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The million-dollar question: what type of concealer should you use to hide dark under eye circles? Well look no further ladies, here are my top three picks to cover up all shades of shadows.
Concealer education 101:
Concealer can be used to hide any redness, darkness under the eyes, blemishes and scars.
It gives extra coverage to any problem area that your foundation can’t cover.
When choosing a concealer, choose one that is one to two shades lighter than your foundation as it will also lift and highlight (in other words it can work miracles).
Order of application:
Creams: On a nicely cleansed face apply any creams, serums, moisturizes, SPF.
Primer: If you like to use a primer, this is the point to apply.
Foundation: Apply onto your face, but remember to leave the under eye area foundation-free for your concealer.
Concealer: More on this to come.
The rest of your makeup: If you like to use dark or colorful eye shadow, I suggest you apply this first and then conceal. This will stop your eye shadow dropping down and ruining your concealer.
1. Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage: Best suited for light to medium under eye coverage.
Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage: In my opinion this is hands down THE best concealer. Why? Well all concealers seem to promise the world but often fall short. I’ve tried lots over the years and haven’t been satisfied, but this little beauty practices what it preaches! The pallet comes with two shades in it so you can mix it to suit your skin tone all year long. The colour range is vast starting at SC1 and going up to SC8. As this concealer has a thick(ish) but creamy consistency, I recommend mixing an equal amount of your foundation and concealer on the top of your hand to get a slightly thinner base. Less is more ladies, so work in thin layers and build the product as and where needed.
Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage, available online for $245
2. Becca Under Eye Brightening Corrector. Best suited for medium to dark under eye circles:
Becca Under Eye Brightening Corrector. From time to time I will come across a client that needs a bit of extra help, as under their eyes is slightly darker than what the Laura Mercier concealer can cover. Usually, if you have a similar problem, your concealer can leave a blue/grey shadow (which can make the darkness look worse instead of better). Thankfully, after conducting lots of research online, I gave this Becca product a shot and wasn’t disappointed. This concealer is pink-based so it counteracts the blue tone under the eyes. When applying, start lightly and build up as needed. It can look scary as it comes out pink, but just stick with it. Once you’re happy with the Becca corrector, apply a thin layer of your normal concealer (like Laura Mercier) to cover the pink. Use a dabbing motion, do not swipe or pull skin as this will move the product. To finish, apply a light layer of foundation on top, this brings back your skin colour, evening everything out perfectly. Just remember to dab!
Becca Under Eye Brightening Corrector, available online for around $222
MAC Studio Finish Skin Corrector (Pro Palette Refill Pan) in Ochre: Best suited for dark to very dark under eye circles:
MAC Studio Finish Skin Corrector (Pro Palette Refill Pan) in Ochre: This is one product I use very rarely but, occasionally, a client will have really dark circles under their eyes (something that’s usually hereditary) and I’ve found this product gives the best coverage on such occasions. The process is the same as if you were using the Becca concealer. Apply in thin layers and build up in areas where you need more coverage. Apply your normal concealer over the top, then a light layer of foundation. Remember to dab, dab, dab.
MAC Studio Finish Skin Corrector, available online, from $110
For some extra help with the application process, check out this video for my top tips on how to get perfect coverage.
Last but not least, brushes! Believe it or not, the makeup brushes you use can make a huge difference to your overall look. I know sometimes it seems easier to just use your fingers to blend and hope for the best, but when it comes to concealer and foundation, to really get an even and flawless look (with the coverage you need), brushes are the key. As I have my own makeup brush line, I highly using recommend my KTK Concealer and Foundation Blender brushes (which I demonstrate in the concealer video mentioned earlier).
Featured image courtesy of BECCA Cosmetics via Instagram, image 1 courtesy of M.A.C Cosmetics via Instagram, image 2 courtesy of Laura Mercier via Instagram, image 3 courtesy of BECCA Cosmetics via Instagram, image 4 courtesy of M.A.C Cosmetics, image 5 courtesy of Krystina Te Kanawa