Have you ever wondered what causes dark circles under your eyes? Many people will tell you that fixing it is as simple as getting more sleep or drinking more water. But it’s a bit more complex than that. And the good news is that there is something you can do about it.

What causes dark circles?

Lack of sleep and dehydration are common causes of dark circles under your eyes. But if you look more closely, you might see that the dark circles have either a blue or brown tinge to them. This colour determines what the underlying cause is, and how best to treat them.

• Blue or purple: These are known as vascular dark circles and indicate a lack of circulation of blood and lymphatic liquid around the eyes. Lymph fluid helps blood to circulate and keep the skin around the eye healthy. If the lymph system isn’t working properly, it can’t get rid of the blood pigments effectively. And because the skin around the eye is so thin, this accumulation becomes very visible – hence the dark eye circles.
• Brown: These are known as pigmented dark circles, which are a result of inflammation or stress around the eye. This causes the production of melanin, which is the chemical that is responsible for the colour of our skin. This excess of pigment caused by the inflammatory response is so much easier to see because of the thin skin around the eye.

What is the best eye cream to treat your dark circles?

Germaine de Capuccini Rides Eye Contour Global Treatment contains a combination of three botanical extracts that treat both kinds of dark eye circles and has the added bonus of Botox-like ingredients to fight wrinkles.

If you have vascular dark circles, it will strengthen the walls of the blood vessel and restore the micro-circulation of the eye tissue.  This will help prevent the deposit of blood pigments, as well as ensure the whole area is well oxygenated.

For pigmentation dark circles, it soothes the eye area and reduces inflammation, decreasing the production of melanin.

As an added benefit, it is the best eye cream for puffy eyes, which is often associated with dark undereye circles. Improved circulation helps to drain excess liquid and reduce fat deposits which accumulate under the eye.

“9 out of 10 women say Rides Eye Contour Global Treatment is the best anti-ageing eye cream they have tried.”

Germaine de Capuccini SRNS Illuminating Eye Detox Formula is also an effective dark eye circle treatment. It is more suitable for younger clients as it does not contain the anti-wrinkle properties of the above product, but it works to reduce the appearance of dark eye circles as well as draining and detoxifying the eye area. Plus it has a slight tint to reflect light and minimise imperfections.

If you’re concerned about dark circles under your eyes, come visit us at Gaia Day Spa to chat about products and treatments that can help.

Written by Katie Watts for Germaine de Capuccini.