How to get rid of dark circles
Even if you get your best beauty sleep, dark circles may still sneak up on you. But luckily, there are a few easy fixes so you can sit pretty with bright, wide-awake-looking eyes. The trick is knowing what causes dark circles under eyes, how to conceal dark circles and which ingredients can help to reduce their appearance.
We've got you covered with the ultimate guide to dark circles under eyes.
What are dark circles?
Dark circles are a totally normal skincare issue. They are common and can occur on anyone, of any age or any skin type – they're simply darkened skin under the eyes.
As we get older, the skin beneath the eyes tends to become looser and thinner, which can allow blood vessels to peep through in certain skin tones. This leads to the darkened appearance we commonly associate with undereye circles. In some cases, hollowed areas near the corner of the eyes may also appear, which cause shadows that increase the appearance of puffy or dark circles under eyes.
Fortunately dark circles are relatively easy to target with the right dark circles treatments and makeup.
Dark circle causes
Ever wondered about the causes of those pesky dark under eye circles? 'Sun damage, lack of sleep, and dehydration can all trigger dark circles for anyone,' explains board-certified dermatologist Dr. Adriane Pompa. Genetics can also be to blame, as some people are simply more predisposed to having dark circles.
As we age, it's natural for puffy eyelids or hollow areas under the eyes to develop, which can contribute to the discolouration. Additionally, the delicate skin around your eyes can make the blood vessels underneath more visible. Hyperpigmentation, often triggered by excessive sun exposure, can prompt your body to produce more melanin (the pigment response for skin colour), potentially intensifying those dark circles.
But it's not all out of your control. Simple lifestyle choices, like how much water you drink each day, can also affect the appearance of dark under eye circles. It's important to stay well-hydrated as insufficient water intake can make your skin appear dull and dry. When skin becomes dehydrated and irritated, blood and other fluids rush to the area, causing pink or purple circles and puffiness. In addition, habits like alcohol consumption, smoking and stress can add to the problem.
Best ingredients for eye brightening
If you're wondering how to get rid of dark circles, the best thing for dark circles under eyes is hydration. That means choosing a moisturising eye cream that works hard to banish the look of dark under eye circles and puffiness all at once. Ingredients like hyaluronic acid are key to keeping your skin hydrated.
If you're looking to expand beyond that, there are a few other helpful ingredients to keep an eye out for as well:
Caffeine: Like your morning cup of coffee, energising caffeine can do wonders for skin around the eyes. It is believed to have both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Vitamin C: Brightening vitamin C can help decrease the look of dark circles for brighter eyes.
Retinoids: An eye cream or serum with a gentle retinoid can help to accelerate skin's natural cell renewal for a visibly smoother eye area.
Whey protein: This is an amino acid-rich polypeptide, which can help to skin's natural support structure in the delicate eye area.
Peptides: Peptides can help to fortify the delicate, thinner skin around the eye area, reducing the appearance of dark circles.
Sodium hyaluronate: This helps provide hydration to soothe and comfort skin.
What's the best dark circle treatment?
Let's dive into some other helpful tips and product suggestions for dealing with those frustrating dark under-eye circles.
Refresh, brighten and de-puff. All About Eyes™ Brightening Serum Concentrate is a power-packed eye serum expertly formulated to brighten the appearance of the eye area and reduce the look of dark circles. The gentle yet powerful concentrate is formulated with a potent retinoid to smooth the skin and target lines and wrinkles, vitamin C to brighten, and hyaluronic acid to plump skin with hydration. It also features a precision applicator created with our guiding dermatologist to target hard-to-reach areas under the eye, while providing a cooling, de-puffing massage effect. All skin types can use this ophthalmologist-tested dark circle treatment daily by gently squeezing a small amount of product out and slowly gliding the massage applicator back and forth across the undereye area. The cooling metal tip helps massage away any puffiness and improve microcirculation, as well as reducing congestion and the appearance of dark circles. Use your finger to smooth any excess product into skin until it's fully absorbed. As with any retinoid, we recommend introducing this product gradually into your routine on alternate days, and always following with an SPF if using in the morning.
Reduce the look of dark circles and puffiness. All About Eyes™ earns its title as our best eye cream for dark circles for a reason – it's a dual-action solution. Not only does it effectively diminish the appearance of puffiness and dark circles, it also serves as smoothing eye makeup primer. Formulated with hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, caffeine and whey protein, this lightweight, refreshing cream-gel formula hydrates and preps skin for makeup application and is suitable for use twice daily, morning and night. Apply sparingly to the entire eye area using your ring finger. Use a gentle patting motion for best results.
Add intensive moisture. Elevate your skincare routine with the luxurious All About Eyes™ Rich. Just as its name suggests, this abundantly moisture-rich formula soothes with hydration, de-puffs and diminishes the look of dark circles, shadows and fine lines. This formulation also strengthens your skin's moisture barrier, offering defense against external irritants, while sodium hyaluronate helps prevent moisture loss. It's the ideal choice for those with dry skin, or all skin types during cooler weather. Use this eye cream for dark circles twice a day, morning and night, applying sparingly with your ring finger to your entire eye area using a gentle patting motion.
More tips for reducing the look of dark circles under eyes
Follow these steps to target dark under-eye circles:
Aim for at least eight hours of sleep at night and always try to elevate your head with a pillow.
Use a cold jade roller, a cool cloth or even chilled spoons under your eyes to get a bit of instant relief from the puffiness. This will help get rid of dark circles by shrinking dilated blood vessels.
Professional facials are also always a nice solution, alongside your everyday beauty routine, especially targeted treatments for dark circles and gentle under eye massages designed for dark circles or puffiness.
Together with a great skincare routine, you can improve the appearance of dark circles under eyes – even if you can't get those eight hours of sleep.
Shop Clinique dark circle treatments.
Ophthalmologist-tested and suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.
