Why Not All Circles Under the Eyes Are the Same, and How to Get Rid of Them

The most obvious and common cause of dark circles under the eyes is, of course, lack of sleep. In this case, a good night’s rest will do the trick. However, this reason isn’t the only one. That’s why there are many different ways of getting rid of them. At the end of this article, we’ll share with you the technique for removing circles under the eyes used by Sophia Loren.

The “panda effect” is not dangerous in itself. But, like other aesthetic problems, it can spoil your mood. However, there have been some cases of people leaning into this aesthetic deliberately! For example, dark circles under the eyes were a trend on TikTok in 2021. It all started with a girl, Sara, who posted a makeup tutorial on her page, of herself drawing dark circles under her eyes using brown lipstick. Many online users quickly picked up on this trend and it became popular for a while.

But for those who don’t want to put up with them after all, the first thing to note is that not all circles under the eyes are the same. Also, their color can help identify the cause and find an appropriate remedy.

Purple, bluish or a slightly green color is usually the result of dilated blood vessels that show through the thinner skin in the eye area. So, these fall under the enlarged blood vessels category. Most often they are caused by genetics, sleep deprivation, or stress. Their color also depends on skin tone. On pale skin, the veins appear more bluish or purplish, while on darker skin, they’re more green.

A brown or reddish color indicates an overproduction of melanin, and appears not only under the eye but also all around it. This is called periorbital pigmentation. This is predominantly found in certain ethnic groups who have a higher natural production of this pigment.

Many people have a very deep tear trough. This can be caused not only by genetics, but also by age or by weight loss — as fat is lost in this area, it becomes deeper. This type of circles under the eyes falls into the structural category.

The most common causes for their appearance

• Genetics is the most significant factor associated with circles under the eyes.
• As we age, the skin thins due to the loss of collagen and fat, which maintain skin elasticity. As a result, blood vessels become more prominent and the area under the eyes darkens.
• Even if you get 7-9 hours of sleep every night, a stuffy nose can ruin everything. A cold affects the blood circulation in the capillaries under the eyes. It causes them to swell, dilate, and darken the veins, resulting in “dark circles”.
• Stress causes an increase in cortisol, which is an inflammatory hormone, so, depending on the skin type, it may contribute to the appearance of dark circles under the eyes.
• A little-known cause is rubbing your eyes. It can be triggered by allergies, in which case eye rubbing causes an increase in pigment from irritation.

“Superheroes” amongst eye products

• Vitamin C regulates pigmentation and stimulates the production of collagen and elastin, making the skin lighter to some extent.
• Retinol stimulates cell renewal, has an anti-inflammatory effect, improves skin elasticity and texture, and prevents hyperpigmentation.
• Caffeine. Products with caffeine in their formulation have soothing and vasoconstrictive properties. This helps reduce redness and puffiness, temporarily reducing circles under the eyes.
  
  Try to only use your ring finger when applying any product around the eyes, as it’s the weakest one. This ensures that the delicate skin under the eyes is not pulled too much.

• Almonds. Their oil is a natural emollient that moisturises the skin and provides nourishment. It contains vitamins E and K, which reduce under-eye pigmentation and inflammation. You can easily make a healthy drink by mixing a little almond oil with milk. However, it should not be used by anyone with a nut allergy.

Bonus: Sophia Loren’s method

The actress would crush up mint leaves and apply them under her eyes to get rid of dark circles. However, if you decide to use this method, you should be careful as it can cause irritation, especially in people with allergies or a sensitivity to this plant.

What other ways do you know of getting rid of dark circles? Have you tried them on yourself?