Dark circles, begone!

Dark undereye circles are a very common skin concern. Not only are tired-looking eyes something we’re all constantly looking to tackle but undereye bags, puffiness, fine lines and wrinkles go hand in hand with general eye concerns. And while there are plenty of reasons why dark circles appear under the eyes (we’ll get into those later!), many are beyond our control. But the good news is that there are some key ingredients on beauty shelves (including some of the best eye creams) that can help reduce the appearance of dark undereye circles and make you look more awake. If you’re ready to look like you’ve caught up on your beauty sleep, read on for a primer on all things undereye related, including learning the cause of undereye bags and how to arm yourself with the best eye cream for dark circles that will have you looking and feeling brighter once and for all.

What causes dark circles under the eyes?

In general, the skin around the eyes is thinner than the skin on the rest of the face, which means it’s often the first place people notice signs of aging like dark circles or fine lines. And while a lack of sleep is often blamed for dark undereye circles and undereye bags, it’s not the only factor. There’s more than one cause for dark circles:
Fatigue: Did you recently pull an all-nighter or stay up late for a movie marathon? Your undereyes could be a telltale sign that you’re tired. When you’re consistently lacking sleep, skin can become dull, which causes the blood vessels under the eyes to become more visible. Sleep deprivation can also be a cause of undereye bags, as fluid buildup makes the area appear inflamed and puffy.
Age: As we age, the skin becomes thinner, so it only makes sense that dark circles under the eyes become more visible. Aging also causes the skin to sag and lose collagen, which can give the eyes a more sunken appearance.
Diet and dehydration: If your body is lacking nutrients and/or hydration, it can cause the skin to look sallow and dull with dark circles becoming more prominent. Even eating too much salty food can cause water retention, which, in turn, leads to puffiness.
Sun exposure: Wearing daily sunscreen is important to protect not only the face from damaging UV rays but also the thin skin in the undereye area from hyperpigmentation that can cause dark circles. Because the skin around the eyes is so delicate, it’s easily damaged by sun exposure.
Genetics: Dark circles under the eyes can be hereditary—sometimes it’s just something you’re born with, unfortunately.

How to get rid of dark circles

While dark undereyes are just a part of life, there are a few things that can help lighten their appearance and minimize pigmentation and puffiness.
Get your beauty sleep: This is an obvious one. The first step in helping to minimize dark undereye circles and undereye bags is to get a solid eight hours of sleep every night. Start by establishing a routine that gets you prepped for bed around the same time every night and stick to it as closely as possible.
Stay hydrated: Another easy tip to help keep water retention at bay is to drink lots of water throughout the day. This benefits not only the skin under your eyes but also your overall health. Add an eye-specific sunscreen to your morning skincare routine: As we mentioned before, sun exposure is a common cause of dark circles. Applying a daily sunscreen for the eyes adds protection that will help shield that delicate skin from UV damage. SkinCeuticals Physical Eye UV Defense SPF 50 is a gentle mineral-based sunscreen that won’t sting the eyes and offers broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection.
Use an eye cream: Eye creams are a great line of defence when it comes to tackling dark undereyes and undereye bags. Keep reading for a list of skincare ingredients and the best eye creams that will help brighten and tighten the skin under the eyes.

Ingredients to look for in eye creams

These are a few of the top skincare ingredients for dark circles to look for when shopping for an eye cream.
Niacinamide: What can’t niacinamide do? This buzzy and beloved skincare ingredient has a long list of benefits, including being an antioxidant that helps fight hyperpigmentation.
Vitamin C: This is another powerful antioxidant that is well known for brightening the skin—including the skin under the eyes. It also helps boost collagen production, which, in turn, combats fine lines and wrinkles and protects the delicate skin around the eyes.
Retinol: This is a dermatologist-loved anti-aging skincare ingredient, and using an eye cream with retinol can work wonders on the eye area. Just like vitamin C, retinol helps stimulate collagen production and thickens the skin under the eyes, minimizing sagging and darkness.
Caffeine: While caffeine is a must for many people’s morning routines, it can also benefit the eye area when used in skincare. It works as a stimulant for the skin, waking up tired eyes and reducing puffiness.

The best eye creams for dark circles

Here are a few of the top eye cream formulas to help with getting brighter eyes.

Eye cream for mature skin: SkinCeuticals A.G.E Complex is a rich cream that tackles the big trio of undereye concerns: dark circles, puffiness and crow’s feet. Formulated with a complex of flavonoids and synergistic peptides to strengthen the skin and diminish the appearance of dark undereye circles, it also contains optical diffusers that give the skin an immediate brightening effect to wake up tired, dull eyes.

Eye cream for aging skin: SkinCeuticals Eye Balm was created for dry skin. With its nourishing balm texture, it works to hydrate the eye area while targeting skin laxity and free radical damage thanks to antioxidants like vitamin E and silymarin.

Eye serum for sensitive and dehydrated skin: SkinCeuticals AOX+ Eye Gel can be used on all skin types, even sensitive skin. This serum-in-a-gel formula contains a combo of 5% pure vitamin C, 1% phloretin and 0.5% ferulic acid to protect the delicate eye area from environmental aggressors. It helps improve the appearance of puffiness and dark undereye circles while tackling visible signs of aging.

Eye cream for sun protection: SkinCeuticals Physical Eye UV Defense SPF 50 works on all skin types to provide sun protection specifically for the eye area and won’t cause stinging or irritation. The tinted zinc oxide formula is ophthalmologist-tested and safe to use on the entire eye area.