There Are a Ton of Products Claiming To Help With Under-Eye Circles—Here’s What To Look for in the Ones That Actually Work

The main reason you might be part of this not-so-exclusive group? According to board-certified dermatologist Caren Campbell, MD, your genetics are likely to blame. "Oftentimes dark circles are due to genetics and volume loss," she says—i.e. they're not just a result of lack of sleep, and can be more about the normal aging process of the face.

But before you resign yourself to forever looking like you only got a few hours of sleep (no matter how much shuteye you're actually logging), there is hope: You can't change your genetics, but you can change some of the lifestyle factors that contribute to premature aging of the skin, if that's a concern for you.

"Lifestyle factors play a role in causing dull, aged skin," Dr. Campbell says. "These include sun exposure, which breaks down collagen and elastin in the skin and causes increased broken blood vessels in the skin—all causing dark circles. Lack of sleep, stress, alcohol, caffeine, and smoking can also contribute."

Your skin-care routine falls into that bucket of lifestyle factors as well, which is why developing an eye-care routine is key. "The skin around the eyes needs the same attention as other areas of the skin," Dr. Campbell says. "Given it is less thick than other areas of the face, particular attention needs to be paid to this area to treat and prevent early signs of aging."

And that's where finding an eye cream that actually works comes into play. How do you find said elusive product, you ask? Keep reading for more intel on what to look for in an under-eye product, and why all signs point to StriVectin's new Super-C Dark Circle Brightening Eye Serum.

1. Targets your particular type of under-eye circles

Did you know there are different types of under-eye circles? It's true, and knowing which type you're dealing with can help you determine what's causing them and how to best address them.

"One way to distinguish the cause is to look at the color of the skin," Dr. Campbell says. Light or dark brown is more likely to be related to pigmentation, while blue or purple can be from increased blood vessels or thinner skin where vessels are more visible, she says.

Most eye-care products only address one type, which could be another reason you might not be seeing results despite your best efforts. Luckily, StriVectin Super-C Dark Circle Brightening Eye Serum is formulated to target both types. The lightweight, layer-able serum brightens, visibly firms the skin, and reduces the appearance of both blue- and brown-toned dark circles, thanks to a high-quality ingredient list featuring vitamin C at the forefront (more on that later).

2. Legit ingredients

Speaking of ingredients, you want an under-eye product with an ingredient lineup that's zeroed in on your specific concerns and is proven to work—and the StriVectin serum checks those boxes, too.

Vitamin C is a skin-care stalwart, and Dr. Campbell notes that it's good for fighting off oxidative stressors that can contribute to aging. Vitamin B3 (aka niacin) also combats oxidative stress and helps brighten the skin, Dr. Campbell says, and StriVectin's patented form of niacin—NIA-114™—helps to enhance the performance of other ingredients in the formula. Finally, guava leaf ferment and a botanical brightening blend of Arabian jasmine and hawthorn flower extract are added to the mix to help target brown and blue under-eye circles, respectively.

3. Backed by research

The last bullet point on your under-eye serum-search checklist? Make sure the products have been tested and reviewed thoroughly.

After four weeks of using the Super-C Dark Circle Brightening Eye Serum, 93 percent of panelists in a clinical study reported visible improvement of dark under-eye circles. And after eight weeks, 93 percent reported using less concealer under their eyes, which is a huge win if you're a concealer devotee (if you know, you know). Could this be the end of trial-and-error under-eye product testing?

Top Photo: W+G Creative/StriVectin