Here is a slightly deflating truth: for many people, dark circles have very little to do with last night's sleep. The most common dark circles causes are genetics, pigmentation, thin under-eye skin that shows the blood vessels beneath, and the natural hollow (tear trough) that deepens with age. Sleep, allergies and rubbing make them worse, and eye bags are a different issue again, usually fluid or fat rather than colour.
The good news is that once you know which type you have, it becomes much clearer what is worth your money and what isn't, including where an inside-out supplement like our GLOW does and doesn't fit.
Key takeaways
- Dark circles come in three main types: pigmented (brown), vascular (blue-purple) and structural (shadow from hollows). Many people have a mix.
- Pigmented circles are especially common in darker and Asian skin tones and respond best to daily sunscreen and pigment-targeting ingredients.
- Morning puffiness is usually fluid: salty dinners, alcohol, crying, allergies and sleeping flat all contribute, and it often settles within hours.
- Eye creams can help modestly with pigmentation and puffiness but cannot fill a hollow; that is a job for a dermatologist, if you want it done at all.
- New, one-sided or suddenly worsening swelling or discolouration should be checked by a doctor.
What causes dark circles under the eyes?
The skin under your eyes is some of the thinnest on the body, which means anything happening underneath (blood vessels, muscle, pigment, the shape of bone and fat) shows through more than elsewhere. Dermatologists generally group dark circles into three types.
1. Pigmented (brown) circles
Here the colour comes from extra melanin in the skin. It often runs in families and is common across South and Southeast Asian skin tones. Sun exposure, rubbing your eyes, eczema and allergies can all push the skin to make more pigment. In a tropical climate where UV is high year-round, unprotected sun is a major, underrated factor.
2. Vascular (blue, purple or pinkish) circles
These come from blood vessels and the muscle beneath thin skin showing through. They look worse when you are tired, dehydrated or congested, because pooling blood and paler surrounding skin increase the contrast. A quick test: gently stretch the skin. If the colour lightens or spreads out, a vascular component is likely.
3. Structural (shadow) circles
As we age, the fat pads and bone under the eye change shape, and a groove called the tear trough can form. Overhead lighting (think office downlights or a lift mirror) casts a shadow in that groove, which reads as a dark circle even when the skin colour is normal. Shine a torch straight at your face: if the darkness mostly disappears, it is largely shadow.
Does lack of sleep cause dark circles?
Partly, and it is more visible than you might think. In a 2013 Swedish study published in the journal Sleep, observers rated photos of the same people after normal sleep and after sleep deprivation. The sleep-deprived faces were judged to have darker circles, more swollen eyes, more hanging eyelids and paler skin, and to look sadder.
But sleep mostly amplifies what is already there. If you have inherited pigmentation or a deep tear trough, eight hours won't erase it. Chronic short sleep does, however, make vascular circles and puffiness worse. If you are routinely running on five or six hours, our guide to why so many of us sleep too little is a better investment than any eye cream.
What causes eye bags and puffiness?
Eye bags are usually about volume, not colour. Mayo Clinic describes them as mild swelling or puffiness under the eyes that becomes more common with age as the tissues and muscles supporting the eyelids weaken, allowing fat to move forward and fluid to collect. Common triggers include:
- Salt. A late, salty dinner (hello, supper at the mamak) encourages fluid retention that shows up the next morning.
- Alcohol. It disrupts sleep and fluid balance.
- Allergies. Dust mites, pet dander and haze can cause swelling plus bluish "allergic shiners" from congestion.
- Sleeping flat or face-down. Fluid pools under the eyes overnight.
- Crying and rubbing. Both inflame delicate skin.
Morning puffiness that fades by lunchtime is usually harmless fluid. Bags that are there all day and have slowly grown over the years are more likely to be fat pads, which topical products can't shift.
What actually helps? Match the fix to the type
| Type | What it looks like | What helps most | What won't do much |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pigmented | Brown, stays the same when skin is stretched | Daily broad-spectrum sunscreen and sunglasses; vitamin C, niacinamide, azelaic acid or retinoids used carefully; treating eczema or allergies; not rubbing | Cold spoons, caffeine alone |
| Vascular | Blue-purple, lightens when stretched | Better sleep, treating congestion, cold compresses, caffeine-containing products for a temporary effect, concealer with a peach corrector | Brightening serums |
| Structural | Shadow that fades with direct light | Good lighting and makeup; dermatologist-administered filler if you want it | Any cream |
| Puffiness (fluid) | Worse in the morning, improves through the day | Less salt and alcohol at night, an extra pillow, cool compress, allergy management | Expensive "de-puffing" gadgets |
| Bags (fat) | Permanent bulge, slowly worsening | Lower-eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) or other procedures, if bothersome | Creams, patches, massage |
A realistic under-eye routine
- Morning: a light moisturiser, then sunscreen patted gently right up to the orbital bone. Many people skip this area, which is exactly where pigment builds. We explain amounts and reapplication in our sunscreen guide for the tropics.
- Sunglasses outdoors. They protect the thin skin and stop you squinting.
- Evening: an eye product with one well-chosen active (for example niacinamide or a gentle retinoid) rather than five. Under-eye skin irritates easily, and irritation itself causes darkening.
- If puffy: a cool, damp cloth or chilled hydrogel patches for five to ten minutes. The effect is temporary but real, mostly from the cold and gentle pressure.
- Hands off. If your eyes itch from allergies or haze, treat the allergy (a pharmacist can advise) rather than rubbing.
Hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid can make the skin look smoother and plumper for a while, which softens the appearance of fine lines, but they don't change pigment or structure. If you are curious how that works, see our explainer on topical versus oral hyaluronic acid.
Can dark circles be a sign of a health problem?
Usually not, but occasionally. Iron deficiency anaemia can make skin look paler, which increases the contrast with under-eye vessels; the NHS lists tiredness, shortness of breath and pale skin among its symptoms. Allergic rhinitis, eczema and thyroid eye disease can also affect the area.
See a doctor if the swelling or darkening is on one side only, appears suddenly, is painful, red or itchy, affects your vision, or comes with swelling elsewhere in the body. Those are not cosmetic issues.
What about treatments at a clinic?
For stubborn pigmentation, dermatologists may use prescription creams, chemical peels or certain lasers, though darker skin tones need careful selection because some procedures can trigger more pigmentation. For hollows, hyaluronic acid fillers can soften the tear trough in suitable candidates. For true fat-pad bags, surgery is the definitive option. Make sure any practitioner is a registered doctor, and be wary of "whitening" injections marketed for the under-eye area.
Where TANO fits: GLOW as an inside-out extra, not an eraser
Let's be upfront: no supplement removes inherited pigment, fills a tear trough or shifts fat-pad bags. Genetics, sleep, sun protection and not rubbing your eyes matter far more. What TANO GLOW offers is a simple daily step for the skin in general, the delicate under-eye area included.
A 2-tablet serving provides 2,000 mg collagen peptides, 80 mg hyaluronic acid, 80 mg vitamin C, 30 IU vitamin E, 80 mg grape seed extract and 60 mg matcha green tea extract, plus 500 mg glutathione. Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of the skin, and vitamin E contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress. Honest context: skin studies on oral collagen typically use 2.5–10 g a day, so GLOW's 2 g sits at the modest end, and evidence on oral glutathione for skin is limited, so we make no skin-tone claims for it.
Take 2 tablets in 250–500 ml cold water once daily, alongside sunscreen, not instead of it. Check with your doctor if pregnant, breastfeeding, on medication or managing a condition.
This article is general information, not medical advice. Please speak to a doctor, dermatologist or pharmacist before starting new treatments, especially if you are pregnant, on medication or managing a skin or eye condition.
Frequently asked questions
Why do I have dark circles even when I sleep well?
Because the most common causes are genetic pigmentation, thin skin showing blood vessels, and the shape of the under-eye area, none of which sleep changes. Sleep deprivation makes circles look worse, but good sleep won't remove circles you were born with.
Can TANO GLOW get rid of dark circles?
No supplement can erase dark circles caused by genetics, pigmentation or the shape of the under-eye area. TANO GLOW provides collagen peptides, hyaluronic acid and vitamin C, which contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of the skin, so it can be one part of a skin routine. Sunscreen, sleep and matching treatment to your dark-circle type will make the bigger difference.
Do eye creams actually work for dark circles?
Some help modestly. Ingredients such as vitamin C, niacinamide and retinoids can gradually improve pigmented circles, and caffeine may temporarily reduce puffiness. No cream can fill a hollow or remove fat-related bags, so manage expectations.
Are dark circles more common in Asian skin?
Pigmented dark circles are more common in people with medium to darker skin tones, including many South and Southeast Asians, partly due to genetics. High year-round UV in the tropics can make them worse, so sunscreen around the eyes matters.
How do I get rid of puffy eyes in the morning quickly?
Apply a cool compress or chilled eye patches for five to ten minutes, and sit upright for a while so fluid can drain. To prevent it, go easier on salt and alcohol in the evening and sleep with your head slightly raised.
Can iron deficiency cause dark circles?
It can contribute by making skin paler, so under-eye blood vessels stand out more. If you also feel unusually tired or breathless, ask a GP for a blood test rather than guessing.