A sign of fatigue or poor lifestyle habits, dark circles can also be a genetic factor! So how do you remove them, or blur them if you can't? We tell you all about it. 

To remove or fade them, you need to understand what dark circles are. Dark circles are clusters of blood vessels that become visible as a result of poor circulation when the body isn't working properly, skin becomes thinner or genetic conditions favor it. Although benign, they are an aesthetic hindrance for many...

The general idea is that dark circles appear under the eyes when the body is oxygen-deficient or lacking in hydration. But there's more to it than that: other factors can be responsible for the appearance of dark circles. For example, some people can have an impeccable lifestyle and still develop dark circles under their eyes. In this case, the genetic factor comes into play. People with dark or mixed-race skin may have hyperpigmentation in the area, resulting in permanent dark circles. 

The different factors that can cause dark circles : 

- Sleep deprivation

- The disease 

- Old age 

- Genetics 

- Depigmentation 

- Alcohol and tobacco consumption

What are the different types of dark circles? 

There are several types of dark circles, and to be able to tame them it's best (first and foremost) to understand your own type: 

Pigmented dark circles

Within this category, there are two sub-categories: brown circles or blue circles, which appear around the eyes. There's a difference here too. 

If your dark circles are brown: it's because the skin under your eyes is particularly thin (more than average) and reveals melanin spots under the skin. Brown or dark circles mainly affect people with dark skin but especially people with genetic predispositions (heredity).

If your dark circles are blue: Like brown circles, blue circles appear in people whose skin under the eyes is extremely thin. Blue circles are caused by the appearance of the veins and arteries that form the cluster of blood vessels under the eyes. They become visible when you don't get enough sleep and you feel tired.

Hollow circles

Hollow circles are caused by sagging skin. The skin under the eyes is extremely thin and fragile (the most fragile in the body, in fact), and is the first area to suffer from the effects of time. When you're young, the area is naturally filled with fat and looks beautifully full! Obviously, if the hollow has always been there, it's because of a genetic factor, and there's usually no other solution but to turn to aesthetic medicine to get rid of it...

Full or bulging dark circles 

In contrast to hollow circles, full circles, or bags under the eyes, are the result of too much fat under the eyes... They can appear relatively early (from the age of 30) and can be reduced by a healthy lifestyle and a balanced diet (less sugar and fat). 

Tips for avoiding dark circles 

As explained above, there are different kinds of dark circles. Of course, there are also different ways of avoiding them, blurring them or even removing them! 

Si vous n'avez aucune prédisposition génétique à l'apparence des cernes, avoir une bonne hygiène de vie devrait suffire à les estomper voir les éviter tout simplement. Une bonne hygiène de vie inclut un sommeil de qualité. On évite les nuits blanches par exemple, on veille à dormir suffisamment (le quota général est de 8h mais cela varie selon les personnes). On mise sur une alimentation équilibrée et sans excès, on évite les addictions autant que possible, le tabac et l'alcool sont vos meilleurs ennemis ... entre autres ! 

A good make-up remover 

It's the most basic step, and yet it's the one most often skipped... Make-up removal is essential to beautiful skin! You mustn't neglect it, especially when it comes to removing eye make-up (especially when you've taken the time to do a crazy doe-eyed make-up routine).

This is more meticulous and requires attention, as the eye area is fragile. You must avoid using aggressive products, and rubbing to remove excess make-up. Eye make-up removal is best carried out with an oil or oil-based make-up remover. Oil is gentle and natural, and effectively removes all residues of make-up, as well as dust and pollution accumulated over the course of the day. The advantage of oil is that it can be applied with the finger and doesn't require the use of a cotton pad or reusable wipe. This avoids the rubbing of fabrics (very bad for the skin) and enables even more precise make-up removal.

Check out our article: How to get doe eyes?

Massaging the eye contour 

There's nothing like a good massage to put things right. It already works wonders all over the body, so why not around the eyes? Obviously, massage around the eyes should be gentle and light. The pressure should not be as pronounced as on the rest of the body! 

How to do it? Several times a day, don't hesitate to lightly tap the area around the eyes with your fingertips; this helps reactivate blood circulation and prevents the buildup of fatty deposits.

Facial yoga and facial gymnastics are also excellent for reducing or removing dark circles. Both consist of a series of massages (using fingers or tools such as a stone roller or Mushroom) and facial muscle exercises to lift tissues, disperse fat and restore radiance to the most delicate areas of the face. Numerous tutorials are available on Youtube.

Moisturizing 

INDISPENSABLE, hydration is the key word in beauty. For beautiful skin, a beautiful complexion and, above all, a body that functions at its best, it's all about hydration! Drinking water (pure water, herbal teas, tea, detox water) is very important to avoid or make dark circles disappear. During the day, we try to drink enough (1.5l minimum) to help the lymphatic system drain toxins properly and prevent them from accumulating in dark circles! Good hydration is the key to avoiding puffiness, for example.

To complement this internal moisturizing, we apply moisturizing skin care products, such as an eye contour cream or serum (like our ROSELIFT treatment). To ensure that the product penetrates the skin properly, don't hesitate to apply it with light, circular massaging or tapping movements. Use morning and night! 

Discover our dark circle serum

Focus on cold 

Cold is an excellent ally for decongesting, but also for restoring color to depigmented areas. A cold spoon (left overnight in the fridge, for example) is particularly useful for deflating puffiness that appears on waking, and can also diminish the appearance of permanent puffiness, but beware: it can't be removed just like that. A number of brands also offer roll-ons as part of their skincare products, with the ball (usually metal) distilling the skincare product around the eye contour area while adding freshness. 

Home recipe for dark circles

If you're the DIY (do it yourself) type, then a homemade recipe might be just the thing: 

• Apply a fresh cucumber slice to relieve puffiness.
• Coffee grounds applied as a mask under the eyes to reactivate blood circulation and pigmentation.
• Cornflower water, applied with a cotton pad under the eyes in the area of dark circles and puffiness, will decongest and refresh the area.
• A tea bag (organic, black or green) placed under the eyes can also help eliminate dark circles! Theine is an excellent antioxidant that stimulates blood circulation, while the tannin it contains relieves congestion.

Surgical methods

For dark circles caused by genetics, there are unfortunately few tricks that really work... You have to go further and turn to aesthetic medicine to hope for convincing results.

Hyaluronic acid injections 

It's an excellent way to fill in dark circles. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring acid in the body, renowned for its ultra-moisturizing and plumping effect, and is one of the preferred techniques for restoring curves and fullness to faces that lose density over time. Hyaluronic acid injections are an excellent way of filling the hollows caused by dark circles. However, these injections must be carried out in specialized surgeries. It's very important to choose your practitioner carefully. There are standards to be met for this type of procedure, and the specialist must be accredited.

Malar lift 

This is a slightly more invasive technique that acts on the entire dark circles area, since it lifts the cheekbones to treat the dark circles. It's the most radical way of treating both hollow and full dark circles!