Dark circles? Tips to help keep under-eye bags at bay

Dark under-eye circles? Yes, they’re the bane of our beauty routine and tough as hell to conceal. They are usually caused by a lack of sleep, dehydration or genetics, and they’re something so many of us are grappling with.

If a lifestyle choice – such as pulling all-nighters – is causing yours, changes can be made to lessen their appearance. By getting enough sleep at night (seven hours or more), drinking enough water, and steering clear of salty foods, this should help reduce them. On the other hand, if your under eye bags are genetic, ask your pharmacist about one or two over-the-counter options you can use to deflate them. And by ensuring you get enough rest, hydration and using what I term “lifesaver” beauty products, they’ll be as good as banished for good.

Firstly, this sounds like a beauty wise tale, but it helps the darker bags: keep two spoons in the fridge overnight and, in the morning, lay the backs of each spoon over your under eye bags and gently slide them toward the outer corner of your eyes, applying a tiny bit of pressure. This will get the fluid that’s pooling underneath your eye to drain, while the cold spoon will help minimise the puffiness.

Next up using an eye cream that contains caffeine, such as L’Oréal Revitalift Triple Power Eye Treatment (€27.99) will help tighten the skin, constrict your blood vessels, minimise dark circles and reduce the puffiness around the delicate eye area. Did you know that the skin around the eyes is ten times thinner than the skin on your face, and it ages 36 per cent faster? Yep, so get using an eye cream pronto.

The next stage is concealing and thankfully, and as below, there are some star products on the market that will help you do exactly that. Tip: did you know that when choosing an under eye concealer you must choose a colour two shades lighter than you overall skin tone? This is to ensure it?neutralises dark areas and brightens the eye.

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, €28

Thanks to its light-diffusing technology, a few dots of this super-pigmented, crease-proof formula will leave you free from under eye circles for hours on end. Another bonus is that they have 20 colour options available.

MAC Studio Finish SPF 35 Concealer, €20

Unlike a lot of concealers, this one contains an SPF of 35, which is a big plus. This creamy formula glides on with ease, and it is also water-resistant, fragrance-free, and contains a multitude of shades for you to choose from. This one is heavy-duty, so it is ideal for perhaps wearing under a lighter foundation if your skin needs a breather.

Laura Mercier Undercover Pot, €42

This one contains two shades of concealer and a setting powder, and the multi-toned yellow shades make this one super-effective at concealing dark circles and red marks on the skin. It lasts ages as you only need a small amount for sufficient coverage, and its accompanying setting powder keeps it in place nicely.

Main photograph: Pexels

Read more:  

• How to choose the right bronzer tone for your skin (so you don’t look orange)… here
• Why I can’t bring myself to do a make-up-free, filter-free selfie… here
• The best concealers from someone whose tried them ALL… here