Removing dark under circles is a common goal, probably affecting millions.

Some people appear to be especially sensitive to this problem: With otherwise lovely complexions, they are constantly embarrassed by the dark half moons under their eyes. Those people usually inherited the tendency to develop those dark areas.

You may be one of those sensitive people. Probably just as often, the dark circles are actually a part of the other very common problem -- puffiness and bags under the eyes. Surgery and injections can help, but both have to be repeated over and over. Also, both have side effects, and both are relatively costly. Whatever the cause, removing dark under eye circles naturally is the only way that really works over the long term.

Here is how to do it successfully.

-- Quick first aid won't last -- that's why it's called first aid -- but for temporary relief, you can try the classic home remedy, cool slices of cucumber placed on the dark spots under the eyes, for five to 20 minutes. Another one is an ice cube, wrapped in a face cloth, over each eye. Both are soothing and relaxing, and they can make your eyes feel better, and probably look a little better -- when you want to do something right now!

Removing the circles long-term

-- I'm convinced that doing the right things for your overall health is great for your skin, too. So I always suggest that better nutrition is necessary. Making better food choices is a big help for most people. Cutting way back on sugars and starches reduces the skin-damaging process called glycation. This process, very important but little known, begins when a sugar molecule attaches to a healthy protein molecule, and becomes a destructive "sticky" molecule that forms clumps and chains.

Glycation is the process behind most of our lost collagen that undermines the skin everywhere -- and it often shows up under the eyes first.

-- A good supplement containing at least 50 mg of Carnosine (not Carnitine) is a great idea. Carnosine is the only natural supstance found to both prevent glycation and stop it when it's already begun.

The effective skin care treatments for dark circles are modern refinements of natural substances. The ones that have proven their effectiveness:

-- Haloxyl reduced dark circles under the eyes by more than 60 percent. It removes hemoglobin, accumulated from leaking blood vessels under the eyes, and improves circulation in the area.

-- Eyliss showed marked improvement in puffiness under the eyes in more than 60 percent of study volunteers in four weeks. It strengthened the tiny blood vessels called capillaries (to reduce the leaking), improved circulation of lymph under the eyes (to reduce puffiness) and improved the firmness and elasticity of the skin.

-- Homeo Age, a Canadian algae extract, reduced wrinkles under the eyes and stimulated skin cell growth by 25 percent in this delicate skin area.

There you have it, the core of the skin care treatment I recommend for removing dark under eye circles naturally.