10 Remedies to Treat the Dark Circles Under Your Eyes

Tired of hearing how tired you look? While sleep is excellent for dark circles under your eyes, don't lose hope. Here are other great ways to look rested.

woman and cucumber on eyes dark circles
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Cucumber slices

Cucumber slices are a popular facial treatment. To treat dark circles under your eyes, just place a couple of slices over your eyelids for instant calm. It’s an inexpensive and simple treatment. But what’s the science behind it? “Technically, cold temperature can cause blood vessels to constrict, so swelling is temporarily reduced,” says Phillip Artemi, a fellow of the Australasian College of Dermatologists and medical officer at The Skin Hospital at Westmead, New South Wales, Australia. “But it won’t reverse dark circles around the eyes.”

Cucumbers can also relieve belly bloat, so stock up the next time you’re at the supermarket.

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Beauty sleep

The age-old adage of getting your beauty sleep suggests that the key to brighter eyes is getting enough shut-eye. “Getting more sleep may reduce redness in the eyes and the fullness of eye bags, but it will do little to eliminate dark pigment,” says Dr. Artemi. Some experts advise using one or two pillows to keep your head elevated while you sleep to help prevent fluid build up in your lower eyelids, which gives the impression of puffiness and dark circles under your eyes. Try these overnight beauty treatments to get gorgeous overnight.

Green tea, Japanese tea
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Skin-friendly diet

Although diet doesn’t usually play a direct role in dark circles under your eyes, certain foods can aid skin health. Green tea contains skin-friendly antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory benefits that help protect skin cells; salmon contains astaxanthin, a carotenoid that improves skin elasticity to keep fine lines at bay; and avocados and eggs are rich sources of biotin, a vitamin that helps keep skin healthy. Check out these other health benefits of green tea.

concealer
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Concealer

A secret weapon for disguising tired eyes, a concealer can help even skin tone. As a bonus, it can also act as a physical barrier against sunlight to ward off sun damage. To mask blue under-eye circles makeup guru Bobbi Brown suggests using a yellow-based, creamy concealer in a shade lighter than your natural skin tone, while fairer skin types should opt for a porcelain-toned concealer. If skin sensitivity is a concern, then try the most chic concealer of all—a big pair of sunglasses. Here’s how to find the best sunglasses for your face shape.

gel eye mask
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Eye masks

If you’re after a little “me time,” an eye mask is the perfect accessory. They’re inexpensive, and gel masks can be warmed up or chilled in the fridge for the desired effect. Worn for about 15 minutes, they can provide much-needed therapy for tired eyes. As for dark circles under your eyes, Hanna Kuchel, a dermatologist with the Skin & Cancer Foundation of Australia in Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia, says a cool eye mask works by causing blood vessels to constrict, which reduces swelling temporarily. But like most at-home remedies, the results are quick and the benefits short-lived.

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Eye Creams

Eye creams are a popular cosmetic product, but do they live up to the hype? It’s hard to say, as results vary so much between individuals. Also popular in treating dark circles are lightening creams, which Dr. Artemi says contain 2% hydroquinone—a bleaching agent that aims to get rid of dark circles. But creams can irritate delicate under-eye skin, particularly if they contain harsh ingredients, so talk to a professional before use, he advises. To keep the skin moisturized and reduce dark circles, Dr. Kuchel recommends sunscreen, which prevents pigmentation of the skin over time. Dermatologists also recommend one of these best eye creams for dark circles.

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Nasal sprays

If a blocked nose is to blame, nasal sprays might be the answer. Nasal congestion can darken the appearance of the veins that drain from your eyes to the nose, adding to dark circles. Other red flags of congestion include sinus headaches and a sore throat. Saline rinses or nasal sprays can temporarily relieve these symptoms, but prolonged use is not recommended. Building up tolerance to the spray could exacerbate congestion, so have your sinus problems properly assessed before use. Here are the reasons you always feel stuffy.

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Antihistamines

“Dark circles under your eyes may also be a sign of atopy, meaning people predisposed to developing conditions such as asthma and eczema,” says Georgina Kourt, an ophthalmologist in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists. So if you have any known allergies, antihistamines could reduce the puffiness associated with them, but will not do much to reduce dark circles. Available over the counter or with a prescription, antihistamines work by blocking the effects of histamine, a substance released in the body during an allergic reaction. But use with caution, as they can have side effects such as drowsiness or dry mouth. These natural remedies for dry mouth can also do the trick.

surgery
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Blepharoplasty

If you opt to take the surgical route, blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) could be for you. Some women have a racial predisposition to darker skin under the eyes, while others have prominent eye bags that cast dark shadows. Blepharoplasty aims to rectify the latter. There are two procedures: the first surgically removes fat from the inside of the eyelid, while the second—more common—procedure involves removing excess fat and skin, as well as tightening muscle.

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Laser therapy

A laser targets the source of dark circles under your eyes by sending a burst of light into the skin under the eyes. The light is absorbed by blood vessels or pigmented areas in the skin. Laser therapy will resurface the skin and reduce or eliminate wrinkles, which improves the overall appearance of the eyes, with the added benefit of reducing dark circles. However, if the skin around the eyes is already smooth, the treatment might not reduce pigmentation. While less invasive than surgery, the tingling sensation of a laser may take some getting used to, and side effects include redness or localized swelling. Read up on the benefits of laser treatments for the skin.

Sources
  • Phillip Artemi, MB, BS, FACD, MMed, BPharm, medical officer, The Skin Hospital at Westmead, New South Wales, Australia.
  • Hanna Kuchel, MB, BS, MMed, FACD, dermatologist, Skin & Cancer Foundation of Australia in Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia.
  • Georgina Kourt, MBBS, FRANZCO, FRACS, ophthalmologist, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.