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The real reason you have dark circles under your eyes -- and how to banish them

Got dark circles under your eyes? It's not because you're tired. (Thinkstock)
Got dark circles under your eyes? It's not because you're tired. (Thinkstock)

Dark circles under the eyes may be a considered a telltale sign of fatigue, but, contrary to popular belief, these unflattering marks do not result from being exhausted.

“Many people suspect that dark circles are related to not getting enough rest, but dark circles under the eyes are actually related to an increase in amount of blood vessels under the skin, which is due to heredity or swelling from allergies or hay fever,” says Sachit Shah of Beautiful Canadian Laser and Skincare Clinic in Surrey, B.C. “The darkness gets worse over time because of cumulative sun damage and thinning skin, which exposes more of the underlying color of the blood vessels.”

Shah recommends using a once- a-day, over-the-counter anti-histamine preparation to treat allergy-related circles and fillers for “difficult” cases.

Careful makeup application can help conceal those stubborn circles.

“Eye cream should be a part of every woman’s skin care regimen—no one has time to put cold cucumbers under their eyes for 20 minutes a day,” says Tory Dixon, a MAC Cosmetics specialist at Hudson’s Bay Park Royal in West Vancouver. “It should be used morning and night, right before bed.

Ain't nobody got time for this! (Thinkstock)
Ain't nobody got time for this! (Thinkstock)

“Eye creams with optical diffusers are great for instant results, because they immediately blur the darkness, making skin appear brighter,” she adds. “Vitamins A, E, and C are great to look for [in eye creams], as they help protect skin from the environment as well as hydrate.”

Dixon recommends applying eye cream with the index finger, tapping on cream around the orbital bone.

A concealer is crucial, and it goes hand in hand with eye cream.

“Don’t bother using a concealer without the eye cream, unless you want to touch up creasing and dryness all day long,” Dixon says, noting that it’s important when picking a concealer to pay attention to the undertone of your under-eye circles; is it purple, blue, or red?

“If you pick the wrong undertone, it could enhance the darkness or make it appear muddy or grey-looking,” she says. “If your under eyes are blue, you should be choosing a concealer with an orange or peach undertone to neutralize and correct.”

If your under-eye circles are purple, you should pick a yellow undertone; if they’re blue, go for green.

“People often get confused and want to pick a colour that is lighter than their skin to brighten or highlight, but picking one too light before correcting will often lead to grey under eyes,” Dixon explains. “Colour-correct first, then you can add a highlight to the inner eye with a light satin shadow to brighten.

Another tip? Make sure you or a makeup artist tests concealer on your face.

“Matching it to your hand won’t get you the perfect colour or formula,” Dixon says.