How to Cover Dark Circles Under Your Eyes
I've been in the beauty industry for 4+ years now, although my background is originally in fine arts. In between researching and publishing our guides, I’m usually snacking and making spontaneous (and somewhat chaotic) choices about what to do with my hair.
Whether your sleep pattern includes too much scrolling, or you’ve inherited some shadows from your parents, sometimes we all need a bit of extra help to look a little more fresh-faced.
So if you want to know how to hide dark circles and bags, try this simple routine using foundation, concealer, and powder.
Step 1: Foundation
To nix the luggage that’s landed under your eyes, you need to choose a foundation that’ll cancel out the shade. You could try a stick foundation or a full coverage powder formula. Whatever you choose, a lot of it comes down to technique.
One of the most common questions we get: do you put concealer on before or after foundation? Though there’s no hard and fast rule, the best way to put on foundation and concealer is often foundation-first.
Why exactly does concealer go on before foundation? When you apply a pigmented foundation first that cancels out your tired shadows, you might be able to cut back on the concealer. As you may have learned on your own, concealer can look cakey under eyes.
So, if you can stick to foundation alone, you could be on to a winner. A full coverage mineral foundation can prevent a thick, cakey look.
Not sure which foundation shade is right for you? Watch the video below to get some tips and tricks on finding the best foundation shade for your skin tone.
When it comes to foundation around eyes, it’s more about the formula you use and how you apply it. From a liquid mineral foundation to a cream to powder formula, using a light hand and some useful tools will help you conquer the shade. Want to know how to apply foundation under eyes? Think ‘less is more’.
One of the most common foundation mistakes is believing the more you use, the more you’ll conceal. Just a small amount of the right foundation will even out and blur the look of your dark circles.
If you have bluish-black circles, pick a yellow-toned foundation that’s one shade light than your current skin tone. If your circles are more of a browny colour, you might want a reddish, peach, or orange hue to help balance the look.
You can always add more foundation if you need to, but it can be tricky to remove if things get out of hand. No one’s got time for a mid-morning redo! Using a damp beauty blender helps you control how much you apply and gives you a camera-worthy finish.
Most affordable medium-to-full coverage foundation.
An affordable foundation that’s available in a slew of shades, The Ordinary Coverage Foundation is densely pigmented to help cover those tricky dark circles. Love the look of fresh skin but need a full-coverage formula? This blend smooths over your complexion without separating or creasing under your eyes. The pigments in the formula are highly saturated, which means they spread and blend easily, and look natural on the skin. The perfect partner to a primer, Coverage Foundation offers a semi-matte, buildable finish. Your shadows will appear diminished, and your skin glowy and healthy, when you use this reliable formula.
Step 2: Concealer
You’ve probably had a fair few concealers in your makeup bag over the years. But making a concealer for under eye bags work poses a different challenge. In fact, how you choose and apply your concealer can completely change your look.
To disguise dark circles without creating reverse panda eyes, you need to choose the right colour to conceal dark circles.
It’s a common misconception to choose a concealer that’s one or two shades lighter than your natural skin tone. While that might work to highlight the skin and conceal blemishes, when it comes to dark circles, you need to counteract the shady undertones.
Peach tones counteract brown ones, and yellowish shades nix the look of tired purple skin. How do you put on concealer makeup after this step? Well, after colour-correcting, you can apply and conceal with a shade that’s nearer your natural skin tone.
You might quickly dab a blemish to camouflage it or run a line down your nose to highlight, but concealer to cover dark spots often requires a little more thought. So, where to apply concealer? Surprisingly, it's not directly on top of your dark circles. If you dollop a cover-up directly on those shadows, you could end up emphasising the area—yikes!
Watch the video below to find out how to choose and apply concealer with the help of a pro makeup artist.
So how do you apply under eye concealer? Rather than smearing your concealer back and forth on top of your dark circles, if you want to know how to use under eye concealer well, you should get to know the triangle technique. Sweep a small amount of the formula under your lashes, outlining an upside-down triangle, and get blending. It’s a great way to cover the skin evenly.
Trying to figure out how to blend under eye concealer and how to use concealer stick for dark circles? You could gently tap with your ring finger, apply concealer with sponge, or pick out a brush you can gently soothe the area with.
Conceal your dark circles with this targeted, long-lasting formula.
If you want to banish your dark shadows and kick frustrating eye bags to the curb, you could try IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Full Coverage Anti-Aging Waterproof Concealer. Design to help combat discolouration, this formula is available in a range of shades. It delivers WOW results that won’t crack or crease. Hyaluronic Acid helps nourish and condition the skin. It covers broken capillaries, dark spots, and dark circles, and it won’t separate or become cakey in humid conditions. An extremely pigmented blend, this formula goes a long way. Apply just a tiny amount to enjoy a long-lasting, well-concealed finish.
Step 3: Powder
Gone are the days of powder creasing and clogging your under eye area. These days, to completely cover dark circles, a smoothing powder keeps your under eye look in place simply.
So, you’ve created a good base with your foundation and drawn your concealer triangles. Now, to help combat the darker skin completely, you’ll next want to apply a powder.
Do you have to set concealer with powder? A light dusting of powder does help keep your foundation and concealer looking fresh all day. Powder can also act as a light barrier against any pollutants and environmental aggressors.
But what kind of powder do you use? Loose or pressed? And what the heck is the difference anyway? Find out in the video below.
Want to know how to set under eye concealer? Whether you spend time baking with a translucent formula or use a pressed powder to seal the area, you’ll help prevent the cakey creases when you finish eyes with a powder.
Can’t decide how to set concealer with powder? Using a hydrating formula that won’t dry your skin out is a good start. If you have oily skin, a sweep or dab of powder will help you contain the shine AND cover dark circles. A brightening formula will lift your look and complement your concealer. If you have very dry skin, you might want to skip the powder completely.
Regardless of whether you use concealer before or after foundation, setting your look with a powder will help it stay in place. Find a powder that suits your skin type and let the extra layer of coverage keep those circles concealed for longer.
A pressed powder with sheer coverage and a satin finish.
Working to give your skin a satin finish, M.A.C Cosmetics Mineralize Skinfinish Natural pressed powder helps smooth the skin with sheer coverage. Available in a wide range of colours, the formula features low-level pearlised pigments to brighten the skin and add dimension. The velvety, cashmere-like finish makes your complexion look and feel conditioned after every application. The perfect formula to pair with your under-eye routine, this powder wears well over foundation and concealer, and sets your look with just a few dabs of a sponge. Got a long day ahead of you? Whip this powder out to help keep those dark circles under wraps.
Find more of the best concealers, foundations, and powders in these helpful guides...
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