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Ive always been bothered by my dark under-eye circles.
Photo, Cristina Cianci / Design, Morgan Johnson
and on the constant hunt for thebest concealer.
Now, I know theres nothing productive about sitting around complaining about flaws that arent actually flaws.
(The irony is not lost on me as I write this very article.)
Photo, Cristina Cianci / Design, Morgan Johnson
One person said she had puffy eyes.
Another rued the bags under hers.
We thought we were all talking about the same thing, but maybe we werent.
Photos, Cristina Cianci / Design, Morgan Johnson
We started to wonder: What are puffy eyes versus bags versus dark circles, anyway?
And which ones were we actually complaining about?
We decided to call in the experts.
Photos, Cristina Cianci / Design, Morgan Johnson
Im not saying that we needed to be diagnosed or that we had problems that needed to be fixed.
Heres what we learned.
The anatomy of your facial features also plays a role.
Photo, Cristina Cianci / Design, Morgan Johnson
Antioxidants including vitamins A, C, and E can help to lighten dark under-eye circles.
Products with caffeine can also help wake up tired looking eyes by constricting visible blood vessels.
Hyaluronic acidfiller injectionscan plump up the sunken under-eye area.
What causes them?Puffy eyes are the result of temporary swelling that is often sparked by seasonal allergies.
Lack of sleep makes puffy eyes worse, too, because of the pooling of fluid in the area.
But keep in mind that any benefit you see is temporary.
Another option isLavido Alert Eye Cream($49) with plant-based hyaluronic acid and natural oils like rosehip.
Radiofrequency treatment is another alternative to tighten and smooth the area.
The procedure heats the skin to induce collagen and elastin formation.
Dr. Engelman recommends four rounds per treatment, and once a year maintenance.
Each session costs around $500 to $600.
A message worth listening to, for sure, and not just because it might reduce my under-eye circles.
