I don’t know when it started—the fine lines creeping in like uninvited guests at a party and the dark circles of adulthood casting permanent shadows around my eyes. When I finally noticed them, it was almost unexpected because it had happened so gradually. It seemed as though one minute I was in my twenties, full of energy and self-confidence, and then all of a sudden I was constantly being asked if I was tired. To make matters worse, I had dark circles under my eyes that gave the impression that I had just sobbed in the bathroom while wearing mascara that was not waterproof.
Let me clarify: I am all for embracing the natural ageing process.
With time, I’ve learned and perfected life skills, grown more comfortable in my skin, and overall felt more confident than ever before. Plus, I get to compare myself to fine wine. What’s not to love? But I still did not enjoy looking in the mirror and seeing those ever-present shadows.
Now, if there is one thing I know for certain, it is that I never give up without a fight.
What I needed now was a strategy.
So the search began. While I searched for solutions, I leaned on my trusty concealer to reclaim my youthful energy. But there is only so much a concealer can do on its own—my dark circles still managed to peek through like stubborn weeds in an otherwise manicured lawn.
My initial research led me to a product that took some of the heavy lifting off my concealer: colour correctors. I never imagined I would use colour theory from primary school to look and feel young (education is important, folks). But a few articles and videos later, I was convinced. I picked out a colour corrector that would perfectly neutralise the hue and tone of my under-eye skin.
My under-eye makeup game had never been better.
Now that I had found the perfect temporary fix, I naturally had to aim higher. I set off on my next quest, this time to find more permanent solutions for my eyes to look as young as I felt without relying solely on makeup. After all, true beauty comes from within, right? This had me scouring the internet to learn everything I could about taking good care of the skin around the eyes.
I learned a lot about skincare, its ingredients and mechanisms of action in this process. Prior to this, I wouldn’t have been able to tell you the answers to “what is hyaluronic acid” or “how does collagen work,” but now I am armed with a wealth of knowledge thanks to the magic of the internet.
I found myself in a world of various kinds of products, from eye serums and creams to futuristic-looking LED eye mask.
It is true what they say; there really is a product out there for every unique requirement, no matter how niche. I invested in 3 products after hours of research: an eye serum, a sun protection cream, and finally, an LED eye mask. I knew overnight results were not a thing in skincare, so I used them religiously for months in the hopes that my consistency and patience would pay off.
I am thrilled to report that consistent skincare did wonders for my under-eye skin.
Not only did it significantly fade my dark circles, it also made my skin smoother and firmer. The eye serum delivered with its combination of powerful active ingredients that nourished my skin from within. The sun protection cream was a great addition to the routine, preventing damage from sun exposure and other pollutants.
These became my holy grail products, my dark circle corrector system that far exceeded my expectations.
The final piece of what felt like a million-piece puzzle was the LED eye patches. It felt like using the technology of the future, temporarily turning my room into a spa, and doing a great job enhancing the effectiveness of the rest of my skincare products.
Did I slightly feel like I was at a rave with the red light on my face? Yes, I did. Did I enjoy it? 100%.
So, there you have it—my dark circle adventures with a side of trial and error. It’s been an enlightening experience, and I’m happy to be equipped with my makeup products and skincare habits moving forward.
The goal was never to look 21 again (although wouldn’t that be nice? ), but to enhance what I already had. A little colour correction and skincare were all I needed to make me feel more confident, and I’m so glad I went on this journey of a lifetime!
