Tired of Looking Tired All the Time? Here’s How to Get Rid of Dark Circles

Most of us can fake a full eight hours of sleep thanks to a few espressos, but dark circles often reveal the truth. Nothing says “I had a really late night” more than those purplish raccoon eyes. Not to mention, some of us can get plenty of sleep and still have dark circles under eyes.

What causes dark circles?

Dr. Diane J. Orlinsky, FAAD explains that dark circles are the result of genetics, allergies, dehydration or a combination of all three. Aging skin can also lead to dark circles. When collagen breaks down as we get older, it thins skin and makes blood vessels more visible, thus creating a darker eye area. Ami Mallon, global corporate educator for Osmosis Colour Mineral Cosmetics, adds that dark circles and puffiness can be attributed to stagnant blood in the undereye area due to kidney strain, excess caffeine or other stimulants, medications, lack of sleep or even anxiety and heavy stress.

How to get rid of dark circles under eyes

As much as we’d like to think that dark circles are a bit mysterious and sexy, the truth is, they make us appear tired. Luckily, we don’t need to go through the day looking like a panda. There are many ways to get rid of dark circles under eyes — and none involve covering them up with a pair of oversized sunglasses.

Treat and brighten the area

The first step in getting rid of dark undereye circles is to treat the area. Instead of tapping on a generic eye treatment, look for a product that’s specifically formulated for dark circles. Orlinsky recommends products with light-reflecting ingredients, like boron nitride, which make eyes look brighter. Retinopeptide and niacinamide also help strengthen and brighten the skin under the eyes and they reduce redness. With continued use, the eye creams will make the area brighter and reduce undereye bags.

Use the right concealer

After skin care products comes makeup. There are concealers specially formulated for the eye area that cover up darkness without looking cakey or creasing. The right products even have eye-brightening ingredients like caffeine and reflective pigments to make the eye area look more awake. Sébastien Tardif, co-founder and CEO of Veil Cosmetics, suggests choosing a concealer with the correct undertone to counteract the color of dark circles. For instance, concealers with soft pink undertones are great for purple and blue dark circles, while a soft golden orange undertone is suitable for olive and brown dark circles. A concealer with a neutral undertone is ideal when there is minimal discoloration.

Ready to bid those dark circles adieu? Scroll through the gallery to see the best products for getting rid of dark circles. When these brightening eye treatments are in your beauty arsenal, you won’t have to worry about people asking if you’re tired again.

[ Next: Before You Buy: We Rank the Best and Worst Eye Creams ]