What causes dark under eye circles? And how to cover them up
With the holiday season nearly upon us, late nights are bound to become a more frequent occurrence. Unfortunately, there are downsides to burning the candle at both ends. One is the arrival of dreaded under-eye circles.

Under-eye circles can appear in shades of blue, brown, or purple. As a result of their appearance, you may look worn out, or older than you are.

But what is it exactly that causes these pesky dark circles? And how can we cover them up, without looking like we’ve caked our face in concealer?

Main causes dark under eye circles
There are a few different things that are responsible for the appearance of under-eye circles. Here’s a list of the main culprits:

    •    Tiredness
The most common reason that people experience dark circles under their eyes is due to a lack of adequate sleep. Fatigue can cause your skin to become paler, which makes the blood vessels under your eyes more prevalent.

    •    Age
One of the natural consequences of ageing can be dark circles under eyes. This is because as we age, our skin becomes thinner, making the blood vessels more visible.

    •    Straining your eyes
If you’re straining your eyes when using a computer or watching the television, it can cause the blood vessels around the eyes to enlarge, meaning the skin around the eyes becomes darker.

    •    Dehydration
Your eyes are close to the underlying bone, which means that dark circles can appear when we’re dehydrated, as the skin becomes duller and looks increasingly sunken.

    •    Genetics
Some people are genetically predisposed to having dark circles under their eyes, due to a family history of the same issue.

How to cover up undereye circles?
Covering up under-eye circles effectively requires some know-how. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

    •    Prepare the eye area: De-puff the eyes using a cooling eye gel or a cold teaspoon on the eyes. This will encourage the blood vessels to constrict. Follow this by applying eye cream, so that the area is hydrated.

    •    Foundation: Using a color that best matches your skin tone, apply a layer of foundation over your face, and a thin layer around the eyes.
    •    Concealer time: For the under the eyes, it’s recommended that you use a shade that’s slightly lighter than your skin tone as this will help brighten the area. Don’t rub the concealer in. Instead, use a delicate pressing motion.

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