Dark marks under eyes - anyone managed to get rid of/dramatically improve them?

[flibertyplus2]

I have very dark marks under my eyes. As I am very pale skinned and very dark haired, they make me look really ill.

I am 33, I use good skincare products and have fairly good skin otherwise but find I have to cover the marks under my eyes every day to try and look vaguely OK or I get everyone asking if I am ill. I never manage to cover them completely.

They are really getting me down and I'm very self-conscious about them. Has anyone found anything to help get rid of them?

[OhBling]

Sleep is the single best thing for helping bags under eyes I find.

Cosmetically though... lots of people swear by Touche eclat. Personally, I think both the Dior and the Clarins versions are better.

Also, I think any kind of foundation primer thing will help too - I use a Benefits one but the Clarins Beauty Flash balm is popular as are a couple of others. I think clarins might even have a special eye version of Beauty Flash Balm.

More professional make up people will be along shortly, I'm sure.

[OhBling]

Sleep is the single best thing for helping bags under eyes I find.

Cosmetically though... lots of people swear by Touche eclat. Personally, I think both the Dior and the Clarins versions are better.

Also, I think any kind of foundation primer thing will help too - I use a Benefits one but the Clarins Beauty Flash balm is popular as are a couple of others. I think clarins might even have a special eye version of Beauty Flash Balm.

More professional make up people will be along shortly, I'm sure.

[OhBling]

oops

[ruddynorah]

i've tried all those and honestly the ALDI version is the best. i shit you not!

[OhBling]

Oh, and I can believe that - I use £2.99 mascara from Miss Sixty. The same quality as anything else I've used and a fraction of the price.

[charitygirl]

Same problem here - i have been told they're 'genetic' so nothing makes them go away, including sleep. I have nice skin tone I think, except for the purple cicles!

Make up is the only solution really, which it sounds like you know - the Touche Eclat style sticks, which everyone does a version of now. I am currently finding Erase Paste by Benefit pretty good.

[TheDevilWearsPrimark]

BeneFit Lemon Aid is great before you do your eye make up.

Boots time Delay eye cream is really good too, it makes a small difference for me but more than any other I've tried.

[macherie]

I bought stuff called Hylexin from Harvey Nichols about 2 years ago, and it made a big difference to the purple circles under my eyes. It was expensive, but it did work. I still have them but the are much less noticeable than before.

The best concealer I have found is Bobbi Brown Eye Brightner, it comes in a variety of colours, unlike Touche Eclat, so you get a much better match. A friend uses Benefit Erase Paste, and that looks good too.

[mimsum]

ds1 has this too and as he's a 12 year old boy I'd love to find a non-makeup solution - more sleep doesn't make it better, but if he's tired/ill it's much worse

[sifuentes]

mimsum could he be dehydrated?

[Hassled]

I think it is a genetic thing - my father had them, I do and one of my DSs - it's nothing to do with levels of tiredness in my case, and I don't think they'll go away - it's just a case of learning to conceal them well. The Bobbi Brown Eye Brightener is excellent - I prefer it to Touch Eclat.

[lou33]

i use erase paste by benefit

touche eclat makes my skin scaly

the rimmel recover liquid concealer is good too

i have pale skin btw

[Ronaldinhio]

use secret camoflage by laura mercier

[FelineOkay]

Mine wiped off. I had left mascara on from the evening before.

[Deux]

The only time my dark circles have disappeared was after an emergency blood transfusion and litres of IV fluids! I couldn't believe how great my skin and eye area looked!

I also noticed I had hardly any circles when I was taking iron supplements during pg. I am wondering if there is some connection? Anyone any idea if there is a link with iron?

I'm probably barking but I'm going to up my fluids and start on the Spatone again to see if it makes a difference.

[flibertyplus2]

Thanks everyone, at least I know it's not just me!

I had to disappear earlier as my 2 year old was throwing up. I'm monitoring this when I can.

I use Touche Éclat, I have also tried the ALDI and No.7 versions of it. They all go a bit scaly and don't cover the marks completely. I tried Dr Harnik Dark Circle Corrector which comes with two types, a yellow one to cancel out the darkness, and a skin coloured one to cover the yellow. This is quite oily and doesn't scale and dry out but the shade is too dark. It also comes off if you try to put anything on top of it!

Thanks for the other suggestions, I'll look into them.

I guess I am destined to wear make up. The thing is, I hate wearing it, I like having clean skin.

[BlueIsTheColour]

I've got similar colouring to you and have used a L'Oreal anti aging serum - which seems to have disappeared my eye bags

Strange as it sounds, if I stop using it the dark circles reappear. Found the same with the Boots serum as well

[FelineOkay]

Hmmm a blood transfusion. Now there's a thought! I wonder if my GP would give me one on NHS for black bags under eyes?

[MrsTittleMouse]

duex the blond TV doctor that they roll out for medical stuff on Channel 4 said that iron and vitamin deficiences can cause dark circles. So that makes sense.

[nigirl]

You sound exactly like me. I could drink 5 litres of water and get 16 hours sleep and it wouldn't make a blind bit of difference. My sister also has them and my 16 mo son so I def think they're genetic.

Atm I'm using L'oreal touche magique as it's thicker (but not as thick as the doc harnik)and gives more coverage. Used to be a big fan of ysl touche eclat but I think they've changed the formula as it seems lighter and doesn't really work.

Vitamin k enriched eye creams are supposed to work by helping the healing of the blood vessels but haven't tried it myself.

I have a few airborne allergies which brings on sinus trouble and find taking antihistamines helps a bit (google 'allergic shiners' for more info). Am convinced this is the source of the panda eyes.

You have my sympathy. I hate having to wear make-up all the time so as not to get told I look tired or ill.

[mimsum]

he's not dehydrated and eats very healthily (he's an athlete and is very careful about what he eats and drinks) - he had a blood test to check iron levels for an unrelated problem last year and he wasn't anaemic so I don't think lack of iron/vitamins is the culprit ...

[flibertyplus2]

Thanks nigirl, I'll have a look at Touche Magique. I think I'll try the Hylexin cream that macherie suggested too, you never know.