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I’ve spent much of my adult life wondering how to treat dark circles. After numerous consultations with my doctor, reporting on the best eye creams for dark circles, and even learning a thing or two about concealing and color correcting for temporary results, I’ve come to realize that there is no one single trick to diminishing the pigmentation.
Vogue’s Favorite Dark Circle Treatments
- The LED Mask: Currentbody LED Eye Perfector, $250
- The Eye Awakener: Glow Recipe Guava Vitamin C Bright-Eye Gel Cream, $38
- The SPF: SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50, $42
- The Eye Serum: Clinique All About Eyes Brightening Serum Concentrate, $42
- The Eye Cream: CeraVe Eye Repair Cream, $20
- The LED Patch: Omnilux Eye Brightener, $95
- The Drugstore Find: RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream, $30
- The Retinol Formula: Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye 3, $53
- The Brightening Solution: iS Clincal Pro-Heal Serum Advance+, $165
Treating—and getting rid of—dark circles is more complex than you might imagine because there are a plethora of reasons one could be experiencing them. Predisposition, aging, and lifestyle choices are just an overview; and while board-certified dermatologist emphasizes that “there is currently not one universally effective treatment for dark circles,” Dr. Brendan Camp, MD, a double board-certified dermatologist tells Vogue, you have options in how you handle them.
Ahead, Dr. Camp, fellow dermatologist Dr. Mina Amin, and aesthetic injector Natia Rufolo give a step by step overview to combating shadowy undereyes—at-home with an arsenal of potent serums, creams, and tools, and in-office via lasers, injections, and procedures.
How to Get Rid of Dark Circles at Home
Apply An Eye Cream
Many of us, Vogue editors and dermatologists included, experience great results with the best eye creams for dark circles. “Some ingredients to look out for are retinol, which is great for collagen production and fine lines, vitamin C which is a great skin brightener, and caffeine for puffy under eyes which constricts blood vessels,” per Dr. Amin. Formulas featuring peptides and hyaluronic acid—known to hydrate and plump—are excellent additions, too. For best results, take Rufolo’s advice and apply consistently morning and night to brighten the area over time.
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Reach for Retinol
“Retinol is great for dark circles because it promotes skin cell turnover which thickens the skin and reduces visibility of blood vessels,” Dr. Amin notes, by encouraging collagen production. To see results, Rufolo advises to “start with a gentle retinol cream and use it two to three times a week at night to gradually increase your skin’s tolerance. Be cautious, as retinol can be irritating to the sensitive skin around your eyes.” Fortunately, there are many an expert-recommended retinol eye cream to choose from these days.
Practice LED Light Therapy
Few beauty tools are as coveted as an LED face mask. “LED devices, particularly those with red or infrared light, can stimulate collagen production, improve blood circulation, and reduce inflammation,” says Rufolo, which can help with both dark circles and undereye puffiness. These anti-aging properties mean this treatment “may be useful for treating crepey skin or skin laxity in the periocular area,” acccording to Dr. Camp. From Omnilux’s hydrocolloid patch to Currentbody’s eye mask, use your favorite light therapy device once a day for optimal healing and rejuvenation.
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Always Wear SPF
Practicing the cardinal rule of skincare also yields dark circle-diminishing benefits. “Sunscreen is essential in preventing dark circles from worsening, especially if they are caused by pigmentation issues,” Rufolo explains. “UV exposure can darken the skin under your eyes, making circles more noticeable. Choose an SPF 30+ sunscreen or an eye cream with built in SPF. Applying sunscreen every morning, even on cloudy days, is crucial for long-term protection.”
Brightening Ingredients
Ingredients like vitamin C, niacinamide, and licorice extract work wonders to even out pigmentation concerns. “Adding products with these ingredients to your skin-care routine can help reduce discoloration and improve the overall brightness of the undereye area,” says Rufolo. If you had to prioritize one ingredient, though, opt for vitamin C. “Vitamin C has antioxidant properties that limit the effects of free oxygen radicals, which are unstable oxygen molecules that may contribute to the formation of dark spots,” according to Dr. Camp.
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Address Any Allergies
“Allergies can cause puffiness and swelling,” Camp says, which can exacerbate dark circles. “Taking an antihistamine, using a cold compress, and sleeping on two pillows may help reduce swelling associated with allergies.”
Try Cryotherapy
Sometimes, something as simple as a cold compress can keep dark circles at bay. “By narrowing the vessels, cold compresses lessens the blue/purple color that these vessels contribute to dark circles,” Dr. Camp says. Plus, this process alleviates puffiness—just use something like a cold spoon, chilled tea bags, or cryotherapy devices by Therabody and Angela Caglia. “For best results, apply for 10–15 minutes each morning to reduce swelling and refresh the under-eye area,” Rufolo instructs.
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How to Get Rid of Dark Circles Professionally
Turns out, it’s not always possible to get rid of dark circles permanently—given the wide range of reasons the shadows exist. However, according to Rufolo, “combining in-office treatments with consistent at-home care is often the best approach to achieving long lasting, noticeable results in treating dark circles.” Below, a look at the in-office options it may be worth consulting your practitioner about.
Laser Therapy
Depending on the cause, Dr. Amin says that certain lasers can help when seeking solutions for how to treat dark circles. “For dark circles that may be due to hollowness under the eyes from aging, fine lines, and wrinkles, resurfacing lasers such as CO2 lasers and fraxel can help. However, it is important to note that eye protection is key and eye shields are utilized.”
Exosomes
Those interested in an innovative ingredient approach should consider exosome therapy (my personal favorite). “Exosome therapy is an advanced treatment where exosomes (cellular messengers) derived from stem cells are injected into the undereye area,” Rufolo explains. “These exosomes promote healing and skin regeneration by enhancing collagen production. This treatment can help rejuvenate the delicate skin under the eyes, making it appear brighter and more youthful. Exosome therapy is particularly effective for deeper wrinkles and thinning skin.”
Microneedling
“Microneedling is another in-office method that increases collagen production and improves the overall quality and appearance of the skin,” Dr. Camp notes, which can be used to address dark circles and crepiness.
PRP Therapy
Another dark circle-veiling treatment you might hear about is platelet-rich plasma, better known as PRP. Often called the vampire facial, “PRP involves drawing your blood, processing it to concentrate the platelets, and then injecting it into the under-eye area,” Rufolo details. “The growth factors in the [plasma] can stimulate collagen production, improve skin texture, and reduce pigmentation. This treatment is best for those with thinning skin or hollowing areas under the eyes. Results typically take a few weeks to show, and multiple sessions may be needed for optimal results.”
Filler
Over the last few years, filler has been an oft-discussed undereye treatment as they “can reduce the hollowing that sometimes forms between the lower eyelid and the upper cheek,” per Dr. Camp. “Filling the hollow reduces the shadow that contributes to the appearance of dark circles. Fillers are not permanent, but their effects can last several months to a year.” Essentially working to restore volume and counteract hollowness, Rufolo says this procedure can instantly brighten the undereye area and provide lasting results depending on the type of filler used—often combined with other treatments like laser therapy for optimal outcomes.
Everything You Need to Know
What causes dark circles?
Per Dr. Amin, dark circles can come from a variety of factors including genetics, aging, fatigue, sun exposure, and more. “When it comes to genetics, inherited traits can lead to thinner skin or increased pigmentation under the eyes,” she explains. “As we age, our skin loses collagen which can lead to hollowness under the dark circles as our blood vessels become more visible.” The formation of a dark shadows can result, too, from lack of sleep—causing the skin to appear pale which will bring out the visibility in the blood vessels—as well as UV rays, which can result in decreased thickness of the skin around the eyes and can stimulate melanin production which can lead to dark circles.
What’s the difference between dark circles and under-eye bags?
“Dark circles are characterized as darker skin under the eye area whereas under-eye bags are the puffiness around the eye area,” Amin says. “Puffiness can be due to allergies, genetics, aging, skin laxity, or fat accumulation around the area.”
How can you get rid of dark circles at home?
“Dark circles can be addressed at home by using over-the-counter eye creams, limiting salt intake, sleeping on two pillows to reduce puffiness in the morning, using cold compresses to reduce swelling, and wearing sunscreen and sunglasses to avoid the damaging effects of UV radiation,” Dr. Camp details.
Is it possible to permanently get rid of dark circles?
That depends. “It is possible to reduce the appearance of dark circles but depending on the cause, fully getting rid of them can be difficult,” Rufolo begins. “Products containing retinol, vitamin C, and caffeine can help lighten the area and tighten. Aesthetic procedures such as chemical peels, exosomes, PRP, and PRF as well as dermal fillers, if you are the correct candidate, can often yield the most noticeable improvements.”
Meet the Experts
- Dr. Mina Amin, MD, is a Los Angeles–based dermatologist at California Dermatology Specialists.
- Dr. Brendan Camp, MD, is a double board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist who sees patients in New York and Long Island.
- Natia Rufolo, FNP, NP-C is a board-certified aesthetic injector, PDO thread specialist, and founder of INJX BY NAT Aesthetics,
