Is dark circle concealer applied before or after foundation?

After foundation, as a general rule. Foundation already evens out part of the shadow around the contour, so when you correct afterwards you use less product and the finish looks more natural; you also avoid dragging the concealer as you blend the foundation. The exception is colour correctors, like salmon or peach for very bluish dark circles: these are applied in a very thin layer under the foundation, with your skin tone shade going on top.

What shade of dark circle concealer suits me?

One or two shades lighter than your foundation, never more. On fair skin, beige shades with a pink undertone work well; on medium skin, honey or peach tones; and on dark skin, warm tones with orange undertones. Since most dark circles lean blue or violet, warm undertones are the ones that neutralise them best; a shade that's too light or too cool leaves a greyish halo instead of light.

What is a colour corrector palette for?

Each colour neutralises its opposite: peach or salmon mutes bluish dark circles, green disguises visible redness, yellow brightens dull areas and lavender livens up yellowish tones. They're applied in a very thin layer and always under the foundation or skin-tone concealer. A palette pays off if you're correcting several different things or doing other people's makeup; for everyday use, one skin-tone shade and a salmon shade are usually enough.

How do I stop concealer from creasing into fine lines?

Hydrate the eye contour before doing your makeup and wait for it to absorb, apply concealer in thin layers and blend with light taps without dragging. Before it sets, press gently with a clean sponge to remove the excess, and set it with only a veil of finely pressed powder, not swept on. If it creases by mid-afternoon, don't add more product: blend the existing concealer with the warmth of your finger and it usually recovers.

Are dark circle concealer and facial concealer the same thing?

They share a function — concentrating coverage where it's needed — but they're not always interchangeable. Dark circle concealer usually has a lighter, more flexible texture, designed for the thin, mobile skin around the eyes, and often a warm undertone that neutralises blueness. Facial concealer for redness or small marks tends to be denser and longer-lasting. Many current formulas work for both areas if applied in a thin layer.

Face Under-eye concealers

Foundations

Blushes

Under-eye concealers

Makeup primers

Bronzers

Face powders

Foundations with SPF

3 products

Belnatur

Cover | Pur-Skin

Treating color corrector

15,00 €

MI-RÊ

Ilight Rescue Concealer

Anti-jerk correction

46,50 €

2 colors available

Reviderm

Secret Serum Concealer

Corrector serum with hyaluronic acid and caffeine

39,90 €

4 colors available

What is an under-eye concealer and what is it for

Under-eye concealer is a concentrated-coverage product designed to visibly reduce the shadow around the eye area, brighten the look and give the face a well-rested appearance. It's one of the most impactful products in your makeup bag: chosen well, it can turn a 'short night' face into an eight-hours-of-sleep one in seconds.

Although it belongs to the same family as facial concealer —used for redness or small marks on the rest of the face—, under-eye concealer has its own rules: the skin around the eyes is thinner, moves more and reveals any excess product. That's why shade, texture and technique matter so much.

How to choose the right shade for your under-eye concealer

The general rule: one, or at most two, shades lighter than your foundation. Going too light causes the dreaded 'reverse panda eyes' effect, a greyish or ashy halo under the eye.

Fair skin: light beige with a slight pink undertone, which counteracts the typical blueish tone of dark circles.
Medium skin: honey or medium beige shades with a peach undertone.
Dark skin: warm, deep shades, with orange or reddish undertones that neutralise the shadow without leaving a grey cast.

Undertone matters as much as depth: since most dark circles lean blue or purple, warm undertones —salmon, peach, orange— are the ones that neutralise them best. A concealer that's too neutral or cool on a pronounced dark circle tends to leave it grey rather than disguise it.

When to use a concealer palette

A concealer palette brings together several skin tones and colour-correcting shades. It's useful in three situations: when your skin tone changes a lot between winter and summer and you need to mix; when you want to correct different issues —dark circles, redness, small shadows—; and when you do other people's make-up. Colour shades work by neutralising opposites:

Peach or salmon: neutralises blueish or purplish dark circles; it's the must-have for the eye contour.
Green: tones down visible redness, always applied in a very thin layer under the foundation.
Yellow: brightens dull areas and softens mild purplish tones.
Lavender: revives yellowish or dull-looking areas.

For everyday use, a good skin-tone shade and perhaps a salmon one is enough; the full palette is more of a tool for enthusiasts or professionals than for a daily makeup bag.

How to apply dark circle concealer

Technique makes as much of a difference as the product:

After foundation. This way you can see how much dark circle actually still needs covering and use less product.
In an inverted triangle. Instead of a line under the eye, draw a small triangle with the base under the lashes and the point towards the cheek: it brightens the whole area and visually lifts the gaze.
A small amount, always. Start at the inner corner and the darkest area; it's easier to add than to remove.
Blend with light taps. With your ring finger, a small sponge or a fluffy brush, without dragging: the warmth of your finger helps blend the texture in.
Set with judgement. A minimal veil of loose powder sets the result; on dry or mature skin, the less powder in this area, the better.

Tips to stop it creasing or settling

Concealer that builds up in fine lines is the most common complaint, and it almost always has a solution:

Moisturise the eye area a few minutes before applying makeup and let the product fully absorb.
Apply thin layers: a thick layer will crease with the natural movement of the skin.
Remove any excess before it sets, gently pressing with a clean sponge.
Set only with a veil of fine powder, applied by pressing, not sweeping.
In the mid-afternoon, instead of adding more product, blend the existing product with a tap of the finger: this is usually enough to refresh the finish.

Common mistakes with dark circle concealer

Choosing a shade that's too light "to brighten more": it lightens the dark circle towards grey, not towards light.
Apply it before the base and drag it as you blend.
Covering the entire contour when only the inner area is darkened.
Rubbing instead of blending with light taps, which makes the product disappear.
Ignoring the cause: on very marked dark circles due to lack of rest or genetics, concealer visibly reduces their appearance, but a good, well-hydrated eye cream always improves the starting point.

With the right warm undertone, the triangle technique and thin layers, dark circle concealer becomes that product no one notices but that changes your whole face.

←Face Under-eye concealers