How to Brighten the Look of Dark Circles on Deeper Skin Tones

If you have melanin-rich skin, you’ve probably noticed that dark circles can show up even when you’ve slept well. That’s because on deeper skin tones, dark circles often come from more than one source.

Extra pigment around the eyes, shadows from the shape of the under-eye area and thin skin can all play a part. The upside is that a smart routine can help the area look brighter and more even.

Know what you’re working with

Look at your under-eyes in natural light. If the darkness looks brown and stays the same all day, pigment is often part of the picture. If it looks deeper when you’re tired and seems to come and go, shadows and puffiness may be playing a bigger role. Many people have a mix of both, so the four steps below cover each one.

Step 1: Protect the area every day

Sunscreen is for everyone, including deeper skin tones. Sun exposure can make pigment around the eyes look darker over time. Apply sunscreen around the eye area each morning, staying a little away from the lash line, and wear sunglasses when you’re outside.

Step 2: Be gentle

Irritation can leave dark marks behind on deeper skin tones, so treat the eye area kindly. Skip harsh scrubs, don’t rub your eyes and take your makeup off slowly with a soaked cotton pad.

Step 3: Add a brightening boost before big days

For weddings, photos, or a night out, brightening eye patches are a quick way to help the eye area look more awake. Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C Power Brightening Hydra-Gel Eye Patches are made with vitamin C, and in a consumer study, 90% agree the eye area appeared brighter, firmer, and tighter.* Each jar comes with 30 pairs.

Place one patch under each eye on clean, dry skin, leave them on for 10 to 15 minutes, then pat in any leftover serum. Wearing them while you do the rest of your makeup also catches any eyeshadow or mascara fallout.

A note for sensitive skin: these patches contain vitamin C and aren’t the right pick if your skin is sensitive. If that’s you, focus on Steps 1, 2 and 4.

Step 4: Color correct, then conceal

Makeup does a lot of the work here. A peach or orange color corrector helps cancel out the look of blue or purple darkness under the eyes on medium and deep skin. Tap a thin layer only where the darkness is, then add a concealer that matches your skin tone. Set lightly so it doesn’t crease.

FAQ

Do eye patches get rid of dark circles? No product makes dark circles disappear. Patches are a quick, short-term boost that helps the area look brighter before an event.

Does concealer alone work? Concealer covers the look of darkness, but on deeper skin tones it can look gray or ashy without a corrector underneath. That’s why Step 4 starts with color correcting.

Can I use the patches every day? Many people save brightening patches for event days and photos. Follow the directions on the jar.

When should I see a dermatologist? If the darkness is new, changing or spreading, or if you’re not sure what’s causing it, a dermatologist can help you understand your options.

*Based on an immediate consumer perception study on 31 women ages 30 to 59.