The under-eye area is probably the most well-known place to apply concealer. After all, what's concealer if not a reliable quick fix for stubborn under-eye circles? To help brighten up tired-looking eyes, apply concealer beneath the hollow of your under-eye wherever there's any obvious darkness or discoloration.
Always apply your foundation all over before applying concealer. Think about it... when you apply foundation first, it covers up a lot of imperfections on its own, cutting down the amount of imperfections you need to go back and spot conceal.
The rule of thumb for picking your concealer shade is based on your foundation shade. Beauty experts advise that everyone should have two shades of concealer in their arsenal, one lighter and one darker since daily sun exposure means your skin tone shifts slightly all the time.
Concealer is typically thicker in consistency and meant to provide additional coverage to specific areas versus being applied to the entire face. For example, you can use concealer to brighten dark circles under your eyes, spot-conceal pimples or camouflage dark spots or redness from hyperpigmentation.
Ultimately, concealers are personalised products, so you have to think about your goals and needs. While under-eye concealer should be lighter than your natural skin tone (or red-orange if you're colour-correcting), you want your all-over concealer to match your skin colour as closely as possible.
The trick to using concealer in place of foundation is to follow a less is more mentality. Once you've chosen your preferred concealer formula, apply it with a very targeted application to only the areas that need it.
If you have oily eyelids, make sure you use a formula that is matte to keep your eyeshadow from creasing and sliding on your lids. Dab a tiny amount of eye-safe concealer to each lid before gently buffing it in to create an even layer on the eyelids.
Go One Shade Lighter: Choose a concealer that is one shade lighter than your skin tone. This helps in brightening the under-eye area and counteracting dark circles effectively. Test in Natural Light: Always test the concealer on your skin in natural light to ensure a perfect match and seamless blend.
The new popular technique is to apply concealer under the eyes with one swipe starting at the inner corner and continuing just a bit onto the darkness under the eyes. Then create one more swipe starting near the outer corner of the eyes and dragging up slightly towards the temple.
To avoid drawing unwanted attention to the area, many makeup artists would recommend not applying too much, if any, foundation around the eye. Instead, they suggest using a hydrating, lightweight concealer that has been designed specifically for the under eye area.
Your foundation should ideally not be lighter or darker than your skin—you want to find a perfect match. If you only have a lighter foundation on hand, however, you may be able to make it work by adding warmth and depth with bronzer and contour, respectively.
Dark circles tend to have a bluish undertone, so shades of peach and orange are ideal for canceling them out. Those with lighter skin tones should reach for a peach color corrector.
Tarte Cosmetics' Creaseless Creamy Concealer is a game-changer for anyone seeking full coverage without the creases. What it is: A creamy, full-coverage concealer that has a natural finish for smoother, brighter, crease-proof under-eyes.
Start by applying primer, then even out your complexion with a skin tint or sheer foundation. If desired, you can apply concealer to any areas that need additional coverage. Then, add a little blush or bronzer, swipe on a coat or two of mascara, and apply a lip balm or gloss.
Always apply makeup outside the lash line, away from the eye, to avoid blocking the oil glands of the upper or lower eyelid. These glands secrete oil that protects the eye's surface.
The pros recommend using a hydrating product with a light texture — so it sinks into the skin quickly — to prime the skin under your eyes. While there are a few products called “undereye primer,” your favorite moisturizer or eye cream under your eyes also works well.
Tip #10: Create A Flawless Under Eye With Concealer
Pro tip: use your fourth finger to apply– it's the weakest so it's not going to tug on the delicate area, which can exacerbate wrinkles. Bonus: the heat from your finger will warm up the concealer formula so that it melts into the skin effortlessly.