3 Types Of Under Eye Dark Circles & How To Tell Which You Have

If you feel perfectly fine but still get comments like "What happened to you? You look so shag", it's probably your dark under eye circles that's making you look fatigued.

Dark under eye circles can dull your overall complexion and make you look like you had two hours of sleep even when you actually had seven. There are three types of dark under eye circles and finding out which one you have can help you get rid of them.

Keep reading to find out how to tell which type of under eye dark circles you have! 

#1 Vascular dark under eye circles 

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Vascular dark circles are caused by poor microcirculation of the blood and lymphatic liquid around the eye. Lymph ensures that blood drains and is well circulated. A poor lymphatic system will not eliminate pigments in the blood properly. This pigment accumulates under our eyes as it's one of the thinnest layers of the skin, causing it to look darker than the rest of the skin.

If your under eye area has a blueish colour or you have a persistent blocked nose, you may have vascular dark circles. Try giving yourself a gentle eye massage, de-stressing activities like mediating and establish a regular sleep pattern.

#2 Pigmented dark under eye circles

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Pigmented dark circles occur when there's an overproduction or poor distribution of melanin in the skin. The epidermis and dermis are very thin around the eyes which makes excess pigments very visible.

If your under eye area has a brownish colour, pigmentation may be the cause.

Look out for Vitamin C, kojic acids, arbutin and hydroquinone when shopping for an eye cream. These ingredients help to reduce melanin production and lighten your under eye area. Make sure to wear SPF all over your face including your eye area.

#3 Shadowed dark under eye circles

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Shadowed dark under eye circles are created when the under eye area is sunken or protruding out, creating a shadow which gives the appearance of dark skin. This is commonly due to ageing, extreme weight loss or your facial bone structure. This particular type of dark under eye circles is more challenging to treat.

For those with sunken under eyes, try eye creams with retinol which will thicken and plump out your skin, reducing the appearance of the hollow area.

Photo from The Body Shop

If your under eye area is puffy, try a soothing and depuffing eye cream like The Body Shop's Drops of Youth™ Youth Bouncy Eye Mask ($40). It contains cucumber extract, Community Trade organic babassu oil and plant stem cells to depuff and cool down the skin around your eyes.

While you're working on your skincare, you can always fake it till you make it! Check out our top 5 picks of under eye concealers for a natural look and tips to conceal them like a pro.

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Text by: GirlStyle SG