I’ve had a nice pair of dark circles for as long as I can remember—and after years spent searching (and buying) concealer or foundation to make them disappear I’ve decided to embrace my under-eyes’ slight shadow. After all, you just need to know how to make the most of them—or at least know how to wear them the right way. Instead of masking the appearance of discoloration, the trick is to keep this area well-hydrated and supple.
Like many of skin’s concerns, treating dark circles is complex. “There is currently not one universally effective treatment for under eye circles,” as Brendan Camp, MD, a double board-certified dermatologist previously explained. Getting real results requires a bit of strategy. Ahead, a few tips to minimize dark circles at home, from my own experience. These are small habits to incorporate into your daily life—they don’t require major changes or upheavals, just a little extra attention to the choices you make—but they can work in favor of your skin and its health.
Prioritize Daily Hydration
The first good daily habit to minimize dark circles without makeup is to stay properly hydrated. Simply put, you need to drink plenty of fluids, because when the body isn’t well-hydrated, the skin under the eyes—which is thinner—can appear dull, darker, and sunken. This is a good habit that benefits the entire body and helps keep your skin firm and hydrated.
Enjoy a Nutrient-Rich Diet
Diet is also important—make sure to include foods rich in iron, vitamins K, C, and B12 in your daily meals. Think: leafy green vegetables (spinach, lettuce, Swiss chard, etc.), nuts, citrus fruits, lentils, as well as eggs and fish. A look at what each ingredient does, below.
- Iron helps minimize dark circles caused by anemia
- Vitamin C is essential for collagen production and helps thicken the skin in this area
- Vitamin B12 is essential for blood oxygenation, and a deficiency can cause or worsen dark circles
- Vitamin K improves microcirculation and strengthens the capillaries around the eyes
Get Some Beauty Sleep
How much—and how well—you sleep is also important if you want to reduce dark circles. Ideally, you should get the standard eight hours of sleep per night, avoid using screens (computers, smartphones, tablets) for at least one hour before bedtime, and try to sleep in a dark, cool room. Your sleeping position is also important; for example, for those who can manage it, sleeping on your back with your head slightly elevated is a excellent for your skin, and helps prevent fluid from pooling under your eyes. It’s a small adjustment that helps reduce puffiness and dark circles.
Finally, I didn’t believe it until I tried it myself: sleeping on a silk pillowcase is the beauty touch you don’t realize you want until you look in the mirror the next morning. This fabric not only protects your hair but is also good for your skin: it improves skin texture, minimizes pores, prevents wrinkles, keeps the skin well-hydrated, plump, and smooth—and, as a result, doesn’t accentuate dark circles but actually helps to reduce them.
