Dark circles can come from hollows, thin skin, pigmentation, shadows, or a mix of all three.
Because causes are different, choosing the right treatment—Filler or Skin Booster—can dramatically change whether results look natural or unnatural.

This guide breaks down how each treatment works, what type of dark circles they improve, and which option is right for you.

What Causes Dark Circles? (The Real Reason Matters)

Before choosing treatment, it’s important to understand why dark circles appear:

• Hollowness (tear trough volume loss → shadow)
• Thin skin (blue/purple veins show through)
• Pigmentation (brown/blue discoloration)
• Poor elasticity (creases, wrinkles)
• Under-eye fatigue / dehydration

Filler and skin boosters treat completely different problems, so choosing the wrong one can make dark circles worse.

Under-Eye Filler: Best for Hollow Tear Troughs

Under-eye filler uses a soft hyaluronic acid filler to restore lost volume under the eyes.

What It Does

• Fills hollow tear troughs
• Reduces shadows caused by volume loss
• Smooths the transition between under-eye and cheek
• Softens tired, sunken appearance

Best For

• Shadowy dark circles
• Deep hollows
• Sunken under-eye contours
• Early aging volume loss

Result Style

• Brighter under-eye
• Youthful, rested look
• Immediate correction

Pros

• Fast improvement
• Very effective for hollow-based dark circles
• Long-lasting (6–12 months)

Cons

• Not good for thin skin if overfilled
• Can cause puffiness if too much product is used
• Requires high skill for natural results

If your dark circles come from a shadow caused by a hollow, filler works best.

Skin Booster: Best for Thin, Crepey, or Pigmented Under-Eyes

Skin boosters include treatments like:

• Rejuran I
• Exosome boosters
• HA micro-boosters
• PN/HA blends
• Skinvive-type hydrating boosters

These treatments do not add volume; instead, they improve skin quality.

What They Do

• Strengthen thin under-eye skin
• Reduce fine lines and crepey texture
• Improve hydration
• Brighten mild pigmentation
• Increase elasticity

Best For

• Thin, translucent skin
• Blue/purple tone from visible veins
• Fine lines + crepey texture
• Mild pigment-based dark circles
• People who don’t want volume

Result Style

• Softer, smoother, brighter under-eyes
• More natural improvement over time

Pros

• No risk of “puffy filler look”
• Strengthens skin barrier
• Safe for thin under-eye skin

Cons

• Doesn’t correct hollowness
• Multiple sessions needed
• Results are gradual

If your dark circles come from thin skin or mild pigmentation, skin boosters work better.

Filler vs Skin Booster: Which Works Better for Dark Circles?

Choose Under-Eye Filler If Your Dark Circles Are:

• Hollow
• Shadowed
• Sunken
• Deep tear trough
• Tired-looking due to lack of volume

Filler fixes shadows, not pigmentation.

Choose Skin Boosters If Your Dark Circles Are:

• Thin-skinned
• Veiny or blue-purple
• Crepey or wrinkled
• Mildly pigmented
• Caused by weak elasticity

Skin boosters fix texture, thickness, brightness, not volume.

Can You Combine Both? (The Korean Method)

Yes — and it’s often the most natural approach.

Korean dermatologists frequently use:

Step 1 — Skin Booster (Rejuran I or Exosomes)

Strengthens thin skin → reduces darkness and fine lines.

Step 2 — Minimal Filler

Adds subtle volume only where hollows exist.

This prevents the overfilled under-eye look and produces a smoother, more youthful finish.

Which Looks More Natural?

Skin Booster → Most Natural

• No bulk
• No puffiness
• Improves skin quality gradually

Filler → Natural Only When Used Correctly

• Very small amounts
• Soft filler
• Skilled injector

When done poorly, under-eye filler can look puffy or unnatural.
When done well, it can dramatically reduce shadows without looking “done.”

Final Verdict

Filler is best for:

• Hollow tear troughs
• Shadow-based dark circles
• Sunken, tired appearance

Skin Boosters are best for:

• Thin or crepey under-eye skin
• Bluish discoloration
• Texture issues
• Mild pigmentation

Best Results:

➡️ Filler + Skin Booster combination for both shadow and texture.
This is the signature Korean approach for natural, bright under-eyes.