Whether you’re getting minimal sleep by choice or situation (we see you night owls and new parents), dark circles under your eyes is a look that’s rarely in fashion. Tired, puffy peepers can often be helped by taking good care of yourself; we’re talking adequate sleep, a nutrient-rich diet and hydration.
“Afterall, there’s only so much skincare can do if you’re not taking care of yourself,” says Dr. Shereene Idriss, Medical Director and Founder at Idriss Dermatology.
But, what if you’ve ticked off these self care methods and the eye bags still remain? Here, we’ll take a look at what can cause dark circles and suggest a solution to reduce the appearance of dark circles under eyes.
What causes dark circles under the eyes?
Are dark circles and eye bags the same thing? Not quite. According to Idriss, “Dark circles are not created equal, there’s pigmentation in the skin and then there’s eye socket hollows that cause shadows.”
Essentially, they can be a result of your own genetic disposition to excess skin pigment or external, environmental factors such as allergies.
“Allergies can cause congestion, making dark circles and puffiness worse.”
How to reduce dark circles
If your dark circles are caused by skin discolouration, often from prolonged sun damage, topical serums and 10 minutes of Hydrogel Eye Masks can work wonders. These refreshing eye patches, infused with hyaluronic acid, calming botanicals and brightening antioxidants give instant relief and also make blending concealer an absolute dream.
“You don’t need an extra eye cream when addressing the undereyes, especially if a serum is hydrating and creamy at the same time.”
— Dr. Idriss
But, what if you’ve exhausted your options of lotions and creams?
“Just like plants, our bodies absorb the light around us,” says Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Daniel Barrett. “We’re evolved to be responsive to light, and beneficial lights such as red and near-infrared LED light give a positive boost to our skin quality.”
Dr. Barrett, a dedicated user of home-use red light devices, notes that red light therapy can also support proper circadian rhythm function, helping normalise your sleep-wake cycle—something we need if we’re ever going to get brighter undereyes.
Dark circle therapy
The CurrentBody LED Eye Mask can be easily used at home. It has a beneficial blend of red, near-infrared, deep red and amber LED lights to reduce puffiness, pigmentation and even wrinkles.
“LED light can help rejuvenate the skin, create smoothness, elasticity and just improve the overall appearance,” says triple board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Mamina Turegano.
“Specifically, red (and deep red) do this by helping to build collagen while at the same time reducing the enzyme that breaks down collagen. Near-infrared can also promote healthy tissue by increasing the production of ATP (so our cells are producing more energy), helping with tissue maintenance and repair.”
— Dr. Turegano
Amber light helps with elasticity, product penetration and lymphatic drainage, and it’s also great for anti-ageing. Amber light can also give the area around our eyes an overall glow due to an increase in blood flow.
It’s best to pop on the LED Light Therapy Eye Mask once your skin is ready for skincare; we recommend cleansing and gently drying the skin before wearing the mask for three minutes. Then go in with a brightening serum.
The future of eradicating dark circles, it seems, is looking bright.
