Since dark circles have a bluish hue, shades of peach and orange will be perfect for canceling them out.
If you're specifically looking to cover dark circles, you should instead choose color correctors in shades of red, pink, orange, or yellow, as these will help balance out the blue hue of under-eye circles.
Ways to reduce or hide dark circles under the eyes include raising the head while sleeping, using retinoid creams, and applying a concealer. However, permanent removal may be difficult.
The reason concealer alone cannot address dark circles is that it often creases and makes the issue much worse. Moisturizing and applying color corrector can help minimize the look of dark circles.
Type of product: In addition to under-eye creams and face moisturizers, silk pillowcases and cooling under-eye patches can all be helpful in reducing dark circles. Sunscreen around the eyes and eyelids can also protect the skin from sun damage that may worsen the appearance of dark circles over time.
While concealer for the general areas of your face should match your skin tone, under-eye concealer should be one or two shades lighter than your natural coloring. Using a lighter concealer for your eye area helps cover up under-eye circles and creates a brightening effect.
The general rule of thumb is that you should always opt for a shade lighter than foundation when choosing your concealer colour. Doing so helps to mask darker discolouration, but be careful not to over-correct! Knowing how to pick the right concealer is essential to ensuring that your look does not appear ghostly.
So, do you use concealer before or after foundation? The proper way to apply the two products is to first smooth on a foundation and then apply your concealer. Foundation will create that even canvas we talked about earlier, and then concealer can be used to spot correct any outstanding areas that need extra coverage.
To test the shades, apply a small amount of concealer to your jawline and blend it out under natural light. The right shade will disappear into your skin without leaving any lines or streaks. If you're still unsure, ask a sales associate to help find the perfect match.
"When someone has really dark circles or looks fatigued, I go in with a color-correcting concealer first, then use a foundation to even everything out, and then use another light layer of concealer if it still needs covering."
Dark circles tend to be worse in the morning, but you don't need to cross your fingers and hope they clear up on their own. A careful choice of concealer should hide the circles from view and blend them in with your natural skin tone or with a full face of makeup.
Concealer to highlight and contour
If using concealer to highlight your facial features, apply a concealer that is 2 shades lighter than your natural skin tone. To contour, sculpt and add definition, apply a concealer that is 1 shade darker than your natural skin tone.
Concealers that are more than one shade lighter than your skin tone can leave you with a ghostly shadow. If you bought the wrong color, there's a quick fix. "If your concealer is too light, you can blend it with a small amount of your foundation," says Williamson.
Green concealers are often called color correctors because that's exactly what they do. When used correctly, a green concealer can tone down the redness from inflamed pimples and help camouflage breakouts. You can also use a green color-correcting concealer for dark spots or dark circles under your eyes.
Select the right shade.
“You can't have a concealer that's too light,” she said, adding that women should choose concealer that's one to two shades lighter than the color of their foundation. “One to two shades … the right color blends itself.
BB cream is designed to provide light to medium coverage, while concealer is designed to provide full coverage. This means that if you have more severe blemishes or dark circles under your eyes, concealer may be a better choice for you. Another key difference between the two products is their texture.
If you're looking for a lighter-weight alternative to foundation but don't want to rely on a tinted moisturizer or CC cream, we recommend using concealer alone. It's true, with the right long-wearing or hydrating concealer formula, you'll be able to cover imperfections, even out and keep your complexion looking fresh.
MYTH: You should always use a concealer one shade lighter than your foundation. Truth: If your goal is to brighten dark circles, then yes, choose a lighter concealer. But for blemishes or scars, you need a yellow-based shade as close as possible to that of your foundation.
Flip over your arm and take a look at the inside of your wrist. If your veins appear to have a blue or deep purple tint, you likely have cool skin undertones. If they look more greenish, you likely have warm or olive undertones. If you can't tell one way or the other, you may have neutral undertones.
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.