Isn’t it about time you treat your under eyes to some TLC?
Dark under-eye circles can make you look even more tired than you are… and is also a sign of stress too on the face.
So what can cause you to get dark circles?
There’s lots of factors that can cause dark circles. This includes high stress, exhaustion, poor diet, environmental factors and even genetics.
They’re also often a type of hyperpigmentation, which can become more prominent because of smoking, poor sleep and sun exposure… it’s often genetic.
Thin lower eyelid skin can also be a cause of this: veins show through, which makes the area appear darker. It can become more prominent due to seasonal allergies, causing dilated veins.
If you have deep set eyes, natural shadows can form which also give the appearance of dark circles.
Dark circles can also be caused by eye strain from a TV or computer screen, straining your eyes and enlarging blood vessels in the area.
Finally, as we age, a loss of volume – fat and collagen – under the eyes, can also contribute to dark circles.
Want to test what type of dark circles you have? Try the ‘dark circles pinch test’
The Dark Circles ‘Pinch’ Test
You can do this with you a pinch test: gently pinching the skin under the eyes.
- If you pinch the skin and it stays darker, it means it’s a caused by pigmentation in the area.
- If you pinch the skin and the colour improveswhen you do this, its most likely to do with the veins.
Here’s how to treat dark circles…
Apply a cold compress
Use a cold compress to the skin under your eyes for 20 minutes. This feels soothing and it can help soothe the skin around your eyes, aiding the veins become less prominent and the skin less puffy.
Make sure to sleep
Now don’t get us wrong, sleep doesn’t cause dark circles, but it can make them look more prominent. Lack of sleeps leads to lack of oxygen around the eyes and this can make blood vessels dilate. Dilated blood vessels appear darker causing dark circles to look darker.
Sleeping on your back with your head elevated can help minimise puffiness.
Focus on your food
You can focus on an anti-inflammatory diet as this can help the appearance of your skin overall. Think fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and healthy fats.
Tomatoes contain an antioxidant called lycopene which boosts circulation and protects blood vessels.
Drink less red wine and caffeine and make sure to drink plenty of water. Dehydrated skin can make the dark circles look more prominent.
Too much salt also lead to fluid retention round the eyes too.
Wear SPF
Puffiness, hyperpigmentation and more can be caused by sun damage. So make sure you’re reapplying regularly.
Wearing sunglasses too will help protect your eyes.
Experiment with skincare ingredients
There’s so many different skincare products out there now to help tackle your dark circles, so try some and see what works best for you. Using a dedicated eye cream that targets what you’re looking for can also help.
Some of the best ingredients to look for include Vitamin C, caffeine, hyaluronic acid, tri-peptides and ceramides.
Use make-up to colour correctors
Start by colour correcting those undertones so they appear less prominent.
If you see dark blue/grey undertones, look for a peach concealer.
If you see pinky/red tones, neutralise them with more of a yellow base.
You can also use a light reflective concealer to help bounce the light out from under the eye.
There’s no way to entirely banish dark circles, but you can look at ways to improve the appearance to help improve your confidence.
