Which Type of Dark Under Eye Circles Do You Have? Let's Find Out!

Are dark under-eye circles keeping you awake at night only to awaken to looking like a bad impression of a panda? While those ‘bamboo’ lovers can rock the dark under eyes, we’re not quite so ‘lucky’. Though dark circles are a common problem among many people of all ages, many don't know the root cause or the best treatment.

For the longest time, the thinner area under the eyes wasn’t given much attention in the skincare community, and usually busy lives and sleep deprivation were to blame. But one thing that is often neglected when trying to learn how to effectively treat dark under-eye circles is the different types of dark circles. The eye-opening truth is those dismal dark circles are caused by a myriad of factors.

Now, imagine waking up with bright, refreshed eyes, free from dark circles. We won’t keep you in the ‘dark’ with solutions! Let’s delve into the world of dark circles, examining their potential causes. Follow along as we spy with our little eye the best treatment options for your type of dark circles - plus the best eye creams that will send those pesky bags packing for good!

Understanding Dark Under Eye Circles

If the eyes are the window to our souls, we sure don’t want them giving all our secrets away! And that includes the less than eye-dilic ‘you look tired’ comments’. Though most of us associate sleep deprivation with dark under eyes, you may bat an eye at the truth that those dismal dark circles are caused by a variety of factors.

And, just like the size of our eyes is not symmetrical or equal, not all dark circles are created equal. In fact, they have different causes and require different treatments. Let’s outline some of the most common causes of dark under eyes, so you can determine the best eye cream options:

Pigmentation:

Dark circles can be caused by excess pigment in the skin. Known as hyperpigmentation, this is the darkening of an area of skin due to an overproduction of melanin. It can occur anywhere on the body but is most common on the face. In addition to dark circles, hyperpigmentation can also cause age spots and freckles.

Blood Vessels and Shadowing:

Aging can cause blood vessels or shadowing under the eyes. As you age, the skin below your eyes begins to loosen and thin out so the blood vessels under your skin may become more visible. This can darken the appearance of your under eyes. Hollowed areas called tear troughs may develop as well.

Sun Exposure:

Prolonged sun exposure can cause damage to the skin cells under the eyes that produce pigment, leading to darkening of the skin. This is known as post-inflammatory pigmentation. Too much sun may produce excess melanin, which is the pigment that gives your skin color. Your body might then deposit this excess melanin beneath your eyes, resulting in hyperpigmentation.

Lack of Sleep:

When you don’t get enough sleep (7 - 9 hours per night for most adults), fluid can build up underneath your eyes, causing the puffiness and discoloration that we associate with dark circles. If you’re experiencing dark under eyes because of a lack of sleep, the good news (albeit a challenge for some of us) is that you may be able to reverse the problem by getting into a regular sleep routine.

Eye Strain:

Is your little eye spying too much? If you work in front of a computer, watch hours of television daily or you’re a serial phone scroller, you may be experiencing eye strain, which can lead to dark circles and hurt your vision. When your eyes become strained, the blood vessels enlarge under the skin, leading to discoloration of the area around your eyes.

Dehydration:

Milk doesn’t just do the body good – adequate water intake does, too! Dehydration can cause your under-eye area to become dull, hollow-looking, and discolored. And, if you find that you do drink plenty of water, perhaps it’s the other beverages - caffeine, alcohol, and other diuretics - you indulge in that could be to blame.

Hormonal Fluctuations:

Pregnant and menstruating women may also find that they experience dark circles. If you often experience dark under eyes when you’re on your cycle, you may want to discuss this issue with a doctor, as in rare cases, there may be an underlying medical condition, such as iron deficiency or thyroid disorder causing the discoloration.

Age and Hereditary Factors:

As your skin matures, losing some of its natural strength and elasticity, it becomes more prone to dark circles. The delicate skin covering the under-eye area is also prone to becoming thinner and losing volume, which then leads to more obvious dark shadows. In addition, the repetitive facial movements we make, like squinting and smiling, can contribute to the development of wrinkles around the eyes.

Meanwhile, certain hereditary factors may also make some individuals more prone to dark circles throughout their lives.

Lifestyle Influences:

The body can be broken down into two simple workings: what you do on your inside is as important as what you do on the outside, which ultimately affects your inside. Lifestyle influences such as not eating right, smoking, excessive alcohol and caffeinated beverages, forgoing sunscreen, too much tech time, and not having healthy sleep and skincare routines can all lead to dark circles. It’s important to establish healthy lifestyle habits for your body and overall well-being.

Thankfully, with recent advances in skincare innovations, there are effective and natural options to treat dark under eye circles. However, we’ll first need to find out your type of dark circles to determine the best eye cream!

How to Determine Your Type of Dark Circles

Would you believe finding the solution to your type of dark circles is as easy as one, two, pinch? Contrary to pinching yourself to see if you’re dreaming, the reality is you can use the ‘pinch test’ to determine the probable cause of your dark under eyes. The pinch test will also help you understand your skin's needs to properly treat your under eyes.

Step 1: The Pinch Test

Using clean fingers, gently pinch the skin under your eye for a couple of seconds.

Step 2: Analyzing the Results

After you release the pinch, observe the color of the skin.

Result 1: If the discoloration moves with the skin, it’s likely due to excess pigment. This could be caused by overactive melanocytes, the skin cells that create pigmentation, or uneven triggers.

Result 2: If the discoloration disappears, it’s likely due to thinner skin/shadowing issues or a blood circulation issue. This could be due to thin skin showing the veins underneath or tiny blood vessels under the skin and a lack of adequate blood circulation.

The pinch test can help you understand your skin's needs and choose the right products or treatments. For example, if you have thin skin, you could try an eye cream that builds collagen. If you have pigmentation issues, you’ll want to bring down the melanin with products that brighten the skin, such as those containing vitamin C, retinol, or alpha hydroxy acids.

If you have blood circulation issues, you could try a caffeinated eye cream to aid in improving blood circulation around the eyes and increasing blood flow with massages or facial exercises. We’ll get more into the specifics of your best eye treatment for those dismal dark circles below!

Treating Dark Circles Based on Their Type

Most of us can agree that we don’t want to rise and un-shine looking like a bad impression of a cute panda. While those snuggly ‘bamboo’ lovers can rock the dark patches, we’re not quite so fortunate. But we can thank our ‘lucky’ stars that there are natural, effective ingredients that can target and help eliminate those dark under eye circles.

100% PURE is dedicated to making the best clean products for you. The ingredients in our eye creams are vegan and safe to use on even the most delicate skin of the eye area. Let’s delve into the best natural ingredients for your type of dark circles and the best eye cream for refreshed youthful eyes

For Pigmentation-Related Dark Circles

Key Ingredients:

Vitamin C: Brightens skin and reduces pigmentation. Vitamin C can help decrease pigmentation, thereby reducing the appearance of dark circles and brightening the under-eye area.

Niacinamide: Enhances blood circulation. By enhancing circulation, niacinamide helps alleviate the appearance of dark circles caused by poor blood flow, giving the under-eye area a brighter and more revitalized appearance.

Retinol: Helps lighten pigmentation under the eyes. It can also stimulate collagen and elastin production, which can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles around the area.

Product Recommendations:

Vitamin C Serum –This lightweight serum, stabilized with vitamin C, boasts a hydrating aloe gel base that not only soothes the skin but also deeply nourishes it. It’s a powerhouse in promoting collagen production — essential for maintaining skin's elasticity and firmness. The infusion of green apple and grape enhances the skin's radiance. The addition of alpha lipoic acid (ALA) acts as a shield against oxidative damage, a common culprit for premature skin aging and discoloration. Apply daily to brighten and even out skin tone.

Niacinamide Boost – This powder treatment minimizes the appearance of large pores, reduces oil production, and restores sun-damaged skin for a rejuvenated glow. Niacinamide and hyaluronic acid team up to deliver impressive hydrating results, reducing signs of aging and fine lines to leave your skin refreshed and rejuvenated.

Multi-Vitamin + Antioxidants PM Eye Treatment –Designed for nighttime use, this richly moisturizing, vitamin-concentrated eye treatment is loaded with vitamin D3 and retinol to combat signs of aging and free radical damage. It also contains niacinamide for nighttime hydration and repair. Use every night to help with the skin’s elasticity and keep the skin nourished.

For Blood Vessels and Shadowing-Related Dark Circles

Key Ingredients:

Caffeine: Reduces puffiness and dark circles by constricting blood vessels. Caffeine has superhero properties for your peepers. It's like coffee but for your eyes, giving them the boost they need to tackle those dark circles. Just like how a steaming cup of coffee is necessary to jumpstart your day, the magical eye cream infused with caffeine perks up your dark under-eye area – maybe both should wear capes!

Retinols: Promotes collagen production and reduces shadowing. Retinol is the gold standard of anti-aging ingredients, and this anti-aging ingredient has plenty of it. The vitamin A derivative works to stimulate collagen production under the eyes, making dark circles less visible.

Product Recommendations:

Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream – Apply in the morning to reduce puffiness and dark circles. The proof is in the numbers--not to mention the clinical studies. Our #1 hero skincare product, Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream, is in a skincare category by itself. The cult-like following of our natural eye cream product is not to be taken lightly. There’s a reason fans keep buying tube after tube: They’ve seen how powerfully it brightens and rejuvenates the under-eye area.

The energizing benefits of green tea and coffee with this concentrated formula deliver mega eye brightening and depuffing benefits. Suitable for all skin types, it revitalizes the tired eye area with naturally derived caffeine to stimulate microcirculation, effectively detoxifying fluid buildup and reducing dark circles. It’s also formulated with potent antioxidants, vitamins, and plant extracts to reinforce the delicate eye area against environmental aggressors

Retinol Restorative Overnight Balm –This anti-aging overnight retinol cream is formulated with nourishing vitamins and antioxidants to enhance the skin's natural glow. Vegan retinol helps to promote a more evenly toned complexion while lessening the appearance of lines and wrinkles. The Retinol Restorative Overnight Balm is made with rich avocado butter and plant oils to soften skin and deeply moisturize, and scented with a light infusion of skin-toning, organic jasmine essential oil.

Success Stories from 100% PURE Customers

In the pursuit of trying to treat dark under eye circles, choosing natural eye care products that target the root of your dark circle type extends beyond efficacy; it’s an ideology and commitment to skin health and undeniably satisfied customers. To bring this philosophy to life, let’s delve into some of our favorite products, each accompanied by testimonials from customers, who have experienced the benefits of 100% PUREs beauty and skincare products to help combat dark under eyes.

Vitamin C Serum

Customer Testimonial: “I was having some slight skin issues and my skin was a bit unhappy. This serum absolutely worked wonders for it! I have a few items that I keep ordering again and again, and this is one of those. I can highly recommend it. It’s very high quality, I’ve done a lot of research on vitamin C for the face and under-eye area and this one is amazing!” – Anonymous

Niacinamide Boost

Customer Testimonial: “I have only been using this for probably two weeks, and I’ve already seen a huge improvement in my skin! Smaller pore size, more balanced oil production, a nice glow. I have super sensitive skin so it’s always a risk to introduce something new to my routine, but this is definitely here to stay. I use probably less than half the recommended pea-sized amount, and I’ve seen no irritation and huge benefits. Can’t recommend enough!” – Emma J.

Multi-Vitamin + Antioxidants PM Eye Treatment

Customer Testimonial: “This stuff is amazing i used it one time and the next day my fine lines were noticeably more relaxed it almost took them completely away I was shocked. It did irritate my eyes a little bit I think it was the retinol but I would probably use this once a week as the results last for days. Would buy again!” — Tearra H.

Start Treating Your Dark Circles Today

Choosing the best eye creams for dark circles can be a daunting task, especially if you want it tailored to your skin type and concerns. But not with the help and support of 100% PURE! With some knowledge and understanding of your skin’s needs, you can create the best skincare routine with gentle, yet effective anti-aging moisturizers for healthy, radiant skin.

A cutting-edge tool for clean skincare customization is the skin analysis tool available through 100% PURE. This tool helps you build a customized skin regimen, based on your specific skin type and concerns. You’ll get personalized product suggestions tailored to your skin, broken down into a simple, step-by-step plan!

We invite you to embark on your own skincare journey with 100% PURE products and experience the transformative benefits if our best dark under eye treatment. Join us in our mission to revolutionize anti-aging moisturizers and natural skin care products for aging skin into a more inclusive and universally beneficial experience.

Together, let’s celebrate the beauty of harnessing the power of nature to provide clean, effective, and ethical skincare solutions, and empower other individuals to embrace their unique real skin journeys