BellaOnline Forums Beauty and Self Cosmetics Dark Circles around eyes

Hello,

I have a question.

I have dark circles around my eyes. Sometimes I look like a racoon <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />.....
I'm lightskin so you can see it good...

I's there anything to get rid of it, or cover it up..can someone please give me tips, thank you!

I actually wrote an article on this topic not too long ago:

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art1066.asp

make sure you are drinking plenty of water and getting plenty of sleep - what happens without is often (but not always) about what is going on within!

Thanks So much for the Help!!

People with allergies can have dark circles under their eyes. My mother told me this several years ago (she is a nurse), and I have also read this. Smoking does not help. I have a friend, with allergies, and a smoke intolerance. When she stopped smoking, her dark circles practically disappeared! And, if you have allergies, you do not breathe as well during sleep, which affects your sleep, which contributes to the dark circles. It was recommended to me to take my allergy med at night, which helps me to breathe better, which makes me sleep better. Have you been allergy tested? Mine are not as bad since I switched allergy meds.

Hello Dan1125,

I did not read the link to bella's article so I hope I am not duplicating, but I had a friend once that had really really dark circles all the time, like not from not enough sleep or allergies. She finally found out that she had calcium deposits under her eyes and had them removed. She went to her dermatologist. If not from that, then try a concealer. I started using one a few months ago from Yves Saint Laurent called radiant touch! I love it. It costs about 50 dollars, but is made for the eye area, has a lot of moisturizers in it and light relecting stuff too I think. It has helped with the fine lines around my eyes too. It is important to put concealers oneither side of the nose in the eye area. I hope some of this helps!!
H

Hi Dan1125. Oh those dark circles! Whatever the reason for them, they can be a pain!

I'm a medium complexioned gal, and I make use of one of the yellow concealers, to help disguise those dark half-moons. As a fair skinned gal, one of the green concealers would work well for you. I know women who think of these concealers as the wonders of the age! I'm one of 'em.

I dab a bit of the yellow just under the eye, right in front, and carefully blend it. Try to always use your ring finger to do the smoothing and blending...you automatically use less pressure with this digit. Then, I make use of my normal concealer, just a dab, over the yellow. Don't spread the concealers to each corner of your under-eye, because by doing so, you can end up with head-light eyes, instead of raccoon eyes! <img src="/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" /> The corners will probably be just fine, with only your foundation covering the dark areas.

http://www.intouchwithjeannine.com

Hi dan1125........ I suffer with racoon eyes as well, I have found that drinking extra water thru out the day and at home use sliced cucumbers to relieve some of the puffiness and concealer after you apply your foundation!...... I have tried using concealer both ways, on before foundation and after, for me...... after worked best........ good luck!~ Kittykitt

So what are other reasons/treatments for dark circles?
Make up is not a good solution (at least for men).
Drinking too much water may screw other things in life.
How about vitamin-k? There are a bunch of products with vitamin-k and other chemicals/natural ingredients.
Do you know anything about circle-clear?
Here is an ebook whic claims to offer a permanent home made solution:
http://www.homemademedicine.com/home_remedies_for_dark_under_eye_circles.html

How does allergy affect darkness under eyes. Does it first cause athma, and indirectly affect sleep quality and circles?

Are there very doctors to see who can find a permanent solution by finding the main cause and fixing it whatever the reason is? (or do we need to self-research).

How about applying cucumber, cold tea bags?

And an off topic question. How much do you spend on make-up a day, before and after having dark circles.

(a man in IL).

I've had good results with a men's eye cream, Aramis Lab Series for Men Undereye Rescue Cream.

It costs around $25 for a tube that lasts about one year. You apply a thin layer of it on your undereye area every night (not too close to your eyes of course).

Before that I used a vitamin K cream (the old St Ives one, they don't make it anymore) and a L'Oreal eye cream. Really I've found the men's eye cream works better.

If you'd like to try it, ask for it at the men's cologe counter. I got mine at Macy's and I'm on my second tube (will be repurchasing it soon).

I have definite circles but not extreme circles. If I had very dark circles and an OTC cream didn't help, I wouldn't be shy about seeing a doctor.

Good luck!