How to Choose the Right Concealer for Under-Eye Circles
Human beauty is achieving new standards. One of the revolutions is panda eyes – the under-eye circles. This could be due to different lifestyle reasons such as genetics, lack of sleep, and prolonged screen time. Apart from that, excessive sun exposure and constant air conditioning can make your under-eyes look more tired and prominent. This is where a concealer comes in. The right concealer and colour corrector can make you look fresh and event-ready. Focus on the word best. Concealers come in different shades, so you should know how to choose concealer for dark circles and apply it smoothly and crease-free. Don’t stop scrolling to learn how to apply the right tone without looking heavy or cakey.
What Causes Dark Circles Under the Eyes?
Dark circles can occur due to five reasons: thin skin, visible blood vessels, pigmentation, dehydration, and ageing. The issue with thin skin is that, due to its delicacy, it projects underlying blood vessels. This can create dark circles under the eyes. If you have fair or thinner skin, then your visible blood vessels will appear as a pair of prominent dark circles. Pigmentation occurs when excess melanin is produced, making the under-eye area look darker or appear brown.
Dehydration can dull our skin and give it a dry and less plump look. This highlights the dark circles, making them more noticeable. During ageing, our skin loses its collagen and elasticity. This makes the skin thinner and creates visible shadows and hollowness around the eyes. Using eye care products and a nourishing face serum can prevent these issues and make your skin hydrated and healthy.
Step 1 — Identify Your Dark Circle Colour
To find the best concealer for under eye circles, you need to know whether your dark circles are blue or purple. For these colours, use a peach or orange colour corrector to neutralise these tones. For brown dark circles from pigmentation or excess melanin, you should use a peach, salmon, or orange colour corrector. This balances the skin depth and the brown tones.
These colour corrector suggestions come from colour-correcting theory. This is a makeup technique based on the colour wheel, where opposite colours cancel each other out to hide skin flaws. Peach or orange neutralises blue, purple, or dark brown spots.
A product recommendation that works for all skin tones is the Huda Beauty FAUXFILTER Colour Corrector. It is a creamy, long-wearing, and crease-proof under-eye corrector with active ingredients such as vitamin C and niacinamide that brightens dark circles and softens pigmentation.
Step 2 — Choose the Right Concealer Formula
Your under-eyes get the fresh look they deserve when you choose the right formula. There are liquid, creamy/radiant, brightening, and long-wear/matte concealer formulas.
Liquid concealers are best for daily wear. They are lightweight, easy to blend, and have buildable coverage that allows you to layer the product when you need more coverage but also want it to look light. A product that suits your daily wear needs is Maybelline SuperStay 24HR Longwear Liquid Concealer. This lightweight, full-coverage makeup product conceals dark circles and flaws for a natural matte look. The coverage lasts up to 30 hours, is breathable, and has an oil-free, non-comedogenic, transfer-resistant, and sweat-resistant formula.
Creamy/radiant concealers are best for dry or mature under-eye skin. Their creamy formula gives your skin a more hydrated finish. An effective concealer would be NARS Cosmetics Radiant Creamy Concealer. This luminous and radiant concealer covers dark circles and blemishes, softens imperfections, and highlights or contours perfectly. It has a lightweight, crease-resistant formula and is infused with hydrating botanical extracts (magnolia bark extract, grape seed extract, and vitamin E).
Brightening concealers are developed for tired, dull under-eyes. They add brightness to the under-eye area for a refreshed look. Popular choices are Rare Beauty Positive Light Under Brightener and Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Brightening Concealer.
Rare Beauty Positive Light Under Brightener is a lightweight, fluid liquid brightening concealer that instantly brightens, hydrates, and refreshes with sheer-to-medium coverage. The ingredients include vitamin E and White Peony to nourish and keep the under-eyes hydrated all day long. This gives a radiant and luminous finish without caking, creasing, or settling into fine lines.
Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Brightening Concealer gives medium-to-full buildable coverage for a radiant, skin-like finish. It has a lightweight, creamy, and hydrating liquid formula to cover dark circles, blemishes, and redness without caking or settling into fine lines. The suitable skin types are normal, dry, oily, combination, and sensitive skin.
Long-wear/matte concealers work best for oily skin or hot climates. They give your skin lasting coverage and control excess shine all day. This is a perfect choice for warm, humid climates where makeup may crease, fade, or become oily quickly. A recommended product is Shiseido Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Concealer. This is a lightweight, 24-hour liquid concealer featuring ActiveForce technology. It gives medium-to-full coverage and a natural finish. It also enhances skin texture and tone by managing light reflection. The ingredients include wild thyme extract for antioxidant benefits and super bio-hyaluronic acid for moisture.
Step 3 — Get the Shade Match Right
Four tips could help you find the right shade:
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Choose one shade lighter – A lighter concealer will subtly brighten your under-eye area. This highlights the area rather than giving full coverage.
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It should match your undertone – If your skin has golden or yellow tones, then go for a warm undertone. If it has pink or rosy tones, then choose a cool undertone. Neutral undertones suit well with balanced shades.
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Avoid too light – Concealers with too many shades lighter can make the under-eye look grey, ashy, or unnatural.
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Look out for the ‘white triangle’ mistake – Do not apply a large, bright triangle under each eye. Focus on applying it in the inner corner and areas of darkness. Blend it outwards for a more natural, lifted finish.
Step 4 — Prep Your Under-Eyes Before Applying
The prep step includes hydration, face serum, skincare absorption, and a smooth base.
In the first step, hydration, apply a lightweight eye cream or moisturiser to keep the area smooth and hydrated. Next, use a face serum to moisturise and set a smooth base for makeup. Then give it some time for skincare absorption before applying concealer. The hydrated under-eyes are a smooth base that helps concealer blend more evenly and reduce a dry look.
A properly hydrated, well-prepped base reduces creasing and gives your concealer a fresh look for a long time.
Step 5 — Application Tips for a Crease-Free Finish
Some tips for a crease-free application are dabbing, using a damp sponge, and setting it lightly with translucent powder.
After applying the concealer, do not drag it. Gently dab it into your skin lightly with a bouncing motion. This blends the product evenly without affecting the makeup underneath. Before dabbing, make sure to use a slightly damp sponge for a smooth, seamless finish. Using your fingers would cause the concealer to move or settle into fine lines. After applying the concealer, apply a small amount of translucent powder where creasing can appear. Do not apply heavily because it could make your under-eyes look dry or cakey.
Choosing the right concealer is only one step toward achieving a flawless, healthy-looking complexion. Pairing it with the right moisturizer helps create a smooth base, improves blendability, and keeps your makeup looking fresh throughout the day.
Recommended Article: How to Choose the Right Moisturizer for Your Skin Type
In this guide, you'll learn how to identify your skin type, choose the best moisturizer for dry, oily, combination, or sensitive skin, and build the perfect skincare routine before applying concealer. Reading both guides together will help you achieve a hydrated, natural, and long-lasting makeup finish.