Puffiness around the eyes is common with aging as the tissue structures and muscles supporting the eyelids weaken. Normal fat that helps support the eyes can then move into the lower eyelids, causing the lids to appear puffy. Puffiness is worst in the morning as fluid can also pool during the night in the area surrounding the eyes and by the afternoon, can resolve itself by draining. Drinking copious amounts of alcohol or eating lots of salty foods can lead to dehydration and in turn, cause the body to retain water in places such as under the eyes.

Factors that may worsen puffiness include:

• Allergies
• Diet (high in alcohol or salt)
• Fluid retention (especially upon waking or after a salty meal)
• Genetics
• Lack of sleep
• Smoking

Dark under-eye circles for people with darker skin tones are caused by extra pigment around the eye area, creating a colour generally shades darker both on the eyelid and under the eye. For individuals with a lighter complexion, the skin around the eye can become translucent and underlying veins are visible, creating a purple or bluish colour.
A lack of sleep can trigger venous congestion (fluid build-up leading to pooled blood in superficial blood vessels) making dark circles look even darker when tired. The trough between the inner corner of the eye and the cheekbones can suffer fat loss or deepen with age, any time from the age of about 25.
Common causes for darkness under the eyes include:

• Aging (causing the skin to thin, as well as the loss of fat and collagen)
• Allergies
• Contact dermatitis
• Fatigue
• Genetics
• Hay fever
• Skin tone
• Sun exposure