Published: February 15, 2023
Although under eye dark circles are most commonly associated with a lack of sleep, they can actually be caused by a number of factors. Genetics, aging, sun exposure, dehydration, allergies – all of this and more can lead to dark circles and bags forming below the eyes.
While under eye dark circles aren’t usually harmful, they can make a person look tired and aged, meaning that people usually want them gone ASAP.
So, what are the best ways to reduce the appearance of under eye dark circles? Read on as Avinichi explains.
Use a Vitamin C-Infused Eye Cream
One of the best ingredients for alleviating the look of dark circles is vitamin C. Why? Because it tackles the issue from multiple angles.
For starters, this powerful antioxidant helps to give the skin a firmer and thicker finish. Dark circles are often triggered by the aging process, which leads to the skin thinning out and losing volume. As a result, the blood vessels underneath the skin look much more prominent. With the use of a vitamin C eye cream, your skin will, over time, feel fuller and stronger, which will help to reduce the visibility of your under eye dark circles.
Vitamin C is also a superstar at lightening the look of pigmentation, which is another major cause of dark circles.
That said, finding a good vitamin C eye cream isn’t quite so simple. There are several forms of vitamin C used in skincare products, and they don’t all produce equal results.
At Avinichi, one of our favorite vitamin C derivatives is tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate. It quickly penetrates the skin and has the same effects as ascorbic acid, which is the purest form of vitamin C. However, it’s much more stable and actually works better at thickening the look of the skin.
That’s why you’ll find tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate in our Dark Circle Eye Perfecting Cream. As you can tell from the name of this product, it has been designed specifically for people who are trying to reduce the appearance of dark circles. In addition to vitamin C, this formula also contains caffeine. This is another ingredient that has been proven to help with the visibility of dark circles while also perking up the look of the eye area.
Turn to Tea
One age-old remedy for under eye dark circles is placing tea bags over the eyes.
Does this really work? Yes, thanks to the antioxidants and caffeine that tea contains. It’s a fantastic ingredient for not only shrinking the appearance of the blood vessels underneath the skin, which then makes them less noticeable from the outside, but also for soothing puffy-looking eyes.
Both green tea and black tea are able to help with this. You’ll need to first soak the tea bags in hot water for 5 minutes before putting them into the fridge to cool for about 20 minutes.
If you’d prefer a faster way to make the most of the benefits offered by tea, then turn to our Eye Rescue Phyto-Serum instead. This formula is infused with plenty of green tea extract. Your skin will be able to soak up all of the antioxidants that green tea is famous for, while also being pampered by a number of other complexion-lightening ingredients.
You’ll notice that this formula also contains vitamin C, making it a great accompaniment to your vitamin C eye cream. It’ll enable you to double up on results! This is especially the case when combined with licorice root extract, a botanical that’s capable of lightening the look of hyperpigmentation. It’s exactly what you need if pigmentation is the cause of your under eye dark circles.
Stay Hydrated
Sometimes, dark circles will be one of the initial signs that your body is dehydrated. Due to the proximity of your eye area to the facial bones that lie beneath, this part of the face is often the first to start appearing hollow and sunken.
Fortunately, dehydration is usually an easy problem to fix – simply increase your fluid intake. Aim for eight glasses of water a day, or more if you find that you need it. It’s also worth incorporating more water-rich foods into your diet. From strawberries to melons to cucumbers, foods with a high moisture content will not only satisfy your appetite, but they’ll help to keep your body hydrated too.
It’s worth keeping in mind that when you hydrate from within, your skin is usually the last organ to receive any extra water. To counter this, it’s important to keep your skin hydrated externally too. This means seeking out eye care products that contain plenty of humectants. These are ingredients with moisture-binding properties that will immediately leave your skin cells feeling full, plump, and deeply hydrated.
The Avinichi eye cream and serum that we featured above are both bursting with hydrating ingredients. However, the skin around your eyes won’t be able to retain moisture if the rest of your face is dehydrated, making it important to have a hydrating face cream in your skincare routine too. Our top pick would be the Avinichi Noni Night Repair. With multiple humectants and antioxidants, this cream should be applied each evening after you’ve used your eye cream.
Add Alpha Hydroxy Acids to Your Skincare Routine
People with particularly stubborn under eye dark circles often turn to chemical peels. These make use of alpha-hydroxy acids, which help to lighten the look of discoloration and dark shadows.
However, professional peels can come with side effects, making it wise to try a milder, at-home formula first.
That’s exactly why we created our Noni Polishing Peel. Compared to a professional peel, this product makes use of a much milder alpha-hydroxy acid; mandelic acid. Derived from almonds, this AHA is known for being gentle, making it perfect for the delicate skin around the eyes.
Our peel is also loaded with a multi-vitamin blend that’ll target the visibility of your dark circles, leaving you with an eye area that looks bright and even.
Chill Your Skincare Products
There are many dark circle remedies out there that involve the use of cold temperatures, and there’s a reason for this. Cool temperatures help to constrict the appearance of blood vessels, which makes under eye dark circles less noticeable.
So, how should you cool your eye area? You have a few options. Some like to refrigerate two spoons for 20 minutes before placing these over their eyes. Others prefer using a cold compress.
However, one of our favorite methods is much simpler. It simply involves storing your skincare products in the fridge. This way, whenever you apply them, they’ll feel extremely cool and soothing on your skin. They’ll instantly brighten and de-puff your appearance, doing away with the visibility of your dark circles.
The best skincare products to refrigerate would be your serums and creams. Keep an eye on any oil-heavy formulas, as cool temperatures could cause those oils to solidify.
Catch Up on Your Beauty Sleep
A lack of sleep can cause the skin to look dull and pale. As a result, the blood vessels underneath the eyes can be seen more prominently through the skin in the form of under eye dark circles. This can occur after just one night of poor sleep, with the effects accumulating the more this continues.
It’s also worth mentioning that over-sleeping can have a similar effect. Ideally, you should be aiming to be getting around seven hours of sleep each night, every night. For the sake of your skin, it’s best to keep this consistent. This means setting a routine that you can stick to on both weekdays and weekends.
How can you tell if your under eye dark circles are caused by sleep deprivation?
Well, if you’ve been experiencing a chronic lack of sleep, then chances are that you’ll be noticing other symptoms too. A lack of energy, mood swings, reduced concentration, frequent yawning throughout the day…all of this indicates that your body needs more sleep.
If you’ve been struggling to stick to a healthy sleep schedule, try turning your bedroom into a more tranquil environment. Keep it at a temperature of around 65 degrees Fahrenheit – doctors recommend this for the most comfortable sleep. Dim lighting, soft bedding, and a tidy space can also all be useful when it comes to encouraging a restful mind.
Keep Your Skin Protected From the Sun
As mentioned above, sun exposure can be one of the main causes of dark circles. UV rays trigger the skin into producing more melanin, which is the compound that protects it from sun damage. It’s also the pigment that gives your skin its color. This means that the more melanin you have in your skin, the darker your skin will be.
However, when the skin is exposed to too much sun, melanin production can go into overdrive. The skin produces more than it needs, leaving it unable to evenly distribute this pigment through your skin. As a result, excess melanin ends up clustering in certain areas, which makes those parts of the skin appear darker.
So, while sun protection is key for everyone, it becomes even more vital for those trying to treat under eye dark circles. After all, there’s no point trying all of the methods we’ve shared above if the sun is continuing to darken your under-eye area while causing the formation of more dark patches.
Look for a sunscreen that contains an SPF of at least 30 and is safe to use around the eyes. A broad-spectrum formula is vital too, as this protects your skin from both UVA and UVB rays. Your sunscreen should be reapplied every 2-3 hours to any exposed skin. Be generous with the amount that you use, as you don’t want your skin to be under-protected.
Sun-protecting accessories can also help to keep your eye area shaded. Oversized sunglasses are not only stylish, but they’ll shield even more skin around your eyes. The same applies to wide-brimmed hats – anything that blocks UV rays from accessing your skin cells is useful!
Reduce the Appearance of Your Under Eye Dark Circles With Avinichi
When tackling under eye dark circles, there are often many lifestyle changes that can help, such as increasing your water intake and getting more sleep. However, at the same time, you should also be addressing the issue externally, making good skincare products an absolute must. Go with Avinichi’s eye care formulas and it won’t be long before your dark circles look lighter and much less visible.
Click here to explore more of Avinichi’s bestselling skincare products.