From the causes, solutions and treatments, we break it down.
Whether you’re getting minimal sleep by choice or situation (we see you night owls and new parents), sporting dark circles under your eyes is a look that’s rarely in fashion. Tired, puffy peepers can often be helped by taking good care of yourself; we’re talking adequate sleep, a nutrient-rich diet and hydration. “Afterall,” says Dr. Shereene Idriss, board-certified dermatologist, “there’s only so much skincare can do if you’re not taking care of yourself.”
But, what if you’ve ticked off these self care methods and the eye bags still remain?
Here, we’ll take a look at what can cause dark circles and suggest some skincare solutions for an easy, at home dark circles treatment.
What can cause dark circles under the eyes?
Are dark circles and eye bags the same thing? Not quite. According to Idriss, “Dark circles are not created equal, there’s pigmentation in the skin and then there’s eye socket hollows that cause shadows.” Essentially, they can be a result of your own genetic disposition to hyperpigmentation or external, environmental factors such as allergies—and as Idriss suggests: “Allergies can cause congestion, making dark circles and puffiness worse.”
They can also be a sign of low iron and B12, afterall, if you’re lacking then it’s a recipe for low energy, dull skin and—you guessed it—dark circles. When you’re iron deficient, not enough oxygen reaches your body’s tissues and it can also interrupt your sleep cycle. That’s why getting enough nutrients, drinking plenty of water and regulating your circadian rhythm are all so important for tackling dark circles from the inside out.
Dark circles could also be a symptom of poor circulation, as well as a sign of hormonal shifts, anaemia or malnutrition. They could even be an indicator for more serious health issues, so it’s always best to get checked out if you can. Water retention can also cause puffiness. A simple glow-up tip for this would be regularly drinking dandelion tea (and peppermint, if bloating is an issue) to keep your digestive system moving.
What’s the best way to get rid of dark circles?
If it’s a case of hyperpigmentation, which can often be caused by prolonged sun damage over time, then topical serums and 10 minutes of Hydrogel Eye Masks can work wonders. These refreshing eye patches, infused with hyaluronic acid, calming botanicals and brightening antioxidants give instant relief and also make blending concealer an absolute dream.
“This is where using a discolouration and hyperpigmentation serum for your face can double up as an undereye treatment,” explains Idriss, “You don’t need an extra eye cream when addressing the undereyes, especially if a serum is hydrating and creamy at the same time.”
But, what if you’ve exhausted your options of lotions and creams, is it time to try something different? “Just like plants, our bodies absorb the light around us,” says Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Daniel Barrett. “We’re evolved to be responsive to light, and beneficial lights such as red and near-infrared LED light give a positive boost to our skin quality and hormone production.” As a regimented daily user of home use red light gadgets, Dr. Barrett explains that it can also stimulate proper circadian rhythm function which helps normalise our sleep wake cycle—something we need if we’re ever going to get brighter undereyes.
Our LED Eye Perfector is one of such LED devices that can be easily used at home. It has a beneficial blend of high quality red, near-infrared, deep red and amber LED lights to reduce puffiness, pigmentation and even wrinkles such as crow’s feet.
“LED light can help rejuvenate the skin, create smoothness, elasticity and just improve the overall appearance,” says triple board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Mamina Turegano. “Specifically, red (and deep red) do this by helping to build collagen while at the same time reducing the enzyme that breaks down collagen. Near-infrared can also promote healthy tissue by increasing the production of ATP (so our cells are producing more energy), helping with tissue maintenance and repair.”
But what about amber light? This light is going to help with elasticity, product penetration and lymphatic drainage, and it’s also great for anti-ageing. Amber light can also give the area around our eyes an overall glow due to an increase of oxygen rich blood to the skin cells.
It’s best to pop on the Eye Perfector once your skin is ready for skincare; we recommend to cleanse, pat dry, wear the mask for three minutes and then go in with some brightening serum.
The future of eradicating dark circles, it seems, is looking incredibly bright from where we’re sitting.
