How to get rid of bags under your eyes – from dabbing on lemon juice to using slices of POTATO

DARK circles can be a pain to cover up, but are part of daily life for a lot of people who juggle work, family life and running a house.

Bags can make you look tired and rundown - even when you're not - and creams to cover them up can be expensive.

But, did you know there's more to dark circles than just being tired?

We reveal how we get dark circles, and some of the causes may surprise you.

And we also share our tips and tricks to covering dark circles using what you've got at home - including items from your kitchen cupboard.

So if you're sick of the reflection staring back at you each morning, give a few of these remedies a go which won't break the bank.

How do we get dark circles

Under-eye bags can be caused by a number of ways.

• Not enough sleep

We all know this reason, but do you know how it causes the circles?

A lack of sleep causes blood vessels under the skin to dilate which causes a dark tint.

Make sure you get a good night's rest each night.

• Sleep position

Along with lack of sleep, how you sleep can also contribute to dark circles.

If your eyes look worse in the morning, it could be due to fluid pooling as you sleep.

Try sleeping with an extra pillow under your head to stop your eyes looking puffy and swollen when you wake up.

• Sunlight

Exposure to too much sunlight can cause the pigmentation around our eyes to darken.

• Age

Age causes our skin to become thinner.

The blood vessels under our skin are more likely to show through thin skin which makes under-eye bags look darker.

• Allergies

People who rub their eyes often are damaging pigmentation-making cells.

The result is darker ringers for your eyes.

• Genetics

Like other traits, under-eye bags often run in the family.

• Skin type

Certain types of skin such as Asians are more likely to get dark circles.

• Dehydration

Being dehydrated can increase the appearance of dark circles, as your skin looks will look dull if you're not getting enough water.

Your eyes will appear sunken if you're not drinking enough, and bags can become more pronounced due to their proximity to the underlying bone.

How to get rid of dark circles

Forget the creams that promise you dark circle free eyes.

These home remedies are just as good and you probably own most of them already.

• Lemon juice

The juice of lemons contains skin bleaching properties and is loaded with vitamin C and citric acid.

The citric acid will help tighten the skin under your eyes and the vitamin C fades dark circles.

Dip a couple of cotton balls in lemon juice and leave on your closed eye for 15 minutes.

Apply this with care to make sure no juice gets in your eyes.

If you feel stinging or irritation remove immediately.

• Potatoes

The enzymes in potatoes help lighten the skin.

Try adding a cool slice to each of your eyelids once a week and in time your bags will fade away.

• Tomatoes

Tomatoes contain natural bleaching properties along with vitamins A and B.

Make a paste using the juice of a tomato and lemon and use like an eye cream for lighter, brighter skin in no time.

• Rose water

Rose water contains a soothing effect that can help irritated eyes.

It also restores the pH balance of your skin and antioxidant properties.

Try soaking cotton pads in the water then applying to your cold eyes for 15 minutes.

• Tea bags

Having a cup of tea can de-stress you, but tea bags can also reduce the appearance of bags.

Tea is filled with caffeine and anti-oxidants, which can increase circulation and reduce blood vessels.

Simply soak a tea bag - either black or green - in warm water for five minutes, chill in the fridge for another 20 minutes then put on your eyes for another 20 minutes.

• Spoons

While it may not be your first choice to tackle eye bags, holding a spoon under your eyes can help soothe them and improve the appearance of eye bags.

Simply chill a spoon in the fridge then place over your eyes for around 20 minutes, and the cool temperature should help reduce swollen under-eye blood vessels.

• Cucumber 

Cucumbers aren't just for spas, as the chilled fruit can tackle dark circles in the same way a chilled spoon can.

The slices are the perfect shape and size for your eye, and can reduce the appearance of bags by cooling the skin.

How to cover up dark circles

Using make-up is a quick and easy way to cover up under-eye bags.

Check out these tips to help you disguise those pesky bags.

• Use the right colour

Make-up artists have been using the colour wheel method to conceal unwanted marks on our faces.