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The next time you chat about beauty with your friends, ask them what their top concerns are and chances are, dark eye circles will be one of them. As one of the top Google searches, it seems that undereye circles are a major concern for many women but yet, most of us rely on concealers to hide them rather than address the root of the problem.

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This is because more often than not, dark eye circles are basically blood vessels around the eye contour area showing through as a result of thinning skin. This is why under eye circles seem to be more common and more visible in people who are more advanced with age, since our skin loses its density as we get older. Another major factor that causes dark eye circles is the lack of sleep because inadequate rest can lead to poor circulation, which is why our skin looks dull and our undereye area looks shadowy. And just like many other skincare concerns, it could be due to allergies or just because some people are genetically predisposed to dark eye circles.

Genetics aside, there are a host of solutions when it comes to getting rid of dark eye circles. Whether you choose to seek professional help and see a derm, prefer to explore DIY options or are simply struggling to find the perfect concealer that won’t sink into wrinkles, here are the top 5 ways to reduce the appearance of dark eye circles.

Morgan Lane Lacey Lids Embellished Silk-Satin Eye Mask, about $160, at Net-A-Porter.

#1 Improve Your Sleep Quality

Hands up if you spend almost every night in bed scrolling through your Instagram feed till you fall asleep. Or perhaps you wake up in the middle of the night frequently to find that your TV is still on. If you’re guilty of the above, you’re probably not sleeping well even if you get your eight hours nightly. Exposure to blue light from digital devices over stimulate your brain, which means your body is not recuperating efficiently even when you sleep. To make your bedroom as conducive for sleep as possible, avoid watching TV or peering into your phone in the hour before bed time. Make sure that your room temperature is just right and that you’re dressed comfortably (your body doesn’t rest well if it’s too warm or cold).

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You can also try putting on some ambient music and lighting a candle to help you relax. Be sure to keep your room as isolated from external sources of light as possible by installing black-out drapes. Alternatively, keep a sleep mask by your bedside table to block out visible light for more restful sleep. We love this Morgan Lane Lacey Lids Embellished Silk-Satin Eye Mask, about $160, at Net-A-Porter. Not only does it shield your eyes from glaring lights, it feels super soft and smooth on your skin and doesn’t snag at your hair. 

key risk factors heart disease smoking

#2 Quit Smoking

Since poor circulation is one of the major factors that result in dark eye circles, it is essential that you re-look at ways you can target this. Beyond performing nightly massages to improve micro-circulation on the face and around the eyes, these efforts can be rendered futile if you’re a heavy smoker. Known to constrict your blood vessels, harmful chemicals in cigarettes can contribute to poor blood circulation by reducing blood flow around your body. And as a result, the blood vessels around your eye contours can appear darker.

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Supergoop! Advanced Anti-Aging Eye Cream SPF 37, $48

#3 Use Sunscreen

Another major cause of dark eye circles is the thinning of the skin around your eyes. And what better way to combat this than to protect your eyes from external sources of damage like UV? Using a sunscreen daily not only protects your skin from UVB rays that can cause pigmentation, it also helps fend off UVA rays that snip away at collagen fibres in our skin which eventually leads to a loss of skin density and firmness. Supergoop! Advanced Anti-Aging Eye Cream SPF 37, $48, has a lightweight texture that is rapidly absorbed into skin. More than providing UV protection, it also packs anti-ageing ingredients to keep skin supple and smooth. Plus, makeup goes on smoothly over, which is great for hectic mornings when you’re always in a rush.

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La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Eye Lift Cream, $560

#4 Redensify Your Undereye Area 

If the skin around your eye area is already showing signs of laxity, strengthen the area by using an eye cream that helps rebuild collagen. Splurge on the La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Eye Lift Cream, $560. Harnessing the benefits of Caviar Extract, this sumptuous cream deeply replenishes skin with essential nutrients for accelerated regeneration and long-lasting hydration. Upon application, it forms a 3-D protein network over the skin to firm, lift and tighten while the brand’s exclusive Cellular Complex optimises cell metabolism.

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It Cosmetics’ Bye Bye Under Eye Illumination™ Anti-Aging Concealer

#5 Use The Right Concealer 

Look no further than It Cosmetics’ Bye Bye Under Eye Illumination™ Anti-Aging Concealer, $42 for some instant gratification when it comes to covering your dark eye circles. As its name suggests, it packs colour-correcting pigments to counter dark eye circles, has light-reflecting pigments to illuminate the area, as well as anti-ageing ingredients to help care of the delicate eye contour area. Formulated with a peachy undertone, this range of concealers are perfect for countering the grey-ish cast of dark eye circles. Moreover, they are packed with pigments and offer full coverage so a tiny bit goes a long way. It also contains hydrolysed collagen, niacin, hyaluronic acid, brighteners and a host of vitamins to fight against wrinkles, sagging and shadows for an instantly wide-awake look. 

Text: Joyce Cheo / Additional reporting: Arissa Ha

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