If your eyes are puffy with dark shadows, it shows you are not getting enough sleep. One can get dark circles and puffy eyes if you had a late night out or didn't have a night's sleep or cried your heart out. But, you can make them fade fast.

Preventive methods :

For dark circles :

. Gently wash the face, then apply a skin tightening moisturizer around the eyes.

. Grind a raw potato and add almond paste to it. Use the mixture regularly on the under-eyes to get rid of dark circles and puffiness.

. Increase your daily intake of water to minimum 8 to 10 glasses.

. Apply fresh fig on the eyes.

. Place two cucumber slices over the eyes and rest for 15 minutes or apply cucumber juice under eyes.

. Getting enough sleep at least 8-10 hours a day, can fade out dark circles

For puffy eyes :

. The puffiness of the eyes can be reduced with a glass of ice water and four stainless steel spoons. Chill the spoons in the water and then place one over each eye. When the spoons become warm, switch them with the others chilling in the glass of water. Keep switching until you see improvement.

. Settle down for two to five minutes with a chilled, steeped chamomile or green tea bag over each eye. The natural properties of these herbal teas helps to bring puffy eyes back down to size.

. Cucumber contains anti-inflammatory properties to reduce redness and puffiness of eyes. Slice a large cucumber, reserve two slices to place over eyes. Peel and puree the remaining cucumber. This can be applied as a pack onto your face. Remove after fifteen minutes. Apply moisturiser thickly to seal in water.

Crow's-feet are those wrinkles or tiny lines at the corner of the eyes. Once it appears, it is difficult to make it fade. It can only be faded with the aid of injections or cosmetic surgery. It is better to prevent them from occurring in the first place.

. Wear a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or more to avoid the ultra violet rays of the sun which cause wrinkles on the skin.

. Always wear sunglasses when you go out in the sun.

. Sleeping on your back helps smooth out the wrinkles because gravity works to pull the skin backward. If you cannot sleep on your back, at least try to switch sides frequently.

. The skin below your eyes is thin and has few oil producing glands. So don't pull, tag or drag it as you apply and remove make up. Any time you apply cream or lotion, dab, don't rub.

. Regular use of Retin-A cream, an acne product that exfoliates the skin, also improves the appearance of fine crow's-feet

Caring For Your Delicate Eye Area

For many people, the eye area is a real problem. This is one of the first areas to show the signs of ageing and is also a problem area for fluid retention.

Here are some tips on caring for the delicate eye area:

* Certain moisturisers should not be applied to the eye area as they cause it to swell up.

* Separate eye creams/gels are a must if you suffer with puffy or ageing eyes.

* Hold a metal spoon under cold running water for a few minutes and then gently press it onto the eye area to soothe, cool and reduce swelling.

* Thin cucumber slices are an old remedy, but still a good one for reducing puffiness and soothing tired, sore eyes.

* Haemorrhoid creams containing sharks liver oil and/or yeast applied to the puffy area, are fantastic for reducing swelling.

* Soak used tea bags in cold water for around ten minutes (making sure they are really cool) and place them on the puffy area. Start at the outside of the eye and roll them gently inwards.

* Elevate your head when you sleep to encourage fluid to drain away from the eye area.

* Place a slice of raw potato underneath your eyes. The potassium in them counteracts dark circles.

* Diet, again! Avoid salty foods as these can cause fluid retention.

When meeting someone new, most people take notice of the person's face first. For this and other reasons, maintaining clean, healthy skin is paramount to self-esteem, confidence and even attitude.

Getting healthier skin is not contingent upon high-cost prescription medications or obsessive skin care routines. Modifying your daily routine a tiny bit and upholding disciplined cleansing habits can help to add flawless skin to the list of your best qualities.

Eat healthier

By avoiding foods that often make your face breakout, your skin will be less oily and more resistant to blemishes. Some problem foods that may cause pimples or breakouts include chocolate and other candy, French fries, fast food, pizza and soft drinks.

To get your skin in better shape, you may not have to give up everything that has negative effects on your skin, but rather, eat those things in moderation. Have greasier foods as a special treat or on rare occasion when eating a healthy, balanced meal is out of the question.

Hydrate and exercise

Drinking the recommended eight glasses of water per day coupled with some regular exercise - walking, running, bicycling, engaging in sports - should have a great impact on one's complexion. Increased blood flow due to aerobic exercise will positively impact one's complexion with a glowing look to replace dull skin.

Not only will exercise and drinking water help skin tone and texture, but it will also make you feel more energized and great about yourself. By keeping your body in shape, you will feel less stressed and more capable of achieving those things you set out to do.

Monitor sun exposure

By using a moderate strength sunscreen, you will be protecting your skin from sun damage, skin cancer, aging and premature wrinkles. Too much sun can blister one's lips, leaving them red, sore and charred. Sunburned skin will eventually peel most times, leaving skin areas blotchy and sensitive. The best approach to preventing sunburn and other sun-caused skin problems is to monitor how much time one spends in the sun and to avoid sun exposure by using sunscreen with SPF 15 or greater.

Practice a regular cleansing routine

Cleanse, exfoliate, tone and moisturize...this daily routine should carry you on your way toward healthier skin. Select a gentle skin cleansing solution that works for your specific type of skin - dry, oily, normal. Using your selected product, cleanse face in a circular motion and rinse with lukewarm water, as hot water zaps skin's moisture.

Follow the cleansing stage with an exfoliant. A granular product is often especially effective in smoothing rough areas and releasing dead skin cells, allowing the face to be better moisturized.

After the exfoliation process concludes, use a toner or an astringent to tighten skin and remove any makeup or cleanser residue. A nice alternative to a toner or astringent would be doing a facial masque at least once a week, which tackles clogged pores while also firming skin and leaving it soft and silky.

Finally, pat skin dry with a soft towel but do not dry up all the water. Apply a moisturizer (with or without sunscreen) to help protect skin from dryness. Those who have oily skin do not have to moisturize as often as those who have dry, normal or combination skin.

The Right Foundation

With so many varieties of foundation on the market today, as well as over fifty shade selections, finding the right foundation can be daunting. If your skin is oily, you will want to use an oil free or water-based foundation.

Dry skin works best with a liquid foundation or rich cream

Test foundation just under the jaw line. This will immediately let you know if it will be invisible on the face, The mistake many women take is to test color on cheek, which is often darker than the other parts of the face, or worse, on the back of the hand.

Women of color have yellow pigments, so they should look for foundation with yellow undertones in oil-free formulations. Darker skin reflects more light and is generally more oily.

Application

* Moisturize face and let it absorb. This keeps foundation on top of the skin.

* Stroke it on and blend quickly.

* Set it by dipping a brush into powder and going over the face in circular strokes. Don't worry about getting every bit of shine off your face. A matter face looks dated.

Easy Things You Can Do To Look Younger, Instantly!

Oh, we all would love eternal youth! Although that is not possible (yet), there are things that help rejuvenate us :-)

* Downplay wrinkles by applying highlighter to creases. This will reflect the light and counter the shadow. Concealers only make lines look more prominent.

* Use a mask to tone and tighten your skin. The tightening effect is cosmetic and temporary, but using a mask has other benefits as well, such as cleaning out your pores, and conditioning your skin.

* Brighten droopy eyes: Grooming eyebrows gives the illusion of lifted lids, and having more skin showing at the brow bone opens up the entire eye.

* Instant Eye Lift - use a lash curler to make eyes look more open and alive.

* Skip the face powder, they tend to collect in creases and make wrinkles more prominent; and the dry powder look is out, anyway.

* If you've got longish hair, pull it back into a ponytail. It's a youthful hairstyle, for one, but the point is it pulls the skin around your temples up and back. Bangs do a great job of hiding forehead wrinkles, too.

* Use a good moisturizer to hydrate and plump up your skin cells. Make sure it is mineral oil free so it doesn't clog your pores and cause breakouts.

The best thing you can do to look younger is to take care of your skin on a daily basis. Always moisturize, use a gentle exfoliant two to four times a month and use a sunscreen, even under your makeup.