How To Plump Up Hollow Under Eyes

Our under eyes are finicky little things. First of all, they can’t keep a secret. Bags? You’ve had a sleepless night, try a soothing eye cream. Dark circles? You’re stressed, try a pair of brightening eye patches. Puffy and red? You’ve been crying, you might want to apply a touch of concealer. Hollowness? Well, this one’s not as straightforward. But our guess? If it’s not genetics, chances are you’re likely due for some internal and external TLC.

What are hollow under eyes?

You know when we cry and our eyes become super puffy? Basically, this is the opposite. Sunken eyes (medically labelled as tear trough hollows) describe the appearance of longer, sunken and shadowed skin that can emerge from underneath our eyes to the top of our cheekbones.

According to Dr. Jonathan Hopkirk, Laser Clinics Global Medical Director, “[hollow eyes] are the changes in the fat pads which support the overlying skin and changes in the skin itself such as reduced elasticity and wrinkling.”

What causes hollow and sunken eyes?

As with most conditions, there isn’t just one cause. “The under eye area (aka the ‘tear trough’), is an area that hollows out with age, on account of changes in the tissues in this area,” Dr. Hopkirk tells bh. This condition can also be exacerbated by genetics or lifestyle factors such as stress, dehydration, smoking, or poor nutrition.

How to get rid of hollow and sunken eyes?

Dermal fillers

“Treatments like dermal fillers in the under eye region, act by ‘filling’ in the areas where there is lost or redistributed volume,” Dr. Hopkirk explains.

“The shadow which is cast by the nasal bridge on the under eye region can appear more pronounced when there is tear trough volume loss. When this area is restored with small amounts of dermal filler, the shadowing and subsequent darkness is significantly softened, leaving the patient looking fresher and less tired.”

So, how do you know whether this is the solution for you? “To be a suitable candidate for restoration of lost volume in this part of the face, it is important that the patient has a true deficiency of volume or ‘hollowness’, as opposed to the illusion of the area being sunken due to darker pigment,” he noted.

Increase your collagen intake

Once we turn 25, our body stops producing collagen naturally. Collagen is a protein that is responsible for the structural integrity of our skin. Without it, our skin can appear thinner, weaker, and on occasion, more rigid. 

Low levels of collagen cause the eyes to sink back into the eye sockets, making them appear hollow. So how do you increase your collagen levels? Try a daily supplement like the Nature’s Way Beauty Collagen Tablets ($30, Woolworths) to keep your skin looking plump and firm.

Retinol eye cream

When it comes to plumping fine lines and wrinkles, a retinol serum will always deliver. However, the vitamin A derivative is typically too strong for the delicate skin under our eyes, particularly when that skin is already looking on the thinner side. The solution? A retinol-infused eye cream. Daily application of an eye cream like the Olay Retinol 24 Eye Cream Fragrance Free ($35.99, Chemist Warehouse) will help to prevent fine lines from forming, which work towards keeping the under eye area looking supple and youthful.

Use makeup to your advantage

With a bit of strategic placement, makeup can enhance the features we love and downplay the parts we don’t. As we’re all across, concealer works to eliminate dark circles and brighten our under eyes. However, if you throw a few extra shades into the mix, you can not only squash the purple hues but also add enough dimension to minimise the appearance of hollowness.

The trick? After you’ve applied your regular concealer, go in again, this time with a concealer that is two to three shades lighter than the deepest point of your under eye, and gently blend the edges outward using a brush.

A combination we’re currently loving is the IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye ($40, Adore Beauty) and Huda Beauty’s Conceal & Blend Complexion Brush ($38, Adore Beauty).

How to fix under eye hollows naturally

If you don’t want to go down the injectables route, let’s begin by ruling out the basics. Hollow eyes can be a repercussion of dehydration. Ensure you’re hitting your adequate daily intake of water, getting eight hours of sleep, and avoiding triggers that severely impact our collagen production like smoking or excessive alcohol intake.

Main image credit: @babskymakeup

Have you experienced hollow under eyes? Do you have any tips to plump them up?