How To Reduce the appearance of Dark Circles Under Eyes

Darlings, dark circles under eyes are one of the most common skin concerns that celebrities and stars ask me for help with. It’s not a surprise, darlings… Thanks to busy schedules, broken sleep, and digital fatigue, the whole world is tired! Often, whoever is in my makeup chair is experiencing dullness and tiredness around the eyes and is searching for a way to reduce the appearance of dark circles and look more awake.

In this guide, discover what can cause dark circles to appear under the eyes and learn expert tips and tricks on how to minimise the look of dark circles for a rejuvenating eye awakening!

Why do I have dark circles when I get enough sleep?

While not getting enough sleep is a contributing factor to dark circles under eyes, there are several other elements at play that can influence the appearance of your eye area. Dark circles under eyes can be caused by environment, lifestyle, and genetics, and are often determined by a complex interaction of multiple factors. Some people are naturally more prone to experiencing dark circles than others, and others have a more cause and effect onset. Discover some of the most common causes of dark circles under eyes, below:

What causes dark circles under eyes?

Lifestyle factors:

Lack of sleep

When you get enough sleep, your eyes look rested and wide awake, so naturally if your sleep cycle is disrupted, eyes can start to look tired and lethargic. Late nights, insomnia, interrupted sleep, and an unpredictable sleep schedule can cause your body and mind to become exhausted, and one of the first places this will be evident is around your eyes. Through lack of sleep, deep, dark rings can appear under the eyes as a signal that you are overtired and need rest.

Dehydration

Skin easily becomes dehydrated when we don’t drink plenty of water. Some common signs of skin dehydration include dull and grey colouration; rough and tender skin texture; and fine dehydration lines around the eyes. Dehydration can make the eye area appear dark and dull, giving it a sunken appearance with prominent dark circles.

Discover more signs of skin dehydration:

Discover the difference between dehydration lines + wrinkles:

Sun Exposure

Sun exposure is linked to increased melanin production and too much sun can increase the appearance of dark circles around the eyes. Producing more melanin in areas of the face is known as hyperpigmentation; when skin produces a large amount of melanin, this causes skin tone to darken and can result in the appearance of dark circles and dark spots. This is especially prevalent in people who experience large amounts of sun exposure.

Learn more about SPF + sun protection for your skin

Life stress

When we feel stressed, it can affect all aspects of our lives including our eye area. Daily stress can cause us to take poor care of ourselves – whether that’s neglecting to drink water, eating poorly, or increased smoking and drinking alcohol – which in turn can lead to the development of dark circles under eyes. It’s always important to prioritise your wellbeing, darlings.

Discover expert wellbeing guides:

Biological factors:

Ageing

As we age, the skin around our eyes loses elasticity and produces less collagen, making it appear thinner and less plump. This can lead to dark circles emerging under the eyes which cause the eye area to appear dull and flat. Skin ageing can also impede moisture retention and cause skin to droop which can accentuate the appearance of shadows underneath the eyes.

Discover skincare for mature skin:

Genetics

Dark circles under the eyes can be hereditary. If you feel you are getting enough sleep and staying hydrated but are still experiencing dark circles, it may be down to genetic factors. If your parents and grandparents have dark circles around their eyes, that may explain why your eye area is predisposed to developing dark circles.

Allergies

The eye area is extremely sensitive and can be triggered by allergies such as hayfever. Allergic reactions are often irritating to the eye area and can cause dark circles to appear. Rubbing the eye area when it is itchy can further aggravate skin and increase the appearance of dark circles.

Deficiencies

Vitamin B12 and iron deficiencies have been linked to dark circles under the eyes. This is common for people experiencing anemia and can cause the eye area to appear sullen and sapped of life.

Can dark circles be removed permanently?

It is unlikely that dark circles under the eyes will disappear permanently, however, you can use skincare to help reduce their appearance and leave the eye area looking smoother, brighter, and more hydrated. The best way to tackle dark circles is to consider prevention and correction; a healthy diet, regular hydration, and dedicated eye care and suncare will help to prevent their onset, as well as helping to reduce their appearance.

Learn whether ice can reduce dark circles

Can you reduce the appearance of dark circles with skincare?

Yes – you can use skincare such as eye patches, eye masks, eye serums, and eye creams to help reduce the appearance of dark circles. Reaching for skincare products that are powered by skincare ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and retinol will help to smooth, plump, and brighten the appearance of skin around the eyes, helping it to appear hydrated and dark circles to look reduced.

Discover how to take care of your eye area with my eye care routine

How To Reduce The Appearance Of Dark Circles: My best skincare products to help get rid of dark circles

Dark circles before and after

Darlings, seeing is believing! You can reduce the appearance of your dark circles with skincare. Just look at these before and after results from my Immediate Eye Revival Patches – they will blow your mind! Skincare is all about consistency, darlings, and wearing my eye patches every day helps to significantly increase results. After 30 days, 89% agree dark circles appear reduced!*

Immediate Before + After Results:

Results After 30 Days of Use

How long does it take for dark circles to appear reduced?

Results from eye care can be seen both instantly and over time. Applying eye patches and eye creams will make your under eyes appear immediately brighter and more hydrated, but it will take longer for skin concerns like dark circles to see significant results. My Immediate Eye Revival Patches are clinically proven to reduce the appearance of dark circles in 30 days*, and my Cryo-Recovery Eye Serum** and Magic Eye Rescue eye cream*** are clinically proven to significantly reduce the appearance of dark circles in 8 weeks of use.

What cancels out dark circles?

Dark circles often have a blue or grey tinge which causes them to appear dull and lifeless. To counteract the appearance of dark circles, we can look to colour theory; the opposite of blue on the colour wheel is orange, and an orange, colour-correcting concealer like Magic Vanish is perfect for neutralising the appearance of blue tones from dark circles. Tap colour corrector on any dark shadows around the eyes and this will help to conceal the appearance of dark circles.

More makeup tips for dark circles under eyes

1. Colour correct before foundation

When using a colour corrector to conceal the appearance of dark circles, I suggest colour correcting first before applying foundation and concealer. Foundation and concealer should closely match your skin tone, whereas colour correctors have an orange hue that’s perfect for counteracting the blue tones from dark circles. The role of colour corrector is to even the appearance of skin tone; use a colour corrector to create a neutral canvas that covers and counteracts the appearance of dark circles in preparation for foundation and concealer.

Discover how to colour correct

2. Use a full-coverage concealer

The best way to cover dark circles under the eyes with makeup is to apply a full-coverage concealer. Concealer with a high amount of coverage will smooth over darkness around the eyes and disguise the appearance of dark circles with pigment. My Magic Away! full-coverage concealer is perfect for dotting onto dark circles and making them appear undetectable.

Discover how to cover dark circles

3. Use an illuminating makeup powder

Dark circles can make the eye area look drained and sullen, so I recommend using illuminating makeup powders to act as a spotlight for dull, tired-looking eyes. I created AIRbrush Brightening Flawless Finish as an illuminating version of my globally loved pressed powder; tap a small amount onto your under eyes to capture and cascade light around the eye area to look bright-eyed and awake.

Discover how to look less tired

Darlings, don’t let dark circles dim your shine! Knowing what causes dark circles under eyes and how to reduce their appearance is the secret to enchanting, red-carpet eyes. With plenty of beauty sleep and an effective eye care routine, you can reduce the appearance of dark circles and maintain a healthy, happy eye area.

*Tested on 104 people after 30 days.

**Tested on 30 people over 8 weeks

***30 people tested over 8 weeks using once daily.

ICEAWAKE™ is a trademark by Mibelle Ag Biochemistry

Disclaimer: This article is intended for educational purposes. The information, or comments herein, does not amount to, or replace, professional advice and should not be relied upon as or substitute for professional or medical advice from a qualified professional.