In order to treat your circles properly, you first need to know what's causing them. According to Waldorf, "Dark circles may be due to pigmentation, blood vessels or an effect of the shadow of the tear through [the muscles and ligaments near the eyes on either side of the nose]."
If you pull the skin under your eyes taught and the circles seem to go away, your issue is likely the effect of a shadow. If not, your circles are likely blood vessels. As you age, your skin gets thinner, making red and blue vessels show through. If your circles don't look red and bluish though, pigmentation could be the cause of your circles -- this is most common among Asians and African Americans.
Next: Dark circle treatments
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Treat dark circles caused by pigmentation
If your dark circles are caused by pigmentation, you can treat the area with topical retinoids, hydroquinone or laser treatments, Waldorf says. Both retinoids and hydroquinone can be prescribed by your dermatologist or you can buy slightly less potent versions over the counter (try Avene Retrinal H.A.F Gel, $40, which contains retinaldehyde, and pH Advantage Pigmentation Fader, $55, which contains hydroquinone). If you want a quicker fix (or if topical products alone don't do the trick), laser is the way to go. Waldorf recommends the Fraxel Restore laser. Know that you'll likely have to treat your entire face for best results though, and that treatments average $1,000 to $2,000 each and you'll likely need one or two of them.
Next: How to treat dark circles caused by blood vessels
When eye cream or concealer alone won't do the trick, you may need to look into other options when it comes to treating and masking dark circles and puffiness. Whether they're a result of genetics or lack of sleep, too much sun or alcohol, these tricks -- courtesy of dermatologist Dr. Heidi Waldorf and New York City-based makeup artist Tina Turnbow -- will help you zap them for good, and disguise them like a pro until they're gone.
