That’s OK—there are plenty of other ways to get rid of those pesky half-moons, both for the long and short term. Ahead, we asked experts how to target the circles at their source. There’s a pervasive notion that men’s skin is “thicker” or “tougher” than women’s—so you might wonder whether men experience less severe half-moons. But let’s unpack this myth: Research has noted that the dermis (aka where elastin and collagen are produced), is 10 to 20% thicker in men than in women1, which is why many believe men experience fewer visible signs of aging, like fine lines. But the thickness of the stratum corneum (aka, the outer layer of the skin or epidermis) is the same in men and women. So we can’t exactly say that men’s skin, overall, is thicker or tougher—and, thus, they can totally experience under-eye circles in similar ways. In fact, board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, M.D., notes that men have some structural differences that may make dark circles even more of an issue down the line: “Men generally have a broader face with less forward projection of the cheek,” he says. “As a result, with age, men commonly tend to show hollowness under the eyes, perhaps even more so than women.” “The nighttime is your body’s most important regeneration time,” integrative medicine physician Bindiya Gandhi, M.D., once shared with mbg. “Most notably, the skin sees a surge in HGH (human growth hormone) in the nighttime sleep cycle. The release of HGH helps rebuild body tissues2 and spurs increased cell production to replace cells that were damaged throughout the day. When your body doesn’t get this precious sleeping time, skin looks more sallow, tired, and the blood vessels underneath peek through, causing the mauve, purple, or brown color synonymous with dark circles.” You’ll also want to try to manage internal inflammation, if you can, as well as avoid directly irritating the area. Notes Zeichner, excess pigment “can occur after chronic rubbing of the skin or even inflammation from allergies.” They shouldn’t replace your eye cream and consistent skin care routine—use them like you would a sheet mask for extra nourishment. That said, feel free to use these soothing treatments whenever you feel like leveling up (and here are our favorite picks).
