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Nothing makes us look more knackered than bruise-like dark circles and puffy eyes. But what's really causing them? We get the truth, and reveal tips and tricks to banish the bags for good.

At around 0.33mm thick, the skin around your eyes is three to five times thinner than the rest of the face . That means the area is lacking in all the juicy collagen and elastin that protects and plumps skin. And, according to Guinness World Records, the eye's six muscles make around 100,000 micro-movements a day, so it's the area that gets the biggest workout. Tired eyes? Literally.

The eye area has very few oil glands, which makes it naturally dry and weakens its hydrolypidic film [a protective cover made of sweat, sebum and water]. These factors, plus movement and thinness, mean the area is prone to lines. It's also usually missed when applying SPF [the best topical defence against visible skin ageing].

What Can Make Your Eye Bags And Dark Circles Worse?

Eyes are sensitive, and they're particularly reactive to changes of fluid levels in the body, which results in puffiness. 'Gravity can also make a notable difference,' explains consultant dermatologist Dr Justine Hextall, 'so sleeping with your face down can exacerbate eye swelling and bags.'

Our skin, muscles and bones naturally change as we get older, making it more difficult to manage. 'The skin starts to sag and underlying fat becomes prominent, causing significant eye bags, wrinkles and dark circles.'

What You Can Do To Make Your Eye Bags And Dark Circles Better?

Give the area around your eyes a daily massage to get the lymphatic system working (a network of tissues and organs that help drain toxins). 'The extremely delicate eye area should be treated as gently as baby's skin', advises facialist Teresa Tarmey. Here's how:

1. Apply eye cream to your fingertips to prevent friction.

2. Always start in the inner corner of your eye and move outwards.

3. Use your finger and thumb to lightly pinch the skin as you move along, improving microcirculation.

This is simply a great value jade roller to team with a face oil for a seriously soothing massage.

Sure, it looks a little scary, but this celeb-approved contraption is the holy grail for any habitual jaw-clencher.

Studded with nodules, the four massage wheels treat the jawline using a firm but comfortable kneading technique, which mimics the fingertips and knuckles, bringing blood to the surface and unravelling tight muscles.

Angela Caglia's rose-quartz roller is the A-list massage tool of choice (Courtney Cox loves hers so much, she's been papped using it on a dinner date).

Turns out, our favourite Friend might be onto something: the 6000 sonic vibrations it emits per minute can undo tension in the tightest of jawlines, coaxing your natural bone structure back to the fore. Think of it as super-charged lymphatic drainage.

If you're not on a Hollywood star's salary, the brand's manual non-vibrating roller is excellent, too.

Don't buy this one for the 'anti-wrinkle' promises (it won't erase lines, nor does it need to), but invest for the way it shifts puffiness and bags while feeling really rather nice, too.

This smart massage roller is crafted from Zamac metal, so stays cool as you run it over tired eyes and puffy cheeks. The double-pronged top is precisely crafted to grab and lift the facial muscles, draining fluid while lifting and sculpting, and the tiny individual roller is perfect for use around the eyes.

This is definitely the best value jade roller on the market, and it makes a great option for those new to face rolling. It's sturdy enough to deliver a satisfying massage, and glides perfectly over a calming face oil (like this one).

Teresa Tarmey is one of London's most in-demand facialists, so naturally her new at-home product line is a step up from most.

Plated in antibacterial 24kt gold, this vibrating facial massager is designed to offer double-duty benefits, both increasing the absorption rate of a serum and encouraging lymphatic drainage. The results? Better efficacy from your favourite product, and noticeably reduced puffiness. With toxins prevented from stagnating around the face, you may even see a reduction in breakouts, too.

A pocket-sized option, this mini roller is ideal for taking on weekends aways. It's two-pronged, so lifts and drains brilliantly, and can be used with any facial oil for maximum pampering appeal.

This cheap and cheerful ice roller will come in handy once those festive parties arrive: keep it in your freezer and it'll instantly wake up overtired skin (and a groggy head). What late night?

This set is a great introduction to the circulation-boosting benefits of cupping. Simply place the silicone 'cups' over your face, before gently moving them in outwards motions to kick-start that all-important lymph flow.

Facialist Ada Ooi is famed for her transformative face-sculpting powers, and now you can reap (some of the) benefits at home with her line of gua-sha stones, face massagers and cryotherapy tools.

These chilly globes are designed to boost blood flow around the eyes without proving too cold for the delicate skin. Fresh from your fridge, they'll be just the right temperature to shift toxins and brighten dark circles.

This tiny yet effective tool is brilliant for tension relief, both at home and on the go. It's specifically shaped to be pressed against the face's key acupressure zones, relieving stiffness and lymph blockages. A great one for gifting.

Make-up artist Jillian Dempsey sourced these vibrating face tools from Japan, where she first discovered their cheekbone-chiselling powers. Plated in 24kt gold, it's a luxurious option that'll help drain puffiness from the eyes, cheeks and jawline.

With its two icy steel face rollers, Beauty Bio's massager is best saved for the morning after that very late night.

Not only does Omorovicza's pink roller look pretty, the natural (not dyed) rose-quartz stone is said to help instil a calming energy. Failing that, the mind-soothing rolling motion is sure to set your chakras straight.

For serious lifting effects, opt for a double-pronged roller, as they'll 'grab' and manipulate the skin much more effectively. This cooling metal device mimics the action of an expert facialist's knuckles, firmly kneading your skin to firm and tone for that post-pro facial lift. Simply roll over clean skin or after applying a serum to help tired skin defy gravity.

If product absorption is your primary aim, give this one a go. Apply your favourite serum directly onto the cool metal tip, place it on your skin, and it'll vibrate until it detects that all moisture has been soaked up.

It may not look like much, but investing in Hayo'u's Beauty Restorer might just be the best thing you ever do for your skin and your stress levels.

As part of an evening skincare routine (preferably after slathering on a luxe moisturiser or facial oil), press and stroke the cool metal against your skin for a minute or so. It has the clever ability to bring down inflammation and to kick-start micro-circulation at the skin's surface. More blood flow = plump, pillowy skin.

What Causes Eye Bags And Dark Circles?

...directs blood to essential organs, leaving you with a paler complexion that makes dark circles more noticeable.

...slows down our blood and circulation, which shows around the eyes as puffiness and dark shadows.

...can manifest itself around the eyes with almost bruised rings.

...are the worse culprits for causing fluid retention, resulting in temporary eye puffiness.

...can cause constant puffiness. Wheat in particular has been known to contribute to dark circles.

...that dilate blood vessels can increase blood flow around eyes, which causes shadows.

...play a huge part in dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles.

...leads to dehydration, which leaves eyes inflamed and irritated.

How To Cover Dark Circles And Eye Bags Using Make-Up

Are the pigment of oxygenated blood showing through thin skin. It gathers during sleep, which is why blue or purple circles can be more prominent in the morning. Cover them up with a yellow- or pink-toned colour corrector, such as Dior Fix It Colour in Yellow, £25, or Giorgio Armani Master Corrector in Rose, £30.

Are the result of decreased proteins and lipids, which are related to your genes, excessive sun exposure or behavioural factors. Cover them up with a peach-toned colour corrector, such as Urban Decay Naked Skin Colour Correcting Fluid in Peach (for fairer skin tones) or Deep Peach (for darker skin tones), £19.50 each.

If you prefer sticking to skincare over make-up but still have stubborn redness that you want to ditch, Dr Jart's cult Tiger Grass Colour Correcting Treatment is your perfect middle ground.

A make-up artist favourite for disguising rosacea, it works brilliantly to unify the tone across larger areas of the face, such as rosy cheeks. Use the warmth of your hands to melt the dense cream into skin, and watch as the slightly worrying green tint transforms into a bright, radiant beige.

A colour-correcting setting powder is a smart option for anyone with oily skin. Givenchy's tonal quad contains four colour-correcting pastel shades that together mattify, blur, and improve the overall texture and radiance of your skin. Use it to lock a liquid foundation in place while keeping your skin looking bright.

When the news broke that beloved beauty brand Becca was to close last year, loyal fans frantically stockpiled one product in particular. The brand's Under Eye Brightening Corrector was so enduringly popular, in fact, sister brand Smashbox has resurrected it, much to our delight.

When it comes to balancing and brightening dark circles, nothing comes close to this sheer, light-reflecting balm. Dab it on with a light hand (less really is more) and you'll soon see what the fuss is all about.

For those big nights out, this palette is your best ally. Loreal's pigment-packed creams are easy to blend and, once they're on, only the toughest of cleansers will be able to melt them off.

Press on the lavender shade to neutralise yellow tones, dab the green to counteract any redness and multi-task with the peachy toned concealers to hide those inevitable dark circles. It's as easy as one, two, three.

Erborian's tinted CC creams are a beauty hero for very good reason. The green-tinged version makes light work of unifying a redness-prone complexion, and even contains SPF 25 for crucial protection. Switch your foundation out in favour of this clever formula, and we're certain you'll soon be hooked.

Another solid choice for masking the signs of a late night, Beauty Pie's colour corrector offers full coverage yet feels weightless on skin. The peachy hue will counteract blueish shadows, while the fatty acid-rich formula will keep skin hydrated and prevent creasing (even when you've been squinting at a screen for 8 hours).

Yes, this does look like a lab sample out of Jurassic Park, and to be honest we think it's nearly as clever. A multi-tasking product (as the name suggests), this primer colour corrects and smooths your base while tackling a host of tonal troubles, from dullness to patchy pigmentation. Reach for this one when you're going for the full glam.

Trust Fenty to create an under-eye brightener that works on every single skin tone. The brand's Bright Fix Eye Brightener comes in a whole host of peachy tones, so there's bound to be one that balances out your dark circles. It's long-wearing and sweat-proof, so a good option for anyone that needs their make-up to work extra hard.

This richer-than-most colour corrector is brilliant for spot-concealing small areas of uneven tone. The four warm, peachy shades work especially well around the eyes, neutralising sallow skin in a single swift swipe. For the best coverage, try using your ring finger to gently pat the product into the skin without rubbing.

This all-in-one palette contains every colour-correcting shade you could need: there's even a brown-toned bisque that works as a contour. The formulas are dense and dry enough to last all day, and work best when used to spot-treat smaller areas: think those pesky thread veins and acne scars.

This under-the-radar product is a holy grail for so many rosacea-prone people: those in the know simply will not be without it. The green tinged cream is instantly soothing and contains SPF50 alongside redness-neutralising pigment. Use it sparingly across your entire face, and you might just be tempted to ditch the foundation altogether.

This yellow-toned colour corrector works brilliantly to neutralise blue veins and very sallow shadows. It boasts real staying power too: simply blend it beneath your eyes after SPF and before foundation to look remarkably wide-awake (even when you're not).

Trust MAC to create a colour-correcting palette worthy of any make-up pro. With two correctors and four concealers, this one allows for maximum customisation, ensuring you get a seamless cover on every single part of your face.

Another great option for oily skin types , Clinique's Redness Solutions fluid offers an all-over approach to colour correcting.

This oil-free foundation has been formulated to neutralise any existing redness as well as any flushing that might crop up throughout the day. Uncontrollable blushing at an unexpected meet-cute? It's got you covered.

Bobbi Brown's brand-new bisque correctors are designed to blend sallow skin into the background – and boy are they effective. The intensely creamy stick melts straight in and looks completely undetectable. Layer it up with the corresponding concealer for extra impact, or wear it simply alone as a subtle skin-brightener.

This punchy red colour corrector is the perfect shade for brightening skin tones as the deepest end of the spectrum. Blend it beneath your eyes and around your nose, and try it on patches of dark pigmentation too.

Merging the unifying effects of a colour-corrector with active skincare benefits, Indeed Labs' formula is intended to be applied all over the skin after moisturising, and can we worn by itself or underneath make-up.

It's skincare credentials are seriously impressive, from moisturising squalane, peptides and antioxidants to improve your skin's texture instantly and over time.

Pixi's peachy corrector is ideal for any areas of the face that tend to look dull or sallow – especially those sunken under-eye shadows. It's light and radiant, yet tricks the light brilliantly well, making you look bright-eyed at any hour. A solid choice for a natural make-up look.

With multi-functionality at its core, Live Tinted's Huestick quadruples as an eye, lip and cheek stick as well as a colour corrector. The orange tone and the demi-matte finish work together to seamlessly camouflage dark circles and hyperpigmentation, leaving an undetectable skin-like finish. Why carry several products, when you can have one that does it all?

Cream colour correctors tend to dominate the field but the texture isn't for everyone, which is where Illamasqua steps in. With two warm shades and a colour correcting strip in the middle, this pressed powder doubles up to bronze and even out skin tone in one fell swoop of your brush.

Just as the scent of lavender instantly calms our frazzled minds, this pastel-purple primer works to soothe the appearance of inflamed skin. Trust it to eradicate redness and give pale skin tones a cool, porcelain sheen. It works especially well under foundation, so keep it in your kit for full-glam days.

For those mornings when skin refuses to wake up, apply this primer before your foundation to give skin an instant lightbulb moment. The anti-pollution complex protects skin from environmental aggressors we face on our daily commute to fight against dullness.

Hero Ingredients That Can Help Eye Bags And Dark Circles

Caffeine-infused eye creams constrict blood vessels and can help diminish purple and blue shadows and reduce puffiness.

Hyaluronic acid is a master at attracting water molecules, plumping out lines and reducing dark circles.

Vitamin E soothes and strengthens the skin's defence system against free radical aggressors.

Vitamin A, or retinol, is a powerhouse at reducing fine lines by boosting collagen and encouraging the creation of new cells. However, it's essential to choose an eye-friendly formula.

Peptides are a gentle option if your skin can't tolerate retinol.