The dark circles are the number 1 enemy of every person concerned about their appearance. And of course, looking like a raccoon is not very attractive... That is why today we want to explain everything you need to know about eye creams for dark circles and how to choose the one that suits you best.

You will see how, many of them are (almost) better than sleeping 8 hours straight.

What is an eye cream?

Eye creams are a product that helps soothe and largely eliminate dark circles to improve the complexion's appearance.

These work thanks to their active ingredients, as most of them contain moisturizing, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, depigmenting, and blood circulation stimulating components; which make the skin in this eye area much more elastic and, therefore, look better and much less tired.

The collagen (provides flexibility and elasticity to the skin), the retinol (anti-spot and cell renewer) and the ceramides (the queens of firmness and elasticity) are also found in the best eye creams.

If you don't have very dark or pronounced bags or dark circles, you can always resort to a eye concealer, but this is simply makeup and will camouflage the problem, it will not solve it, something that eye creams do. Therefore, whether you look like a panda or not, we strongly recommend that you start using an eye cream in your daily facial routine.

You must take good care of the area around your eyes, as it is the window to the soul. If you have well-cared-for eye contour and show off stunning eyelashes (take a look at these eyelash serums with which you can achieve them) your gaze will look different: younger, brighter, and radiant. And who doesn't want that?

How and when to apply an anti-dark circle cream

Whether or not you have visible dark circles, it's always good to get a good anti-dark circle cream and start applying it from 30 years old. Watch out! We're not calling thirty-year-olds old. But it's from these ages that hectic pace of life that we generally have, starts to take its toll. And as the saying goes: “better safe than sorry.”

It is a super comfortable product and it couldn't be more simple to use, because to apply it correctly you just have to follow these steps:

• The first thing you should do before applying the anti-dark circle cream is wash and dry the face well.
• Once the skin is dry and clean, it's time to apply the product. That said, use the right amount for it to be effective. The instruction manual of each product indicates the amount you should use, usually equivalent to the size of a pea.
• Massage the under-eye area with the anti-dark circle cream, avoiding the product from entering the inside of the eye or the eyelashes. Use the ring finger for this, as it is the finger with the least strength of all. Apply it to taps or with circular motions, and always from the inner corner of the eye to the outer corner.
• Let it act before continuing with your facial routine. For the skin to absorb it, it needs a few minutes, usually 3 to 5.

For this type of treatment to be effective, you have to be consistent. Apply the eye contour at least once a day (at night before sleeping is perfect so the active ingredients absorb well) and don’t let a single day go by without using it. No excuses!

What ingredients to look for in an eye cream for dark circles?

Before buying an eye contour cream, it is worth knowing the most effective active ingredients for your type of dark circles. Not all dark circles have the same origin, so choosing the right ingredients makes all the difference.

Caffeine: decongestion and circulation

Caffeine is one of the most valued actives in eye contour creams. It acts as a vasoconstrictor, which helps reduce puffiness and activate microcirculation in the eye area. Ideal if your dark circles are vascular in origin or if you often wake up with noticeable bags.

Retinol and vitamin C: brightening and cell renewal

If your dark circles are dark and pigment-related, your best allies are retinol and vitamin C. Retinol supports cell renewal and helps to visibly lighten dark areas; vitamin C brightens, evens out the tone and gives an instant radiance boost. Retinol should be introduced into your routine gradually to avoid irritation in such a delicate area.

Peptides and collagen: firmness and plumping

Over time, the skin around the eyes loses collagen and elasticity, which makes dark circles more noticeable and fine lines appear. Peptides help improve skin firmness, while formulas with hydrolysed collagen provide deep hydration and a visible tightening effect.

Snail slime: hydration and renewal

Snail slime has earned its reputation in cosmetics thanks to its very high concentration of allantoin, collagen and glycolic acid. This combination makes it an exceptional ingredient to soften and hydrate the skin around the eyes, reducing that tired, dull look.

Vitamin K: for dark circles of vascular origin

Vitamin K is linked to microcirculation and helps improve the appearance of purple or bluish dark circles, which are often caused by blood pooling under the skin. Combined with caffeine and vitamin C, it forms one of the most complete trios for dark circles.

Recommendations to avoid dark circles

Now then, not everything will be solved by just putting on an anti-dark circle cream. If you want to say ““goodbye forever!” to bags and dark circles, you will have to introduce these habits in your life daily:

• Hydrate a lot: Drink and drink and drink plenty of water. Well-hydrated skin is the number one enemy of dark circles.
• Balanced diet: A diet rich in healthy foods is good for everything in life, including dark circles!
• Remove your makeup. A deep cleansing of the skin before going to sleep is the best thing you can do to care for your skin and eye contour.
• Use sunscreen even when it's cloudy! The sun's rays always filter through and severely damage our skin if we don't protect it properly.
• And of course, sleep well. Your eight hours that no one should take away from you.