How to Get Rid of Dark Circles Under Eyes - 8 Best Tips for Skin

How to Get Rid of Dark Circles

There ain’t no way to hide my raccoon eyes?! Those dreaded dark circles under eyes are common in men and women, and in most cases, they’re harmless and require no medical attention.

The not-so-good news is that they can make us look older than we are, especially when accompanied by bags, and it gets tiring to have people ask if you’re tired! 

Read ahead and learn how to get rid of dark circles. 

Dark circles under the eyes occur when the skin beneath both eyes appears darkened from a combination of pigment in the skin, blood vessels, and the thickness of the skin, along with fluid that can accumulate in this delicate, sensitive area.

While lack of sleep, fatigue, and smoking may seem like the most logical explanations for the appearance of dark circles, there are actually other factors that come into play too.

Not all dark circles are the same (some are even genetic, argh!), so if you're looking for the most effective treatment for you, you should find the underlying cause first.

What causes dark circles under eye?

The two main factors of hyper-pigmentation (dark circles) are genetics and lifestyle.

Genetics and your Health

Ancestry and your DNA - People with darker skin types (non-white ethnic groups - Asian, African etc) are more prone to having hyper-pigmentation under the eyes.

Leaking Blood Vessels - These form deposits of blood under the eye.

Age - As you get older, your skin becomes thinner. You lose the fat and collagen needed to maintain your skin’s elasticity, and as this occurs, the dark blood vessels beneath your skin become more visible.

Predisposition to Medical Conditions and Allergies - Allergic reactions and nasal congestion may result in lower blood circulation to the area under your eyes, leading to dilated and darkened veins, causing inflammation, swelling, and broken blood vessels.

External Factors and Lifestyle

Pollution - Pollution accumulates as toxins around your eyes, especially with skin exposed to the stresses of urban living. Try our deep anti-pollution treatment - BellEye with Arctic Micro-Algae.

Exhaustion and Lack of Sleep - Fatigue and sleep deprivation can cause dark circles to form under your eyes and your skin to become dull and pale, allowing vessels beneath your skin to show. Additionally, poor blood circulation leads to higher concentration of pigment in the skin (making the skin under the eyes even darker).

Dehydration - Lack of hydration is a common cause of dark circles under your eyes, causing the skin beneath your eyes to look dull and your eyes to look sunken (just like a plant that needs water!).

Sun exposure - Too much sun can cause your body to produce an excess of melanin, the pigment that provides your skin with color, particularly causing hyper-pigmentation around your eyes.

Eye strain - The more you stare at your television or computer screen, the more significant strain on your eyes. This strain can cause blood vessels to enlarge, and as a result, the skin surrounding your eyes can darken.

Poor Diet and Smoking - toxins and malnutrition can also cause high stress for your body, causing hyper-pigmentation.

How to get rid of dark circles under eyes?

The following are some of the most effective remedies that can helps you to get rid of dark circles under the eyes. We don’t expect you to do them all at once, but implementing 2 or 3 is a good way to start.

Make time for your health! Do whatever you can to quit smoking. Eat fruits and veggies, especially tomatoes, guavas, and watermelon that contain an antioxidant called lycopene, which boosts circulation and protects blood vessels.

Get more sleep. Lack of sleep can cause your skin to become dull and pale, making dark circles more obvious. Try to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep, and don’t sleep next to your phone or your mobile devices. Blue light is proven to disturb our natural sleep cycle, so at least enable the night mode setting on your phone and tablet!

Reduce stress. Eye-rolling doesn’t cause dark circles, but stress certainly could play a role. Research has found that stress intensifies hyper-pigmentation. Practice self-care!

Gentle massage with ice cubes. For 1-2 minutes, gently massage an ice cube under and around your eyes in a circular motion. This can reduce the appearance of puffiness and help eliminate dark circles by shrinking blood vessels and improving blood circulation. It's also an invigorating way to start the day!

Tip From a BelleCôte Esthetician: When massaging with an ice cube, don’t hold it in one place - keep it moving around to protect your skin and eye nerves from freezing.

Tea Time! Tea contains caffeine and antioxidants that can help shrink blood vessels, stimulate blood circulation, and reduce puffiness and liquid retention beneath your skin.

Soak 2 bags of black or green tea in hot water for five minutes. Let them chill in the refrigerator for 15 to 20 minutes. Once they’re cold, apply the teabags to your closed eyes for 10 to 20 minutes. The tea bag compress will also bring sparkle to your eyes!

Tip From a BelleCôte Esthetician: Use freeze or wet tea bags and apply them for a few minutes in the morning or before going out.

Cucumbers. While cukes likely won't completely help you to get rid of dark circles, they may help reduce their appearance. Cucumbers contain vitamin K, which can reduce dark circles under the eyes by strengthening blood vessel walls.

Cut a fresh cucumber into medium to thick slices, and refrigerate them for 30 minutes. Place them on your eyes for 10 to 15 minutes like a cool compress. You can do this a few times a week.

Invest in eye cream. Look for eye creams, gels, and serums that contain ingredients like hyaluronic acid, plant stem cells, marine collagen, peptides, and other powerful ingredients and antioxidants to constrict and strengthen blood vessels and boost collagen.

Try BelleCôte Eyetox with a face lifting - it will boost collagen production to create an extra layer of protection, brighten pigmented areas, and plump the skin around the eyes. Apply twice a day in the morning and in the evening.

Tip From a BelleCôte Esthetician: Don’t use creams with retinol under your eyes as they can lead to irritation.

Apply sunscreen and reduce exposure to the sun. A daily sunscreen is essential to avoid dark circles. Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with UVA and UVB protection and wear sunglasses and a hat, especially in the summer.

Look for sunscreen that contains marine sun filters (chlorella and spirulina) like our Mineral Double Sun Protection Cream SPF 30.

Conceal! Not a permanent solution, but using a concealer will do the trick and remove dark circles in an instant. However…read the tip below before you spend your money on an expensive concealer!

Tip From a BelleCôte Esthetician: The best concealer is the foundation that sits inside the cap of your foundation bottle! It matches your skin tone and foundation and thickens there as it dries, creating the perfect concealer.

What medical treatments are available to reduce dark circles?

Before deciding on any cosmetic procedure, discuss your options with a doctor, and learn how to get rid of dark circles with natural remedies. Invasive medical treatments can be expensive, painful, and sometimes require a long recovery or repeat sessions. Very often they lead to complications, bumps, and redness.

Meet our BelleCôte Paris Eye Creams!

BellEye with Arctic Micro-Algae. Anti-Pollution Product

Plump! This luxurious, concentrated eye cream is infused with an incredibly unique micro-algae, discovered in the Arctic. The cream`s formula changes the composition and pigmentation of the skin, leaving it brightened, nourished, and glowing.

This cream is so luxe, you need the smallest amount, the size of a BB to use on both eyes. Your eyes will love you for it! 

Directions: Apply gently, using massaging motions from outer to inner eye corner morning and evening. Depending on usage, the cream can last up to 6 months.
Active Ingredients: Marine Collagen and Elastin, Arctic Micro-Algae (Carotenoids), Marine Peptides, Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin C+E Complex.

EyeTox - Anti-Wrinkle Eye Contour Gel

Awaken and tighten tired, puffy eyes! This is everybody's favorite eye gel to use morning and night. Eyetox provides care and total protection to the eye area. Instantly feel the result: a combination of plant stem cells and Marine Peptides promote natural production of Collagen and Elastin.

Laminaria Complex brightens unwanted brown spots. Your look is rejuvenated and uplifted.

Directions: Gently smooth a drop around each eye morning and evening. To develop and reduce puffiness, give yourself a gentle massage from the outer to inner corner for a 1 minute. Great to use it underneath our BellEye with Arctic algae eye cream for extra nourishment.

Active Ingredients: Marine Collagen and Elastin, Marine Peptides, Organic Plant Stem Cell Blend (Apple, Açaí, Grape), Hyaluronic Acid and Laminaria Extract.

The Takeaway

Dark circles are stubborn, but with persistence you can lessen their appearance significantly. Start with a combination of the tips above like improving your diet, getting the right amount of sleep, and trying out a few DIY solutions. The best action you can take is to choose the right eye cream and use it on a regular basis to get rid of those raccoon eyes for good!