December 1, 2009

The Muse’s Mail Bag: Dark Circles

mail bag

Ahh dark circles! The ban of many a girl’s existence. Today Susan writes in asking about dark circles.

Jump ahead to raid the Muse’s Mail Bag!

Dear Muse,

I am also a concealer addict, but mostly out of necessity. I inherited thin skin under my eyes from my mothers side of the family. I refuse to do restylane in that area.

But I digress,oh great makeup muse please help me find an eye treatment cream that might make a difference in my dark undereye area!

Thanks and I love your site.

-Susan

Dearest Susan,

Thanks for taking time out to write to me! Total concealer junkie too, can’t get enough of it really!

Oh Susan, dear, dear, dear, I hate to break this to you but after many trials with many, many, many lotions and potions I’ve never had the satisfaction of saying, “wow my dark circles are looking awesome today….”

Believe me I’ve tried plenty an eye cream that has promised me the world but never had anything that really worked at erasing my dark circles. Please, do so take it from me, I’ve tried everything on US shores and Asian ones and have had little success with creams in this regard.

I will say concealer is my bestest friend in this department but no cream has worked for me as of yet.

This is the bad news.

Now the good news is that Lancome actually has a brand new eye cream out that I’m currently testing out. The Lancome Girls SWEAR by it and I do so trust what they say.

Lancome Genifique Eye is a gel-cream that helps dark circles and signs of fatigue to diminish. The eye area appears fresher and luminous, as if infused with life or at least Lancome says so. Supposedly this happens within 7 days…I’ve only been using it three days. Results so far? I’ve noticed my eye is fresher looking, it’s moister (I’m very dry under my eyes), but I haven’t yet noticed an effect on my dark circles. Overall, I’m leaning towards liking this very much but I can’t say if it’s working completely as of yet. It’s somewhat costly at $59 for 0.5 oz but since eye cream is always used in very small quantities that size should get you through at least 6 months to a year. I’m not sure if this is something you’re willing to take a plunge on without hearing a proper, full review but I did think it would be a good one to throw out there since it is brand new on the market and it’s what I’m currently working on.

Lancome Genifique Eye 1

Lancome Genifique Eye 2

On a side note….

It’s a little more difficult to find in our area but The Skin Food (Korean Brand) is another place you may want to seek out a good eye cream from. I’m currently trying out two (for older eyes not dark circles) and love them. They are difficult to find stateside but you can check E-bay or MUA to see if you can find something.

You can visit theskinfood.com and located on top is an option for English so you can navigate the site.

I trust Korean and Japanese skin care with my life so this comes with my highest recommendation. I’ve tried the Skin Food Salmon line of concealer and powder and I’m wanting to try the Skin Food Salmon Brightening Eye Massage Serum and the Skin Food Salmon Brightening Eye Serum.

And briefly I’d like to mention the new Origins Ginzing Eye Cream. Honestly, I haven’t seen much going on with my dark circles but you might find it a good one as it does seem to ever so slightly erase the signs of fatigue in the morning. It’s kinda worthy of a shot but if you’re experiencing really bad darkness perhaps not.

Susan I sure hope this helps you a little bit! Good Luck! And do keep me updated how you do.

If you have any advice for Susan feel free to share!

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • Sarah

    OMG, I totally have this same problem. Nothing I ever use seems to work. I’ve been using Urban Decay’s 24/7 concealer, which is pretty good at hiding my circles. I’ll have to give this cream a try though.

    Thanks for the tip 🙂

    • the Muse

      hey sarah!!!! 😀 me toooooooooo! Concealer does wonders for me but honestly creams? Never successfully found one that works 🙁

    • the Muse

      bonnie I’m always changing and rearranging my mind but at the moment shills electric eye, kevin beautymaker concealer, mally concealer system, and my bobbi brown concealer palette make my top list 😀 I have reviews of ’em all on here if you need help finding ’em let me know doll!

  • Hailee

    Grrr I don’t beilieve anything can get rid of dark circles…you can just cover them. That’s why I trust my trusty benefit boi-ing woot woot!!

    • the Muse

      w00t on the boi-ing hailee! 😀 sadly I can’t use it much when I’m dry but I LOVE it! it was my HG for ages and ages!!! and yes def can’t do much with creams when it comes to dark circles, I’ve never had a good treatment that helped 🙁

  • Trinh

    Yes, it’s unfortunate that there is not anything that will “completely” erase dark circles. But have you ladies try a cream with high concentration of vitamin K? I have had success with it, better than any other cream I tried.

    I also love Bobbi Brown Corrector. I hope this help.

    • the Muse

      interesting trinh! thanks for sharing 😀

      I also love BB Corrector too!

  • Renata

    I don’t know if it would work for dark circles, but it works for my under eye ‘bags’. They look much better in 15 minutes after I apply Joppa Minerals Perfecting Eye Cream. I didn’t expect these results from a $13 eye cream, but it works.

  • Lisa

    I don’t typically have a gigantic problem with dark circles, but an hour less sleep than I am used to and HELLOOOOO ugly circles! Once in college I had gone so long without decent sleep my friend had said, unknowingly, “I love your purple eye shadow!” And I immediately went back and tried to find some form of concealer to cover my hot mess of a face up. 🙁

    • the Muse

      omg lisa I don’t mean to laugh but that’s kinda LOL hun 😀 I don’t have bad bad dark circles but I do suffer from really tired eyes especially on 5 hours sleep or so. They get puffy and really yucky looking! 🙁 Concealer is my gift from the gods, can’t leave without!

  • Chelsea

    Hey Muse, I hope you’ll follow up with full reviews of all the goodies you revealed in this post. Like most nice Jewish girls, I’m cursed with dark under eye circles. I have the added blessing of being super dry there, too, so I always keep my ears perked for news of an under-eye cream that actually works. I currently have creams from Lush, Kiehl’s, and Boscia on my shelf, and that’s just the tip of the “what I’ve tried” iceberg.

    Susan, so far this is my best plan for concealing undereye circles: a fast-absorbing eye cream goes on first (Lush is my favorite for this), followed by Bobbi Brown’s corrector, and topped with Benefit’s Boi-ing. Then I add a sheer powder to set. Hope this helps, and good luck!

    • the Muse

      hey chelsea, susan will def benefit from your tips doll!

      Aww! I honestly don’t have crazy dark circles but it’s a hint here and there when I am tired 😛 I will absolutely follow up with reviews, eye cream is sometimes a hard one as it takes months to really see if it’s working but def will follow up hun 😀 I hear you on iceberg…I swear I’ve tried too many to count!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I really liked Lush for a while but I got a little too old for it I fear but it’s still a fav for good day wear as it absorbs so very fast as you said! My fav is dermadoctor eye balm plus a few i tried from h20 are greattttt!

      thanks again for sharing your wisdom!

    • Trinh

      Hi Chelsea. I have the exact same routine. Though I often skip concealer as BB corrector match my skin pretty well. Laura Mercier Secret Brightening powder is very good for setting undereye.

      What is the exact name of the Lush eyecream?

  • sami

    I love genefique eye. I have dark circles. I forget to use it everyday but it definitely has a great texture and does give a kind of luminious appearance

  • Mary

    Unfortunately, dark circles are usually due to very thin skin under your eyes that allows the blood vessels underneath to show through, so there’s not much that a cream can do to fix that. 🙁 🙁 🙁 Trust me, I come from a long line of dark-circled women and we’ve tried everything under the sun!!!

  • Tina Matuchniak

    Eye creams have also been the bane of my life. Most seem to make my eyes blurry and some even sting (no, I am not taking them up to my eyelid–i stay around the orbital area, but it still manages to get in somehow . . . ). The only neutral, soothing one I have found is Philosophy’s eye believe (and Korres’ evening primrose is pretty nice, too, but not as neutral/gentle as eye believe). This is mostly for hydration–can’t say I’ve seen any difference in the dark circles. It also provides a nice base for concealer (kinda silicone-like texture). that’s my two cents.

    • the Muse

      oh no tina that’s awful! you should try h20, good stuff, very gentle imho. eye believe didn’t work for me sadly sigh. I’ve tested korres but didn’t stick with it long enough to see results grrrr!

      dark circles are always a hard one when it comes to creams, def never see a different in this when using creams 🙂

  • Nia

    Muse, I love your reviews! Cannot wait on your verdict with the Lancome eye cream.

    Also thanks to your help I am set with Dior SKinflash and as a base Clarins Eye Beauty Flash.
    AS eye cream for circles I use something from La Roche Posay. Not bad, but like you said, no miracles either. We need to live with it.
    A shop attendant suggested Lierac Diopti Cerne, but I will try it after my LRP runs out. So much cream switching cannot be good.

    • the Muse

      aw thanks Nia you’re awesome my dear! How are you today?

      I’l def let you know about the lancome!!!!!!!

      yayayayayay I freaking love the skinflash pen! 😀 I agreed, it’s something that we need to live with and just conceal as much as possible 😀 Also I must agree, I switch around skin care and eye creams way too much and that can’t be good for my skin 🙂

      Haven’t tried the lierac but must say I tried one of their facial gels and loved it!

  • Bonnie

    Some years ago I was very happy with Origins eye cream as well as one by Chanel…but I can’t remember the exact names of either. I get lazy with eye cream, even though at my advanced age 🙂 (33) I should be more vigilant!

    LOL Chelsea. Nice Italian girls like me were born with dark circles too! If I had a nickel for every one who ever said, “You look tired” when I just got a full 8 hours of sleep… Why do Jewish and Italian girls get all the bad stuff–dark circles, excessive hair, greasy skin, etc.?! 🙂

    • the Muse

      Bonnie in lazy eye do you mean a bit tired looking? I notice this with richer eye creams 😀

      I’m half Italian and have the excessive hair problem LOL!

  • Nia

    My day was sucky, but I read your posts and I am better 🙂 How was yours? I hope a lot better. 🙂
    Let you know how I like the Lierac once I test it.

    And every time I use my Dior Skinflash pen I think of you. So basically every morning 😉
    Was that creepy? 😀

    • the Muse

      LOL nia *hugs* no doll not creepy at all rather flattering really hahahahaa!!!!!!!!!!

      Aw I’m sorry! I hope it’s better today! It’s hump day, smile 😀 Two more days and it’s the weekend, all the worries go away on the weekend 😀 hehe!

      Awesome I look forward to hearing all about it!!!!!!!

      Hugs!

      • Nia

        And the best thing is my hump day is nearly over 😉 So just one more day 🙂

        Thanks doll *hugs*

        • the Muse

          thank god Nia 😀 mine too…5 oclock whistle coming atcha!

          Hugs hugs hugs! Tomorrow will be better 🙂

  • Jenny

    Who said only Italian and Jewish girls have dark circles, I am Asian and have the same problem. I’ve also tried countless things, and none has WOW me yet.

    However maybe it’s psychological, but when I tried Hylexin, it seem to work at the beginning, and then the effect slowly plateau.

    Thanks MUSE for all your recommendation, I totally agree with you about the BB face palette, it’s LOVE!

    • the Muse

      haha jenny 😀 I THINK it’s a universal problem 😀 naaa I’ve tried TONS too and never ever have a found anything that works. Concealer it is 😀

      shoot on the hylexin, you had me excited for the sec 😀

      Isn’t the bb palette incredible? To think I started out life hating it now can’t live without!

  • robyn

    im so pale (as in resembling a vampire outta twighlight pale) never tried eyecreams and dont think i will now i just use benefit boing but its too dark so i mix it with barbara dalys concealor (its a makeup brand sold my the supermarket tesco its cheap but actually so good) her lightest shade is very light but really yellow so mixing with the boing seems to create the perfect colour

    • the Muse

      hi robyn!

      damn I wanna be like you 😀 I’ve seen barbara dalys concealer last time I was in the UK always was tempted to try it but way too light for me darn!

  • Renata

    Yes… I’ve been using Hylexin for 60 days now. I see a small change in color under my eyes, from reddish to… less red, but equally dark. Maybe 5% less dark. And Hylexyn did nothing about the sswelling. I don’t think it’s worth the money, since the results are minimal.

    • the Muse

      hmmm renata interesting. worked on puffy eyes? That I could take advantage of!