Advice on getting rid of dark circles?

May 7, 2011

Kitty J.

Hi lovelies! I get terrible dark circles sometimes (I do try to get enough sleep, but you know how it goes!) I would like an eye cream that helps combat those dark circles that you know works! I am in the UK and am looking for something under £10 please! If you could help me out, that would be perfect! I am not worried about anti-ageing or eye bags, just dark circles ;)

May 8, 2011

Heta R.

I like the Garnier Skin Naturals Roll-on Anti-cernes. They have one that's just a treatment and then a tinted one. I like them both. If you have very dark circles the tinted one may not cover enough but I do think that it gives quite nice coverage. And I do think it's under £10 !

May 8, 2011

Kitty J.

Thank you very much for the suggestion! I will go search this out in my local Superdrugs for one!!

May 9, 2011

Jamie D.

Dark circles are caused by several factors, and each one needs to be dealt with differently. Unfortunately, there aren’t any skin-care products in the world that can tackle all or even most of the causes of dark circles.
What Causes Dark Circles?
Sun damage
Veins and capillaries that show through thin skin
Irritation
Allergies
Genetic trait for having darker color around or under the eye area
Natural shadows resulting from having deep-set eyes or sagging skin
Buildup of dry, damaged skin cells
How Do I Reduce Dark Circles?
Although the solutions below are worth exploring, keep in mind that for some people, eliminating dark circles entirely just isn’t possible. That’s where a great concealer and highlighter come into play, not to mention the incremental improvements you’ll notice from taking good care of your skin.

Use a lightweight moisturizer with sunscreen (SPF 15 or greater) under the eye area every day. If you don’t wear sunscreen you can’t defend against wrinkles or the overproduction of melanin that can make dark circles worse.
Use a sunscreen around the eye with only zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide as the active ingredients Sunscreen ingredients other than zinc oxide and titanium dioxide can cause irritation around the eye and that can make dark circles worse.
Always wear sunglasses outdoors. Sun damage increases melanin production (the brown coloring cells in skin) and that will absolutely make dark circles worse. Sunglasses rated with UV400 and using a well-formulated sunscreen is the perfect combination to prevent dark circles, wrinkles, and sagging!
Consider using an antihistamine. If you have allergies they can be a major cause of dark circles and puffy eyes. Talk to your doctor about over-the-counter and prescription options.
Use a more emollient moisturizer at night. During the day, an extremely emollient moisturizer around the eye can make foundation and concealer slip in to lines making the under-eye area look older. At night a more emollient, state-of-the-art moisturizer works far better and can have you waking up to softer, brighter-looking skin around the eye.
Shop smart. Remember, your under eye moisturizer doesn’t have to be labeled “eye cream.” There is NO research showing there are special ingredients needed for the eye area. NONE! Brilliant ingredients that fight dry skin, wrinkles, and environmental damage for the face work for the eye area, too. Plus, no skin-care product should ever be packaged in a jar because jars allow air in, which causes ingredients such as antioxidants to break down.
Find a great concealer. A concealer with a matte finish (rather than one that’s too creamy or greasy) is best because they tend to last longer and don’t crease. The color of the concealer must be light enough to cover the dark circles convincingly, but not so light that it gives the appearance of a white mask around the eyes. After concealer, you can dab on a sheer layer of liquid highlighter to help reflect light away from naturally shadowed areas.
Keep your expectations reasonable. Traditional skin-lightening products do not have any effect on dark circles unless they are caused by sun damage. If sun damage is the culprit, you can consider a well-formulated vitamin C product or a skin-lightening product whose active ingredient is hydroquinone.
Medical options. You can talk to a cosmetic dermatologist about options, such as dermal injections, lasers, light treatments, radio frequency treatments, and chemical peels for lightening dark circles and reducing wrinkles. A dermatologist experienced with the various skin treatment lasers will be able to tell you which one is best for dark circles and your skin color. The Q-switched ruby laser is the most common choice for treating dark circles.

I hope this helps!

May 9, 2011

Kitty J.

Thank you for all the information!! Most of it I know, like the sunscreen and things, I think my problem is I do not use a proper eye cream and I do not get enough sleep! 

May 9, 2011

Joyce S.

Massaging your eyes to improve blood circulation is equally important. You might want to read my write-up on LA MER's Acupressure Massage - http://www.atelierbeauty.com/?p=852

May 10, 2011

Jamie D.

There is no research that says that the eye area needs anything different from the face; it would be cheaper to get a nice moisturizer and use it around your eyes because with face creams you get more product for less money.

There is no research showing that massaging your eyes to increase blood circulation helps your skin in any way. Sounds like a gimmick. La Mer is known for putting out products that are overpriced and ineffective.

May 10, 2011

Tamara R.

There is plenty of research about massage techniques for the face. One of the more well known techniques is called manual lymphatic drainage. You see it used in spas, but it's often utilized by the medical profession as method of reducing lymphedema for various conditions.

Massage is quite popular in many traditional Asian skin care routines and while some methods (or brands) may recommend a particular product nothing special (aside from the technique) is needed.

May 10, 2011

Jamie D.

I don't see any of that research in dermatology journals. If there is real, peer-reviewed research it would be in a published journal.

May 10, 2011

Joyce S.

Jamie, if you had bothered to read my write-up, which I assumed you did not, I stated that the Accupressure Massage may be used with any eye cream. This technique is developed by LA MER, don't brush it off as "gimmicky" without even trying it out. Likewise as Tamara had pointed out, facial massages is recommended also by beauty brands in order to allow products to be better absorbed by the skin.

Tamara also pointed out the manual lymphatic drainage. CLARINS have their Auto-Lifting Method to use along with their Facial Shaping Life, and Shiseido also have their own series of massage techniques. Just because you don't see them in the "published journals" that you have come across, doesn't mean you can brush it off as "gimmicky."  

May 10, 2011

Tamara R.

If you're having trouble finding articles, I would suggest visiting PubMed and looking up lymphatic drainage on their database. You'll find plenty of peer-reviewed articles.

Despite the fact that it's not as popular in North America, massage is nothing new to the medical community (especially in Europe & Asia), it's efficacy has been well documented. Like any 'product' it's effect will vary based on the individual as well as the skill of the practitioner.

Though something to consider when it comes to massage & research; it can be difficult to do typical scientific studies, because the traditional controls required for massage are very different than for topical or ingested alternatives. The numbers tend to be smaller, because randomized trials of hundreds are more would be very expensive and unrealistic.

Sadly, there is also the aspect that the pharmaceutical industry doesn't get much of a financial kick back, so many health professionals & researchers don't bother with it because the funding is slim.

May 10, 2011

Jamie D.

@Tamara Are you referring to the puffs under the eyes with this massage? If so, I'm sorry I thought you were referring to it as a way to get rid of darkness. You are right, that can help if the puffs are filled with water rather than fat.

@Joyce I'm sorry, I just don't take any research that was performed by a company seriously, no matter the results. I feel like if it was a study that was paid for it was paid for to get a certain result.

May 10, 2011

Tamara R.

Either, since puffy bags can cast shadows. But if the darkness is related to congestion in the capillaries, improving circulation can decrease the congestion and thus the darkness.

As with all skin issues, everything is individual.. so trying to determine the source is key. Admittedly, I'd rather try a new maintenance technique to see if it works for me rather than shelling out more money for a cream or serum that 'might' work.

Apr 3, 2012

AngeLica K.

Vitamin K is great for the eyes since it aids in circulation. Including foods rich in vitamin K into the diet such as broccoli, spinach and carrots. Creams with vit. K will help strengthen the capillary walls. This would also be good for anyone who is unhappy with telangiectasia aka spider veins in the face that can be visible around the nose and sometimes in the cheeks. Daily dose of vit. K would be 65g for females. Supplements can also be purchased. Herbs such as parsley, sage, chamomile and mint provide an alternative, effective treatment for dark under eye circles.

Apr 11, 2013

Barbara M.

My friend suggest me these remedies. Hope it will also help you.

• Use plain cool teabags over closed eyes. Don’t use herbal teabags, because most aren't as effective.
• Apply cool cucumber slices over closed eyes for 15 minutes.
• Make a paste of turmeric powder with pineapple juice for dark circles under the eyes.
• Apply crushed mint around the eye.
• Apply almond oil under eyes.