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Last updated on September 22nd, 2024 at 06:57 am
Do you ever just wake up and you always have dark circles under your eyes? Plus your eyes look tired, sad or that hungover look even when you are well-rested? Then you are not alone. Under-eye dark circles affect our overall facial appearance and how confident we feel about ourselves.
Dark circles under the eyes could happen to just about anyone but lack of sleep, excessive sun exposure, fatigue and so much more have been considered culprits. It even gets worse as age progresses because the skin under the eyes is thinner than the rest of our faces. Plus if this part of the eyes is not well taken care of, it wrinkles faster and ends up looking puffy
In this post, I will take you through the 7 reasons you always have dark circles under your eyes, topical creams that can be applied to make them look better and DIY under-eye massage for puffy eyes. Keep reading!
Table of Contents
7 Reasons You Always Have Dark Circles Under Your Eyes
1. Loss Of Fat Tissue Around The Eyes Due To Aging
Our facial appearance is influenced by the bone structure and overall facial soft tissue. But as age progresses, there is continuous fat loss around the face which leads to hollowness around the eyes.
Imagine the face like a balloon, except this time, it is filled with fat instead of air. If you take the air out of the balloon, it deflates and becomes hollow. This is how the facial fat works as age progresses. Therefore, adding volume to the eyes and face helps create a more youthful appearance.
Solution: Incorporate anti-aging products into your skincare routine, such as eye creams with peptides, retinol, and antioxidants. These ingredients help boost collagen production and improve skin elasticity, reducing the appearance of dark circles.
2. Dehydration
Dehydration can make your skin look dull and pale, which can make the dark circles under your eyes stand out even more. When your body is dehydrated, the skin under your eyes can appear sunken and shadowed.
Solution: Ensure you’re drinking enough water throughout the day—about 8 glasses or more depending on your activity level. Incorporate hydrating foods into your diet like cucumbers, watermelon, and oranges. Use a hydrating eye cream to keep the skin under your eyes plump and moisturized.
3. Excessive Pigmentation Caused By Genetics
Sometimes, dark circles are simply a matter of genetics. If your parents or grandparents had dark circles, there’s a good chance you might have them too. This is often due to inherited traits like thinner skin under the eyes or more prominent blood vessels, both of which can make dark circles more noticeable.
If you stretch the skin under the eyes once again gently and you notice dark spots as you stretch, then you have excessive melanin production in that area leading to dark circles under the eye.
Solution: While you can’t change your genetics, you can manage the appearance of dark circles with skincare products that contain ingredients like retinol, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid to strengthen and brighten the skin under your eyes. Check my product recommendations below
4. Allergies, Asthma
Allergies can cause your body to release histamines, which lead to swelling, redness, and itching. Rubbing your eyes due to itchiness can further irritate the skin and break the tiny blood vessels under your eyes, making dark circles more pronounced.
Solution: Treat allergies with antihistamines and avoid rubbing your eyes. Use a cold compress to soothe the area and reduce swelling. If you suffer from chronic allergies, consider consulting a doctor for long-term treatment options.
5. Sun Exposure
Excessive sun exposure can cause your body to produce more melanin, the pigment that gives your skin its color. Over time, this can lead to hyperpigmentation, particularly in the delicate skin under your eyes.
Solution: Protect your skin from the sun by wearing sunglasses, applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30, and using an eye cream with SPF. Additionally, consider using brightening products with ingredients like niacinamide or vitamin C to reduce hyperpigmentation.
6. Poor Diet
Your diet plays a crucial role in your skin’s health. A diet high in processed foods, salt, and sugar can cause water retention and inflammation, leading to puffiness and dark circles. A lack of essential nutrients like vitamins K and C can also contribute to dark circles.
Solution: Maintain a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Foods high in vitamin K (like leafy greens) and vitamin C (like citrus fruits) can improve circulation and strengthen the capillaries under your eyes. Reducing your intake of salty and processed foods can also help minimize puffiness.
7. Lack Of Sleep And Fatigue
Although the link between sleep deprivation and under-eye dark circles is still under debate. Research has shown that patients reported a lack of sleep aggravating under-eye dark circles. Even gravity when lying down will cause fluid retention in the under-eye area causing the skin to become darker.
When you don’t get enough rest, your body produces more cortisol, the stress hormone. Elevated cortisol levels can increase blood flow, making the blood vessels under your eyes more visible. Additionally, inadequate sleep can lead to fluid retention, which causes puffiness and enhances the appearance of dark circles.
Solution: Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep per night to help reduce dark circles. Establish a regular sleep schedule and create a calming bedtime routine to ensure you get quality rest.
8. Other Causes
Certain medications such as oral contraceptives or eye drops in patients with glaucoma may lead to under-eye dark circles.
Iron deficiency has also been linked to dark circles under the eye because of a lack of oxygen to the skin around the eye area. The skin looks pale allowing the underlying veins under the skin to become more visible ultimately making it look darker.
How To Treat Dark Circles Under The Eyes
It is important to identify the possible cause and apply the best appropriate treatment. There are lots of topical eye creams that can be used to lessen the appearance of dark circles under the eye which I will talk about in this post. Other possible treatments include surgeries, dermal fillers, laser treatments and chemical peels.
How To Reduce Under-Eye Circles
1. Concealers
There is a reason why concealers contain lots of colours. They help conceal different discolourations on the skin making it less visible. A lot of makeup artist uses the knowledge of colour wheels to cancel out discolouration of the skin.
The only thing you need to know is that opposite colours in the colour wheel cancel each other out. For example, to cancel out red discolouration on the skin, just add green to the base.
2. Retinoid Containing Eye Creams
Retinol is one of the best anti-aging ingredients out there. Using retinol-containing eye creams boosts collagen production thereby improving skin elasticity and quality. Aside from boosting collagen, retinol also decreases melanin content resulting in skin brightening and smoothness.
Roc brands are actually big on retinol. This eye cream does not contain fragrances or ingredients that will irritate your skin. It is lightweight, non-greasy and of good value.
Not to brag about this product but this product is made with excellent formula. It is certainly not a waste of your money.
It is fragrance-free and filled with antioxidants to soothe the skin. Just apply a tiny drop underneath your eye and allow it to do its magic.
3. Hydroquinone/Kojic/Arbutin containing Eye Creams
Hydroquinone is another ingredient that plays a critical role in regulating hyperpigmentation. A very low concentration of hydroquinone is enough to reduce the production of melanin and reduce dark circles.
But hydroquinone has its own challenges and it has been banned in some countries in the United States, Europe and Asia due to concerns about its carcinogenic effects. A study demonstrated a large amount of oral hydroquinone caused cancer in rodents but this has not been reported in humans. Regardless, there is that safety concern when it comes to its use.
In places where hydroquinone is not available, you could opt for Kojic acid or Arbutin. They work exactly like hydroquinone.
If you are looking for an eye cream on a budget without breaking the bank, then this is a product to look out for.
In addition to arbutin, it contains niacinamide and varying lots of antioxidants that gets the job done.
Urban Vitaleyez retinol comes with vitamin c, caffeine, alpha-arbutin and peptides to reduce under-eye dark circles and brighten up the delicate skin under the eye.
Skinmedica uplifting eye cream is an impressive formula with lots of antioxidants and hydrating ingredients to soothe dark eye circles. It contains Kojic acid that addresses dark circles making the under-eye area look brighter and firmer.
4. Caffeine and Vitamin C Containing Eye Creams
Caffeine is another effective way of treating under eye dark circles that are caused by leaky blood vessels. A study showed that the application of caffeine-based gel penetrated the lower eyelid resulting in a reduction of puffiness and pigmentation under the eyes.
Vitamin C on the other hand is known for its ability to fade out hyperpigmentation because the presence of antioxidants in vitamin c reduces melanin production thereby reducing hyperpigmentation.
The Ordinary caffeine solution comes at an affordable price that gets the job done just like any other pricey eye serum/cream.
In addition to caffeine, it contains EGCG from green tea polyphenol, an excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory that soothes and softens the skin.
In case you are looking for any caffeinated mask, this is one to look for. It is fragrance-free, alcohol-free and essential oil-free.
This eye mask contains skin-friendly ingredients that hydrate and soothe the skin, also reducing under-eye dark circles.
This product is packed with lots of antioxidants from caffeine, to green tea, ginseng root extract, vitamin E and much more to give you that rejuvenated look.
5. Peptide Containing Eye Creams
Peptides are very common in decreasing under eye dark circles. Presently, there are about 25 different peptide formulations used to improve the quality and elasticity of the skin. Peptides are known for their ability to promote the formation of collagen. Peptides containing eye cream are usually more pricey than the ones mentioned above.
This is an impressive fragrance-free formula, it contains lots of goodies that hydrate, rejuvenate and anti-aging ingredients to reduce under-eye dark circles
The gel feels silky and smooth to touch. It is non-sticky and goes on well under makeup
I give it to Drunk Elephant for producing top-notch skin care products. This is an absolute eye cream done right. It is good for all skin types even sensitive skin.
If you are looking for extra moisture, then you have it here. It is great for under-eye make-up
Murad Renewing Eye Cream is that eye cream you don’t want to miss to clear dark circles under the eyes. It is formulated with advanced peptides, retinol and mango butter to reduce dark circles and improve skin elasticity.
Massage For Puffy Eyes
Aside from this massage, I love to apply cold tea bags under my eyelids, the caffeine in it helps to constrict the vessels around the eyes and reduce puffiness.
Conclusion
Dark circles under your eyes can be caused by a variety of factors, from lack of sleep to genetics to lifestyle choices. Understanding the root cause of your dark circles is the first step in effectively treating them. By making small adjustments to your daily routine—like getting more sleep, staying hydrated, and protecting your skin from the sun—you can reduce the appearance of dark circles and enjoy a brighter, more refreshed look.
This post actually took lots of research and reading to bring together. I hope you enjoyed reading and learned something new.
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This tips are good for me since I have panda eyes. Wow……I don’t know that concealer can reduce dark circles. I thought concealer can only cover the dark circle. Thank you for sharing. This is a good knowledge.
Concealers don’t reduce dark circles under the eyes, they only help to conceal different discolorations under the eyes thereby reduce the appearance of under eye dark circles, making it look less visible. Thank you so much for reading.
This is such a helpful post! I’ve struggled with dark circles for as long as I remember. I’m saving this post for later so I can try out some of the eye creams, thanks for sharing! x
Awesome 😎, thank you so much!
WOW I learned a lot, I’ve always known to use under eye cream as I was told in my teens that was important, but honestly never knew much about why or how darkness is caused around the eyes! Thanks for this informative post 🙂
I’m glad this post helped to know the causes of under-eye dark circles. 😊
Cool post. I struggle with dark circles but I have some idea to tackle them now.
It’s great to hear that you have some idea on how to tackle it now. Thank you for reading
Great post! I’m always looking for new ways to improve my skincare routine and I love these eye care ideas! Thank you for sharing x
I love that you highlight seven causes of dark eye-circles! Sometimes it might be anaemia but for me today, it is a definite lack of sleep influenced by a sudden bout of miserable weather. Thanks for sharing a diverse list of treatments as well as a handy color wheel chart!
Haha… at least you know what is causing yours and yeah the color wheel chart is so helpful during makeup. Thank you Jaya ☺️
This is such a helpful guide! Dark circles under the eyes are something so many people deal with, so thank you for sharing all of your tips! I was looking for a new under eye cream, I’ll have to check out some of your recommendations!
Nicely detailed guide! I don’t have traditional dark circles, but my under eyes are a very bright purple so I end up using a lot of the same techniques. A banana/yellow powder and warm-toned concealer help a lot. Great post!
Great you know about the color wheel technique ☺️.
This is great information about under eyes. Every time I don’t get enough sleep get dark circles. I usually use concealer to try to cover them.
Very thorough explanation of why we have dark circles! I have always just assumed I lack sleep! Your list of recommendation provides so many options to fix it! Thanks!
Oh I NEED these tips 😂 I have learnt some new things with this, and it is not just lack of sleep that causes them! I love using those gel under eye masks, mainly for the coolness they have on the undereye.
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Aimsy xoxo
Aimsy’s Antics
These are such great tips for reducing underage circles! Thanks so much for sharing them all!
These are great tips! I have dark circles that don’t go whatever I do so I’m super excited to try these tricks! Bookmarked this post!
I love this post, it’s so interesting to hear of other causes other than just tiredness! Great tips.
Corinne x
http://www.skinnedcartree.com
Thanks for sharing this great post! I’ve had dark circles that just won’t go away for the past couple of years, so I’ll definitely be trying these out!
This is such a helpful post with many good product recommendations and tips xx
These are lovely tips. I have been a victim of under eye dark circles and I would love to give it a try.
This is really nice…Thanks for sharing. Now I know what to do about dark spots under my eye
Mine are unfortunately the veiny kind, they’ve been there forever. Sometimes I look back at old school photos from primary school and they’re still there peeking through. I’m really pale so unfortunately the blue tones pop out a lot against my skin tone. I’ve always been a fan of the Kiehl’s avocado eye cream because the thick fatty formula seems to plump up the skin under my eyes and makes them less noticeable.
Brilliant post, so helpful! I’ve definitely noticed more under eye bags lately so it’s about time I take some of these tips on board. I stopped using an under eye serum a while ago so I’ll have to grab another x
I hate dark circles but I get them often. I should definitely try out some of these products. Thanks!
I wish I had this post last year when I was so confused as to why do I have dark circles. Since then, I have used all eye creams under the sun to help with it but with no results. Turns out I needed to find the root cause. This is a great post that details everything!
I’ve never heard of this kind of skin treatmeant, sounds amazing. Thanks for recommending..
What a great post! I always worry about dark under eyes because my mom had them bad at my age. Good to know the causes.
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This is such a helpful post. Whilst I don’t currently suffer with dark spots, it does seem to show more in my family members as they age. It does make me wonder if its part of our genetics. I’ll definitely be checking out some of the products you’ve recommended.
I’ve always had dark circles under my eyes, so I think mine are genetic, at least to some extent. I use concealer to cover them, but I might have to try some of these eye creams too! Thank you for the suggestions. x
This is a great post! I never really gave much thought to what causes dark circles. I think I’ve always believed it was just because of lack of sleep or poor quality sleep. And now I really want to try another Drunk Elephant product! Thanks for sharing!
Great tips, my friend been having this issue as well. Will recommend this to him. Thank you for sharing this insightful post!
Oh wow! What a helpful post, love! I don’t have eye circles but it runs on my moms side! I’ll have to pass this info on to them because I know most of the women in the family have tried multiple ways to get rid of them xx
Lynn | https://www.lynnmumbingmejia.com
Rayo, this was a great post! You can’t even believe it how much I needed this (the bags under my eyes are definitely huuuuge!) and I’m going to try The Ordinary Caffeine Solution as I have it in my drawer starting tonight!
Awwww… thank you so much 🥰🥰🥰
This is such a great post. I work shifts including nightshift so feel I always have dark circles around my eyes but there are so many great tips in here that I will need to give a try.
Such a great read and amazing tips! I have been having very bad dark circles mostly due to stress and lack of good sleep, so eye creams with caffeine have been such a huge saver! x
Great tips! I’ve had dark under eye circles for years now and never really knew what was causing them.
Such a great post! I like your tip. Thanks for sharing
I learnt helpful and useful tips here, it amazing. Thank you for sharing this.
Hi my dark circle is not under eye but in socket above looking like a bruise I would be elderly. But still enjoy looking good and wearing eye makeup up welcome any tips Thank you