Beauty

Dark Circles: Here is How to Avoid Them.

Published

1 year ago

18 April 2025

Dark circles are a very common concern among people of all ages and backgrounds. It is often associated with tiredness, stress, or lack of sleep. They can also stem from a variety of lifestyle, genetics and health related issues. Dark circles are a shadowy or discolored area that appear beneath the eyes. It can be blue, purple, brown, or black in colour depending on your skin tone and the underlying cause of the dark circles.

The skin under the eyes is thinner and more delicate than the skin on other parts of the body and this makes it more susceptible to changes in blood flow. pigmentation , and hydration. While dark circles are not typically a sign of serious medical issues, they can affect self esteem and appearance and that is the reason why many seek for solutions to it.

Meanwhile, let us explore some causes of dark circles.

Causes of Dark Circles.

There is no exact or single cause of dark circles as it is usually a combination of a number of factors. Some causes of dark circles include:

Genetics.

For a number of people, dark circles are hereditary. If any of your parents have dark circles, you are most likely to develop them too. This is because genetic dispositions can influence skin thickness, pigment levels, and other skin issues.

Lack of Sleep.

This is probably the most popular cause of dark circles. Inadequate sleep can cause the skin to look pale, allowing blood vessels beneath the skin to become more visible and give the appearance of dark circles.

Aging.

As we age, our skin loses collagen and becomes thinner. The loss of skin elasticity exposes the blood vessels beneath the skin, causing dark circles.

Dehydration.

When the body lacks water, the skin under the eyes can look dull and sunken, making dark circles more prominent.

Exposure to the Sun.

Overexposure to the sun can increase melanin production, especially in delicate areas of the eyes, leading to pigmentation and darkening.

Dark circles

How to Avoid Dark Circles.

Now that we have figured out some of the causes of dark circles, here are a few ways to avoid them.

Prioritize Sleep.

Beyond avoiding dark circles, adequate sleep is important for your overall health. You should aim for 7-9 hours of sleep, keep a consistent sleep schedule, avoid screens for at least 30 minutes before you fall asleep and create a calm sleeping environment.

This would keep you well rested and keep dark circles away from your eyes.

Adequately Hydrate.

Since we have discovered that dehydration is a leading cause of dark circles, it is important to drink plenty of water throughout the day to improve skin elasticity.

Drink at least 2 litres of water daily, eat fruits rich in water such as cucumber, watermelon, oranges, etc and reduce intake of dehydrating substances like caffeine.

Use Cold Compress.

Cold temperature constricts blood vessels and reduces swelling. To use, place chilled teaspoons, cucumber slices, ice block, or a gel eye mask on your eyes for 10-15 minutes. Then, repeat in the morning to reduce puffiness and dark circles.

Applying sunscreen

Protect your Eyes Against Sun Exposure.

As sun rays is one of the leading causes of dark circles and aging, it is important to protect yourself from the sun.

You can do this by always wearing sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, even on days that are not sunny. You can also use sunglasses to protect yourself from UV radiation.

Putting these steps to action, you can as well say goodbye to dark circles.

Beauty

Meet Nigeria’s Miss World 2026 Representative, Tamunosoye Karibi-George

Published

1 week ago

12 August 2026

Destiny Echobu

Photo: Instagram/@soye_kg

Tamunosoye Karibi-George is a 26-year-old Nigerian beauty queen currently representing the country at the 75th Miss World festival in Vietnam, competing for the international title.

Karibi-George earned the national crown on June 6 at Balmoral Hall, Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, where she won the crown after competing against 19 other contestants under the theme “Pride, Power, and Purpose.”

Photo: Instagram/@soye_kg

Although she represented Bayelsa State in the national competition, Karibi-George is a native of Port Harcourt, Rivers State. She is a communications professional who studied at Madonna University, Okija, and is an associate of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations.

She had already gained international pageant experience before winning the Miss World Nigeria crown in 2024.

A key part of her profile is her work with children with disabilities and special needs. Through her initiative, Beyond Labels, she advocates for inclusion, dignity and opportunities for children. The project aims to create spaces where children can develop their talents and pursue their ambitions.

Photo: Instagram/@soye_kg

Her advocacy has continued to promote the cause since winning the national title. In June, she met with the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, to discuss ways of expanding Beyond Labels and creating possible partnerships for the initiative.

Karibi-George arrived in Vietnam ahead of the 75th anniversary edition of the Miss World Festival, which runs from August 9 to September 5, 2026. The grand final is scheduled for September 5 in Nha Trang.

Photo: Instagram/@soye_kg

She takes over the Miss World Nigeria title from Joy Mojisola Raimi, who represented Nigeria at the previous edition, reaching the Top 20 and finishing among the Top Five contestants from Africa.

Ahead of her departure, Karibi-George described the trip as an opportunity to represent Nigeria’s culture and values while continuing to promote the Beyond Labels initiative.

Beauty

Laetitia Ky Is Turning Natural Hair into Sculptural Art

Published

1 week ago

11 August 2026

Fadire Olusola

Photo: Instagram/@laetitiaky

Laetitia Ky has transformed natural hair into a unique art form. The artist uses her hair to create sculptures exploring African identity, feminism and women’s experiences.

She was born in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, in 1996, and grew up surrounded by women who braided their hair. Ky learnt braids from a young age before entering in fashion. After high school, she gradually returned to wearing her natural hair and began experimenting with different styles.

Photo: Instagram/@laetitiaky

Ky’s work gained attention through social media al media, where she began sharing photographs of her sculptural hairstyles. She has since turned her hair into objects, figures and other forms.

Ky uses her natural hair together with extensions, thread and wire to create her sculptures. Depending on the design, a piece takes 30 minutes to six hours. She then captures the finished work using a camera and tripod.

Photo: Instagram/@laetitiaky

Her inspiration is connected to African hair traditions. Ky has seen images of historical African hairstyles and was amazed by their complexity.

Moreover, her art talks about the complicated relationship many Black women have with their natural hair. Ky has described growing up in an environment where straight hair was a standard influenced by colonial ideas. She eventually turned that experience into an exploration of natural hair, identity and self-acceptance.

Photo: Instagram/@laetitiaky

Ky has used her hair to address subjects including sexism, violence against women, politics and problems affecting women and girls.

Ky has collaborated with Marc Jacobs, creating hair sculptures for promotional images featuring the brand’s products.

Photo: Instagram/@laetitiaky

Ky works can be found in her book Love & Justice, which shows photographs of her hair sculptures. In one project, she worked with her younger sister Florencia, creating sculptural hairstyles that represented their close relationship and trust.

Beauty

Gift Eno Ndah Finishes Third Runner-Up at Miss Supranational 2026

Published

3 weeks ago

3 August 2026

Destiny Echobu

Photo: Instagram/@gift_ndah

Nigeria’s Gift Eno Ndah finished as Third Runner-Up at the 2026 Miss Supranational pageant during the grand finale held on July 31 at the Strzelecki Park Amphitheater in Nowy Sacz, Poland. The result earned Nigeria a place in the competition’s Top 5 which featured contestants from more than 60 nations.

Photo: Instagram/@gift_ndah

The title went to Katrina Llegado of the Philippines, who succeeded Brazil’s Eduarda Braum as the new Miss Supranational. France’s Eve Gilles finished as First Runner-Up, while Brazil’s Lara Marina claimed the Second Runner-Up position. The Czech Republic’s Karolína Gorylová completed the Top 5 as Fourth Runner-Up.

Ndah arrived in Poland as Nigeria’s official representative after winning the national Miss Supranational title. In the weeks leading up to the finale, she took part in the pageant’s activities and earned a place in the Top 20 of the Influencer Challenge.

Photo: Instagram/@gift_ndah

Her finish has been welcomed by Nigerian pageant followers, who praised her consistency throughout the competition and celebrated another strong international outing for the country.

Before departing for Poland, she spoke about her determination to represent Nigeria with pride and to use the platform to promote her “Bloom Within” initiative, an advocacy focused on encouraging young women to develop confidence and pursue personal growth.

Photo: Instagram/@gift_ndah

Although she missed out on the title, Ndah leaves the competition with a Third Runner-Up finish. Her Third Runner-Up finish adds another notable result to Nigeria’s record at Miss Supranational and brings her international campaign to a close on a strong note.