It’s always a bummer to stay up late on a Friday night and wake up on Saturday morning with thick black rims under your eyes. But a full 8/ 9 hours of sleep isn’t enough to erase those dark circles, according to Charlotte Clark, a dermatologist in New York City. It may help diminish their appearance some, but to get rid of circles for good you have to first find the source.

Why They Appear:

• The main reason is due to genetics. If you inherit fair or thin skin under the eyes, it’s more obvious when blood pools there (many times because of slower circulation due to lack of sleep). This accumulation causes fragile capillaries to stretch and leak. (Lovely isn’t it?)
• Age is another factor. Over time, skin loses collagen and becomes thinner, so veins show through more prominently. Sunbathing speeds up this process by breaking down collagen and mottling skin color.
• Seasonal Allergies are to blame for many people. “They trigger the release of histamines in the body, which in turn inflame blood vessels and cause swelling,” says Ranella Hirsch, a dermatologist in Boston. To determine why YOUR circles happen, gently stretch the skin under your eyes. If that area becomes darker, the circles are probably due to genetics or aging. If the color doesn’t change, UV rays or allergies are probably the cause.

How To Get Rid Of Dark Circles:

– Double up on pillows at night to stop blood from building up under your eyes. In the a.m., apply a cold compress (Like the One Shown Above) for about five minutes to constrict the blood vessels, says Jeannette Graf, an associate clinical professor of dermatology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, in New York City. (You can get an eye mask for about $7.00 at most Target stores)

– Use An Eye Cream with Caffeine, which helps constrict vessels.

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– Also:  Arnica-based creams (found at many health-food stores), are considered to have anti-inflammatory properties and may reduce the appearance of darkness. Eye creams with green tea or grapeseed oil help strengthen capillary walls

– For Allergy-Induced Circles: consider taking an over-the-counter antihistamine before allergies begin to abate shadows.

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– If Thin Skin is the Issue: Use a collagen-building cream. “One of my top go-to ingredients is retinol,” says Hirsch. “It helps increase collagen production” (one product to try is ROC Multi-Correxion Eye Treatment, $25 at drugstores). Vitamin C also encourages production and can help brighten skin tone. And wear sunscreen daily, says Hirsch, or you’ll cancel out the benefits from any of these treatments.