The Best Under-Eye Concealers, According To Makeup Artists
March 7, 2018 by Emily Belfiore
Didn’t get enough sleep last night? Or, maybe you did, but your under-eye bags and dark circles just won’t quit, right? Regardless of why they’re there, we can all agree that under-eye circles are the worst. Thankfully, there are so many ways to cover them up! Our favorite way is by using a concealer that’s long-wearing, buildable and offers medium-to-full coverage.
But, before you can pile on the concealer, you need to prep the skin. “Under-eye concealers are tricky! It’s all about a good eye cream to prep,” says Statement Artists makeup artist Tracy Murphy. She recommends letting your go-to eye cream sit for a few minutes before applying concealer to prevent any caking or creasing.
Now that you know what you need to do to hide those under-eye bags, it’s time to find out which concealers are the best for your skin. Here are the ones that makeup artists and beauty mavens swear by to conceal dark circles and get a youthful and brighter complexion:
LANCÔME Effacernes Waterproof Protective Under-Eye Concealer ($31)
“For concealer, I’m obsessed with Lancôme Effacernes. I try every product and always come back to this. It is long wearing and comes in softly matte, flattering shades,” Murphy continues. “Plus it’s waterproof. I pat it on the undereye area with my ring finger. Afterwards, I use a Kleenex to absorb any excess oil, but keeping the pigment on the skin. If needed, a second application ensures long wear.”
Estée Lauder Double Wear Maximum Cover Camouflage Makeup ($42)
"Double Wear Maximum Cover from Estée Lauder is a fond de teint camouflage for the face and body. The shades 01 Medium Deep and 07 Creamy Ivory mixed together are the perfect duo to cure any sign of a late night out or blemishes that need hiding ASAP,” explains makeup artist Maud Laceppe. “I love the creamy texture and how easily you can blend on the skin, which won’t dry out with this product. I also love that it can be either full coverage, or even quite a sheer look if blended with your everyday moisturizer. I get the best results when applied with my fingertips. This slightly heats up the product as you apply to the skin, making it even smoother and giving a healthy finish.”
Ellis Faas Concealer ($40)
“My favorite under-eye concealer would be Ellis Faas' bullet shaped concealer pen. It’s light and pigmented enough to get rid of dark circles and puffiness, with just enough emollience to easily target larger parts of the face—around the nostrils, corners of the mouth, forehead—as well. All I used on this shot of Grace Elizabeth for Russian Vogue was some of that concealer under the eyes and alog the T-zone, a little powder and a flush of bronzer. No foundation necessary,” says makeup artist Sil Bruinsma.
Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay in Place Flawless Wear Concealer ($28)
“When I’m working on a show look or a TV appearance or shoot, I need to create a look that’s going to stay put and keep looking flawless. Estée Lauder’s Double Wear Concealer promises to stay put for 15 hours, and I love the lightweight cream formula because it blends so well with your usual foundation,” says celebrity makeup artist Wendy Rowe, who has worked with Kate Hudson, Sienna Miller, Nicole Kidman and Mila Kunis. “This concealer is waterproof and long-wearing, and it provides a really good coverage for all skin types. Tap a little onto skin and blend to cover blemishes. When using to disguise dark circles, just know that the coverage is on the heavier side, so tread lightly. It’s available in 11 shades from extra light to ultra-deep, too, so you should be able to find a shade that will blend well with your face makeup.”
Illuminare Concealing Mineral Foundation ($29)
“I just discovered Illuminare concealer. I love that it does not feel heavy, and the oil free, semi-matte texture leaves a nice finish. If you use just a little to dab under the eye with your finger, it gives the right amount of coverage,” according to makeup artist Tracy Alfajora.
NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer ($30)
“I love NARS’ Radiant Creamy Concealer for under the eyes. It goes on smoothly, has a vast array of pinky undertone shades to cancel out dark circles and has tremendous staying power,” says Courtney Perkins, celebrity makeup artist.
Looking for more amazing beauty products to add to your makeup bag? Check out 7 Lipstick Colors That Will Never Go Out Of Style at SheFinds.com!