Nabillah says she has struggled with dark under eye circles for most of her life.
‘Though mine are hereditary, therefore a lot more stubborn to lighten than dark circles caused by a lack of sleep. Years later and with a lot more experience under my belt compared to my teen years, my dark under eye circles has lightened significantly.” Says Nabillah .
Personally, I’ve learnt what works for me, and as a professional makeup artist, for many of my clients with under eye hyper pigmentation issues as well. Through trial and error, research, and a lot of experimenting with various makeup and skincare products I’m here to dish out some of my secrets.
It starts with skincare.
Hydrating eye creams and serums containing active ingredients should be used every morning and evening on the delicate under eye area. Look out for eye creams/ serums or cooling eye masks containing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid to hydrate and plump up the under eye zone, caffeine for reducing puffiness , vitamin C for brightening and fading hyper pigmentation, and vitamin K which can help to promote healthy blood circulation to the under eye area.
Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance found in the fluids in the eyes and joints. It acts as a cushion and lubricant in the joints and other tissues. Different forms of hyaluronic acid are used for cosmetic purposes. Hyaluronic acid might also affect the way the body responds to injury and help to decrease swelling
Retinol, a popular ingredient used in many anti-aging eye creams, helps to tighten the skin around the under eyes, which naturally thins with age. Retinol also helps to reduce texture which can make dark under eye circles appear worse. Licorice extract is also an effective ingredient in brightening and fading the appearance of dark under eye circles if used consistently.
Chemical acids that help to lighten and fade dark under eye circles caused by an over production of melanin are kyogic acid, transanxemic acid, and glutathione. Gentle glycolic acid or lactic acid peels are also effective at lightening pigmentation under the eyes. Look out for eye creams and serums that specifically contain these ingredients and with regular use you should see an overall improvement in your of dark circles.
Aesthetic treatments such as Dermal Fillers or injectable rejuvenating hyaluronic acid boosting treatments helps to increase hydration and plumpness to the hollows of the under eyes, thus reducing the appearance of dark under eye circles.
Laser therapy, a more invasive treatment for quicker results helps to stimulate blood circulation and collagen production which effectively helps to fade hyper pigmentation and texture under the eyes.
Micro needling and PRP (platelet rich plasma) are minimally invasive cosmetic procedures used to lighten dark under eye circles. Micro needling helps to build up your own natural collagen production and helps improve in fading pigmentation and improves the texture and tightness of the skin under your eyes. PRP uses your own blood plasma which is rich in growth factors to promote collagen and elastin production.
Minimally invasive and invasive procedure should always be performed by an experienced aesthetician.
Certain vitamins can also help with your stubborn dark circles from the inside out. Vitamin B6, B12, C, K, and iron can significantly help. Foods rich in these nutrients should also be consumed regularly such as dark leafy greens, celery, tomatoes, citrus fruits, organic berries such as blueberries, blackberries. The darker the berry the better as they increase oxygen and blood flow to the skin around the eyes. Dark berries also contain a large amount of vitamin C.
Whichever treatment you decide on based on your individual needs, it’s important to incorporate movement into your lifestyle at the gym, while getting enough sleep, do regular facial massages, lymphatic drainage massage, acupuncture, managing stress levels, eating a balanced diet and drinking plenty of water during the day.
A healthy lifestyle combined with these tips and tricks should keep you bright eyed and refreshed.
