Dark circles ... de-panda my eyes!

[Anjou]

Ok, so I've always had dark circles under my eyes, but they're extra dark just now. 2 DC in 3 years, neither of whom have quite grasped the concept of sleep, coupled with my terrible sleeping (2-4 broken hours a night) has all taken its toll. I need your help!

Here's my current routine:
L'Oriel eye make up remover
No7 beautifully balanced face wash
Pat dry
Boots damask Rose skin tonic toner
Protect & perfect serum
Protect & perfect intense eye cream
(Occasionally) L'oreal collagen filler eye cream (I'm almost out and can't find it anywhere, hence only using it occasionally)

I use various concealers, none of which have wowed me. I've had the same routine for yeeeeaaaars. Can anyone suggest products or routine changes that will de-panda my eyes?

clinique even better eyes is good, also origins gin zing
I have similar issues, sleep, water and exercise are the only things that really work, but these two do help!

Thanks for the tip. I'm going to make a list of recommendations and then go and shamelessly try them out in the shops.

origins are v generous with samples I find!

DON'T apply any of your creams or serums to the skin directly under the eye. It is very thin there and the products cannot absorb, so you will end up with more puffiness and darkness. Apply your cream by using the size of a grain of rice, tap & pat using your ring finger to the orbital bone (imagine a big cucumber on your eye, trace the edge of it)
Look for a product which will massage under the eye, like little roller ball. Apply using sweeping motions, this will help get the blood moving from the area. When the blood pools under there it can make the dark circles look worse.
With concealer, apply some under the eyes before your foundation, then another thin layer and then a small amount of a light reflecting one (just over the darkest areas) to lighten the area.
I hope this helps!

I went to Bobbi Brown in JL when dd2 wasn't sleeping & got their eye corrector, & 2 palette concealer & powder - think it works but got flogged their foundation too to match & a brush so ended up about £80 poorer.

www.bobbibrown.co.uk/product/2335/15905/Makeup/Face/Correctors-Concealers/Corrector/New-Shades/index.tmpl

www.bobbibrown.co.uk/product/5146/15950/Best-Sellers/Face/Creamy-Concealer-Kit/Award-Winner/index.tmpl

Ok, I may have dreamt this, but I think some sort of gelatine is meant to be good for dark circles. I'll investigate and return (don't try it in the meantime:) )

www.skinacea.com/how-to/get-rid-of-dark-circles.html#.Utlu0MvfWSM

Have a read of this.

Thanks everyone for the recommendations and advice! Sorry it's taken me a few days to come back and read your posts - poorly children (and therefore even less sleep and an even greater need to fix these bloody dark circles!).

I'll make a list and give the products a whirl.

Thank you!

My post baby dark circles, that I put down to lack of sleep, turned out to have more to do with low iron. Might be worth considering.

Skinfood! They are a Korean brand and they do some excellent heavy-duty concealers. I recommend the Peach Sake one or the Salmon one (neither smells like peaches or salmon, don't worry!). You can get them online, I use the ebay seller f2plus1.

Fragrance Direct have Loreal wrinkle decrease collagen eye filler for £4.99 if that's the one you were after?

I swear by the YSL Touche Eclat. and so do most celebrities too.

Touche Eclat is far too pink for most people - yellow is what covers dark circles.

they have created loads note shades.
Lemonaid from benefit works like a charm too.

*more

It depends on the colour under the eyes. If it Blue colour use a pinky concealer, if purple use a yellow based one.