Dark circles under eyes

[Nik2879]

any recommendations please for creams or eye masks for dark circles under eyes. Theres so many if you google them and they are really expensive for a tiny tube. Anyone know of any budget products that work. Also what eye makeup concealer is the best one please. Im 43 years old. Thanks for any help.

None of the creams work really well. There is some evidence that caffeine based creams help a little bit - the Inkey List do a budget option. I have it as it got good reviews but not convinced it does a lot.

Water and sleep are the main solutions, possibly iron supplements if you could be low.

I second the previous poster. What worked for me was improving my diet, iron and vitamins B12 and D, minimum 2 litres of water.

Oh and concealer - my go to concealer is NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer as it’s highly pigmented and not drying. MAC Pro Longwear is also good, it’s a drier formula so harder to blend/might be more drying but also stays put a bit longer.

I’ve tried various others which get highly rated but prefer the NARS.

For a budget concealer option you could try Revolution, it’s not bad for the price and has lots of shades. Or Maybelline Fit Me has a good colour range but doesn’t last well.

I colour correct with peachy pinky liquid and take iron supplements. If the darkness is pigment discolouration then i think yellow colour corrector first. Mine are from thin skin showing veins and anemia.

Are you feeling generally well, OP? No fatigue? Are you getting enough sleep?

Sometimes if you search for dupes of expensive concealers you'll find something cheaper. I seem to remember a thread where a good primark one was mentioned.

For concealer, try a liquid one the same colour as your foundation then top off with the Maybelline instant conceal eraser, its a tenner in Superdrug.

I can also recommend eye illuminator by Christian Breton, on Amazon for £22.

Plus lots of water, veg and fruit and minimise screen time.

Drink more water - it really is as simple as that and I say this from experience.

Thanks so much everyone. I donalready use Nars concealer so good to know it seems to be the best one maybe I do need something underneath it like the colour correcting liquid never tried that. I dont sleep well haven't done for years doesnt seem to be any reason for it. Had blood tests in the past etc always come back ok. Interesting about the iron might get my bloods done again and check that.

How much water do you drink? I already drink at least 2l a day, more if working out, and I still have dark circles.

Tippex

Works for me.

I think I have noticed a difference using cerave eye repair cream. It's probably mid price rather than budget although it often goes on offer at Amazon.

Possibly the difference is in my head though!

I gently use a jade roller on my under eyes to de-puff them - rolling outwards. I haven’t found any creams to work. Definitely drinking more water and no alcohol helps though.

Tretinoin 0.025% fades it in 6-8 weeks. Moisturise before and after if you peel.

I second Tret and also get mine from Monderma. Apply Vitamin C in the morning as well. I use The Ordinary 23%. Sometimes it tingles...

I thought the home bargains eye masks I picked up were pretty decent! Definitely saw a difference and they were budget.

Eye marks can be a good addition for puffiness.

I've never found any mask particularly long-lasting. I prefer a monthly facial.

Try the FaceGym when you are next in London or Manchester. The EMS is quite the experience.

Bobbi Brown colour corrector works for me. I get peach bisque which is positively lobster orange, but it cancels out the darkness. Wouldn't be without it. I went to JL and tried the Nars concealer to try on top and was underwhelmed. I could see the product sitting on the skin. I then tried MAC Studio Fix concealer in N20 in Boots and it was lush. It went all silky and like powder on my skin. My issue is that I'm always in between shades - there's the light one for winter and then in the summer that becomes too light. When I have the cash I will probably go back for the lighter share of the MAC one.

Nothing works. If anything did, I wouldn't be asked by GP whether I have a black eye.
Filler helped a bit for me, but that's more for padding and doesn't really take away the shadows.

Actually, fake tan drops in my face cream is the only thing that works (a bit!) for me. Just don't go full on orange like him.

I find tan drops can curdle in cream and that adding them to a serum or oil improves coverage.

Could be something to try, but the tan drops I use don't curdly.

What do you use? I love IOP but when I use it with cream it doesn't absorb well.

I use the M&S drops Autograph Self Tan Glow Booster Serum.
However, that exact product seems impossible to find now.