FOR A FRESH APPEARANCE AND A RADIANT LOOK.

Everyone knows this situation: after a long night, dark shadows appear before our eyes. In some cases, these may be unfortunate genetic predispositions. How do dark circles appear under the eyes and what to do once they have settled?

DARK CIRCLES: DISCOVERING THEIR CAUSES

Dark circles under the eyes differ from person to person. They often appear after a wild night out because you didn't get enough sleep. But there are many other factors that can lead to dark circles - we'll tell you about them here.

TYPES OF DARK CIRCLES AND THEIR CAUSES

It's not surprising that the eyes are the first to be affected: the skin around the eyes is very thin because it has no fatty tissue. Instead, it is composed of many small blood vessels and lymph nodes. Depending on your skin type, the dark circles under your eyes will be either brownish or bluish.

Bluish or purplish dark circles are caused by poor blood and lymph circulation. If the body lacks oxygen or fluids, the blood circulates more slowly and has a darker colour. The blood vessels are then visible through the thin, almost transparent skin around the eyes, causing the colouring. This circulation can be improved by using an anti-dark circle cream or massage, for example.
Dark circles are caused by an excess of pigmentation in the skin. They are most often hereditary and more frequent on dark skins, especially those from the Middle East and the Mediterranean basin. It is therefore advisable to protect the skin from the sun to avoid accentuating the pigmentation, and to camouflage the dark circles with concealer if necessary.
Hollow circles are not the result of colouring but of a hollowing of the face following the loss of fat mass, making the bone structure more visible. This loss naturally increases with age.
Be careful not to confuse dark circles with bags, which can be identified by a swelling under the eye. An anti-dark circle cream will not have any effect on bags.

DARK CIRCLES AROUND THE EYES: OTHER COMMON CAUSES

Our lifestyle is often the cause of dark circles around the eyes: partying all night, drinking too much alcohol or smoking will result in a lack of oxygen in the blood.

If you do not eat a balanced diet, you will often have a deficiency of vitamins and minerals: if your body lacks vitamin C, iron or zinc, the first signs of this deficiency can be seen in dark circles.

Sometimes dark circles can also have a medical cause. But don't worry! Talk to your doctor at your next visit.

Do you suffer from hay fever and rub your eyes a lot? Regular rubbing irritates the sensitive skin around your eyes and can make dark circles worse.

Looking at a computer for long hours is a major strain on the eyes and can also cause dark circles to appear.

Underlying psychological causes? Stress at work, worrying about exams and anxiety, in general, can also explain the presence of dark circles.

EXTRA CARE FOR YOUR EYE AREA

You can prevent or delay the appearance of dark circles with a few simple methods: get enough sleep and drink enough water. Home remedies and dark circle creams can also help.

THE BEST HOME REMEDIES FOR DARK CIRCLES

The tannins in black tea reduce swelling and supply the skin with antioxidants: place two fresh tea bags on your closed eyes and leave them on for about 10 minutes.

Almond oil massage for better circulation: Gently massage the skin around your eyes with a few drops of oil. Always work from the inside out.

Using cucumbers is an approved and tested method of getting rid of dark circles, as they are full of vitamins and offer intense hydration: place cold cucumber slices over your closed eyes.

A quick fix straight from the fridge: a slightly more expensive solution are special eye masks with gel. They can be stored in the refrigerator and help to tighten the lymphatic and blood vessels around the eyes.

Natural medicine recommends Schussler salts, which combat dark circles under the eyes by compensating for the lack of minerals in the body.

SPECIAL CREAMS FOR DARK CIRCLES

Eye creams help to reduce dark circles. They provide essential ingredients to protect, moisturise and nourish the skin in this particularly fragile area, which becomes even more so as we age. There are many eye care products available that target different issues. Whatever you choose, don't rub: creams for dark circles should be applied by gently tapping with the pad of your finger from the inner corner of the eye to the outer edge.

Moisturising dark circle creams can be used at any age and aim to maintain a good level of hydration. The area around the eyes is particularly exposed to aggression, poorly hydrated and drier than the rest of the face. Taking care of it with an eye contour cream helps slow down skin ageing and the accentuation of dark circles.
Anti-ageing eye creams combine hydration with anti-wrinkle ingredients to smooth, plump and protect. As we age, the skin dries out and becomes thinner, making bluish dark circles even more visible. Sun-induced skin ageing can worsen the pigmentation of dark circles. For a youthful look around the eyes, use NIVEA's Q10+ Anti-Wrinkle Eye Cream. This formula contains Q10, a natural skin ingredient that diminishes over time. It helps to reduce wrinkles and dark circles.
The tinted eye creams are also anti-dark circle creams, combining care and correction. They can be used on their own, with a concealer or replaced by an eye cream combined with a concealer.

THE QUICK FIX: REDUCE THE APPEARANCE OF DARK CIRCLES WITH ANTI-DARK CIRCLE CARE

A DARK CIRCLE CREAM TO KEEP YOUR DARK CIRCLES A SECRET

Apart from the question of whether you have genetically inherited dark circles or whether you have simply slept too little, the miracle cure for dark circles is concealer, a tinted corrector. The concealer comes in stick or light cream form. There are also tinted anti-ageing fluids that can be used daily to cover dark circles, brighten the eyes and fill in wrinkles.

TIPS FOR HIDING DARK CIRCLES WITH CONCEALER

Always choose your concealer in a shade lighter than your natural skin tone or foundation. A small amount is usually enough to hide dark circles.

Adapt the shade of the concealer to the type of dark circles you want to hide: some coloured pigments can neutralise the colour of dark circles. For bluish circles, opt for a creamy, orange-tinted concealer. For purplish circles, choose a yellow concealer. For brown circles, choose an apricot concealer. The more matte your skin is, the more pigmented the shade can be.

Apply the concealer with a fine brush or fingertip directly under the eye and smooth it in evenly. Blend carefully so that you can't see the colour contrast.