A colleague recently asked me what I do for self-care, and it took me less than a second of thought to reply: “Sleep.” It sounds too simple to be considered self-care in today’s wild wellness landscape, full of meditation, cold plunges, and multi-step skincare routines. But getting seven to eight glorious hours of REM sleep does more for my entire body than a face mask ever could. That is—everywhere except for under my eyes.
For me, the first sign of a bad night’s sleep is a puffy, grayish-purple under-eye area that not even a full-coverage concealer can hide. However, even if my Oura ring tells me I slept well, I still wake up with a dark shadow under my eyes because I am genetically set up for failure (thanks, dad!). And I’m not alone–it’s one of the most common aesthetic complaints, according to Omer Ibrahim, a board-certified dermatologist at Chicago Cosmetic Surgery and Dermatology. Dehydration, lack of sleep, and even allergies can also make dark circles look more pronounced.
Unlike dark spots or forehead wrinkles, dark circles are a challenge to remedy. “Dark circles are notoriously hard to treat because the skin under the eye is so thin; therefore, you can easily see the blood vessels underneath,” says Jason Diamond, a Los Angeles-based plastic surgeon and founder of Dr. Diamond’s Metacine. “Bone structure and genetics play a part as deep-set eyes can create the appearance of dark circles.”
I’ve had puffy, dark circles for years that make me look perpetually exhausted. Still, it wasn’t until recently that I decided to take more decisive action than occasionally slapping on a brightening eye cream and a heavy concealer. While those two methods go a long way with dark circles, there are some professional treatments that, when used in conjunction with topicals, can reveal brighter, lighter under eyes.
PRP for Dark Circles
Bazaar contributor Dawn Spinner Davis recently wrote about her experience with PRP injections for the under-eye area, and her before and after photos alone convinced me to get the treatment. PRP, also known as Platelet-Rich Plasma, requires a professional to draw blood, which is then spun in a centrifuge to separate out the plasma. The liquid gold plasma is then injected into an area, like the under-eye or forehead, to promote healing and the production of new collagen and elastin, which, in turn, creates smooth and tight skin.
“PRP injections are bioregenerative, meaning it’s using the body’s natural regenerative process to heal. It’s one of my absolute favorite methods to stimulate collagen production, help darkness, restore volume, and improve texture and crepiness,” Diamond says.
He also loves exosome injections for under the eye. Exosomes are released by skin cells to communicate to other cells that it’s time to repair, regenerate, and increase collagen and elastin production to firm the area. For both these non-invasive options, the downtime is minimal and you can see brighter, tighter under-eyes in as little as two days.
Lasers for Dark Circles
I’m a big fan of lasers, from Clear and Brilliant to the more intensive Fraxel. But while the idea of lasers tends to conjure lots of downtime and redness for days, some options are safe enough for the eye area. When picking a laser treatment, Diamond suggests opting for the ones that target blood vessels and hyperpigmentation, like Fotona 4D or IPL—the latter, which is known explicitly for treating fine blood vessels and pigmentation, emits light energy and light heat to improve the turnover of skin cells.
Laser Genesis is another option. An editor friend recently praised to me for its close-to-non-existent downtime, and it can help rejuvinate the skin around the eye for a lift.
Skincare for Tired Eyes
Of course, you can't get brighter and smoother under-eyes without using quality skincare. Eye cream is my least favorite step of my routine as I’m prone to milia under the eye. But over the last year, I’ve tried several light and effective creams, serums, masks, and even tools that have convinced me to apply an eye product daily. After all, the best product is the one you’ll actually use. Ahead, here are the products that have become my favorites for making me look less tired in seconds:
Shop My Favorite Products for Tired Eyes
G.M. Collin Bota-Peptides Eye Contour
The combination of six peptides in G.M. Collin's Eye Contour help to plump and firm the eye area.
CurrentBody Skin LED Eye Perfector
LED therapy is the gold standard for reducing pigmentation and softening fine lines. I love using these comfortable LED goggles as a nightly treatment.
Georgia Louise Firming Eye Cream
This formula has the texture of a bouncy serum but the effects of a heavy-duty eye cream.
111SKIN Cryo De-Puffing Eye Mask (Pack of 8)
You can always find one of these cooling eye masks in my bag when traveling.
Summer Fridays Jet Lag Overnight Eye Serum
For a lighter option, try Summer Friday's Jet Lag Overnight Eye Serum, which boasts plant-derived retinol.
Noble Panacea The Exceptional Eye Lift Concentrate
These little sachets, which are the perfect travel companions, are filled with a lifting and firming eye formula.
U Beauty The Return Eye Concentrate
Although this cream is rich, it doesn't feel heavy on the skin and gives the under-eye area an instant glow.
Augustinus Bader The Rich Eye Cream
When the temps drop below freezing, break out this super nourishing eye cream; it's like a scarf for your under-eye area.
Dr. Barbara Sturm Everything Eye Patches
I'm always in search of under-eye patches that will brighten and stay put while I'm multitasking (whether that be tidying up my home or working on my computer), and these Dr. Barbara Sturm patches fit the bill.
Foreo Bear 2 Eyes and Lips Line-Smoothing Device
Microcurrent is my secret weapon for reducing dark circles and puffy under-eyes, and I love this eye and lip-specific one from Foreo.
Chanel Le Lift Flash Eye Patches
I've been gifting this Chanel eye set, inclusive of a hydrating eye serum and chic patches, to everyone in my life–from my mother to my friends.
Olehenriksen Banana Bright+ Vitamin CC Eye Sticks for Dark Circles
To create foolproof bright under eyes, I apply this color-correcting stick before concealer.
Sisley Supremÿa At Night The Supreme Anti-Aging Eye Cream
This nighttime eye cream, which comes with a beautiful depuffing tool, works with the stages of your sleep cycle to release efficacious ingredients throughout the night. The result: brighter, lifted eyes upon waking up.
Filler for Under-Eye Hollows
I am not opposed to filler, but I’m aiming to try the methods above before turning to any neurotoxin or hyaluronic acid injections. If you want to go straight to filler (also known as "tear trough filler"), know that Diamond and other experts praise it for adding volume to the eye area and reducing natural hollowness. “The hollows of the eye create shadows that amplify the appearance of dark circles, so alleviating the volume deficiency with filler is helpful,” Diamond explains.
Getting rid of my dark circles and puffy eye bags is a never-ending journey, but I know with a good night’s sleep and a combination of the right products and effective treatments, I will eventually look a little brighter.
