Remedies for Dark Circles under the Eyes

I’ve noticed recently that the dark circles under my eyes are getting noticeable. I had to do something. Nobody wants to have dark circles under the eyes. It does not only makes you tired and unhealthy looking but what’s worst, it makes you look older. Luckily, these days with an easy access to the internet, there’s always ready answers to our concerns.

So, what causes dark circles? Medically speaking, dark circles are harmless and not necessarily caused by lack of sleep or illness. Dermatologists and ophthalmologists agreed that the contributing factors are fatigue, allergies, overexposure to sun, menstruation or pregnancy, poor nutrition, daily stress, smoking, alcohol and most often genetics caused by hyperpigmentation. If your parents have them, there's a fair chance that you do too.

Sometimes the engorged blood vessels under your eyes can be mistakenly thought of as dark circles. Because the skin under your eyes is thinner, mostly to a fair-skinned person blood vessels there are more visible and can be perceived as darkened skin.



Below are some remedies that could help lighten or conceal under-eye circles:



Cover them up with a concealer that is especially formulated for under-eye darkness. When you’re wearing a concealer under your foundation, choose a cream concealer that’s a little lighter shade than your skin but when wearing the concealer alone pick a shade same as your skin. Gently dab the concealer with a makeup brush or your pinky finger into the dark areas and very lightly pat the edges to blend it in. Finally, powder lightly to help the concealer stay put.



Try a cold compress. You can use a cold washcloth, chilled spoons or used teabags as your cold compress. Lie down for 10-15 minutes, close your eyes and apply a cold compress to your eyes. During weekends when you’re at home all day you can repeat the procedure several times throughout the day. Cold compress will help constrict your blood vessels and may help lessen tissue swelling thus results in eliminating some of the darkness.


Always use sunscreen especially made for the face with a sun protection (SPF) of at least 15- 20 every day, since sun’s rays is one of the culprits of darkening the skin under your eyes. Wear a hat and sunglasses when going out in the sun.


Brighten up your eyes by using white eyeliner on you lower eyelids. Lighter color makes your eyes look brighter thus diverts attention away from dark circles.



Use an eye cream that contains Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA’s). It will not only reduce wrinkles but also lighten up the skin. The most common type is glycolic acids (extracts derived from fruit and other plants). Also an eye cream that contains ingredients such as retinol and vitamins K, C, and E are very effective in treating dark circles under the eyes.

However if you are still unhappy about the skin darkness under your eyes, see a dermatologist for a consultation to know if prescription creams, laser therapy, dermal fillers, etc. are suitable for you. These treatments are a bit expensive and some are mildly invasive but may give you a greater satisfaction and long term results. Good luck!

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