Some problems are just universal. Dark circles are very much a part of it. However, that doesn’t mean you’ve to repeatedly put up with those ‘You look tired’ concerns. Ugh! Surely taming dark circles is tricky, but with proper care, it’s possible to treat and lessen them over time.
Before that, it’s first essential to know what causes dark circles so you know the root cause behind your shadow of doom.
What Causes Dark Circles
Here’s a lowdown on what causes dark circles under the eyes.
- If you’re a sleeping beauty who has tried every trick in the book yet wake up with ‘em dreaded bags, then chances are that it’s a gift generously passed onto you by your family. If not your genes, it’s probably just your natural bone structure that casts shadows underneath your eyes. Either way, that’s not really going anywhere. Now where’s that concealer?
- The seemingly harmless knuckle rub on your itching eyes could be the culprit. How? The rubbing can actually break the tiny blood vessels as the skin around your eyes is thin and delicate. This eventually results in damaged capillaries and thus, dark circles. Not worth the temporary relief, eh?
- Fact 1: Dark circles are a form of pigmentation.
Fact 2: Constant exposure to the UV rays of the sun triggers melanin which causes pigmentation. Have you connected the dots yet? Add to cart: UV protection sunglasses. - All the stress and fatigue can make your face look pale which allows the dark circles to appear more prominent. Extreme stress that’s left unchecked can also cause the fragile blood capillaries around your eyes to break and leak blood. This blood then oxidizes to form a dark purple hue (read: dark circles).
- If your lifestyle is mostly dominated by junk food, smoke and alcohol, dehydration and nutrient deficiency are inevitable. This will affect blood circulation thereby darkening the skin around your eyes. Besides, low iron levels in your diet can also encourage dark circles.
- Too much screen time and less sleep time at night sounds like your normal routine? Well then be prepared to embrace both, puffy eyelids and dark circles. If that doesn’t sound fun, here’s an escape card: Count sheep or toss and turn if you’ve to but ensure you catch your z’s for at least a good 8 hours every day. Your eyes will thank you.
1. Aloe Vera Gel For Dark Circles
Step 1: Using a spoon, extract the gel from an Aloe Vera leaf and collect it in a bowl.
Step 2: Refrigerate the gel for at least 2 hours.
Step 3: Now apply the gel on your under-eye area and leave it overnight.
Step 4: Wash it off in the morning.
2. Coconut Oil For Dark Circles
Step 1: Add 2 drops of Coconut Oil on a cotton pad.
Step 2: Now dab the cotton pad on your under-eye area to spread the oil.
Step 3: Allow it to stay for 3 hours to let your skin absorb the oil.
Step 4: Now, rinse your eyes with lukewarm water and pat it dry with a towel.
3. Coffee For Dark Circles
Step 1: Add 2 tablespoons of organic ground Coffee Powder in a bowl.
Step 2: Then add 2 drops of a carrier oil like Coconut Oil. Stir well.
Step 3: Dip a cotton ball in the mixture and apply it under your eyes. Let it stay for 15 minutes.
Step 4: Wash off using a mild cleanser.
4. Almond Oil For Dark Circles
Step 1: Add 2 drops of Almond Oil on a cotton pad.
Step 2: Now dab the cotton pad on your under-eye area to spread the oil.
Step 3: Gently massage with your fingers and let it stay for 3 hours.
Step 4: Now, rinse your eyes with lukewarm water and pat dry with a towel.
5. Tomato Juice For Dark Circles
Step 1: Blend a Tomato to get a thick paste.
Step 2: Squeeze 2 drops of Lemon Juice in the paste.
Step 3: Dip a cotton ball in the mixture and dab it on your under-eye area.
Step 4: After leaving it for 10 minutes, wash off with cool water.
6. Green Tea Bags For Dark Circles
Step 1: Take 2 used Green Tea bags and soak them in a bowl of water for a while.
Step 2: Now store the tea bags in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
Step 3: Place the cool tea bags on your eyes and leave it for 10 minutes.
Step 4: Discard the tea bags when done and wash your eyes with water.
7. Yogurt For Dark Circles
Step 1: In a bowl, pour 2 tablespoons of fresh Yogurt.
Step 2: Squeeze 2 drops of Lemon Juice into the bowl and stir well.
Step 3: Apply this paste to the affected area and let it stay for 15 minutes.
Step 4: Wash off with lukewarm water.
8. Potato For Dark Circles
Step 1: Peel a Potato and blend it to extract its juice. In a bowl, put 2 tablespoons of this juice.
Step 2: Add a tablespoon of Honey to the bowl.
Step 3: Using a cotton ball, apply the mixture to the skin around your eyes.
Step 4: After leaving it for 15 minutes, wash it off with water.
9. Saffron For Dark Circles
Step 1: Soak 4 strands of Saffron in a cup of Milk for at least 2 hours.
Step 2: Now strain the Milk and add it to a bowl.
Step 3: Dip a cotton ball into the mixture and gently apply it to your under-eye area.
Step 4: After gently massaging for 10 minutes, rinse off with cold water.
10. Mint Leaves For Dark Circles
Step 1: Crush a few Mint Leaves to form a paste.
Step 2: Add 2 drops of Rosehip Oil to the paste and mix well.
Step 3: Apply the paste on the dark circles and gently massage for 10 minutes.
Step 4: Wash off with cold water.
Best Under Eye Creams And Other Products
To make it easier on your eyes, we’ve weeded through all the formulas in the market to bring you the best products for dark circles and other concerns.
1. Just Herbs I'Brite Almond-Green Tea Nourishing Under Eye Cream
Not getting your eight hours of beauty sleep and don’t intend to wake up looking like a raccoon? Thankfully, there’s a cream to make you look alive (even if you feel dead inside). The Just Herbs I'Brite Almond-Green Tea Nourishing Under Eye Cream is filled with the holy trinity of eye care ingredients: Cucumber, Green Tea and Almond Oil don’t just minimise dark circles but also hydrate the skin. Brb, adding to cart.
2. Mamaearth Bye Bye Dark Circles Eye Cream
There’s only so much you can do to avoid stress and sleepless nights. Your perfect help for disguising the fact that you had practically no sleep the night before can be found in this eye cream infused with Hyaluronic Acid, peptides and Daisy Flower extracts. This impressive blend can make swollen, tired and pigmented skin a thing of the past. Bonus? It’s free of paraben, sulfates, fragrances...you get the gist.
3. MCaffeine Coffee Under Eye Cream for Dark Circle & Puffiness Reduction
Imbued with Coffee, White Water Lily, Vitamin E, and Hyaluronic Acid, MCaffeine’s Coffee Under Eye Cream targets dark circles and under-eye puffiness to give you super-hydrated and supple skin. Plus, it repairs sun damage! Press the stick to dispense the cream and roll it on in the under-eye area with the built-in massager. Sounds like something you need, eh?
4. Plum 3% Vitamin C 3% Peptide & 3% Caffeine Eye Cream With Mandarin
If you’ve been battling puffy eyes and dark circles for a while, you might want to get this soothing eye cream in your beauty kit stat. It promises to bring life back to dull skin all thanks to its hydrating fusion of Vitamin C, Peptides, and Caffeine. Besides minimising dark circles and soothing your under-eye area, it also reduces puffiness and fights fine lines and wrinkles. Need we say more?
5. Dr. Sheth's Chamomile & Caffeine Under Eye Cream
Who says you need to spend half your paycheck to get your hands on an eye cream that actually works? Dr. Sheth’s Chamomile & Caffeine Under Eye Cream is more than your conventional eye cream and is a great value-for-money product. Infused with Bakuchiol, Algae Extract, Chamomile Extract, and Caffeine, it’s built to target dark circles and puffy eye bags while boosting collagen. Can’t wait to bag this one.
FAQs On Dark Circle Remedies
1. How to use Vitamin E capsules for dark circles?
Step 1: Pop open a Vitamin E capsule and empty the oil into a bowl.
Step 2: Add a carrier oil like coconut oil or extra virgin olive oil and mix to form a concoction.
Step 3: Gently massage this mixture on the skin around your eyes and leave it overnight.
Step 4: Wash off the residual oil with lukewarm water in the morning.
- Nykaa Recommends: INLIFE Vitamin E 400 IU Wheat Germ Oil- 60 Liquid Filled Capsules, Oziva Plant Based Vitamin E Capsules and Healthvit Selenium 40 mcg and Vitamin E
2. Suggest the best remedy for dark circles that works instantly.
There are quite a few products that can help relieve dark circles with regular application. Here are a few:
