The only responsible answer to this question is to say that dark circles under the eyes may be a symptom of something else that needs attention. See a doctor first, get an idea of what you might do better for your own health, and then do it.
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Drink a tall glass of cool water, take a deep breath, and place a damp cloth over your eyes. Sit back and listen to your favorite album. Repeat as necessary.
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It sounds abcolutely crazy, but preparation H is the best best eye-bag remover.
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I'm not too sure about medical treatments, but the best way I know to reduce dark bags is to get more sleep than you are currently.
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Sleep more.

I don't only mean sleep an extra hour on the clock. Sleep on weekends without an alarm clock. You'll find out you have a lot more sleep to catch up than you thought.

That's what helped in my case.
Source(s):
personal experience

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There are some home remedies that may help to diminish the appearance of dark circles under eyes, but you should first know that dark circles under eyes can be due to a number of different factors. The site below lists a lot of different remedies to help diminish the appearance of dark circles as well as what might be causing them.
http://altmedicine.about.com/od/drcathywongsanswers/f/darkcircleseyes.htm
Source(s):
http://altmedicine.about.com/od/drcathywongsanswers/f/darkcircleseyes.htm

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Get enough sleep every night and refrain from smoking. Dark circles under the eyes are usually caused by poor circulation and fatigue.
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There are many creams that claim to able to do this, but all that I have seen have, at best, mixed reviews. Cucumbers, or a cool compress (cold water run over a clean wash cloth and applied to the eyes for a few minutes) have helped mine for a few minutes in the past, but only for a few minutes before the circles returned. Two other fixes:

- Get more sleep
- Improve the quality of the sleep you do get
- Avoid alcohol
- Avoid stress

Rumor has it that some male celebrities have used Preparation-H under their eyes with great success, but I am in no way recommending that.
Source(s):
Web MD
GQ
Glamor

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Here are some options that have been proven effective in treating those dark circles.

Masking with cosmetics:
Quick and reliable, this method simply demands you covering up your dark circles with a yellow base to counteract the blue tones in your skin.

Use your Grandmother's tricks:
Place cool cucumbers or moist, cool tea bags on your eyes. This method is effective in reducing inflammation because of the tannic acid present in the tea.

Eat a healthy diet:
Taking in a diet right in vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamin K is helpful in reducing the dark circles. A combination of topical Vitamin A by products like retinol along with Vitamin K can be also be helpful.
Source(s):
www.skincareresourcecenter.com

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Quick fix: A metal spoon cooled in ice water pressed under the eye to reduce puffiness, and then concealer a shade lighter than your skin tone to cover.

As well as a symptom of too-little sleep, dark circles can sometimes be caused by a vitamin or mineral deficiency. You may want to see your doctor and have your blood tested.

Here is a wikihow article on other tips for getting rids of / causes for dark eye circles: http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Black-Circles-Under-Your-Eyes
Source(s):
http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Black-Circles-Under-Your-Eyes

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As someone who has this problem, I will tell you what several of my "beauty" docs told me. The darkness is caused by the capillaries visible just under the skin below the eyes. This skin is thinner in some people than others. While my docs did not recommend this and were not in favor of it, some doctors have been using injectibles like Restylane in this area. What was most recommended by my docs was lazer surgery which would build up collagen, and thus thicken the skin. I'm being general when I use the term lazer surgery as there are many types of lazer surgery. I'm giving you the gist of the answers I have been given over the years when I've complained about dark,under-eye circles. I wish there was an easy solution like a cream or lotion, but science is science so I'm not about to waste money on expensive eye creams that are not regulated, and therefore do not have to substantiate their advertising claims. To be honest, I should say I have wasted enough money on under-eye creams that had no effect whatsoever.
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1.Cucumber juice is essentially cooling and soothing, and it has mild bleaching properties. Apply it daily to your dark circles, and you will see a difference. However, this is not a permanent remedy.
Just mash a cucumber, with the skin still on it, and apply the juice to your face. Leave it on for at least fifteen minutes, and then wash off. Also, make sure you drink enough water, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep.

2. Apply Vitamin E to the area under your eye. You could open up a Vitamin E capsule, and apply a little oil. Swallow the rest of the oil. This not only helps you get rid of dark circles, but also reduces puffiness around the eyes. In addition, regular application of Vitamin E delays the onset of wrinkles.

3. Apply creams that contain Vitamin C.

4.Are you allergic to something If yes, work on avoiding the allergens.

5. Swallow a capsule of cod liver oil everyday. It strengthens eyes.

6. Take a teaspoon of tomato juice, a few drops of lemon juice, a pinch of turmeric powder and a little flour, enough to make a paste. Apply this paste to the under-eye area, and wash off after fifteen minutes.

7. Drink at least ten glasses of water everyday. There is no stressing this enough. If you do not drink at least eight glasses of water everyday, you are not providing your body with as much water as it requires for flushing out toxins. Do not wait until you are thirsty before drinking up. By the time your body cries I'm thirsty!, you are already severely dehydrated.

8. Avoid stepping out in the sun, especially between noon to four, when the sun is at its strongest. Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes, and the delicate skin around it, from the harmful effects of UV radiation.

9. Apply a cold, used tea bag to your eyes. You could also applied used, cold, herbal tea leaves to your eyes, to sooth them.

10. Apply a concealer to the area under your eyes, to hide dark circles. Use a colour that is every so slightly lighter than the shade of your skin. Apply the concealer gently; do not stretch or pull the skin from this delicate area.

11. Lie down, close your eyes and apply cucumber or potato slices to your lids. Leave on for ten minutes and remove. Wash the area with cold water. This soothes tired eyes instantly, and helps boost blood circulation in the under-eye area.

12. Try out dark circle remover creams available in the market. Make sure they are of a recognized brand before applying them to your face.
Source(s):
http://www.indiaparenting.com/faqs/beauty/dark_circles.shtml

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Supposedly, the only thing out on the market that works is Hylexin - available at Bloomingdales: http://www1.bloomingdales.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=47585&PseudoCat=se-xx-xx-xx.esn_results

My take on it is that it's incredibly pricey - at $95 a tube - and supplements may work just as well.

For a long term strategy, consider taking a multi-vitamin with Vitamin K for a few weeks, and see if you see any difference. (Bonus tip: a vitamin containing Biotin will also strengthen your hair and nails)

For a short term strategy, try putting thin slices of cool aloe on your eyes in the morning, and aloe juice under your eyes in the evening. It will take some of the swelling down, and moisturize enough to potentially prevent the coloration. Be careful to keep your eyes closed, though, and not get any juice *in* them.
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There are two general causes for dark under-eye circles. The first is hereditary. Some people simply have darker skin pigmentation under their eyes. If this is your problem then the only real solution is acceptance or make-up.

The other cause is stress and a lack of sleep. To eliminate it you have to change your sleep habits and work on managing your stress, but to treat it you can use an eye cream that is high in Vitamin K or spot treat with a cold compress. Cucumbers, cold washcloths, and spoons that have been in the freezer for a couple minutes are all common.
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Preparation H (or any other hemorroidal creme) works quite well. They all simply reduce swelling (blood flow) which is exactly what those dark circles are. The dark circles are pools of blood that settle (due to gravity). My sounds kind of disgusting, but it has shown to work quite well.
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@edthedoc

Dave here.. :o)

Dark circles under eyes could be caused by numerous things, mainly lack of proper sleep. A good diet can help as well you may want to start adding more grains and Vitamin D to your daily meals.
A good idea might be to add a little extra milk in your coffee in the morning, it would be great for your teeth as well as it will help with creating less staining.

A rigorous exercise routine can also help bring color and pigment back into your face.

I know the feeling doc of having these circles under eyes it can be and make one feel very self conscious and disconcerting.

You may see people doing silly things like putting cucumber slices on there eyes, while this may help with relaxation of nerves it does very little for creating good color in ones face.

And when the summer hits try getting a tan to blend in some of the attributes of your skin and complexion.

Best of luck to you
Dave

ps: Just another thing i wanted to add, when i say "proper" sleep i'm mainly talking REM sleep (rapid eye movement) the mind and the body are linked, and believe it or not lack of proper "defragmenting' of the brain can cause serious physiological and stressful issues such as acne and pailness in the face and .. you guessed it dark circles under your eyes.

Elli lilly is coming out with a commercial drug that uses a slightly unorthodox approach to helping people sleep by decreasing the PH levels in the body and acting similar to a antihistamine .

Frankly you can get the same affect by smoking a joint or downing a cup full of nightquill.
And while i don't suggest either on any regular bases (THC can kill brain cells people) sometimes the body needs a slight touch of relaxation to help it and the brain calm down.

Everything in moderation my man. good luck
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1. Adequate sleep, defined as " 7 hours" nightly
2. Apply Cool Compresses to the closed eye lid(s) for about 10 seconds, AM and PM. use a cool, wet wash cloth.
3. Artificial Tears, such as "Thera Tears" 2 drops each eye, 4 times a day
Source(s):
I am an Eye Doctor!

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Sleep and good nutrition
Source(s):
Experience

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Dark bags under the eyes are the symptom of a problem, but can be treated: The circles may result from reduced circulation under your eyes. In order to improve circulation, use any facial cream and rub/massage under each eye for 30 seconds each morning and night. You should see a difference in a week or so, depending on how diligent you are in your regimen.
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If you want more than a concealer you need to see your dermatologist. Do not waste time on the "cure" suggested by people.

In the interm these things can help you

Extra Sleep, Cold compresses- temporarily reduces dilated and discolored under-eye blood vessels.Use Extra Pillow-will drian colleection from lover eyelids. Sometimes the reason in sinuses-rinse them with normal saline.
And finally ( I know this is not what you want) cosmetics
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Dark circles may be due to simple-to-treat problems such as iron deficiency, lack of sleep, or hyperpigmentation or something much more serious. Before a proper treatment can be prescribed you first need to know what is the source of your dark circles. Really you should visit a doctor. This is the only responsible answer. Best of luck!
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My wife and I both had them. Hers were dark, and mine were puffy. We're in our late 30's.

We started seeing a chiropractor last year (one that uses Dr. Lerner's Maximized Living program) and among other great improvements, both of our circles are gone.
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http://www.darkcirclesundertheeyes.com/
Source(s):
http://www.darkcirclesundertheeyes.com/

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I have heard that dark circles are either A. Carbon deposits or B. a Vit K Defiencey. Mary Kay makes a scren specially for dark circles, it works for those rare occasions. However, if you have persistent dark circles, this may be sign of a genetic disorder.
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It's really no more than good skin care. It's just that the skin around your eyes is particularly delicate, and shows damage first. So moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! In addition to using a regular facial moisturizer twice per day, consider a product specifically for under-eye use, such as Neutrogena Intensified Eye Moisture. Use this twice a day as well. In addition, follow the normal rules for good skin: eat healthy foods, drink plenty of water, get enough sleep, and protect yourself from the sun.
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There are currently companies that sell a topical form of vitamin b-21. It is one of the best ways to reduce circles if applied to under the eye every morning and night.
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1. Cucumber is very beneficial in reducing dark circles due to its cooling effects. Cut thin slices of cucumber and place them directly over the eyes. Keep them for about fifteen minutes. Do this every night before going to bed. It will give a restful sleep and will reduce the dark circles in the morning. Cucumber slices are very beneficial when the dark circles are caused due to stress.

2. Dip cotton pieces in water and place them over the eye. Here water is the treating agent. Its coolness soothes the eyes. A better effect can be achieved by using rose water instead of simple water.

3. The peel of a potato can also be placed on the eye. Do this every night before going to sleep. Since potato peels can attach better to the eyelids, this method is preferable over cucumber slices.

4. Almond oil massage is beneficial in case you are suffering from dark circles. Ideally, the massage must be done at night time, and the eyes must not be opened after that until morning. So, this must be done when going to bed.

5. Prepare a paste of nutmeg in milk. Apply this on and around the eyelids before going to bed.

6. You can even put used tea bags around the eyes to get good results. The alkaloids in the tea help to renew the skin around the eyes.
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As many people have been saying, sleep is important. I tend to find that when I sleep more the darkness beneath my eyes lessens. However, it is important to note that increasing the hours you spend in bed won't necessarily increase the quality of those sleep hours. If you are the kind of person that often wakes up during the night, or tends to wake up achy, then you may not be getting enough deep sleep. You should consult a physician for specifics relating to you, especially since the darkness may be the result of a more serious condition (e.g. a sleep disorder, skin condition such as eczema, or circulatory problem). Common problems leading to poor sleep quality include sleep apnea and other breathing abnormalities (if you snore a lot this might be an issue), as well as sleeping in uncomfortable positions.

I've found that sleeping with a pillow at the small of my back helps me sleep better. If you have back problems, something along those lines might help (or perhaps a higher quality mattress).

There are lots of 'vegetable-on-the-face' remedies that some people claim as miracle cures. If they work for you, great. But in all honesty, the main benefit of these vegetables is to act as cool, slow release compress loaded with water. There may be certain vitamins and minerals that provide a benefit as well, but taking a daily vitamin and maybe using a vitamin-enriched skin lotion should provide about the same effect. As for creams and such, the only thing I've tried is a vitamin K gel called Vita-K (yes, an extremely inventive name, I know). It seems to work mildly well as a quick fix (and this could have been a placebo effect), but I wouldn't say it's a long term solution. There is some underlying cause for the dark areas.

If you've had them all your life, it's probably genetic.

If they've become gradually more pronounced, it's probably age-related and may be treated with a change in diet and exercise, as well as improved sleep habits. Increase water intake; take a daily vitamin.

If the spots have appeared all of a sudden, then it could be an illness or a sudden change of lifestyle that has caused them (e.g. increase in stress or activity level).

Without knowing more about the specifics it's difficult and imprudent to offer a guaranteed remedy. And of course, it would be optimal to seek the advice of your physician as he/she will have much better insight into your individual needs and physical status.
Source(s):
personal experience, a general knowledge of the human body, and a little web browsing to confirm my suspicions

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Dark circles under is often a symptom of thyroid deficiency. It's common, and easily diagnosed, and simple to treat. Your doctor is the best starting point.
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According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, these "bags" are indicative of various imbalances. I'll go down the list and Tx protocol.
Brown circles: Indicate a deficiency in the "Blood" related to the O2 Ion transport by red blood cells. This is associated with a liver function imbalance which includes Liver, gall bladder and pancreas. The Tx is to clean liver toxicity, remove toxins (free radicals) clean up the colon, and restore the blood quality. This requires herbal remedies and acupuncture.

Blue/Black Circles: This indicates a deficiency in the "Kidney/water" function. Typically associated with adrenal cortex exhaustion ( Kidney Yang Chi) or long term debilitation (Kidney Yin/Jing Chi). Tx protocols include adrenal cortex supplements, panthothenic acid supplementation, herbs for Kidney chi deficiency (yin&yang). Avoidance of hot and spicy foods which stress kidney function. Stress, exhaustion, insufficient sleep, diet and drugs/alcohol all contribute to this presentation.

Blue/Black w/ lower lid swollen: This indicates water rentention and bladder issues. The sodium/potassium balance is disrupted, potential causes are impaired circulation, high cholesterol, diabetic capillary impairment, renal disfunction, hormonal imbalance of adrenal hormones.

These presentations should be diagnosed by a competent practioner who can develop the best treatment plan for your particular conditon.
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I fixed the dark circles around my eyes with lifestyle changes. I always believed there is an underlying cause and once that is dealt with, then the symptoms disappear. It sounds like you are looking for a permanent cure from the inside out, not just a cover up. If you are looking for a long term solution, this answer may help you.

Dark circles around the eyes are caused by diet-related food allergies. Obviously sleep makes the eyes look puffy but I don't think more sleep is your answer, rather your long-term answer is making dietary changes. What kind of diet changes? You need to eliminate from your diet the foods you are allergic to. Personally, gluten causes dark circles around my eyes. My spouse is allergic to sugar. Both of us, without fail, will get dark circles when we eat food that we are allergic to. FYI - 75% of all Caucasians are allergic to gluten.

So how did I determine my food allergies? I visited an experienced nutritionist. The nutritionist tested me for food allergies by using applied kinesiology, aka muscle testing. At first, I thought applied kinesiology was hocus pocus but it has experientially shown, in myself, my spouse, and our friends, to be spot on accurate.

The other part is strengthening the body to flush toxins. Getting to bed by 10PM, eating more organic veggies, drinking purified water, rebuilding gut health with probiotics, and supplementing are also important parts to long term resolution of dark circles around the eyes. But without fail, when I eat a gluten containing food the dark circles will start to come back. :)

So your inside-out solution is to locate a nutritionist and eliminate the foods you are allergic to and then as a bonus rebuild your gut health with probiotics, eat organic fruit and veggies, and supplement. Your dark circles will be eliminated and you’ll also notice an extra energy boost.
Source(s):
Personal Experience
www.bodyecology.com
www.mercola.com
www.naturalnews.com

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Get more sleep.
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Straight Dope was asked about the Preparation H solution, and they didn't experience helpful results. Their tips were:

(1) Sleep with your head slightly elevated to minimize fluid retention.
(2) Avoid booze and salty foods, which can cause water retention.
(3) If you have allergies, take antihistamines and don't rub your eyes.
(4) Remove any makeup carefully to avoid getting particles in your eyes.
(5) To avoid dryness that can lead to irritation and puffiness, use a moisturizer. If nothing works and this is a chronic condition, cosmetic surgery may be your only recourse.
Source(s):
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1308/does-preparation-h-cure-baggy...

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I have had dark circles, with no puffiness, since early childhood. As a kid, I wasn't stressed, sleepy, drinking coffee or any of the other things mentioned in this thread.

My solution is to pinch my cheeks to draw attention to my facial structure rather than focusing attention below the eyes. All the women in my family have dark circles from a young age, my great grandmother Ella encouraged the cheek pinching route. It's worked for me. My most common compliment is about "my beautiful eyes". (Fair skin, light hair, light eyes)
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This is a pretty open Question , honestly.. So do forgive my long response , but I do not always think covering up a symptom will get long term results, I think it wiser to see a symptom as a clue to some changes that may be needed .. So. here is my take on it .. The body speaks in patterns and if you learn the patterns , you may learn to decipher the messages .. So your dark eyes , are a message from your body (if they have suddenly changed , and it is not genetics , or old age setting in ) :) .. I thin kit wise to do enough investigation to get to the root cause , rather than just suppress the only means of communication your body has.. This is similar to taking pain killers when you have a leg injury , yes your leg will feel better , but if you go on walking on it , it wont have the rest it needs to heal ... So there are several very obvious routes of investigation , some of which have already been mentioned .... Sleep and diet being the easiest and most immediately accessible options .. insure your are getting enough sleep for your self ... This is fairly obvious , but hard to change if you are working for a living , have a spouse or children or other commitments .. you must balance all this out ,IE do you REALLY need to watch the Sunday late movie ...Now physiologically speaking , dark circles under the eyes often do relate to liver function and as the liver is one of your organs relating to detoxification, you will want to make dietery choices which will support it .. high fiber , low fat , omegas , b12 .. and REALLY important .. WATER.. not gallons and gallons , but at least a good 2.5 liters a day if you don't move much , more if you are active , or in hotter weather .. Water will help your body clean out the junk , fiber is like little brooms to sweep out junk in the body.. and a health diet will not hurt you if the cause is something else entirely .. I would find a good detox diet which includes plenty of green leafy veggies as a start ..

Blood tests can show the level of liver enzymes, clotting factors and other indicators of inflammation or damage. Such tests can declare normal markers as relating to specific disease states, yet clinical signs of sub-optimal function can still persist. Compromised liver health is evident when there are a cluster of symptoms, such as several of the following:

• Nausea, queasiness, bloating, burping, intestinal gas, or bowel problems (especially if stool is green, grey, or pale clay colour, or sticky and difficult to flush); dark urine.

• Low tolerance to high fat meals, large meals, or alcohol; craving for sweet foods; numerous allergies.

• Yellow tinge to the whites of the eyes, palms or other skin areas.

• Itchy skin or eyes, skin disorders (such as eczema, acne, or brown ‘liver spots’).

• Easy bruising or bleeding.

• High LDL cholesterol levels, sluggish metabolism, easy weight gain, poor blood sugar regulation.

• Fatigue, muddled thinking, depression or irritability.

• Overheated body temperature or hot flushes.

• Recurrent viral infections (or a history of hepatitis or glandular fever).

• Chronic inflammation such as hormonal (menstrual, menopausal or prostate problems), arthritis, diabetes, auto-immune disorders, chronic fatigue syndrome, conditions marked by pain and reddening.

Your busy liver has over 500 jobs to accomplish. As a chemical factory it takes the amino acids constituent to the proteins you eat, and like a master craftsperson forms these into new protein structures such as skin, blood, clotting factors, hormones, enzymes, neurotransmitters, and antibodies (helping you resist infection). Saving some of the glucose from your carbohydrates, the liver stores this in its tissue – otherwise you would have to eat every moment of every day for fuel. Under stress your adrenal hormones instruct the liver to release this sugar for any real or presumed emergency.

It labours to detoxify poor quality fats, and to convert valuable ones into protective tissue especially high in the brain. It transforms the beta-carotene in foods into vitamin A and stores this along with D, E, K, B12 and iron. One of the liver’s main functions is to scrutinise every drop of blood delivered from your intestines. With its enzymes it tries to break down alcohol, medicines and all the harmful substances you’ve absorbed or manufactured.

The liver also manufactures most of your cholesterol needs. This maligned substance is vital for a firm, healthy membrane to every cell, and for making adrenal and sex hormones. Most cholesterol is used to produce a significant greenish, yellow fluid called bile. Your diet may already be exceptional but how you feel in consequence depends on how well you break down and absorb the nutrients from that food. Every time your food enters the small intestine - the main area for digestion and absorption - the liver signals its storage sac the gall bladder to release bile into the area. This helps with the breakdown of fat, and with the absorption of the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. It is also a key mechanism for the liver to discard any impurities for elimination through bowel function.

This rubbish disposal method can tidily get rid of excess LDL cholesterol, downgraded or deactivated hormones (or their poorly broken down metabolites can lead to menstrual, menopausal, prostate or abnormal growth problems: fibroids, endometriosis, PCOS, cancer), heavy metals (such as lead, aluminium, mercury) and all the toxic wastes from your trillions of factory-like cells. But if there was no soluble fibre in your meal or snack then those wastes get reabsorbed and sent back for storage in your already over-worked liver. Top soluble fibre sources are needed to form an inseparable bond with the contents and eliminate them. Breakfast is an ideal time due to the many hours since the liver had a chance to discharge. Breakfast can be something like oatmeal with linseeds , rice bran and fresh fruit , and have top sources at least one other meal per day.

Basicly to recap, if you dont have any luck on your own , switch to high gear , get a doctor to do a blood test , and if your anywhere near high or low end of what is considered normal ranges .. please consider dietary options as above , if blood an dliver fuction comes back well within range , still good idea to consider sleep and diet ..

Remember these are little tiny blood vessels , , smoking for example will dramatically decrease the ablity of these blood vessels to stop from breaking , thus you can get a "bruised" look .. vit C is very useful in maintaining cellular integrity .. if the problem relates to thinness of the skin , the b12 group along with a vit k based oil appied externally can support the health of your skin .. other substances which help with this are "good" fats .. aka Omegas 6, 8 , ect ...think Dark , oily fish ( salmon for example) Veggie option? flax seed oils and evening primrose both are available in capsule form , or can be made into healthy salad dressing.. Basiclly you want to do two thigns , prevent further damage -- and support your body in it's natural desire to be healthy
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