No matter how much sleep you get and water you drink, it can seem like dark undereye circles are impossible to hide. Even the cleverest makeup skills won’t do the trick sometimes. Dark circles are caused by several reasons. If you have what appears to be blueish circles under your eyes, this is because oxygenated blood gets pooled beneath your under-eye skin. Brown undereye circles are due to hyperpigmentation, sun exposure, or genetics. With age, these dark circles can become more prevalent as subcutaneous fat is lost.
When the undereye area appears puffy, this can be the result of swelling under the eyes, genetics, fluid retention, inflammation, or other health factors. Whatever the case, most people have a desire to reduce the appearance of puffy or dark undereye areas.
A quick trip to the drugstore or department store will reveal the vast amount of products on the market that claim to fix all of your undereye needs. What your main focus should be when searching for the right product is ingredients. Most products will have a lengthy list of active ingredients you’ve likely never heard of before, so it’s important to do your research and understand what will and what will not help you reach your skincare goals. The area under and around your eyes is much more sensitive than other areas, so it needs to be treated with a bit more care.
The skin on your face is thin and under constant exertion and is the first area that is affected by time. The skin around your eyes is even more fragile and thin as it lacks sebaceous glands, collagen, elastin fibers. This area is under the strain of 22 muscles in perpetual motion and 10,000 blinks per day! All of these reasons are why your eye contour is the first to show stress and signs of aging. In order to keep your eye contour looking young and healthy, it’s best to use a specific treatment that will smooth fine lines and even out skin tone in a gentle way that nourishes and moisturizes the area, which is highly prone to dehydration.
Even with as much sleep as possible, your eye puffiness and darkness could be inherited. According to New York City dermatologist Paul Jarrod Frank, "The undereye area is one of the thinner areas and is easily neglected in basic skin care. There is a strong genetic component to dark circles, which is out of people’s control." So even if you’re doing everything right in terms of sleep and diet, that eye puffiness and darkness might still be prevalent. You don’t have to run out to the dermatologist and seek help just yet. There are affordable ways to treat the area and see results!
Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients in Revitol Eye Cream, an undereye cream that works to soothe, hydrate, and reduce the appearance of dark circles.
Revitol Eye Cream Ingredient Breakdown:
Bisabolol
Bisabolol, also referred to as alpha-bisabololis, is a natural derivative of the chamomile plant and helps to soothe skin while reducing puffiness. It’s a common ingredient used in cosmetics that has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-aging, and skin-lightening properties.
This viscous oil is a potent antioxidant that protects the skin from free radicals and damaged collagen. Research has also shown that bisabolol can inhibit melanin synthesis. Certain skin conditions as well as excessive exposure to UV radiation can lead to the hyperpigmentation you see under your eyes. By inhibiting melanin synthesis, bisabolol reduces the appearance of dark spots on the skin, leading to a brighter complexion and more even skin tone.
Bisabolol is also used to enhance the absorption of other ingredients in the skin. It is often combined with active ingredients in products to effectively activate all of its benefits.
Niacinamide
Niacinamide is a form of Vitamin B3 and is also referred to by the names nicotinamide, nicotinic acid, or Vitamin B3. It’s non-irritating, water-soluble, and is a great solution for people who aim to avoid putting oils or oily solvents on their skin.
The body naturally produces niacinamide to give cellular metabolism a boost and help provide energy to the cells so they can work their best. This magical little vitamin fights the damage free radicals can do to your skin and it fights hyperpigmentation as well.
In fact, niacinamide has been found to be a top contender in the fight to treat hyperpigmentation, melasma, age spots, fine lines, and wrinkles. If you’re prone to redness, this vitamin can help calm your skin by balancing water loss to strengthen the skin’s barrier, keeping it flexible and supple.
Fraxinus excelsior bark extract
Fraxin and esculin are the two ingredients of the bark of the common ash tree. These ingredients help strengthen blood capillaries which in turn reduces dark circles, improves microcirculation, and helps with bruising, puffiness, and swelling.
Fraxin is a colorless substance and is commonly used in cosmetics to strengthen the skin. It an excellent vein tonic due to its ability to improve microcirculation. Fraxin is also an anti-inflammatory agent that acts as an effective free radical scavenger and has natural protecting properties.
Capric Triglyceride
Capric triglyceride is an oily liquid made from palm kernel or coconut oil and composed of caprylic and capric fatty acids attached to a glycerin backbone. It creates a barrier on the skin’s surface and works to retain moisture, reducing skin dryness. The unique texture helps make lotions and creams both easy to apply and non-greasy after application.
This ingredient has been used for over 50 years to smooth skin and function as a powerful antioxidant. Along with helping bind other active ingredients together, it can work as a preservative to help keep other ingredients stay powerful longer.
N-Hydroxysuccinimide
N-hydroxysuccinimide is a fat compound that has the ability to reduce skin pigmentation, working to eliminate the appearance of dark circles. It’s a synthetic ingredient often used in cosmetics as an ester to soften and condition the skin. It also triggers a reaction that leads to new substances, such as peptides and polymers, and activates the elimination of blood originated pigments and inflammation responsible for dark under-eye circles.
N-hydroxysuccinimide and Chrysin (below) work together to activate the elimination of blood originated pigments responsible for dark circle color and inflammation. Chrysin stimulates the enzyme leading to the clearance of bilirubin, and N-hydroxysuccinimide renders the iron soluble for natural elimination.
Chrysin
Chrysin is botanical and a naturally occurring isoflavone that is extracted from plants, most often from the passiflora caerulea. It has been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory properties and is often used in cosmetics as a skin-conditioning agent, anti-inflammatory, and a potent antioxidant.
Chrysin has been used for all kinds of different health concerns, including bodybuilding, for treating anxiety, inflammation, gout, HIV/AIDS, erectile dysfunction (ED), and baldness.
Research has suggested this flavonoid reduces inflammation due to its ability to inhibit COX-2 expression and PGE-2 formation. It helps clear free radicals in the body, functioning as an antioxidant.
While dark under-eye circles are tricky to both treat and cover-up, the ingredients listed above can help you see real results by working together to treat the sensitive area surrounding your eyes. Whether your goal is to look better or just to keep the area its most healthy, making sure you are consistent with treatment and picking the right products with ingredients that are both safe and effective is key.
If your goal is to reduce inflammation and the appearance of dark circles, this may just be the holy grail of products for you. Let us know your skincare concerns and if you’ve had success with Revitol Eye Cream in the comments below!