The Truth About Dark Circles and Why They're So Hard to Treat

How to fix and prevent dark circles.

Nov 22, 2024

The crazy thing about dark circles is that almost everyone has them. And almost no one knows how to get rid of them.

The truth is, you can’t. At least not permanently. But you can minimize how they appear, how intense they are when they do creep up, and even conceal them. But the odds are stacked against you. If you suffer from chronic dark circles, you likely always will.

The trick is to prevent them from occurring in the first place. Much like signs of aging. It is far easier and more effective to prevent lines, wrinkles, and dark spots from forming than it is to get rid of them after the fact.

The skin under and around your eyes, including your eye lids, is just about the thinnest of anywhere on your body. The actual thinnest epidermal skin is the skin behind your ears! But no one can see behind your ears; the area is generally covered by your hair, which protects it from UV exposure.

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So the delicate eye area is the most vulnerable to sun damage. And this is the reason it shows signs of aging before anywhere else on your face. In fact, it’s the primary reason most people begin to see crow’s feet wrinkles in their early 30s.

As I’ve said, up to 90% of the signs of aging is the result of unprotected sun exposure, known as photodamage. If you’ve been following my blog and podcast, you know that this fact comes from a trusted source: the Skin Cancer Foundation. Specifically, they state the following: “Responsible for 90 percent of visible changes to the skin, photoaging is a direct result of cumulative sun damage you’ve been exposed to throughout your life.”

And guess what. Those visible changes to the skin include dark circles under your eyes!

Photodamage is one of the leading causes of dark circles; but it’s not the only cause. And this is why they’re so difficult to treat.

*Catch product reviews of the best sunscreens for eyes here.*

In addition to unprotected sun exposure, what causes dark circles? Well, it’s different for everyone. But the primary causes of dark circles include: genetics and family history, chronic allergies, lack of sleep and fatigue, dehydration, rubbing the eyes and, of course, photodamage.

Another leading cause of dark circles is the natural aging process. As you age, your skin loses fat and collagen, and your skin barrier becomes thinner. This thinning, or crepiness, makes the reddish-blue blood vessels under the already thin skin below your eyes more prominent.

The question of how to fix dark circles is one of the most common I get on my blog and social channels. People want to know what really works – because their experience has been that nothing seems to help, despite what skincare brands claim in their product marketing.

Much of the misleading information and false promises about treating dark circles comes from skincare marketers who refrain from addressing anything, including signs of aging and dark circles, with a basic facial sunscreen.

There’s simply no profit in it.

Instead, they offer up minimally effective eye creams for dark circles. They don’t work well because they’re formulated with very low concentrations of brightening actives like Vitamin C and Niacinamide out of a concern for sensitivity in the eye area.

Or they make up fake complexes (some of them are even patented!) with caffeine and other plant-derived actives. At very low levels, none of these are going to fade anything dark on your face – including dark spots and dark circles.

How do you fix and prevent dark circles?

Since you are unlikely to know the exact cause of your dark circles, it’s a smart idea to follow a process of elimination; that is, tackle the potential causes of your dark circles until you see results.

Again, they are: genetics and family history, chronic allergies, lack of sleep and fatigue, dehydration, rubbing the eyes, the natural aging process, and photodamage.

Start with applying a sunscreen for eyes in your immediate eye area every single morning. If you’re concerned that your sunscreen will migrate into your eyes and burn them, use one of my preferred eye SPF products, which you can find here in my top picks of the best sunscreens for eyes. You can also use a concealer with sunscreen, if you can find one you like.

Next, focus on making lifestyle changes.

Get adequate sleep. 7-8 hours per night, regularly.
Stay hydrated. As a rule you should be drinking 1 oz. of water per pound of body weight. If you weigh 150 lbs., drink 150 oz. of water every day.
Eat a balanced, nutritious diet. This includes water-dense fruits and vegetables.
Reduce salt intake. Salt leads to fluid retention which can cause puffiness and dark circles under your eyes in the morning.
Limit alcohol consumption. Alcohol is a leading cause of dehydration. ‘Nuf said.
Quit smoking, if you do. Over time, cigarette smoke damages the thin skin around your eyes; and, it causes you to rub your eyes, too.

In addition to sunscreen, effective treatments for dark circles may include:

Cold compresses to constrict blood vessels;
Caffeinated tea bags as a compress;
A cooling roller to gently massage the under-eye area to improve circulation;
Elevating your head while you sleep to prevent fluid accumulation under the eyes;
A caffeine eye serum like The Ordinary’s Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG (a personal favorite!) or The INKEY List’s Caffeine Eye Cream;
A brightening serum with higher concentrations of 5% Vitamin C or 10% Niacinamide. The Paula’s Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster serum is an excellent option for both brightening and strengthening skin, while also preventing environmental damage;
A hydrating eye cream with Hyaluronic Acid and emollient plant oils to moisturize skin and prevent water loss. The Paula’s Choice C5 Super Boost Eye Cream contains a cocktail of actives, including a 5% Vitamin C complex, Hyaluronic Acid and emollients ideal for brightening, moisturizing and firming the eye area.

Of course, a sunscreen with SPF is essential for preventing photodamage; I recommend both Glow Recipe’s Watermelon Glow Dew Balm Sunscreen Stick SPF 45 and the Supergoop! 100% Mineral Bright-Eyed Eye Cream SPF 40, which I review just below.

For persistent dark circles, consult a dermatologist to determine the underlying cause/s and most appropriate treatment plan. They may recommend in-office procedures to complement topical treatments and lifestyle changes.

Sources: Healthline: How to Get Rid of Dark Circles Permanently; Cleveland Clinic: Dark Circles Under The Eyes: Causes & Treatments; Harpers Bazaar: How to Get Rid of Dark Under-Eye Circles, According to Experts

The Best Dark Circle Fix: Supergoop! Bright-Eyed 100% Mineral Eye Cream SPF 40

Since a leading cause of dark circles is photodamage, naturally a sunscreen for the eye area is an important solution. The problem is, there aren’t a lot of them. In fact, there are five in my top picks of the best sunscreens for eyes here. I should rename it the only sunscreens for eyes.

As I shared in a previous article, out of the hundreds of skincare brands on the Sephora website, very few offer a sunscreen formulated for the eye area. A search of the phrase “spf sunscreen eye cream” returns 18 products. All but two are facial sunscreens that are mischaracterized in the search results.

One of them is a personal favorite for dark circles – the Supergoop! 100% Mineral Bright-Eyed Eye Cream SPF 40.

Regrettably, my longtime go-to eye cream for dark circles was the SkinCeuticals Physical Eye UV Defense SPF 50. While the best formula for protecting the eye area on the market, it was discontinued by the brand. Why? Well, because it didn’t sell. It had this amazing putty-like texture that stayed in place. Ugh!

So that leaves the Supergoop! Bright-Eyed SPF 40 as the best and only dark circle cream with sunscreen.

With an SPF 40, Bright-Eyed is formulated with a non-nano Zinc Oxide complex that includes a blend of probiotics, antioxidants and caffeine for a bit of de-puffing, too.

For an instant concealing benefit, Supergoop’s Bright-Eyed eye cream with SPF has a slight, illuminating peachy tint that helps to instantly brighten the skin and minimize the look of dark circles.

It glides on well over a richer eye cream or alone and can be used inside the orbital bone and on the upper eyelid. It’s a solid formula that stays put to prevent bleeding into the eyes.

Because it’s got sunscreen, IMO it’s not only the best eye cream for dark circles, it’s the only eye cream for dark circles.

Pros & Cons

What I like about it: Supergoop! 100% Mineral Bright-Eyed Eye Cream SPF 40 is the perfect formula for preventing and treating dark circles. I love its high level of protection against photodamage as well as the added antioxidants and caffeine. The texture is light enough to smooth on but thick enough to prevent migration into the eyes.

What I don’t like about it: I love everything about it.

Who it’s for: All skin types.

SHOP THE BLOG: Want to try it for yourself? Purchase the Supergoop! Bright-Eyed 100% Mineral Eye Cream for $40 here.

Buy at Sephora