Look alive! Here’s how to deal with those dark circles that have been getting you down.
BY HEATHER MUIR MAFFEI
Brighten & Depuff
If your dark circles persist despite healthy eating and sleeping habits, you might want to upgrade your eye cream. Some are better than others, says Ryan Turner, MD, a dermatologist in New York City and co-founder of the skin-care line TRNR Skin. He suggests getting one with niacinamide or vitamin C, which can lighten the area over time. Also, puffiness tends to cast shadows. To depuff, use a cream with a metal applicator “to move fluid away from the undereye area,” he says. Wide Awake Brightening Eye Cream ($65; ysebeauty.com) checks all the boxes.
Correct, Conceal & Carry On
Instead of piling on concealer, go for a less-is-more approach, says celebrity makeup artist Jamie Greenberg. “Apply a dot of a yellow color corrector to counteract purple tones, or peach to counteract blue ones.” After that, you’ll just need a bit of concealer, Greenberg says. Opt for a liquid formula that’s slightly lighter than your skin tone. Dab it in hollow areas, and add a flick at the outer corner of your eyes for a lifted effect. SurrealSkin Awakening Concealer ($29; makeup bymario.com) comes in 22 shades and doesn’t require a setting powder.
Consider a Filler
As we age, our bodies produce less collagen, resulting in volume loss around the eyes, Turner explains. Ask your dermatologist about Restylane Eyelight. It’s a hyaluronic acid dermal filler that’s FDA-approved for the undereye zone. During the approximately 15-minute treatment, a derm or experienced healthcare provider injects clear gel into the area. Skip makeup, alcohol, and workouts for 24 hours, but you can otherwise resume life as normal. The cost varies (it can be as much as $2,000), with results lasting up to 18 months.
SMART BEAUTY
Artificial intelligence can help you plan a garden, write a speech...and curate your beauty routine. The hair and skin brand SpoiledChild uses an AI algorithm to crunch more than 1.5 billion data points and make personalized suggestions for you. Take a two-minute quiz at spoiledchild.com and get one or two recs. Products start at $36; you can buy refills and return empties (the brand recycles ’em). Spoiled, indeed! —H.M.M.
Photograph by Felix Wong
PRODUCT IMAGES COURTESY OF MANUFACTURER