Does ANYTHING help with dark circles and hollow under eyes? 😩

[HollowandDark]

Hi,

So I was always quite paranoid about my nose to mouth lines and assumed this was always going to be my main issue with the inevitable aging process, but over the past year or two, my aging under eyes have taken over and nothing seems to help.

I have large eyes, which used to be a feature I was quite happy with, but now I'm almost 40 and the skin under my eyes is thinning, my large sockets are becoming very noticeable and hollow, plus I have quite a bit of darkness to boot, especially under one eye. Nice.

Things I already do:

Regular facial massage, with fingers and gua sha
Drinking more water
Getting more sleep
Eating more vegetables
Retinol specifically for eyes a few nights a week
Good quality serums and creams during the day
Colour correctors by Bobbie Brown and NYX
Concealer by Nars

Maybe it's helping a little, but not enough to stop me feeling ugly whenever I look in the mirror.

I know people will say it's genetic, but I don't know anyone else in my family with this. My dad has bags, but that's not really my issue.

I really don't fancy the idea of fillers, but I'm not sure there's anything else out there that will really make a difference.

Is there? Please tell me there is! 🙏

TIA

Fillers - I know you said you don’t want them, but they made a huge difference to mine. They haven’t dissolved after 2 years.

Do you have a before and after @Bloomingmagnolia Were you concerned by the risks?

No pics. I went with someone very reputable in London. The change was immediate BUT my eyes seem more prone to puffiness.

@Bloomingmagnolia Ah, fair enough. Hmm I already get a bit of puffiness, which is a great combo with the hollows 😒 so that does scare me a little. I'm glad you're happy with it overall though.

Try wearing a brightening eyeshadow and mascara to draw your attention back to your eyes. I bet nobody else notices the problem areas that look so bad to you.
Ilia make a beautiful range of matte and pearl tints.
https://iliabeauty.com/products/aura

Thank you @learieonthewildmoor I do do that when I go out, but it's difficult to not see it when you've seen it...iyswim. Thanks for the link - looks lovely.

I find the Upcircle eye cream helps mine, it has caffeine in it which is supposed to help.
I didn't rate the Bobbi Brown concealer.
I like Trinny London 'Just a Touch' to cover mine.

Thanks @ThePoshUns Is the Just a Touch a foundation or concealer?... Or both?

I've always had them but they've recently got worse with motherhood and hitting 40 - I've gone back to the old favourite of YSL touche eclat and it does seem to make them look a bit brighter and better compared to other concealers.

If you wear glasses the right frames can obscure them a bit. I often don't go for anti reflective coatings (cheapskate) so the light bounces off them which obscures shadows even further! 😂😉 Tinted lenses also work well.

The glasses help obscure wrinkles too. 😁

Do you use eyelash serums at all?

Another vote for tear trough filler. It hasn't fixed my darkness but helps a lot with the hollows

Be careful though with filler - it migrates on some people. The YouTuber Sugar Puff and Fluff had this problem. So do your homework.

I used to be so even toned in my youth, sigh. Never needed fondation. Now I look like a ghoul. I splashed out and treated myself to some YSL foundation specifically to hide my dark, dark, dark under eye circles. It's the only think that can blend in okay, isn't sticky and doesn't cake/disappear after a while. I mean, I'm still ugly, but at least not dark-circle ugly so much.

Op, I too have large eyes and developed under eye hollows. A few years ago I finally plucked up the courage to have them filled. Honestly I am so glad I did this, it has made such a difference to my confidence and I don’t look tired anymore. I have them done every couple of years because they’re pretty long lasting.

I would say both, it's designed to be either used all over or just where needed. It's very densely pigmented.I apply it under my eyes and around my nose, I use a lighter foundation all over.

I actually had mine removed with surgery. Had an upper and lower bleph. No more circles under the eyes! If you only wanted under eyes done, it's about £2k, I think. But it lasts for 10+ years apparently.

I’ve had polynucleotide injections under the eyes which are less invasive than fillers and have brightened that area.

Ditto fillers here too. It has made a big difference for me but they did not last two year for me. Ditto the prone to a little puffiness now too. They are not gone completely but the improvement was immediate.

You can't gua sha after it for a few weeks and if you use facial cupping not a for a few months.
There is a French woman on Instagram who does facial cupping - she is in her 40s and looks amazing and not just her under eye. She uses prickly pear oil which is also good for shadows. She is called the facialcuppingexpert.

I have seen people use colour corrector - using red lipstick on You tube before applying base etc. I tried it and it did not work for me

Really good tips. Thanks Ito. I use prickly pear oil on my face and find it very nourishing. Do you do gua sha and cupping? Any difference?

I have both but I prefer Gua sha - I feel it works and it also helps my sinuses but I just find it quite relaxing to do. My friend really likes cupping and finds it effective but I don't find it as effective for me. Chinese medicine associates dark circles as a sign of imbalance in the kidneys and adrenals. Kidney weakening can be due to exhaustion and overstrain, and is aggravated by lack of rest. To help kidneys they suggests electrolyte powder in water so you are fully hydrated as well as bone broth, soups and seaweed. I don’t get enough sleep or drink enough water but have started adding electrolyte powder. Not sure how long it supposed to take!

Wow that's good results