Beauty Fresh From Your Kitchen

Try these ingredients from the pantry in a different way: as refreshing beauty treatments. For example, cucumber juice is soothing to the skin, and olive oil makes a wonderful all-natural moisturizer. Before using any ingredient on your skin, test a small amount on the inside of your arm, and wait twenty-four hours, says New York City dermatologist Robin Ashinoff, M.D. If there's no reaction, it's safe to use on your body and face.

Cucumber
Place chilled cucumber slices over the eyes for several minutes to relieve puffiness caused by fluid retention.

Lemon
Soak fingertips in a shallow bowl of lemon juice for two minutes or so to help whiten stained or discolored nails.

Olive Oil
Massage a small amount of olive oil into dry areas, such as lips, elbows, and heels, to moisturize and soften skin.

Tea
Use a cold strong brew as an astringent unclog pores. Make a compress from weak brew to soothe a sunburn.

For Minty-Fresh Breath
Do snack on fruits and vegetables to stimulate salivary glands; a dry mouth fosters bad breath.

Eye Soother Natural Remedy

The skin in the eye area is especially thin and sensitive, so it flares up fast when you're stressed and fatigued -- or surviving on a less-than-perfect diet. Natural remedies, though, can lessen redness or puffiness almost as quickly as it appears. Many remedies use simple ingredients that are already in your kitchen. With the help of Dr. Jeanette Jacknin, a holistic dermatologist and author of "Smart Medicine for Your Skin," we've assembled five of the most effective solutions.

Chamomile, Green, or Black Tea Bags
Chamomile tea, a natural anti-inflammatory, helps ease redness and puffiness around the eyes. Green and black teas contain compounds called tannins, plus caffeine. Tannins have an astringent effect on the skin and shrink swollen tissue, while caffeine constricts blood vessels to reduce swelling.

How to Use
Steep two chamomile, green, or black tea bags in just-boiled water for three minutes. Remove them from the water and place in the refrigerator until cooled. Place one bag over each eye and relax for 15 minutes.

Chilled Spoons
In this case, it's the cool temperature of the metal spoons that constricts blood vessels, which helps decrease redness and puffiness in the eye area.

How to Use
Place four metal spoons in a glass of ice water. When chilled, place one spoon on each eye, following the contour of your eye socket. As the spoons begin to warm, switch them with the spoons chilling in the glass of ice water. Continue this process until swelling subsides.

Cold Milk
As with the spoon method, temperature is key; cold milk constricts blood vessels and reduces swelling. The fat in whole milk soothes dry, irritated skin.

How to Use
Pour ice-cold whole milk or cream into a small bowl; soak two cotton balls in the liquid. Then squeeze out the cotton balls slightly and put one over each eye. Once the cotton balls warm up, soak two more and repeat for up to 15 minutes.

Cucumber Slices
A classic remedy for puffy, irritated eyes, cucumbers contain ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and caffeic acid, both of which help reduce swelling.

How to Use
Rest two 1/2-inch-thick cucumber slices on a bed of ice to chill. Once cool, place one slice over each eye, lean your head back, and relax for 10 to15 minutes. Remove the slices and rinse your face with cool water.

Egg Whites
Egg whites act as an astringent, making your skin appear tighter and smoother. They are also high in vitamin B2, or riboflavin, which is associated with improved circulation.

How to Use
Beat two egg whites until stiff, and then apply to the under-eye area using a brush. Let the mixture dry for about 15 minutes; rinse well with water. Jacknin also recommends adding a drop or two of witch hazel to the beaten whites, which further reduces swelling and keeps the egg whites from drying too rapidly.

How To Fix Tired Eyes

You can learn a lot about a woman by examining her eyes. They express love, joy, excitement. But at the same time, more than anywhere else on the body, the eyes show early signs of sun damage, stress, and illness.

"The skin around the eyes is some of the thinnest you have," says holistic cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Jeanette Jacknin, author of "Smart Medicine for Your Skin." Pair that fragility with a small pad of underlying fat that all but vanishes with age, and you're left with little to guard against wrinkles or disguise veins. As a result, the slightest damage readily becomes visible.

The best solution? Take a holistic approach. Natural and nature-inspired remedies supply you with a powerful arsenal.Restorative ingredients such as vitamins, antioxidants, and essential oils extracted from herbs, teas, and other plants can help mend this vulnerable area.

Here, our experts offer simple lifestyle changes, quick fixes, and product suggestions to tackle puffy eyes, dark circles, crow's feet, crinkled lids -- and send those bags packing.

Beating Crow's Feet

Sun exposure and aging diminish skin's elasticity; UV rays and pollution cause inflammation and cell damage. As a result, repeated expressions (smiling, squinting) form creases. Look for products containing evening primrose, jojoba, sesame oils to hydrate skin and maintain flexibility; aloe to speed healing; and antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E to help fight free radicals and sun damage.

The Cause
Sun exposure and aging diminish skin's elasticity; UV rays and pollution cause inflammation and cell damage. As a result, repeated expressions (smiling, squinting) form creases.

OR Try
Swissline Force Vitale Corrective Eye Moisturizer

Swissline Ageless White Eye Gel-C

Fighting Bags

For a quick fix, place cucumber slices (for astringency) or chilled caffeinated tea bags (for tannins) on your eyes for 15 minutes to tighten skin and absorb fluid. But eat vitamin C-rich foods to support collagen production.Tap the eye area lightly while moisturizing to help dissipate excess fluid. To reduce water retention, drink water, limit alcohol, and get more rest.

The Cause
With age, cells produce more free radicals, which indirectly break down collagen and elastin, causing skin to lose elasticity and structure. A pad of fat, the eye's "shock absorber," bulges outward, while fat below the eye thins. Water retention amplifies the problem.

Essential Steps
Eat vitamin C-rich foods to support collagen production.Tap the eye area lightly while moisturiz-ing to help dissipate excess fluid, says Cox. To reduce water retention, drink water, limit alcohol, and get more rest.

Quick Fix
Place cucumber slices (for astringency) or chilled caffeinated tea bags (for tannins) on eyes for 15 minutes to tighten skin and absorb fluid.

OR Try
Swissline Force Vitale Anti-Pufiness Eye Awakener

Fixing Dark Circles

For immediate results, look for a concealer that is close to your natural complexion--lighter tones will make circles look gray.Or try plumping up thin skin with a fast-absorbing oil like jojoba. Try foods rich in vitamin K because it helps fortify blood-vessel walls, and use a daily topical treatment with vitamin K. Also aim for more downtime and sleep.

The Cause
Nasal congestion widens surrounding veins; related inflammation may lead to dark pigment deposits. Stress and poor diet can weaken blood vessels, which may break, creating a bruise-like undertone. Fatigue strains eyelid muscles, engorging blood vessels, and can produce a wan complexion, making circles appear darker by contrast. For some, dark circles are genetic.

Essential Steps
Eat foods rich in vitamin K, because it helps fortify blood-vessel walls. And use a daily topical treatment with vitamin K. Also aim for more downtime and sleep.

Quick Fix
Only cosmetics deliver instant results. Cox says to look for a concealer that's close to your natural complexion -- lighter tones will make circles look gray. Or try "plumping up" thin skin with a fast-absorbing oil like jojoba.

OR Try
Swissline CellShock Cellular Eye Care Against Dark Circles

Preventing Crinkled Eyelids

To quickly prevent, use a cream eye shadow, or apply a hydrating primer underneath your usual powder to help retain natural moisture. Or use a light eye cream in the morning and a rich cream at night; tap the eye area lightly with your finger until the product is absorbed to stimulate circulation. Use a gentle, hydrating makeup remover or cleanser. Don't scrub harder to remove stubborn makeup; instead, gently wash the area again. Eliminate talc-based eye shadows, which sap moisture.

The Cause
Skin produces decreasing amounts of oil over time, so eyelids tend to become dry and fragile. Loss of elasticity and fat, plus thinning skin, compound the problem and contribute to small folds in the lids. Eye shadows and cleansers can dry, too. With diminishing protection, too much scrubbing and overly absorbent powders can make matters worse.

Essential Steps
Use a light eye cream in the morning and a rich cream at night; tap the eye area lightly with your finger until the product is absorbed to stimulate circulation, says Cox. Use a gentle, hydrating makeup remover or cleanser. Don't scrub harder to remove stubborn makeup; instead, gently wash the area again. Eliminate talc-based eye shadows, which sap moisture.

Quick Fix
Use a cream eye shadow, advises Cox, or apply a hydrating primer underneath your usual powder to help retain natural moisture.

OR Try
Swissline Ultimate Radiance Youthful Eye Contour Capsules
Swissline Force Vitale Corrective Eye Moisturizer
Swissline Ageless White Eye Gel-C