• The right concealer can help diminish the appearance of occasional dark circles.macro eye image by DXfoto.com from Fotolia.com
  
  After putting in a late night at the office or being out with friends, many individuals are greeted the next morning with unsightly dark circles under the eyes. Other people are plagued by chronic dark circles which are the result of heredity or aging. While they are often difficult to get rid of completely, there are several cosmetic solutions available for dark circles which help diminish their appearance and brighten the overall look of the area.
  
  

Light-based Therapies

• In some cases, under-eye dark circles are caused by hyper-pigmentation, which makes the under-eye area to appear darker than the rest of the face. Dermatologists usually recommend a light-based therapy, such as intense pulsed light (IPL) or laser treatments. Both utilize wands that emit wavelengths of light to penetrate the skin and lighten its pigmentation, but lasers use a single wavelength while IPL employs multiple wavelengths. Laser and IPL treatments are both very effective, but they can be rather costly and often require multiple treatment sessions to achieve the desired results. Light-based therapies are offered at dermatologists' offices and medical spas.
  
  

Fat Grafting

• Some under-eye dark circles are caused by visible blood vessels which result from fat loss or thinning of the skin. Fat loss often occurs naturally as individuals age, which is why dark circles are more common in older people. To address this issue, cosmetic surgeons employ a method known as fat grafting to plump the skin. Fat is taken from another part of the body and replaced under the eyes. Other cosmetic fillers are available for similar procedures, but the advantage to using your own fat is that it is a natural substance and does not cause issues for the immune system. When the area under the eyes is plump again, the shadows that create dark circles usually disappear. A drawback to fat grafting is that the fat is usually reabsorbed by the body, so the procedure may need to be performed again.
  
  

Creams

• Many cosmetic companies make creams and serums designed specifically to treat under-eye dark circles. Some contain plumping agents, which help with dark circles caused by fat loss. Others utilize alpha hydroxy acids to thicken the skin, so blood vessels are less visible. Creams with vitamins C and K add volume to the under eye area by inflaming the skin, which diminishes the appearance of dark circles. Vitamin C also minimizes the production of melanin, a substance in the skin which is responsible for dark pigmentation.
  
  

Makeup

• Make-up can help instantly diminish the appearance of under-eye dark circles. Using a full coverage concealer under the eyes brightens the area, so circles are less noticeable. If your circles are bluish, find a peach or salmon toned concealer. For yellow or brownish dark circles, a lavender toned concealer usually works best.