Tired of looking tired with those dark under eye circles? Did you know that this is one of the most common cosmetic complaints? According to cosmologists, nine out of ten people have dark circles under their eyes at one time or another. There are some things you can definitely do to minimize the darkness and bring out the brightness in your eyes.

Why the darkness?
In some cases, darkness around the eyes is hereditary. And many people with allergies seem to have dark circles. There are other culprits - something you can do something about. Smoking, drinking a lot of coffee, soda or caffeine beverages will usually make dark circles worse. So does generally not eating right. Also pulling all-nighters - whether for school or fun - also contribute to the dark-eyes problem.

The various causes are:

1. People who were born with sharp nose (high nose bridge) and deep-set eyes will naturally have there eye circles appearing dark (look at the indians for example. Most of them will appear to have dark circles).

2. People who were born to have genuine dark circles.

3. People who suffer from long period of insomnia - lack of adequate rest and sleep.

4. People who need to light midnight candles - overstressing their eye muscles.

5. Pigmentation after childbirth or due to side effects of some drugs - these hyper-pigmentation around the eye area will appear like dark circles.

How can their cream remove them? It's just absurd.
 
For condition (a), you will need plastic surgery to flatten the nose bridge, and push up the eye sockets to make  the dark circles disappear. 

For (b), you need some relatively lighter shade of makeup foundation to conceal the dark circles. 

For (c), medical/psychiatric treatment has to be sought to treat the insomnia. Once this person gets to sleep normally, his/her dark circles will automatically go. 

For (d) the person can only help himself/herself to avoid staying too late to the wee hours.

For (e), it is a problem with hormonal imbalance, and requires medical treatment. At times the body's hormonal system can get back to normal on its own over time, and the dark circles gradually disappear on its own. Eye massage will also help to improve conditions (b), (c), (d), and (e) to some extent, by way of stimulating and enhancing blood circulation.

Eye creams that claim to rid wrinkles are often also promoted in a deceptive way, by promising permanent wrinkle-free youthful looks, irrespective of age.
Wrinkles are caused by:

1. Constitution - naturally by birth due to the muscular structure.

2. Aging - sagging of muscles as one ages.

3. Dehydrated skin - skin creases due to moisture loss.

4. Gesture habits - frequent frowning, and smiling or laughing in such a way that the eye muscles were often creased.

5. Lack of muscles - especially with skinny people.

As for eye creams promising to remove dark circles, do not be deceived by the advertiser. The cream will not work on dark circles, and the price is certainly exorbitant.

What a good eye cream really does is to :
1) prevent further moisture loss.
2) assists the skin in absorbing moisture from the air. 
3) compensates the skin with the natural sebum it may lack.
4) stimulates blood circulation (usually mild action only).

All of the above eventually do only one thing - that is to puff up the skin. When skin around the eye area is puffed up, the 'valleys' of the wrinkles will appear to be on similar levels with the 'peaks'. Thus, crease lines became less obvious, and wrinkles appear to have gone. But this is only temporary. Once the moisture is gone, the valley swill become valleys again, and crease lines will reappear.


What eye creams to use?

First of all try one of the many under eye creams that help lessen the appearance of dark circles over a period of time. Note these do not work instantly but over a few weeks. Try Fade Out Eye Zone Fade Cream, Estee Lauder Uncircle or Ultima LightCaptor-C Skin Reviving Eye Cream.


Make up cure!

In the mean time stop piling it on, 'whatever product' you use to cover them. Too much can actually make matters worse. Instead apply the correct concealer after foundation rather than before. This way you can place it exactly where you need it. Try using a fine brush to apply the concealer, you'll find you use less and it looks much more natural, not heavy.
Use a moisturizing, light reflecting under eye concealer. Or a demi-matte concealer in a shade close to your skin tone, too light a color will look ashy and obvious. For the optimum results, tip your head forward and look up into a mirror, this will really highlight the dark circles, now apply the concealer and blend. When you put your head up the dark will have disappeared.
One of my favourite light reflective concealers is YSL Touch Éclat, although it comes in only one shade it is suitable for most skin tones. For women of color check out Colorings Lightening Touch no.2. Another fab concealer is Prescriptive Magic Wands. Keep your eyes on up and coming 'Sneak Peaks' for news about New Under eye Concealers soon to be released. 
TOP TIP - Can't find the right concealer? Don't worry simply do as many make-up artists do, use the slightly dryer bit of foundation that collects around the neck of the bottle and inside the cap. It is denser than your foundation, just the perfect consistency and colour for you to use as a concealer.

You must NEVER use a blemish concealer under the eyes. It could dry out and irritate the delicate eye area.

Natural Eye refreshers!!

1. The best thing is to use slices of cucumber cooled in the fridge and applied on the eyes like an eye-mask or sliced raw potato used in the same way. Iced frozen used tea bags are also really useful in controlling exhausted eyes, dark circles and puffiness. 
2. A very effective treatment is using a mixture of 1 teaspoon of plain yogurt and 1-teaspoon honey, mix and use it like an eye-mask under the eyes. Wash off after 15 minutes. Also, take grated cucumber or potato and immerse cotton pads in the mixture then refrigerate until cold and apply over eye area. This makes an excellent eye treatment.