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It’s no secret that dark under eye bags are one of the most reviled beauty woes across the board. While TikTok has recently birthed a trend of Gen Z teens applying makeup to make their dark circles appear even darker, most people actively work against the deep shadows that dwell under their eyes, recruiting layer after layer of under eye cream and concealer to manufacture brightness.
There is merit to using under eye cream to fade pigmentation and brighten the under eye area, reducing the appearance of dark circles, but if your circles are severe enough it may be worthwhile tailoring your diet and supplement routine to support a brighter complexion as well. Your eating habits and skincare routine should be the first line of defense, but if you’re looking to reduce your dark circles dramatically, there’s one supplement that dermatologists recommend you should be taking.
Vitamin K
Typically found in foods such as cauliflower, tomatoes, and leafy greens, vitamin K is one of the best nutrients to ingest for reducing the appearance of under eye bags. Because of this, it’s especially important to make sure that your diet is well balanced and includes enough of it to support a bright complexion. “If you think that watching your favorite show late into the night is primarily responsible for those dark circles under your eyes, think again. Though tiredness, stress, and lack of sleep often lead to dark circles, the biggest culprit is your diet,” explains dermatologist Dr. Ailynne Marie Vergara-Wijangco MD. “Quite often, it is the deficiency of several nutrients that cause dark circles around your eyes.”
Multiple studies have been conducted on the efficacy of using vitamin K to reduce dark under eye circles, with results revealing that both wrinkles and dark circles were minimized over a 4 week span of using vitamin K. In the study, women were given anti-wrinkle under eye pads containing caffeine and vitamin K, resulting in improved elasticity and appearance of the skin over time. While studies are still being done on how useful taking a vitamin K supplement is for invoking the same effect, it can also work to support your cardiovascular system and even improve bone health.
Great for boosting circulation, vitamin K can help to reduce the appearance of under eye circles by minimizing the appearance of the deep blood vessels that create the dark shadowing. “Vitamin K is another nutrient that is known for its ability to repair damaged skin and heal skin’s injuries. Eating vitamin K on a daily basis will particularly help with the disappearance of your dark circles,” says Vergara-Wijangco.
Leslie Baumann, director of the University of Miami Cosmetic Center, tells WSJ, “vitamin K applications work because dark circles are like bruises. The skin discoloration during bruising is the result of blood leaking out of damaged blood vessels and surfacing to the skin. Similarly, blood vessels under the eyes can burst.” Overall, the consensus is that a topical vitamin K cream may be your best solution.
It may take more than simply relying on a vitamin K supplement to fade deep under eye bags, but in combination with a nutrient dense diet and a solid anti-aging eye cream, there’s hope for reducing the appearance of even the darkest circles. Prioritizing a good night of sleep and staying hydrated is also vital for locking in an even and bright complexion, but starting with vitamin K can make all the difference over time to encourage blood flow so that your under eye bags naturally begin to fade with time.
