Concealer Mistakes That Are Actually Making Your Dark Circles Worse

Sometimes even a full night’s rest can’t cure those dark circles—and that’s why we have a magical potion called concealer. But unless you’re doing it right, you can end up making that finicky area under your eyes look worse. Before you lose sleep over it, allow us to help. Ahead, all the major concealer mistakes you might be making, plus how to correct them and put your freshest face forward every day (no matter how much sleep you got the night before).

Hide Out

You're Not Treating The Problem

Makeup is great, but there's only so much it can cover up. If you incorporate a brightening eye cream into your skincare routine, your concealer won't have to work as hard.

You're Using The Wrong Shade

Concealer should be the same shade as your foundation—it's meant to hide your dark circles, not highlight them.

You're Making Fine Lines Look Worse

If your concealer is too thick, it can look caked-on and make lines and circles more obvious. To lighten the formula, mix cream concealer with a lightweight moisturizer and dab it directly onto problem areas.

You're Not Color-Correcting

For those with prominent dark circles, a regular concealer may not do the trick. Before applying foundation and concealer, neutralize discoloration with a color-correcting product. See our guide below for choosing the right one.

Green: Neutralizes dark circles that have a red tint.

Yellow: Instantly brightens dark pigmentation under the eyes.

Pink: Tones down blue or purple-hued circles.

Purple: Offsets yellow tones.

You're Not Applying It With Your Finger

The best tool for applying under-eye concealer is your ring finger. The warmth of your hands will emulsify the product and help it blend.

You're Not Setting Properly

Set your concealer (especially under the eyes) with a loose powder—otherwise it will rub off easily and allow dark circles to peek through. This also prevents it from settling into creases.

You're Not Rehydrating

We love makeup, but it has a way of dehydrating, which leaves skin looking deflated and dull and magnifies fine lines. Keep a face mist on your desk or in your purse to refresh and rehydrate.