A stressful lifestyle, busy schedule and lack of sleep are known to cause dark under-eye circles — but they aren’t the only possible reasons.
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Other factors such as genetics, dehydration and age, can also cause them to form, making them uniquely challenging to treat.
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“Dark circles result from under-eye puffiness, volume loss, hyperpigmentation and visibility of the blood vessels in the under-eye area,” says Dr. Marisa Garshick, a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in New York City.
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Though cosmetic procedures like injectable fillers can offer a more effective long-term treatment, plenty of over-the-counter skin care products can help remedy discoloration over time.
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To help you determine the best way to treat your dark under-eye circles, I spoke to dermatologists about common causes, effective ingredients and cosmetic treatments worth investing in.
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I also compiled editor- and expert-recommended products that can help reduce the appearance of under-eye circles.
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Best products for treating dark under-eye circles
Everything on the list below has been recommended by dermatologists, are an NBC Selected editor favorite or have ingredients that align with the advice and guidance of our experts.
Best eye creams for dark circles
One of our favorite eye creams, this RoC option has retinol to help stimulate collagen production (which experts say keeps the structure of your skin firm and provides underlying support), but is also gentle enough that it doesn’t irritate the delicate under-eye skin, says Dr. Nkem Ugonabo, a board-certified dermatologist at Union Derm.
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It also has glycerin, which pulls moisture into the skin, says Dr. Heidi Waldorf, a board-certified dermatologist and owner of Waldorf Dermatology Aesthetics.
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L’Oreal’s Revitalift eye cream includes a combination of retinol, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid to reduce puffiness and brighten the skin under the eyes.
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It also gets top marks from Waldorf for having skin-plumping glycerin and dimethicone, as well as caffeine forreducing redness and discoloration.
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Neutrogena’s retinol eye cream is also made with hyaluronic acid and dimethicone, and is a great drugstore option, according to Waldorf.
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It not only works to decrease the appearance of fine lines and dark circles, but also keeps the delicate skin under your eyes hydrated, she says.
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I love using Isdin’s K-Ox eye cream daily to combat my dark circles.
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It brightens my under eyes, leaves the area feeling hydrated and the ceramic applicator is cooling on my skin.
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The eye cream also has haloxyl, an ingredient that helps even out skin tone and keeps the under eyes firm, according to the brand.
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This eye cream has a lightweight, whipped texture and is a favorite of NBC Selected reporter Zoe Malin.
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Like others on our list, this eye cream has vitamin C and caffeine to help brighten, depuff and support the production of collagen, according to the brand.
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Malin, who dabs less than ¼ of a teaspoon onto the skin, stores the cream in her fridge to provide an instant cooling effect.
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This eye cream has vitamin C, which helps brighten the under-eye area, experts say.
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It also has jojoba seed oil, shea butter and beeswax, which are all gentle for the eye area and hydrate the skin, according to the brand.
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However, although the cream is fragrance-free, it still may irritate more sensitive eyes.
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This Garnier eye roller can serve as a quick fix for under-eye puffiness and dark circles because it has caffeine, vitamin C and mint to help reduce the appearance of the under-eye bags, says Garshick.
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Its convenient roll-on applicator has a cooling effect that can help you easily apply the gel cream to the under-eye area, according to the brand.
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This Alastin eye treatment has brightening and hydrating ingredients like niacinamide and green tea, says Ugonabo.
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It also has a blend of active peptides that helps firm up the skin and even out skin tone under the eyes, according to the brand.
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It’s noncomedogenic and hypoallergenic, which also makes it a good option for those with sensitive skin.
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Waldorf recommends Supergoop’s mineral eye cream because it has zinc oxide, which is great for sensitive skin, and SPF 40 to protect the skin from harmful UV rays (you should look for a sunscreen with a minimum SPF 30 to provide an adequate amount of protection, experts say in our guide to face sunscreens.)
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This SPF eye cream also has a blend of probiotics and caffeine to brighten the skin and alleviate any redness, according to the brand.
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Cooling products are helpful for reducing swelling and puffiness since the cold causes the blood vessels to constrict, says Garshick.
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“This is why I often recommend putting eye cream in the refrigerator to get the added cooling benefit or using eye creams that contain a cold metal applicator for the added de-puffing benefit,” she says.
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This Charlotte Tilbury eye serum comes with a metal applicator that has an instant cooling effect to de-puff the eyes, according to the brand.
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It also has a blend of caffeine and peptides, which our experts say can keep the under-eye area looking smoother, brighter and more refreshed.
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Packed with alpha hydroxy acids, hyaluronic acid and peptides, this eye cream has protective antioxidant benefits, says Waldorf.
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“Fruit stem extract contains antioxidants and other ingredients that may be protective to aging cells.
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It also has caffeine to reduce puffiness,” she says.
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This Neocutis eye cream targets dark circles with ingredients like vitamin C, caffeine and peptides.
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It also has growth hormones, which are proteins that help regulate good collagen processes (which restores the skin) and reduce bad collagen processes to avoid volume loss around the under-eye area, according to our experts.
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Suitable for all skin types, the brand recommends using this cream in the morning and evening.
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Best eye masks and patches for dark circles
These Pacifica patches are packed with ingredients like hyaluronic acid and vitamin C to brighten and hydrate your under eyes.
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The patches are also infused with aloe to moisturize and soothe the delicate skin around the eyes, according to the brand.
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…and 71 more, not listed.
The Aporia
