How to Get Rid of Dark Circles Under Eyes

By: Brad Lenahan
July 18, 2018

Tired of looking so… tired? You know the signs: puffy eyes, dark eye bags, an ashen complexion, and a half-glazed look. Sometimes, it feels like we’re forever cursed with dark circles—even after a great night’s rest.

The good news is that if you want to learn how to get rid of dark circles or puffy eyes, we can help. Whether you’re just curious or desperately hoping to restore that plump vitality, we have you covered.

In this guide, we’ll discuss the causes of dark circles under the eyes, how to get rid of them, and our favorite undereye creams for dark circles.

How to get rid of dark circles under eyes

What Causes Dark Circles Under Eyes?

It’s easy to see dark circles under your eyes, but it’s not quite as easy to diagnose what’s causing them. Dark undereye circles can have a number of different causes, from your lifestyle to your health and even genetics. Let’s review some common causes of dark circles under the eyes.

Lack of Sleep

If your dark undereye circles tend to come and go, they may be caused by lack of sleep. But why? Your dark undereye circles caused by lack of sleep are connected to your blood flow.

During sleep, your body increases blood flow throughout your skin to replenish your skin cells with oxygen and nutrients. When you don’t sleep enough, your blood can’t properly replenish your skin cells, leaving you pale. That makes the natural darkness in the skin under your eyes stand out much more against your complexion. 

Allergies

Dark undereye circles and puffy eyes are common side effects of allergy season. Allergies trigger the release of a chemical known as histamine. Histamine causes your blood vessels to dilate, meaning they become larger so that more blood can flow through them.

Because the skin beneath your eyes tends to be thinner than other areas of your face, the increased blood flow can cause that skin to appear darker.

Aging

As you age, your skin naturally becomes thinner. This is due to a combination of factors. First, your collagen naturally declines and causes your skin to lose its structure and plumpness.

Along with that comes a decline in elastin, which allows your skin to stretch and snap back into place. As a result, your skin thins as it stretches. Finally, you naturally lose fat as you age, contributing to thinner skin. 

As you age, the skin under your eyes becomes even thinner, causing the blood vessels beneath it to show through and create a darker appearance, resulting in more noticeable undereye circles.

Sun Damage

Sun damage is among the leading causes of skin issues, from wrinkles to dark spots and uneven texture. Sun damage can cause signs of premature aging, like crow's feet, wrinkles, and even dark circles under your eyes. 

Sun exposure increases your skin’s melanin production, the primary pigment that causes sun spots and hyperpigmentation. Overexposure to the sun may cause melanin to build up around your eyes, leading to dark spots.

Genetics

Genetics significantly affects skin health, including dark circles under your eyes. Various genetic factors may contribute to dark circles, including:

  • A genetic predisposition for thinner skin underneath your eye

  • Genetic hyperpigmentation (excessive melanin production) under your eyes

Dehydration

Hydration helps keep your skin plump and supple. As your skin dehydrates, it sinks, causing your eyes to appear sunken. This can create a dark shadow around your eyes, leaving you with darker undereye circles. 

Dermatitis

Many skin conditions, including contact dermatitis and eczema, cause irritation and inflammation. You may rub your eyes more often if you suffer from itchy and uncomfortable skin. This can stretch out your delicate eye skin, causing it to become thinner and the vessels beneath darker. It may also cause damage to sensitive capillaries, resulting in dark skin under your eyes. 

Eye Strain

Do you strain your eyes due to close-up tasks or too much screen time? This may be causing the dark circles under your eyes. Eye strain can cause your blood vessels to dilate. Like with allergies, this increases blood flow and causes a darker appearance beneath your eyes. 

Medical Conditions

A handful of medical conditions can also cause dark circles under your eyes. Anemia, thyroid problems, and sinus infections may contribute to under-eye darkness. If you think your dark circles may be connected to an underlying medical issue, you can contact your doctor to learn more.

Lifestyle Factors

Your skin health is connected to your overall health. Unhealthy lifestyle choices may be contributing to dark circles under your eyes, including:

  • Smoking: Smoking speeds up the deterioration of your collagen and elastin, causing your under-eye skin to thin and the blood vessels beneath to become more visible. 

  • Alcohol consumption: Alcohol contributes to dehydration, leading to more sunken-in skin and greater shadows on your under eyes. 

  • Poor diet: A diet lacking essential nutrients like iron and vitamins C and K can make the skin under the eyes more prone to discoloration.

How to get rid of dark circles under eyes

How to Get Rid of Dark Circles Under Eyes

Now that you have a better idea of what might be causing your dark undereye circles, it’s time to find a solution that will help get them under control. Discover these solutions to get rid of dark circles under your eyes.

Improve Sleep

Sufficient sleep is essential for refreshed, bright eyes. Get seven to nine hours of good quality sleep every night to allow enough time for your blood to reoxygenate and replenish your skin cells, leaving you with an even complexion.

Better yet, elevate your head while sleeping to prevent your eyes from getting puffy altogether!  

Stay Hydrated

Hydrated skin is plump and full skin. Stay hydrated to prevent your eyes from sinking in and casting shadows beneath them. 

Drink around three liters of water each day and minimize common dehydrators like caffeine and alcohol. Just as they can cause you to become dehydrated, they can also cause your skin to become dehydrated. 

Use Cold Compresses

If dilated blood vessels are creating dark circles under your eyes, a cold compress can help. Apply a cold compress for 10-15 minutes to constrict your blood vessels. This can also help reduce any puffiness around your eyes.

If you don’t have a cold compress handy, use an ice pack or create a makeshift cold compress with something from the freezer.

Apply Eye Creams & Serums

When it comes to treating dark undereye circles, proper skincare is crucial. There are many different skincare products available to help. Look for creams and serums with caffeine, Vitamin C, or retinol to brighten and firm your undereye skin.

Learn more below about our favorite products to reduce dark circles under your eyes.

Reduce Sun Exposure

Avoid undereye sun spots and hyperpigmentation by practicing safe sun exposure and following these tips:

  • Wear sunscreen every day, no matter the weather.

  • Reapply regularly and after sweating or swimming.

  • Wear sunglasses when outside to protect your delicate eye area from UV damage.

  • Avoid the sun during peak hours, from 10 AM to 4 PM.

Address Allergies

Addressing your allergies can reduce your undereye circles and help you live a more comfortable and happier life. Talk to a doctor about over-the-counter or prescription allergy medications that may be able to help. 

Maintain a Healthy Diet

Increase your intake of nutritious foods to brighten your under eyes. Vitamins for healthy skin, like vitamins K, C, and E, can promote healthy skin and reduce dark circles. An iron-rich diet can also prevent dark circles caused by anemia. 

Try Home Remedies

Several simple home remedies can help reduce the appearance of undereye circles. For instance, a cold cucumber slice can double as a cool compress and restrict blood flow.

Potato juice is rich in antioxidants and may be able to reduce dark circles when applied to your undereye skin. Similarly, almond oil is anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative and may be able to help. 

Use Makeup

For temporary color correction, makeup can be a huge help. Concealers and color correctors can cover dark circles and brighten your undereye area. This is a great solution for days when your dark circles are caused by simply not getting enough sleep. 

When to See a Doctor About Dark Circles Under Eyes

Typically, dark undereye circles aren’t caused by a serious medical problem. But that being said, it may help to talk to a dermatologist or doctor about ways to address them.

Laser therapy and chemical peels may help hyperpigmentation, while dermal fillers can reduce dark circles caused by shadows under your eyes due to hollow eye sockets or undereye wrinkles.

The best products for dark circles under eyes

The Best Products for Dark Circles Under Eyes

Looking for the best products to eliminate dark circles under your eyes and embrace a brighter complexion? Discover our best eye-care products for dark circles.

Total Eye 3-in1 Renewal

While concealer makes it so you don’t see your dark circles, they aren’t exactly a treatment. That’s why you should pair your corrector with an eye cream to help address the underlying issues and prevent dark circles from worsening.

If you’d like to refresh your complexion, the Colorescience® Total Eye™ 3-in-1 Renewal Therapy SPF 35 is a must-have. Instead of juggling an assortment of gels, serums, and creams, Total Eye 3-in-1 Renewal can help you combat puffy eyes, dark circles under your eyes, wrinkles, and dark spots – all in one formula.

Some benefits of this eye cream include:

  • See immediate results: The peachy tint will instantly brighten the eye area and reduce dark circles.

  • Mineral-based and chemical-free SPF 35: Safely protect your skin without harsh, irritating ingredients.

  • Hydrate your undereye area: Our nutrient-rich formula addresses your puffy eyes and dark circles by restoring the skin’s health and hydration. It also helps support and firm the skin around the upper and lower eyes, improving elasticity and appearance.

Total Eye® Collection

Revitalize and protect the delicate skin around your eyes with the Total Eye® Collection. This collection is designed to target multiple concerns—dark circles, puffiness, fine lines, and wrinkles—for brighter, smoother, and more youthful-looking eyes. 

For best results in reducing the appearance of dark under-eye circles, follow this step-by-step routine:

  1. Total Eye® Concentrate Serum: Start your routine with this powerful serum to target dark circles and puffiness. It visibly firms and smooths the delicate skin around the eyes, reducing signs of fatigue and providing a refreshed look.

  2. Total Eye® Hydrogel Treatment Masks: Apply these cooling patches to instantly hydrate the skin around the eyes and reduce puffiness. They provide a burst of moisture for a plump, rejuvenated appearance.

  3. Total Eye® 3-in-1 Renewal Therapy SPF 35: In the morning, use this multitasking eye treatment to protect and hydrate your skin. It offers broad-spectrum sun protection while brightening and smoothing the eye area, minimizing the appearance of fine lines.

  4. Total Eye® Firm & Repair Cream: Nourish and repair your skin overnight with this rich cream. It works to restore elasticity, firm the skin, and minimize the signs of aging, so you wake up to more youthful-looking eyes.

Total Eye® Concentrate Serum

Total Eye® Concentrate Serum is formulated with powerful peptides for around-the-clock eye revitalization. Wake up tired eyes, reduce the appearance of bags and dark circles, and constrict blood vessels for a brighter undereye area.

A woman looking at her undereye area in the mirror

Restore Youthfulness to Your Eyes

Are you tired of staring at dark circles and puffiness whenever you look in the mirror? With the recommendations above, you can make some simple changes to your lifestyle and start using Colorescience products specifically designed to improve puffiness and dark under the eyes.

These new habits are easy to maintain and can make a significant difference in your appearance, helping to make your eye area look brighter and more youthful. Instead of looking tired, you can look refreshed and ready to tackle anything your day has in store for you.