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How to Remove Dark Circles from Photos

5 min read
Quick Answer

To remove dark circles from a photo, upload your image to EditThisPic and type 'remove the dark circles under the eyes' or 'brighten the under-eye area.' The AI evens out the skin tone beneath your eyes while keeping the rest of your face natural. Free, no signup.

Why Dark Circles Look Worse in Photos

Cameras pick up more contrast than your eyes do. The thin skin under your eyes sits over blood vessels and hollow bone, creating shadows that direct flash intensifies. Overhead lighting, common in offices and bathrooms, casts downward shadows that deepen the effect. Even well-rested people can look exhausted in photos taken under harsh lighting. AI retouching evens out these shadows without removing the natural depth that makes eyes look real.

Types of Under-Eye Issues the AI Can Fix

  • Dark circles from genetics or thin skin (bluish-purple discoloration)
  • Under-eye bags and puffiness (raised areas below the eyes)
  • Shadows cast by harsh overhead or side lighting
  • Hollow under-eye areas that create deep shadows
  • Discoloration from fatigue, allergies, or aging

How AI Under-Eye Correction Works

The AI analyzes skin tone around and beneath the eyes, then brightens the darker areas to match the surrounding skin. It reduces puffiness by smoothing contour transitions. The correction preserves the natural subtle shadow under the eye so the result doesn't look flat or plastic. It handles asymmetrical dark circles too, adjusting each eye independently.

Keeping It Natural

The goal is 'well-rested,' not 'airbrushed.' Start with 'reduce the dark circles' rather than 'remove all shadows under the eyes.' Some shadow under the eye is natural and removing it entirely makes the face look uncanny. If the first edit is too subtle, ask for more. If it's too strong, say 'make it more subtle — just reduce, don't remove.'

When to Use Under-Eye Retouching

Professional headshots are the most common use case — you want to look alert and polished. Job interview photos, LinkedIn profile pictures, and speaker bios all benefit from a quick under-eye touch-up. Wedding and event photos where you were tired but needed to look your best. Morning-after photos from vacations. Any portrait where harsh lighting made you look more tired than you actually were.

Step-by-Step Guide

1

Upload Your Portrait

Drop your photo into EditThisPic. Headshots, selfies, and portraits all work. The closer the face is to the camera, the more precisely the AI can target the under-eye area.

2

Describe What to Fix

Type 'remove the dark circles under the eyes,' 'brighten the under-eye area,' or 'reduce the bags under the eyes.' Be specific: 'just the left eye' if only one side is dark.

3

Check the Result

Zoom in on the eye area. The skin tone should look even but not flat. Some natural shadow should remain. If the result looks too smooth, ask for 'a more natural look with some texture.'

4

Fine-Tune If Needed

If circles are still visible, try 'brighten the under-eye area more.' If the edit went too far, say 'bring back some of the natural shadow — it looks too flat.' Small adjustments get the best results.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Upload your photo to EditThisPic and type 'remove the dark circles.' The AI brightens the under-eye area and evens out skin tone automatically. It's free with no account required.
Yes. Describe what you see: 'reduce the puffiness under the eyes' or 'smooth out the under-eye bags.' The AI handles both discoloration and raised puffiness.
Not if you keep it subtle. The AI preserves natural skin texture and leaves some shadow so your face doesn't look flat. Start with 'reduce' instead of 'remove completely' for the most natural look.
It does. The AI adjusts the approach based on facial structure. For deeper hollows, it brightens and softens the shadow rather than trying to fill it in. Describe what you want: 'lighten the dark hollows under the eyes.'
Yes. Specify which eye: 'brighten the dark circle under the left eye only.' The AI will adjust one side without touching the other, which is useful when lighting caused uneven shadows.
Harsh overhead or side lighting often causes dark shadows under the eyes that aren't really dark circles at all. The AI fixes these the same way — describe 'reduce the shadows under the eyes' and it will even out the lighting artifact.

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