Beauty FAQ

How to reduce puffy eyes and dark circles

A woman holding a towel that covers her face, revealing only her eyes.
The skin around the eyes is much thinner than the skin on the rest of the face—making it extra-susceptible to the appearance of dark circles and puffiness caused by stress or fatigue.


How to reduce puffy eyes and dark circles

Applying eye make-up alone isn’t enough to hide the telltale signs of drinking, smoking, and late nights—so take a few tips from the Clarins Experts to visibly minimize dark circles and reduce the look of puffiness with these targeted  Clarins eye products.

01 What causes dark circles and puffiness under the eyes?

Four small dots of cream placed under a woman's eye.

Puffiness in the under eye area is caused by an accumulation of water and fat. Lifestyles that include excessive use of alcohol, smoking, and lack of sleep can increase water retention, leading to puffiness in the eye contours.

If you're wondering how to reduce eye puffiness, it's best to start with small changes to your habits, like increasing the amount of sleep you get each night, and using Clarins’under eye skincare specialists. This can reduce the appearance of puffiness and dark circles, while fending off fine lines, wrinkles, and crow’s feet.

02 Why is Clarins’ skincare for eyes the best choice?

A variety of leaf and flower cuttings, alongside two cream smudges.

The delicate eye area requires the most efficacious and gentle care. Clarins, the pioneers of plant science, looked to nature to create plant-infused formulas that help smooth, drain, relax, and hydrate to visibly reduce the appearance of puffiness and dark circles—indispensable beauty tools in your anti-aging routine which, if maintained, will help your eye area look youthful and beautiful for years to come.

The secret: our advanced, plant-based skincare treatments for the eye area contain precious plant ingredients—Organic Harungana, Kangaroo Flower, and Chestnut extracts—specifically selected to visibly smooth and energize, while treating this especially fragile skin with a gentle touch.

03 How do I choose my eye skincare formulas?

Be mindful of how delicate the eye area is and take good care of it. Clarins has a targeted treatment for every concern, each formulated with the perfect blend of powerful plant actives to keep you looking bright-eyed and radiant. Our French laboratories have developed a wide range of   eye specific skincare treatments that attend to the top three issues: aging, dark circles, and puffiness.

Look to Total Eye Revive—a brightening cream-gel eye treatment that visibly reduces fine lines and dark circles caused by lack of sleep or stress. Total Eye Smooth is a 2-in-1 anti-aging eye treatment that combines the visible lifting effect of an anti-aging serum with the comforting effect of a balm. At the first sign of fatigue around the eyes, reach for Total Eye Contour Gel—our best eye bag treatment that visibly de-puffs, targets dark circles, and leaves the eye area looking rested and refreshed.

04 When should I start using an anti-aging eye skincare treatment?

It’s never too soon to start taking care of the skin around your eyes. Add Total Eye Contour Gel—with Caffeine and Gingko Biloba extracts—to your beauty routine in your early 20s, before puffiness and first lines appear. To help your eyes look smoother and brighter, Total Eye Revive—with Teasel extract—targets fine lines, and visibly minimizes the look of dark circles and puffiness caused by stress, pollution, and fatigue…a great choice for women in their 30s. Inspired by bestselling Double Serum, NEW Double Serum Eye—with 13 potent plant extracts, including Organic Wild Chervil and Turmeric—visibly smoothes, firms, hydrates, and revitalizes the delicate eye area, making it the best eye serum for puffy eyes with age-defying results for women in their 40s, 50s and 60s.

05 What are the benefits of a hydrating eye mask?

To chase away fine lines, puffiness, dark circles, and signs of fatigue, the Clarins Experts recommend using Total Eye Hydrate once or twice a week. This intensive 10-minute cream-gel formula—with super-quenching Organic leaf of life extract and visibly brightening Horse Chestnut escin—deeply hydrates, cools, soothes, and revives tired-looking eyes. It works as an intensely replenishing overnight beauty treatment, too–the ideal cream for puffy eyes.

06 What helps visibly reduce puffiness and dark circles?

Total Eye Contour Gel is Clarins’ quick fix formula for under eye puffiness and dark circles. The super-hydrating, lightweight gel—with an invigorating blend of Caffeine, Gingko Biloba, Organic Cornflower, Organic Chamomile, and Organic Aloe Vera extracts—melts into the skin, refreshing, relaxing, and boosting radiance in the delicate eye area. The go-to formula for women of all ages.

07 How do I firm up the delicate eye area?

Two common signs of skin aging are loss of firmness, and the formation lines and wrinkles in the eye contour area. Total Eye Smooth—Clarins’ intensive 2-in-1 eye cream and mask recommended for women over 40—is enriched with a blend of natural plant ingredients, including age-defying Kangaroo Flower and Organic Mitracarpus extracts, to fight crow's feet, dark circles, and puffiness for visibly smoother, more youthful-looking eyes. Use it as a relaxing, 10-minute mask to leave your eye area looking tension-free and refreshed.

08 How can I visibly lift my eye contour area?

For a visible lift in 60 seconds flat,* look to Clarins’ Total Eye Lift—a naturally powerful, all-in-one, anti-aging eye cream that visibly minimizes wrinkles, crow’s feet, dark circles, and puffiness. Formulated with ingredients of 94% natural origin—including Clarins' exclusive Lift-Smoothing Duo of Organic Harungana extract—as effective as retinol and gentle on the skin,** and Cassie Flower Wax—this innovative formula provides an immediate visible lifting and wrinkle-smoothing effect that preps skin for flawless eye makeup application. Follow with Wonder Perfect 4D Mascara—formulated with carbon-black mineral pigments and Rose Wax—to take your lashes to bold new dimensions: visibly lengthened, curled, defined, and volumized with a sweep of the wand.
**In vitro test on collagen synthesis.

09 How can I bring out the beauty in my eyes?

The Clarins Experts recommend starting with a hydrating and firming eye skincare routine. Start by removing all traces of eye makeup with a gentle cleanser that is specially formulated for the delicate eye area; then follow with the targeted eye moisturizer for your key concerns to smooth your skin for perfect eye makeup application.

Clarins makeup is made for skin. Discover our collections of mascaras, eyeshadows, and eyeliners to enhance the beauty of your eyes—from lids and lashes—plus the best under eye concealer ever.

*For 80% of women - Satisfaction test - reported by 110 women - 60 seconds after the first application.

You might like

Related questions

What can I do about water retention?

Is water retention leaving you feeling puffy and bloated? Read our FAQ to find out everything you need to about water retention.

How do I take care of my mature skin?

Just because you have mature skin, doesn’t mean that it has to look it! Have a look at how Clarins’ anti aging products can help you reduce the risk of premature aging signs.

Why do I need a neck and décolleté skin care product?

Nothing is as aging as a sagging neck and wrinkled décolleté. Read on to find out how your skin care routine can help you maintain a youthful-looking décolleté.

I have dehydrated skin. What are my options?

Clarins shares beauty tips for caring for dehydrated skin, thanks to its targeted range specifically designed to retain moisture and soothe dry skin types.

How do I know if my skin is sensitive?

Blotchy one day; red and irritated the next—your skin reacts to every little thing, becoming dry, very dry, dehydrated, even extra-oily—symptoms that can occur at any age.

What are the benefits of Clarins oils?

Face and body essential oil blends help repair the skin's barrier that keeps moisture in. Keep reading to see which oil for dry skin could work best for you.