You might have used concealer every time you apply makeup. But have you ever applied concealer under your eyes with the aim of covering your dark circles or crow’s feet?
If not, you are not alone. If you want to learn how to apply under eye concealer, mastering this application may be challenging for you. There can be several mistakes that make applying concealer under your eyes wrong. If you apply too little, it will not hide these dark shadows.
Some women don’t know how to choose the right concealer for their eyes, so they end up with an incorrect formula and make this application worse. The wrongly chosen formula may settle into fine lines and make you not look good. If you want to nail this technique of how to apply eye concealer properly, here we have come up with the best way to learn.
No matter what the season is, under-eye concealer has always been a challenge for beginners. When it’s summer, it gets melted by the time you reach the office. When it’s winter, it may get settled into fine lines and make your skin look dry and flaky.
If you know the right tricks of applying a concealer under your eyes, keeping it all day long at its place will not be a battle for you. Knowing the correct method on how to apply under eye concealer has the power to change your makeup look dramatically.
How Does An Under Eye Concealer Work?
Another name for under-eye concealer is a color corrector. It is a beauty product that is applied below your eye to hide dark circles or any kind of discoloration. Concealer for under eyes is not a full-coverage product. The main purpose of using an under-eye concealer is to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles around your eyes and cover discoloration.
If you are going to use an under-eye concealer, make sure that it should be lightweight and in a liquid form so that it can easily blend with your skin tone without caking the area under your eyes. You can use concealer alone or use it to complement the liquid or matte foundation.
The under-eye concealer comes in various forms – liquid, creamy, pencil, or powder form. You are advised to try different formulas and check what works the best for your skin.
Step-By-Step Guide On How To Apply Under Eye Concealer
1. Choose The Right Concealer
Choosing the right concealer has to be the first step since this is the part where most of us go wrong majorly! A concealer your best friend uses might not be the best one for you. Concealing anything requires a lot of characteristics to take into consideration, such as the coverage, the duration of effect, the texture, the formula, the shade as well as the hydration level and how lightweight it is. There are a number of concealers on the market, and you can experiment with some of them. We also have a few recommendations that you can get your hands on for the time being.
2. Prep Your Skin
A primer should always be applied prior to applying a concealer if you want a long-lasting concealer effect. To keep your concealer look flawless all day long, you need to take care of your delicate and dehydration-prone under-eye skin. Maintaining your hydration level is recommended as it helps keep the area under your eyes smooth.
It also helps in making your eye concealer less likely to settle into fine lines around the eyes. So, make sure to prep your skin around the eyes using eye cream. It should be done every night and 10-15 minutes before applying your eye makeup.
3. Use Light-Reflective Formula
Once your eye cream or moisturizer has been absorbed completely, now it’s time to start sweeping on concealer. If you want to know how to apply eye concealer properly, you must always choose a light-reflective formula and ensure it is slightly lighter than your natural skin tone.
If you go for more than -2 shades lighter, it will leave you with a reverse raccoon eye, and it may make your eyes look odd. It is the best idea to use a concealer that has slightly more warmth than other areas of your face. It is the best technique for brightening and lightening your under-eye area.
Always keep in mind that a product with soft peachy undertones has the power to balance dark circles. This way, you can make yourself look well-rested.
4. Apply Concealer In A Triangle
You might be tempted to sweep your concealer directly on top of your under-eye circles or under-eye bags, we understand that as well! However, stop right before you do that! Doing that might actually highlight the puffiness of your dark circles.
Instead, draw your concealer in an upside-down triangle shape. This will brighten up your face and de-emphasize any discoloration on your skin. Later, you can just take the old-school route and dab the concealer into your skin with your ring finger.
The ring finger is the weakest hence it puts just the right amount of pressure to blend the concealer into your delicate skin. For alternatives, you can grab a concealer brush or a damp beauty sponge too.
Read More: Best Makeup Hacks For Beginners
5. Cancel Out Redness With Green Concealer
Your classic and expensive concealer might not necessarily be the perfect one when it comes to covering zits or red spots. For these purposes, you need a different colored formula that can cancel out the redness. You can place your bets on a green formula for this one.
Gently swipe the green concealer and tap it directly onto your zit while avoiding the surrounding skin. Then, use a cotton swab or a damp sponge to blend a tiny bit of high-coverage concealer on top of the zit to really camouflage it. This trick helps to perfectly hide any discoloration or blemish that just won’t go away!
There are also other colors of concealer that work for different purposes, such as dark circles and blemishes. You can use those too for other concealing effects if you want total glam makeup.
6. Give An Extra Anti-Crease Touch
When it comes to how to apply under eye concealer, you can use eyeshadow primer to swap out your morning eye cream. Some women prefer to set the concealer with too much powder under the eye. This step may result in accenting fine lines, no matter whether you are a teen, adult, or older woman.
When you use an eyeshadow primer before applying a concealer in the area under your eye, it helps greatly keep your product in place for a long time. Moreover, it also helps in creating a velvety satin texture. Thus, it makes you look youthful and fresh.
It is advised to apply a primer as the first step during your morning moisturizer routine. It gives enough time to show its magic before you apply a concealer.
If you think that your concealer is still prone to travel, stop applying a concealer and pick up an eye cream. If you apply more concealer, it will leave your under-eye looking cakey. To avoid this, you must apply a touch of moisturizer at the edges of your under-eye. Don’t forget to blend it towards your nose. It helps revitalize the formula without using too much product.
Also Read: Best Graphic Eyeliner Looks To Take Your Eye Makeup Up A Notch
7. Set Your Concealer With Powder
Setting your makeup might be the last yet most important step in your makeup routine. It might nullify all your efforts if you are thinking of skipping this one, so beware, ladies! Some concealers are long-lasting, but the setting powder extends the time limit and gives a smooth finish to the concealer. Dusting some setting powder over your entire face to keep your concealer intact and crease-free is essential to get a day-long effect.
5 Best Under Eye Concealer Brands We Recommend
1. Tarte Shape Tape Concealer
If you are looking for an under eye concealer that gives excellent coverage, Tarte Shape Tape Concealer can be a good option. Aside from that, it is one of the best vegan options if that is what you are looking for. It leaves no creases, can also be used as a contour and gives a long-lasting effect. The formula matter gives a smooth but not shiny texture when applied to make it look more natural.
2. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer is one of the best anti-aging options on the market. This concealer comes within an affordable price range and has minimal creasing, which makes it better. It is not too hydrating but can be specifically used for under-eye circles. It can also be used as a highlighter and a contour. Also, the coverage and texture it gives make it a steal, but the problem is the range of shades is limited within the collection hence, you need to look for one that matches your skin tone carefully.
3. e.l.f. Cosmetics 16HR Camo Concealer
E.l.f has to be one of those brands that are super affordable, vegan and also free from chemicals. e.l.f . cosmetics 16 hr camo concealer works ideally for a light makeup application and also probably has a wide range of shades wherein you can find a perfect shade. It also gives good coverage and has a smooth texture. However, the creasing and the effect duration seem to be a drawback for this concealer. But it should not be a problem if you are looking for something pocket-friendly with a good shade range!
4. Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Concealer
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r concealer by Rihanna is one of the really good products within Fenty Beauty Cosmetics. Giving a full coverage, wide shade range and long-lasting effect, it is a good grab. It can be a bit cakey, so ensure to blend it in quickly after applying it because if it dries out, it will be difficult to blend it in since it won’t move. Otherwise, the shade range of the concealer and its matte finish texture is what makes it worth the while too!
5. NYX Professional Makeup HD Photogenic Concealer
Another budget-friendly option is the NYX professional makeup HD Photogenic Concealer which provides a wide range of shades for different skin tones. The concealer gives full coverage and has fewer creases too. The NYX concealer is best for brightening the dark circles, providing a natural texture and a smooth finishing. If you are looking for a good product at an affordable price, this is the one to go for!
Also Read: The Best Cruelty-Free And Vegan Brands For Makeup To Shop From
Final Words
All that being said, we can now hope the guide will help you through your makeup routine, whether a quick one or a glamorous one! Concealer may seem to be easy to apply, but it requires the correct technique, especially if it is an under eye concealer.
However, you can follow these steps and see how it works out for you. The guide essentially can lead your way on how to apply under eye concealer and which would be the best for you to invest in. So grab your concealer, and good luck with your makeup!
Frequently Asked Questions
It is always recommendable to apply your foundation before, that is, unless you are using a powder foundation. The primer and the foundation create an even base on the skin to reduce overall redness, discoloration and minor blemishes. So when you later apply the concealer, only the most visible blemishes and discoloration spots are required to be covered.
An under eye concealer should not be too light from your skin tone otherwise it looks pale and makes it difficult to blend in with a natural look. One should always go for a shade that is at max one or two shades lighter than the normal skin tone. This makes it easier to blend with the foundation and also hide the blemishes and dark circles without making them too puffy or obvious.
Several color correctors have green and purple undertones which are useful for covering up blemishes and redness. But for the dark circles, they prove to be useless too. Hence if you have puffy eyes or dark circles you want to cover, you should choose color correctors in shades of red, pink, yellow, or orange. These colors help to balance out the bluish-purple color of under-eye circles. After dabbing any one of these colors, you can layer the portion with a regular under eye concealer.
Using an eyeshadow primer or even a foundation as a base before concealing the undereye area is totally necessary. This not only helps the product to stay in place for a longer period of time, but also creates a velvety satin texture which gives a youthful and fresh look to the eyes, lifting them up eventually.
