. Keep the movement shallow and controlled. Still too challenging? Start with a push-up on the wall, progressing to the floor as you become stronger.
Add a challenge: If you’re advanced, try lifting one leg off the floor as you do each push-up. (Need a visual? Watch how to Master Push-Ups at Any Level.)
Great for toning your flutes, hamstrings and quads
Stand with feet parallel and hip-width apart. Bend your knees and lower your body into a squat position, as if you are sitting back into an imaginary chair, keeping knees behind toes. Stop when your knees are at 90 degrees. Slowly press through your heels and squeeze your gluten as you return to standing.
Make it easier: Don’t bend knees as deeply
Add a challenge: Add weights, do a single-legged squat, or perform squats on an unstable surface, like a balance disc or Bose ball. To incorporate cardiac, do squat jumps.
Got more time? Try the Love Your Lower Body workout.
Great for toning your abs, back, chest, forearms and shoulders
To come into plank pose, hold a push-up position, weight on balls of feet and hands, wrists directly below shoulders, arms straight, and body in line from head to heels. Hold for as long as you can, working up to 1 minute. That’s 1 rep. Do 2 or 3 reps.
Make it easier: Instead of being on hands, lower yourself to your forearms.
Add a challenge: Raise 1 leg off the floor and hold for 30 seconds. Switch legs and hold for another 30 seconds to complete 1 rep. To add variety, try side plank: Lie on your right side with your legs straight, and feet stacked, right hand directly under right shoulder. Lift hips off floor and raise left arm to sky, keeping left hand directly over left shoulder. Hold for 30 to 60 seconds. Switch sides and repeat to complete 1 rep.
Many foods promote skin health. Some are at their most beneficial when eaten raw:
Kale and Spinach
Kale and spinach help keep skin firm because they contain nutrients that provide extra protection from sun damage. Spinach is especially good because it is loaded with the nutrients beta-carotene and lutein, which have been shown to improve skin elasticity.
Tip: Try to get about three cups of either leafy green per week. Each is delicious as the foundation of a salad—even tastier mixed together.
Walnuts and Pistachios
Walnuts and pistachios are a rich source of vitamins B and E that help protect against cell damage. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that fights free radicals and oxidation that age the skin prematurely, while vitamin B1 aids circulation to give skin a healthy, youthful glow.
Tip: Pair nuts with a healthy carbohydrate like fruit to help slow down digestion and the breakdown of sugar.
Berries and Citrus
Berries are packed with age-defying antioxidants as well as fiber, a nutrient that helps eliminate toxins before they cause breakouts. Citrus fruits are loaded with vitamin C, a potent antioxidant that also boosts collagen production for soft, supple skin.
Tip: Think of a fresh citrus and berry salad as a delicious beauty treatment you eat!
Apples
Like citrus, apples are also high in vitamin C—helpful for collagen production. The copper in apples aids the production of melanin, the brown-black pigment in skin that works as a natural sun protector.
Tip: Add a chopped apple to your salad or yogurt.
Almond Milk
This nut milk is great for your skin because it contains collagen-boosting copper, as well as the mineral manganese, which helps protect skin from UV damage.
Tip: Use almond milk as you would regular milk, as a drink, on cereal, or blended with frozen fruit for a tasty, nutritious smoothie.
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