When it comes to things we’d like to improve in our skin, the list is endless and varied. One thing that commonly pops up more frequently than not? Dark under-eyes. Raccoon eyes, tired eyes or dark circles...no matter what you call them, most people who have them, want to get rid of them.
The problem? These dark circles are often harder to treat than common skin concerns like rosacea or acne. But wait, don’t go anywhere, skincare can in fact help us achieve a more rested look, but it goes beyond that. Here’s the scoop on why many have dark circles and how we can diminish their appearance. It’s important to understand the root cause before slapping on some cream and praying to the skincare gods.
What are dark circles? Dark circles become more common with age. When we are young, we have more fat under the eyes which masks any veins under the skin, and as we age we lose elasticity in the area which causes the undesired and much dreaded dark circles. Adding to that, poor circulation brought on by allergies or nasal congestion, can also worsen the condition.
What can cause the appearance of dark circles? Here’s the real reason you have dark circles. You may be surprised that it goes beyond getting your 8 hours of Zzz’s.
Skin: Depending on the thickness of your skin (elastin and collagen density) the appearance of your undereye circles may be more (for thinner skin) or less (for thicker skin). Before you start pinching away, thin skin usually shows blushing or bluish veins, and men are likely to have thicker skin than women.
Bone Structure: If you have strong bone structure, this is great news...your eye area is likely to be taught and smooth and dark circles are to show less. They’ll be less visible. Deep inset bone structures will create shadows and make the dark circles more visible.
Hormones: Your homes could be to blame, and they may be ruling out more than just your mood, but an imbalance in estrogen (estrogen dominance), can make circles appear.
Genetics: Like most things, you can blame your genetics for your dark circles. Along with hair loss, aging and health issues you can inherit darker pigment under the eyes that's often tied to other issues like blood conditions, anemia and deficiencies in vitamins. Also, bone structure, mentioned above largely falls into genetics.
Lifestyle: This one is a given. Make good lifestyle choices, put down the cigarette or the JUUL, get in your Zzz’s and you guessed it, guzzle your water and slap on the sunscreen. Also, lay off the salt. These are all small factors that can contribute to your dark circles.
Products to look out for in your first line of defence?
Now that you’ve already angrily texted your family about your genetics, here are some ingredients and stellar products to look out for and apply to the area to help ease the situation. Afterall, your genetics are what make you beautiful so tell your family you love them and get some products that work:
SkinMedica® Uplifting Eye Serum: The lightweight formula replenishes skin’s moisture to soften the look of fine lines and create a smooth texture. Aloe leaf and willow bark extracts reduce puffiness and under-eye bags while lactic acids, vitamin E, and algae extracts will brighten dark circles. Hyaluronic acid delivers lightweight moisture for an instant plumping effect. For an eye product that targets multiple concerns, choose this serum!
Lumiere Eye Cream: A restorative, line-smoothing eye cream that uses growth factors to target the delicate eye area and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, crow’s feet, puffiness and under eye darkness. Great for eczema-prone, sensitive skin.
Skinceuticals AOX + Eye Gel: This serum-in-a-gel that contains a synergistic combination of pure vitamin C (l-ascorbic acid), phloretin, and ferulic acid along with powerful botanicals to protect the delicate eye area from atmospheric skin aging – environmental damage and premature signs of aging caused by free radicals from UVA/UVB, infrared radiation (IRA), and ozone pollution (O3). This refreshing eye serum targets visible signs of aging such as crow’s feet and fine lines, and improves the appearance of puffiness, fatigue, and under eye circles.
Still not sure what’s right for your skin concerns? We only stock products that we believe in and trust, and these are a few that have our heart. Shop by brand, product or skin concern to discover our full collection of amazing pharmaceutical grade skincare products. Better yet, give us a call and one of our skincare experts will walk you through the process and answer any and all questions.