We break down the causes, solutions and treatments.
Whether you’re sleep-deprived by choice or circumstance (we see you as a night owl and a new parent), dark circles under your eyes are a rare occurrence. Tired, puffy eyes can often be relieved by taking good care of yourself; by that we mean getting enough sleep, eating a nutritious diet, and hydrating. “After all,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Shereene Idriss, “if you’re not taking care of yourself, there’s only so much you can do with your skin care.”
But what if you’ ve implemented these self-care methods but the bags under your eyes still persist?
Here, we’ll look at what causes dark circles and recommend some skin care solutions to easily treat them at home.
What causes dark circles?
Are dark circles and eye bags the same thing? not completely. According to Idris, “Dark circles don’t all form equally, with pigmentation in the skin and sunken eye sockets causing the shadows.” Essentially, they can be due to your own hereditary pigmentation or external circumstances like allergies Caused by factors — as Idris says: “Allergies can cause congestion, worsening dark circles and puffiness.”
They can also be a sign of iron and vitamin B12 deficiencies, after all, if you’re deficient in these elements, it can lead to low energy, dull skin, and—you guessed it—dark circles. With an iron deficiency, there isn’t enough oxygen in your body’s tissues, which can also disrupt your sleep cycle. That’s why eating enough nutrients, drinking plenty of water, and regulating your circadian rhythm are all important to tackling dark circles from the inside out.
Dark circles can also be a symptom of poor circulation, a sign of hormonal imbalance, anemia, or malnutrition. They may even be indicators of more serious health problems, so it’s best to get them checked out if possible. Water retention can also cause puffiness. A simple brightening tip is to drink dandelion tea (or peppermint tea if bloating is a problem) regularly to keep your digestive system moving.
What’s the best way to eliminate dark circles?
If it’s hyperpigmentation, often caused by long-term sun exposure, then a topical serum and 10-minute hydrogel eye mask can work wonders. These refreshing eye masks are infused with hyaluronic acid, calming botanicals, and brightening antioxidants to instantly relieve dark circles and make blending concealer an absolute dream.
“That’s why using a facial spot and depigmentation serum can double as an under-eye treatment,” Idriss explains. “You don’t need an extra eye cream when you’re treating your under-eyes, especially if the serum is both hydrating and creamy function.”
But if you’ve exhausted your options for lotions and creams, is it time to try something different? “Like plants, our bodies absorb the light around them,” says Dr. Daniel Barrett, a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon. “We evolved to be sensitive to light, and beneficial light, such as red and near-infrared LEDs, can have a positive impact on our skin quality and hormone production.” As a regular user of an at-home red light device, Dr. Barrett explains that it can also stimulate proper circadian function, helping to normalize our sleep-wake cycle—something we need if we want brighter eyes.
Our LED Eye Treatment is one such LED device that can be easily used at home. It blends high-quality red, near-infrared, deep red, and amber LEDs to reduce puffiness, hyperpigmentation, and even wrinkles like crow’s feet.
“LED light can help rejuvenate the skin, making it smoother, more elastic, and improving its overall appearance,” says triple-board certified dermatologist Dr. Mamina Turegano. “Specifically, red light (and deep red light) do this by helping to produce collagen while reducing the enzymes that break it down. Near-infrared light can also promote tissue health by increasing ATP production (so our cells produce more energy), aiding in tissue maintenance and repair.”
But what about amber light? This light helps with elasticity, product penetration and lymphatic drainage, making it great for anti-aging too. Amber light also gives the area around our eyes an overall glow as oxygen-rich blood flows to skin cells.
It’s best to apply the eye repair cream when your skin is ready for skincare; we recommend cleansing, patting dry, putting on a mask for three minutes, and then applying some brightening serum.
From our perspective, the future of eliminating dark circles seems pretty bright.
