Most people call everything under the eye a "dark circle". It's actually three or four different things, and they don't respond to the same fixes. Knowing which one you have saves you money on creams and gadgets that were never going to work for you, including ours.
1. puffiness.
What it looks like: soft swelling under the eye, worse in the morning or after a salty dinner, a late night or crying. It often casts a shadow that reads as "dark".
What helps: sleep, less salt late at night, sleeping with your head slightly raised, a cold compress in the morning, and gentle massage that helps fluid move. Caffeine eye creams help some people a little.
2. tired-looking eyes.
What it looks like: dull, slightly bluish or purplish skin under the eye that comes and goes with how you've been sleeping and how many hours you've spent on screens. Your friends say "you look tired" on these days.
What helps: sleep first. Then screen breaks, enough water, and anything that relaxes the area: cold compresses, a slow massage, a few minutes with your eyes closed.
3. pigmentation.
What it looks like: brown or dark brown colour that stays the same whether you slept well or not. It's very common in Indian skin and often runs in families.
What helps: daily sunscreen around the eyes, and products a dermatologist recommends for pigmentation. A massager or a cold compress won't change it. If someone promises a device will remove it, be sceptical.
4. hollows.
What it looks like: a groove or dip under the eye that catches a shadow, especially under overhead lights. It comes from the shape of your face and changes slowly with age.
What helps: lighting (seriously: face a window on video calls), and concealer if you want it. Changing the hollow itself is a job for a dermatologist, not a skincare product.
a quick test.
- Look in the mirror in daylight, then gently press the dark area. If the colour fades for a second, it's more likely blood vessels showing through (tired eyes). If it stays, it's more likely pigment.
- Tilt your face up towards the light. If the darkness mostly disappears, it's a shadow from puffiness or a hollow.
- Compare a good-sleep morning with a bad one. Whatever changes is the part you can influence day to day.
where bewhile halo fits.
We made bewhile halo for the first two: puffiness and the tired look that comes from long screen days. It's red light and gentle EMS in a frame you wear like glasses, with your eyes closed. With regular use it helps reduce the look of puffiness and helps your eyes look more rested.
It won't remove pigmentation or hollows, and it isn't a medical treatment. If your dark circles appeared suddenly, are on one side only, or come with itching, pain or swelling that doesn't go down, please see a doctor.
bewhile halo launches on 10 December. Leave your email and we'll tell you the day it's ready.