I constantly have dark circles around my eyes. How can I get rid of them?

Find a concealer that's just for under your eyes. Definitely don't use the same shade you use to cover up zits and redness! Find a shade a little darker than you think you need. You want it to be light enough for your skin tone but corrective enough for the level of purple under the eye.

- Response by Female, 29-35

Concealer! I apply mine with a brush, because I think it does a better job blending and concealing than if I were just using my fingers.

- Response by Female, 29-35

Since dark circles are caused by the bluish-purple blood vessels around your eyes showing through the thin, translucent skin under your eyes, it's difficult to "get rid of"--they're usually genetic, after all. There are some expensive creams which claim to get rid of dark circles, but in reality they help very little. You could also opt for laser treatment, which will thicken the skin under your eyes and make the blood vessels less visible, but the treatment is fairly expensive and not for everyone. Your best bet is hiding them with a liquid concealer. Select a concealer that matches your skin but has slightly yellowish tones (it will counteract the purple of the dark circles) and in a slightly lighter shade than your foundation (some advise against choosing a lighter shade, it's better to see what works for you). This is the hardest part, so you may want to consult a department store makeup artist in selecting the correct shade (don't forget to tell her it's for dark circles) rather than your drugstore. Dot the concealer on the dark circle along the contour of your eye, then use your ring finger to pat--DON'T rub--the concealer so that it covers your dark circles evenly. Then simply set the concealer with a powder.

- Response by crapitsyumi, Male, 18-21, New York, Artist / Musician / Writer

Choose a concealer a few shades lighter than your skintone to really brighten up the area. The difference between a concealer used for under eye circles and one used for blemishes is that when concealing a blemish, you want the shade to match your skintone..but when hiding circles you want one lighter to lighten the skin. Concealer brushes can be used specifically to do this, but it's best you use your fingers (use ring finger only to avoid pulling on the skin, and gently pat it on) which warm up the product from your fingertips to help the product blend better. The undereye area is so delicate that using a brush and tugging at that skin can cause wrinkles in the long run. It's also best to use a concealer with a liquid consistency for under-eye circles (Almay Eye Brightening Concealer; Maybelline Power Concealer) versus using a solid one (MAC Studio Fix Concealer; Benefit Boi-ing Concealer) because they are easier to blend in which is really what you want to cancel out undereye darkness. Solids are great to use for blemishes and redness. Finally set the concealer with a translucent powder (especially if you are using a concealer on the more liquid side), and continue with your makeup routine!

- Response by Female, 29-35

Instead of covering them up try getting rid of them with this product!
http://www.amway.com/Be thanySmith/Shop/Product /Product.aspx/ARTISTRY- -essentials-Replenishin g-Eye-Creme?itemno=1055 31&dsNav=N:4294966722
All of Artistry's products are backed by a 180 day money back guarantee so you can try the whole bottle for the recommended time then send the empty bottle back if you weren't satisfied! However, all of Artistry's products are clinically proven to perform.

- Response by bsmit25, Female, 22-25, Tampa

Instead of covering them up try getting rid of them with this product!
http://www.amway.com/Be thanySmith/Shop/Product /Product.aspx/ARTISTRY- -essentials-Replenishin g-Eye-Creme?itemno=1055 31&dsNav=N:4294966722
All of Artistry's products are backed by a 180 day money back guarantee so you can try the whole bottle for the recommended time then send the empty bottle back if you weren't satisfied! However, all of Artistry's products are clinically proven to perform.

- Response by bsmit25, Female, 22-25, Tampa

I have had the same problem. I consulted with a Dr. who told me it was allergy related. An allergy pill before bed took care of it.

- Response by jalmeida7, Male, 22-25, Boston

Avoid alcohol and caffeine which can cause mild dehydration and make dark circles more obvious. Drinking plenty of healthy liquids, especially water, helps keep overall skin tone firm and full looking.

You may be suffering from allergies. Try over the counter allergy medications such as Claritin or other antihistamine.

If the dark circles under your eyes are due to a a physical, genetic trait or too much melanin try creams containing lightening agents such as hydroquinone, kojic acid, green tea, vitamin C, or soy.

Here's the BIG ANSWER: Use a moisturizing eye cream that contains 5% Vitamin K to successfully strengthen the capillary walls and reduce the visibility of blood vessels through the thin skin under your eye. Apply the vit K cream every night and a retinol cream every other night. (There is an added benefit of reducing wrinkles in the eye area). Give it about a month and this combo will work wonders!

- Response by michelleq67, Female, 36-45, Sacramento, Managerial

Before you reach for the concealer....I suggest a moisturizing and toning eye cream such as C Booth's Licorice Eye Cream. I noticed improvement in my dark circles when using it! Also, never sleep on your stomach! This promotes more wrinkles and increased pressure on the face leading to puffiness and more visible blood vessels.

- Response by dasce0304, Female, 29-35, Charlotte, Medical / Dental

Using an eye cream that has optical brightners will help reduce dark circles, but you may also want to incorporate a really good under-eye concealer. I recently started using Laura Mercier's and I'm loving it a lot -- even on my really tired days.

- Response by RobinMcKeeCant, Female, 46-55, San Francisco, Self-Employed

I have this problem too - it's definitely inherited in my case, my mom and I both have very light skin and big dark circles no matter how much sleep we get. Concealer applied over primer is the best solution I've found - the primer is important so the concealer goes on smoothly and doesn't sink into creases/wrinkles. I use Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles for my concealer, and Cover Girl Simply Ageless Serum Primer for my primer - both are inexpensive and work the best of all the different kinds I've tried.

- Response by Female, 46-55, Dallas, Artist / Musician / Writer

I have the same problem! Concealer! Best results when applied witha brush, not your fingers. This is THE BEST concealer I have ever used. Stays on all day, use with dry skin or oily. Changes the whole look of your face. It's amazing, and totally worth the buy!!
http://www.maccosmetics .com/product/shaded/157 /314/Studio-Finish-SPF- 35-Concealer/index.tmpl

hope this helps :)

- Response by isabelsiegel15, Female, 18-21, Columbus