How to Eliminate Dark Circles

My recent post about bags under the eyes has brought up some very good questions from a reader.  The question was, “ What product do you recommend for dark circles under the eye? How does one choose the right shade? And, do you have tips on how to get rid of those? I did try putting cucumber on both eyes once but I find it really cumbersome.” 

Many of you don’t know why you even have dark circles under your eyes, or why they suggest you use cucumber to relieve them.  Dark circles are actually bruised sinuses.  That is why they can get so much worse if we are sick, have allergies or have been up crying all night long.  The more bruising and swelling we have in our sinuses, the more dark circles we get.  One of the major reasons cucumber is suggested is because a cold cucumber can help reduce bruising.  Ice works much the same way.  Have you ever seen those gel eye masks in the drugstores?  Well that is what they are for, to reduce swelling and bruising in the sinus area.  If you have heavy bruising I would suggest the eye patches over the cucumber.  Both make a minimal difference in day to day sinus bruising, but can work wonders when we have excessive bruising from allergies, colds, etc.

As for products, there are many great concealers out there, but there is one in particular that I find myself reaching for most often.  Unfortunately this concealer is in my Top Ten list so I can’t tell you which one it is quite yet (sorry).  Although if you keep an eye out over the next few weeks, I guarantee it will pop up on my top ten.

As for finding the perfect shade and color for a concealer, there is definitely some tricks.  Lets start with the shade. Depending on what time of the year it is, winter or summer, you would be picking a different color concealer. I always recommend buying one shade in the winter and another one in the summer. When choosing a concealer, pick up all the ones that are close to your skin color.  If the only options are either a shade darker than you or a shade lighter than you, you should always go with lighter.  Just a note the color the woman is wearing on the left, would be considered too light for her.

Now, the real trick comes with the undertone.  Just because the shade is right for you doesn’t mean it’s going to cover those circles.  Depending on what color you dark circles are, you will pick a different undertone.  What I mean by this is, in order to cover the circles under your eyes, you have to use the opposite color on the color wheel to cancel the dark circles out.  For example if your circles are blue in color you want and hint of orange in your concealer.  If you have purple colored circles, then you would use a concealer with a hint of yellow and so on.  You can bookmark this page and use this color wheel as a reference.

I always suggest when buying a concealer for under the eyes, you choose a line that has a hint of reflectors in it.  That way you don’t get that cakey look like you do with other concealers.

Good luck, and if you have any more questions on how to pick a concealer or any other product, click on “comments”.

-Vancouver Makeup Artist.