Bright Eyes

May 28, 2009

Why do I get dark circles under my eyes and what can I do about them?

Dark circles under the eyes can be caused by a number of factors and can even be hereditary. If you suffer from hay fever or food allergies you may be prone to them. The shadows can also be the result of a diet that’s high in caffeine and sugar, instead try including salmon, tuna, more fruits and veggies, plus nuts and olive oil in your diet. And getting more sleep is of course a good idea; too many late nights will definitely leave any shadows looking more pronounced.

If you have some serious money to spend you could try so-called miracle product Hylexin, $220, which has achieved cult status in the USA and Europe for its apparent ability to produce dramatic results within 30 days. Serious under-eye shadows occur when the haemoglobin in the capillary matrix under the eye breaks down. These capillaries literally ‘leak’ blood that begins to oxidise, which in turn creates this dark pigmentation that looks like a bruise beneath the eyes. Hylexin is meant to work by reducing this breakdown of haemoglobin. For those of us who wouldn’t dream of parting with such vast amounts of cash, two more affordable options include: Nivea Visage Aqua Sensation Anti Shadow Eye Cream, $17.40, and The Body Shop Illuminating Eye Treatment with Kinetin, $45. In terms of concealing dark circles it’s always best to go for a yellow-based concealer – you can’t go past Bobbi Brown for a great range of options.

Tania Malone George