Say Goodbye To Dark Circles: The Best Natural Remedies & Non-Toxic Products
I’ll be honest, my dark circles and I have been in a long-term relationship, but I think it’s finally time to break up. If you’re like me and tired of looking perpetually exhausted (even when you’re not), you’re in the right place.
While genetics definitely play a role, lack of sleep, dehydration, poor circulation, and lifestyle habits can also contribute to under-eye darkness. The good news? You can actually do something about it!
With a few simple lifestyle changes, skincare tweaks, and some game-changing wellness products, brighter, fresher-looking eyes are totally possible. I did all the research to find the best of the best solutions, so you don’t have to—and I double-checked to make sure they’re non-toxic. Let’s get into it!
What Causes Dark Circles?
Dark circles can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
- Lack of Sleep – Poor rest can make skin appear dull and pale, enhancing the appearance of dark circles.
- Dehydration – When your body lacks water, the skin under your eyes may look sunken and darker.
- Aging – Over time, skin loses collagen and becomes thinner, making blood vessels more visible.
- Genetics – Some people are naturally more prone to under-eye darkness due to hereditary factors.
- Allergies & Sinus Issues – Inflammation and congestion can cause blood vessels to expand, leading to darker under-eyes.
- Excess Screen Time – Staring at screens for long hours strains your eyes, leading to fatigue and discoloration.
Prioritize Sleep & Hydration
One of the easiest ways to brighten your under-eye area is to focus on restorative sleep and proper hydration. Get 7–9 hours of sleep every night to allow your skin time to repair. Using a silk sleep mask, white noise machine and bed cooling/heating system can help improve your sleep quality. Discover more ways to upgrade your sleep in this blog post and learn how mouth taping can be a game-changer for your sleep!
Drink plenty of water throughout the day to prevent dehydration, which can cause dull and sunken under-eyes. Try adding electrolytes to your water for extra hydration support or drink the best coconut water ever!
drowsy
Silk Sleep Mask
Total blackout, adjustable, and washable silk mask delivers the perfect conditions for a dreamy night’s sleep in total darkness for restorative sleep.
snooz
White Noise Machine
White noise to create a consistent, soothing sound environment that masks disruptive noises leading to deeper sleep.
bedjet
Bed Cooling/Heating
On-demand cooling and warming system so you can sleep at the perfect temperature (around 65°F) for deeper, more restorative sleep.
Use Brightening & Hydrating Skincare
The right skincare ingredients can lighten pigmentation, boost hydration, and reduce puffiness. Look for:
Vitamin C & Niacinamide to help brighten and even out skin tone. Hyaluronic Acid & Peptides to deeply hydrate and plump fine lines. Caffeine & Green Tea Extract to reduce puffiness and improve circulation.
three ships
Caffeine Eye Serum
Visibly brightens, instantly de-puffs and reduces the look of dark circles.
true botanicals
Chebula Eye Patches
Designed to firm, brighten, de-puff, hydrate and plump undereye skin
kora organics
Vitamin C Eye Cream
Reduce visible signs of aging and promote firmer, smoother-looking skin.
Best Ways to Reduce Puffiness
Facial puffiness can make dark circles appear even more prominent. To reduce swelling and improve overall skin tone:
Facial Massage & Lymphatic Drainage – Use a gua sha tool to improve circulation and reduce fluid retention. Reduce Sodium & Alcohol – Excess salt and alcohol lead to water retention, making the face look puffy. Try Anti-Inflammatory Ingredients – Green tea, turmeric, and aloe vera can help calm swelling and improve skin health.
mount lai
Gua Sha
Sculpts facial features, reduces puffiness, promotes lymphatic drainage, and enhances circulation for a radiant glow.
kora organics
Turmeric Mask
Deeply cleanses pores and polishes the skin to refine, refreshed complexion – leaving your skin glowing and bright.
wthn
Face Cupping Kit
Face cupping helps promote a smoother complexion, toned skin, and a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles.
Cold Therapy for Instant Results
Cold therapy is an instant way to depuff and reduce dark circles caused by poor circulation. Try:
Ice rollers – Constrict blood vessels and refresh tired eyes.
Chilled cucumber slices or green tea bags – Naturally soothe and brighten.
esarora
Ice Roller
Revives your complexion, eliminating puffiness and shrinking pores for a refreshed glow.
cosrx
Korean Eye Masks
Infused with snail mucin and Niacinamide, these eye masks deliver hydration and radiance. *Pro Tip: Keep them chilled!
xhjri
Ice Cube Roller
Reduces puffiness, increases circulation, and reduces inflammation. *Pro Tip: Fill with cucumber water or green tea!
Protect & Nourish from Within
What you eat and apply daily can make a big difference in under-eye brightness:
Wear SPF – UV exposure worsens pigmentation. A mineral-based clean sunscreen is best (check out my non-toxic sunscreen guide). Eat antioxidant-rich foods – Berries, leafy greens, matcha, green tea and omega-3-rich foods nourish skin from within.
truvani
Marine Collagen
Featuring all three types of marine collagen (Types 1, 2, and 3) for vibrant, elastic skin, lush hair growth, and stronger nails.
supergoop
Mineral Eye Cream
100% non-nano mineral eye cream that protects against UVA & UVB rays & helps filter blue light and revive tired eyes.
cymbiotika
Glutathione
Powerful antioxidant properties that combat premature aging, enhances energy metabolism, and promotes gut health.
Targeted Treatments
If your dark circles are persistent, additional treatments can help:
Laser treatments or chemical peels – Help reduce pigmentation over time. For a non-invasive alternative, try red light therapy mask that stimulate collagen and circulation.
shani darden
Signature Peel
A two-step peel with a trio of acids to resurface and visibly brighten for smoother skin with no downtime.
dr. dennis gross
LED Mask
Red and blue lights to smooth wrinkles, firm skin, diminish discoloration and clear acne for a youthful complexion.
dr. dennis gross
Daily Peel Pads
Powerfully battles fine lines and wrinkles, large pores and uneven skin texture—but without irritation.
DIY Masks
Give your skin an extra boost with these simple, natural DIY masks:
Brightening Under-Eye Mask: Mix 1 tsp coffee grounds, 1 tsp honey, and a few drops of almond oil. Apply under the eyes, leave for 10 minutes, then rinse.
Depuffing Green Tea Face Mask: Blend 1 tbsp matcha powder, 1 tbsp yogurt, and 1 tsp honey. Apply all over the face and leave for 15 minutes before rinsing.
For the Bros: Dark Circle Solutions for Men
Guys, dark circles don’t discriminate! Here are some clean, effective products that work:
JACKFIR
Eye Cream
Boosts collagen production, improves skin elasticity, and helps depuff tired eyes.
JAXON LANE
Bro Eye Masks
Reduces swelling with cooling ingredients like caffeine and hyaluronic acid.
jack black
Protein Eye Cream
Packed with peptides and antioxidants that help reduce the appearance of dark circles.
Final Thoughts
Basically, everyone has dark circles these days, but with the right lifestyle changes and effective products, you can brighten and refresh your under-eye area naturally. Start small, stay hydrated, eat skin loving foods, be consistent, and invest in clean beauty products that nourish and watch those circles disappear!
Which tip are you trying first? Be sure to subscribe to my newsletter for more wellness tips and exclusive product recommendations.
+ Favorite Non-Toxic Eye Masks
++ Shop the full list of non-toxic dark circle favorites HERE
Gina
