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Here's How to Get Rid of Dark Circles Under Your Eyes — and Never Look Tired Again

We called in an expert for a solution to the wintertime beauty woe that affects the most of our readers
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What is the Crème de la Eye Crème?
How do you get rid of dark under eye circles? You find the best beauty potion out there, that's how. According to Jaliman, sunscreen is your best defense against dark circles -- or their getting worse. She recommends a broad-spectrum sunscreen (which blocks out both UVA and UVB rays) with an SPF of at least 30, with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as the active ingredient (Many dermatologists recommend EltaMD UV Facial Broad-Spectrum SPF 30+). Sun exposure breaks down collagen and brings dark pigment to the surface of the skin (aka dark circles under your eyes), so try to avoid it.

As for an under-eye cream or serum, Jaliman says to think high-octane: "Choose those with caffeine, [because it will] constrict the blood vessels under the eyes, decreasing blood flow and darkness." Other ingredients that will make or break your under eye cream:

• Peptides, which stimulate collagen production and thicken the thin skin under the eye.

• Retinol is another ingredient that encourages cell turnover and collagen production. It should be used at night, because sunlight makes retinol ineffective.

• If you're choosing a retinol product, Jaliman recommends it contain hyaluronic acid so your skin retains moisture.

Skin-lightening products are another choice for those with perpetually dark circles.

• Arbutin is a skin-lightening ingredient that is found naturally in bearberry fruit that inhibits melanin.

• Kojic acid, licorice extract, and vitamin C also have skin-lightening properties and are safe for use on the skin.

See our roundup of the best eye creams now.

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Go Buzz Lightyear on Your Bags
While creams may help over time, procedures can get rid of dark circles under eyes faster and more dramatically. Jaliman recommends laser procedures to her patients. The laser destroys dark pigment caused by aging and sun damage, and creates collagen, thickening the skin and creating a thicker veil for those pesky blood vessels.

Hyaluronic acid fillers can be injected to the under eye area to create a layer between the blood vessels and your skin.



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Makeup: You're Probably Doing It Wrong
There's nothing worse than a makeup job that actually accentuates that flaw you're trying to hide, and in this case those under-eye bags are the last thing we want to flaunt. But sadly, hiding dark circles often falls into the failed cover-up category. They're a different shade than the rest of your skin, so they require a whole different color palette to disguise.

So how do we get rid of those dark circles under our eyes without looking like we've never tried our hand at makeup before? First, you'll want to find a creamy concealer in an apricot tone that is one shade lighter than your skin tone (We love It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Anti-Aging Concealer). The yellow of the apricot tone will cancel out the blue and purple of the dark circles under your eyes. A creamy texture is also important -- if you use a powder, it will settle into the fine lines around your eyes, which will just accentuate them.

Apply your concealer after you've put foundation on the rest of your face. Only apply it where the dark spots are, not under your whole eye, which creates a raccoon effect. Typically, dark spots start in the inner corner and continue in a semi-circle down toward your cheek. Blend your concealer with the rest of your foundation using a sponge. Set the products with a translucent powder for a glowing finish.



"You look tired." It's probably a woman's least favorite thing to hear, because it tells us we did a miserable job of hiding our puffy eyes and dark circles this morning.

Whether you're perpetually sleep-deprived, genetically "gifted" with dark circles under your eyes, or spend your nights watching cry-fest marathons, we've all had to deal with under eye bags or circles. In fact, when we asked our Total Beauty Facebook followers what beauty question they want answered, "What can I do about my dark circles?" was the No. 1 reply. Identifying dark circles under your eyes is easy -- you see them staring back at you in all their purple glory. But figuring out how to get rid of dark circles under your eyes is much less transparent.

Dermatologist Debra Jaliman, author of "Skin Rules: Trade Secrets from a Top New York Dermatologist," says that dark circles affect people of all ages. "Dark under eye circles can make even young people look old and tired," says Jaliman.

Wanna know what you can do about your extra (eye) baggage? We consulted Jaliman to find out how you can minimize your dark circles -- by altering your lifestyle and your makeup application.
BY EMILY WOODRUFF | JAN 20, 2016 | SHARES
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