Causes of dark circles & best treatments
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The first thing everyone thinks of when they have dark circles is - ‘I didn’t get enough sleep’. I will be straight up and honest guys, my dark circles have been way more prominent lately. Some days they don’t look so bad, other days it looks like I haven’t slept in a week.
Before I met my boyfriend I was quite the night owl, for no good reason. I believe that this combined with years of retail shift work and not getting enough quality sleep, have personally been the causes of dark circles. Since meeting my boyfriend, who has a great sleep routine, I have naturally adapted the same and get such good quality sleep now. But still on some days, I get ‘Alexa why do you look so tired?’. Well I'm not, I slept like a baby. So what gives?
Dark circles are not anything to be concerned about, but I get it, they aren’t pretty. I for one am not a fan, mine look even worse in the winter when I am paler. I try my best to conceal them with an under eye brightener, colour corrector or concealer but that just puts a ‘plaster’ over it. It’s a quick ‘fix’ but doesn’t actually try to target the possible cause. Multiple factors can contribute to dark circles and it will be different for everyone but here are some reasons why you may be getting those panda eyes;
What causes dark circles?
As mentioned above, one of the biggest causes of dark circles is a lack of sleep or poor quality sleep which can wreck havoc on the skin under our eyes. It can cause our blood vessels under our eyes to dilate resulting in a darker appearance.
Waking up fatigued can also make our skin look duller and pale (no thanks) which then in turn makes our dark circles look a tad more noticeable. This is also because our skin under our eyes is much more delicate and thinner than other areas on the face. Note to yourself - that Netflix show can wait until tomorrow!
Some of us may have a genetic predisposition (thank you DNA) to having darker pigmentation around the eyes. This in turn then makes blood vessels more visible creating the appearance of dark circles. So sometimes no matter what we do, we may have it in our genes, which is why it is even more important to make sure you do other things to minimize the appearance!
Aging is something we should all be grateful for but it doesn’t come without some effects! One of them being that as we age our skin naturally loses its elasticity and collagen. The reduction of this can make the blood vessels under the eyes more visible which in turn enhances the appearance of dark circles.
If you have read any of my other blog posts, I often discuss the importance of SPF and the effects of sun exposure. Excessive exposure to the sun’s UV rays stimulate the production of melanin, the pigment in the skin. This then leads to hyperpigmentation or darkening of the under eye area. See why I bang on about SPF and how much we should look after our skin?!
Poor circulation can reduce blood flow in the under eye area, causing the skin to appear darker. Lots of caffeine and lack of exercise are just some examples of what can contribute to poor circulation. In addition to this, dehydration can really make our skin look more dull and more prone to showing signs of discoloration under the eyes. I know when i'm dehydrated my ghastly appearance in the mirror will remind me.
Allergies are one of the lesser associated causes of dark circles under the eyes, depending on the type and your body’s reaction.
Tips to help reduce dark circles under your eyes
#1 Get enough sleep and I mean that! 7-9 quality hours of sleep every night will work wonders and reduce your fatigue.
#2 Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! At least 2 liters a day - get yourself a cute fun bottle to encourage you to keep sipping away.
#3 Use eye creams or serums that can help brighten the appearance of your under eyes. Products that contain vitamin c or peptides are great for this! This tip also goes hand in hand with having a great skincare routine to include keeping the under eye area moisturized.
#4 Try to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Eat your veggies and your fruit, introduce exercise into your routine and avoid excess consumption of things like alcohol.
#5 I like to sometimes use a cold compress, cold cucumbers or my ice globes, just to reduce any puffiness that may be there - plus it feels so nice.
#6 SPF! Sun exposure darkens our skin making the under eye circles look more prominent. Make sure to always apply a high SPF to protect your skin!
The two best products I’ve used to reduce the appearance of under eye bags are:
Drunk Elephant
Ceramighty™ AF Eye Cream with Ceramides
A few other thoughts on dark circles
As with anything, it takes some time to notice any improvements. It takes consistency. I have been trying to work out for a couple of weeks why my dark circles or ‘bags' under the eyes’ look quite prominent these days. I get enough sleep, I always SPF 365 days a year, I have a good skincare routine….but I love coffee and although I won’t give it up, I'm happy to reduce my intake. I drink water, it’s my go to but there are days when I don’t drink 2 liters of water and for no good reason. I’m then kindly reminded (that morning look in the mirror) of my lack of hydration when I can’t seem to reduce the appearance of my dark circles. Or maybe it is just actually my genetics guys. Either way I will continue to do all of the above because I want to wave bye bye to my unwanted dark circles!
Causes of dark circles additional FAQs
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Dark circles can be caused by a lack of certain vitamins, such as E, D, K, A, and B12. Additionally, insufficient iron levels can also contribute to the appearance of dark circles.
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Vaseline doesn't have significant benefits in reducing pronounced wrinkles or lightening dark circles. However, the product can offer similar moisturizing effects to your preferred eye cream, especially when used with a hydrating cream.
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If the persistent presence of dark circles continues you can always speak with a medical professional. They possess the expertise to assist you in determining alternative management or whether an underlying medical reason is causing them.
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To conceal under-eye bags on mature skin, start with a hydrating eye cream, choose a creamy concealer one or two shades lighter than your skin tone, and apply it in a triangular shape, gently blending and setting it with a light touch of translucent powder to avoid creasing and create a bright, natural look. Avoid heavy products and opt for those with light-reflecting properties for a more youthful appearance.
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