Great expectations: the truth about cosmetic dermatology

Procedure: Under-eye Filler

What it is: Hyaluronic acid shots under the eye—placed carefully between the bone and the muscle—hide dark circles by smoothing contours so light bounces uniformly off the area.

The cost: On average, $600–1,000 every four to six months. Minimal swelling goes away within a day, but bruising can last up to a week.

Editor's take: "I wake up looking refreshed instead of haggard and don't have to wear as much concealer. To minimize bruising, lay off blood-thinning omega-3s, green tea, and aspirin—Tylenol is OK—for the week before."

Insider intel: "If injections are too shallow, then you can get bumps as well as a blue tint. The dermatologist will have to dissolve the filler with a second injection of hyaluronidase and start again."

Faking it: Clé de Peau is a derm and makeup artist favorite to erase even the darkest of circles.

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