Short answer: Dark circles usually come from more than one cause: inherited pigment, thin skin that shows the blood vessels beneath it, hollows that cast a shadow, sun and rubbing. No cream removes them permanently. A gentle eye cream can soften dryness and the look of morning puffiness. Sun protection and not rubbing your eyes help most with brown circles.
Key takeaways
- Most people have a mix of brown (pigment), blue-purple (blood vessels) and shadow types.
- No cream removes dark circles permanently; a good one softens dryness and morning puffiness.
- Sun protection and not rubbing help brown circles most; sleep and a cold compress help puffiness.
- Honest caution: our Under Eye Cream contains almond oil and is for night use.
What causes dark circles under the eyes?
Usually a mix of genetics, skin structure and habits. Mayo Clinic lists genetics, ageing, rubbing the eyes, eczema and allergies, sun exposure, and pigment changes that are more common in brown skin. Tiredness, smoking and alcohol can make circles look worse. Sometimes the "circle" is just a shadow from puffy lids or a hollow.
In Indian skin the brown type is very common. A 2016 review by Indian dermatologists notes it often runs in families and is seen more in women.
Which type of dark circles do you have?
Look in daylight, without makeup, and gently stretch the skin. Many people have more than one type.
| Type | How it looks | What tends to help | What a cream can do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pigmented (brown) | Brown or grey-brown; the colour stays when you stretch the skin | Daily SPF-rated sunscreen, sunglasses, no rubbing; a dermatologist for stubborn cases | Little on its own; comfort and moisture only |
| Vascular (blue or purple) | Bluish or purplish, often with puffiness; worse after poor sleep | Sleep, a cold compress in the morning, raising your head at night, treating allergies | May ease the look of morning puffiness for a while |
| Structural (shadow) | A dark line under a hollow or bag; changes with the light | Good lighting and concealer; a doctor for fillers or surgery | Very little, because it is a shadow, not a colour |
Can an under-eye cream remove dark circles?
No, not permanently. Our own Under Eye Cream page says so plainly: dark circles also come from genetics, sleep and thin skin, but regular use can soften the look of puffiness and dryness.
Our 15 gm cream is built on bakuchi oil infused with gokshura and robusta coffee, with almond oil, pomegranate oil, shea butter and four essential oils, and has no mineral oil, silicones or synthetic fragrance. The coffee adds caffeine, which the page says may ease morning puffiness soon after you apply it. Bakuchi oil brings bakuchiol, the plant ingredient often used as a gentler alternative to retinol, which works gradually on the look of fine lines. We explain the evidence in bakuchiol vs retinol.
Under Eye Cream
15 gm · ₹315
Bakuchi oil infused with gokshura and robusta coffee, with almond and pomegranate oils. For night use.
Not for you if you have a tree-nut allergy. It contains almond oil.
How should you apply an eye cream?
At night, on clean skin, with your ring finger and no rubbing.
- Take a rice-grain amount for each eye.
- Dab it on below the eye, staying on the bony rim and away from the lash line.
- Pat gently until it is absorbed. Never rub or drag; this skin is thin and stretches easily.
Use it at night because bakuchi and grapefruit oils are best kept away from daytime sun. If very dry, crepey skin is your main concern, the Sweet Almond Oil page suggests patting a tiny amount under the eyes. Do not use it if you have a tree-nut allergy.
What can you do at home that actually helps?
The plain habits do more than any jar.
- Protect from the sun every day. Sun darkens brown circles. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a tested SPF, and sunglasses. Our Sunscreen is a plant-oil day cream with no tested SPF rating, so for long hours in strong sun pair it with an SPF-rated product, shade and covering clothing.
- Stop rubbing. Rubbing itchy eyes, often because of allergies or eczema, darkens the skin over time. Treat the itch with your doctor's help.
- Use a cold compress for puffiness. A clean cloth wrung out in cold water, held on for a few minutes in the morning.
- Raise your head at night. An extra pillow can reduce puffiness.
- Skip lemon juice. Lemon can irritate and burn this thin skin, especially in sunlight.
Shop the eye-care routine
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Very dry, crepey skin
Sweet Almond Oil · 50 ml · ₹460
A tiny amount patted under the eyes; skip it with a tree-nut allergy
Morning
Sunglasses and an SPF-rated sunscreen. Our Sunscreen has no tested SPF rating.
Frequently asked
Are dark circles caused by a vitamin deficiency?
Not usually. If you also feel unusually tired, breathless or look pale, ask your doctor whether a blood test is needed. Do not start iron or other supplements without one.
How soon will an eye cream show a difference?
Puffiness may look softer the same morning. Dryness and fine lines change slowly, and brown pigment barely changes with any cosmetic cream, so we will not promise a number of weeks.
Can I use the Under Eye Cream during pregnancy?
It contains bakuchi oil, which has not been properly studied in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Ask your doctor first.
Safety note. These are cosmetics, not treatments for any medical condition. Patch test on your inner arm before first use, keep products out of the eyes, and rinse with water if contact occurs. The Under Eye Cream contains almond oil, so avoid it if you have a tree-nut allergy. See a doctor if the darkening affects only one eye and is getting worse, if there is swelling, pain or itching that does not settle, or if dark circles appear suddenly.
Our motto: to make the cleanest beauty products
If you'd like to build the rest of a gentle night routine, browse our face care range.
Browse our face care range →Sources
- Mayo Clinic: dark circles under eyes, causes and self-care.
- Sarkar R. et al., Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2016: periorbital hyperpigmentation, a comprehensive review. Neither source tested GraceYes products.