“Are you ok? Did you not sleep well? Are you tired?” I get asked these questions a LOT. I’m fine, I did sleep well – and yes, I am a little tired, but who isn’t? But what they are really referring to are my dark under-eye circles, aka the bane of my face.
And I’m clearly not alone. “Dark circles are a common complaint in my clinic,” says Dr Maryam Zamani, oculoplastic surgeon and facial aesthetics doctor. “There are a variety of different reasons why dark circles appear – and contrary to popular belief, fatigue is not one of the main causes. Their origin can be anything from hereditary, hyperpigmentation, poor circulation or hollowness of the eyelids.”
And during the festive season their appearance can get worse. Late nights, alcohol, sugary food and not taking make-up off properly can lead to peepers looking less than bright-eyed. Skin around the eyes is thinner and far more delicate than on the rest of the face, and as a result it can be the first area to show signs of tiredness and stress.
As a beauty editor I am lucky enough to constantly try out products and treatments that promise to erase fine lines, disguise dark circles and eradicate dryness. Each claim gives me hope – but not all live up to it. These, however, are the ones that do…
Top tips to awaken tired-looking eyes
SKINCARE
Murad Vita-C Eyes Dark Circle Corrector, £59 here
This is the only eye cream I have used that makes a noticeable difference to the purple-brown tinge under my eyes – mainly down to the stable form of vitamin C in the formula. You must be willing to commit to using it regularly to see results, however.
Q+A Caffeine Eye Serum, £6.50 here
Much like that morning coffee, caffeine can be a great pick-me-up for tired eyes. When applied topically, caffeine tightens up the skin, encourages circulation and reduces puffiness by constricting blood vessels, thereby minimising swelling.
Grace & Stella Collagen Boosting Eye Masks, found in the OK! Christmas Beauty Box – worth over £280 but costs just £45 here
Ideal for both pre- and post-party, pop these under-eye patches in the fridge before using for extra depuffing powers. They’re one of 11 brilliant beauty products you’ll find inside the OK! Christmas Beauty Box, which makes the perfect gift. Order by 20 December for guaranteed delivery before Christmas.
MAKE-UP
Beauty Pie Superluminous Under-Eye Genius, £10 here (members' price)
This has become a cult product for good reason. It’s got clever luminous pigments in to scatter light beneath the eyes and disguise darker areas. Layer it over your eye cream and under concealer for eyes that look less weary.
L'Oréal Paris Pro XXL Lift Mascara, £12.99 here
Shrinking lids? This two-step mascara will leave you open-eyed in moments. Use the straight brush to create volume and then the curved brush to give lift. Both brushes are brilliant at getting into small spaces, and the formula doesn't budge.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Pro Pencil, £18 here
To remove any pinkiness from your waterline, choose a flesh-toned, rather than a white pencil. Strictly Come Dancing make-up artist Bryony Blake also says that “they can give a more youthful, wide-awake look when blended into the inner corners of your eyes and under your brow arch”.
CELEBRITY HACKS
Whitney Port
Take cue from Whitney Port, who told US Weekly that her best new mum beauty hack is frozen spoons. “I always keep spoons in the freezer because my eyes are really puffy and I notice [resting frozen spoons over my eyes] will help decrease that,” Whitney said. “I keep all my face masks in the fridge too because I just think that anything cold helps reduce puffiness.”
Chloë Grace Moretz
"Lucas' Papaw Ointment [£8 here] is my go-to,” the Kick-Ass star told Vogue. “I cover my lips in it, and then I put it underneath my eyes. Hydration is key.”
Selena Gomez
Selena revealed to Into The Gloss that she relies upon First Aid Beauty’s Eye Duty Triple Remedy, £38 here. “If you get dark circles, it’s the sh*t” she told Elle.
PROFESSIONAL TREATMENTS
Light Eyes Ultra, £550, at Illuminate Clinics
For tackling dark circles and puffiness, aesthetic doctor Dr Sophie Shotter offers an injectable at her Illuminate clinic called Light Eyes Ultra. It’s a cocktail of hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and antioxidants, which when injected just under the skin surface improves microcirculation and skin elasticity in this area.
Beautify Eye and Lip, £350 at Amba Logan
Considered a more subtle alternative to fillers, Beautify Eye and Lip saturates the under-eye area with a skin booster made up of vitamins, amino acids and hyaluronic acid to hydrate and promote collagen production – the treatment also starts with a gentle peel and finishes with a mask and LED light therapy. Amba says to expect tiny “bubbles” on the skin for up to a day afterwards, but make-up can be worn straight after the treatment.
READ MORE
-
Millie Mackintosh shows off incredible results of ‘Spanx for eyes’ in-clinic treatment
-
Best sparkly eye make-up to buy this party season – including this TikTok-viral eyeshadow
-
Tasha Ghouri debuts bold bleached brows that fans say make her look like Kate Moss