There are many things we can do to change the aspects of our appearance we’re not keen on – even if it takes drastic action like cosmetic surgery – but there’s one area which is stubbornly resistant to treatment: dark circles under your eyes.

If you regularly wake up looking like Steve Buscemi coming in from the night shift, know that you’re not alone. Some people are more prone to dark circles than others, but our sleep deprived, screen saturated lifestyles are certainly not helping. They always look more pronounced when we are sick, knackered, hungover or generally run down. So, if you’re feeling even one of the above, you might have to challenge yourself to make some lifestyle changes before you can buy your way out of the problem.

“As a skincare expert, one of the most common concerns clients ask me about are dark circles under the eyes,” says Hollywood dermatologist, Ole Henriksen. “The frustrating thing about dark circles is they make us look tired and older than our years.”

Nobody needs help with that these days, so what can be done to minimise the appearance of under-eye shadows? First, you need to understand what eye creams for dark circles do, and why you get them in the first place.

Why Do We Get Dark Circles?

The shadow below your eyes is actually the network of blood vessels underneath. “It’s due to the vast capillary system that supplies blood to the eye region that can show through the thin, delicate under-eye skin,” explains Henriksen.

“When there is improper circulation it creates the appearance of dark circles – and this has multiple causes.” He points out that genetics is not one of them; meaning that we have a bit more influence over the problem than, say, male pattern baldness.

“Toxic waste in the system is the main culprit; lack of sleep, a high-salt diet that prevents proper circulation, excessive alcohol intake and smoking definitely contribute to the problem,” says Henriksen. Regularly taking the bins out, as it were, can also help.