How to Treat Dark Circles Under Your Eyes
Almost everyone experiences dark undereye circles from time to time. These pesky, darkened areas can make us appear more tired and less alert than we feel, leading to panic-induced concealer applications that can often draw even more attention to the area we’re trying to disguise.
Even more frustrating is the fact that dark circles under your eyes can be tricky to treat, especially if you don’t know what’s causing them. But with a little science and the right skincare ingredients, you can reduce the appearance of dark circles without makeup.
What Causes Dark Circles?
Dark circles under your eyes can occur for many reasons. One of the most common reasons for dark undereye circles is age-related volume loss.
When you’re young, the fat in your face is naturally distributed. But as you age, that fat loses volume and migrates downward. Not only does this cause a looser, more slack appearance all over your face, it also means the blood vessels under your eyes are no longer hidden under as much fat. It’s these blood vessels that often cause age-related dark circles.
Other causes of dark undereye circles can include:
- Allergies
- Lack of sleep
- Dehydration
- Hyperpigmentation
- Lifestyle factors such as stress and excessive alcohol use
The Best Ingredients for Treating Dark Circles
A skincare routine featuring clinically proven ingredients to brighten, boost hydration and minimize the appearance of dark circles is your best bet for minimizing their appearance without makeup. These include:
- Niacinamide – A form of antioxidant vitamin B3 that helps with hydration and decreases hyperpigmentation.
Eyeseryl – This tetrapeptide – found in our Peptide Eye Gel along with niacinamide -- helps to improve the look of dark circles by helping to prevent leaky undereye blood vessels. (Yes, this is a thing!) Hydrators – Water-binding ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, PGA, and ectoin can help plump undereye skin, minimizing the appearance of darkened blood vessels underneath it. Pink Marine Algae – While our Marine Algae Eye Cream’s star ingredient is best known for its ability to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, this ingredient’s naturally pink hue also has a subtle color-correcting effect that helps to brighten the undereye area without makeup. Vitamin C – This dermatologist-beloved antioxidant can improve the look of some kinds of dark circles by decreasing the production of melanin and dissolving existing melanocytes.
A Skincare Routine for Reducing Dark Circles
Eye cream is just the beginning. This science-backed skincare routine works synergistically using clinically proven ingredients to improve the appearance of dark circles.
Step One: Cleanse with Amino Aloe Gentle Cleanser
Formulated for all skin types, this satisfying foaming cleanser uses a powerful amino acid complex to break down impurities while aloe calms and soothes and moringa extract removes remnants of pore-clogging environmental debris. Your skin is left clean, hydrated, and refreshed.
Step Two: Quench + Firm with Copper Peptide Rapid Plumping Serum
Massage a dropper full of this luxurious, silky serum into your face as the third step in your skincare routine to instantly plump fine lines and wrinkles thanks in part to the water-binding properties of ectoin. We’ve paired this powerful, protective hydrator with our rapid plumping complex to deliver instant, long-lasting hydration alongside a dramatic improvement in elasticity thanks to copper peptides.
Step Three: Reduce the Appearance of Dark Circles with Our Duo of Clinically Proven Eye Creams
In the morning, apply a small amount of our Peptide Eye Gel to visibly reduce the look of dark circles and puffiness using niacinamide and eyeseryl. Meanwhile, argireline (a hexapeptide) improves the look of fine lines and wrinkles while sugarcane-derived squalane boosts hydration and drives active ingredients deeper into the skin.
That evening, deeply hydrate and plump delicate undereye skin with our Marine Algae Eye Cream. This rich and silky cream includes paracress extract to instantly lift while pink marine algae visibly reduces the look of fine lines and wrinkles while helping to camouflage dark circles.
Step Four: Quench and Protect with Deep Moisture Day + Night
Use our Vitamin C Rose Moisturizer during the day to boost radiance on contact for brighter skin. Our innovative instant bestseller uses a gentle, easily absorbed form of vitamin C to deeply nourish and increase skin’s firmness and elasticity. Fermented lemon peel drastically boosts brightness and provides antioxidant support while our hydrating superhero, squalane, mimics the body’s natural hydrating oils to deliver nourishing moisture and drive actives deep into the skin.
Step Five: Lock in Moisture + Glow with Vitamin C Rose Oil
Our science-backed formula features an innovative form of oil-soluble Vitamin C that’s uniquely stable and incredibly gentle. Use it as the final step in your skincare to brighten and moisturize while sealing in active ingredients, or add a few drops to makeup for a fresh, dewy look.
