How To Effectively Cover Dark Circles Without Caking
Cake is damn delicious – but caking makeup? Not so much. Particularly in the under-eye area when you’re trying to cover up dark circles. Have you ever spent ages putting together your perfect look, only to find that your undereye concealer or foundation has started cracking or creasing just a few hours later?
Unfortunately, it’s a common occurrence and can quickly ruin your gorgeous look. But don’t worry – help is on the way. Here’s how to effectively cover dark circles without caking.
Why is my makeup cakey under my eyes?
Okay, first of all: why the hell does this keep happening?! We know how annoying it can be when your under-eye makeup creases a few hours after application. There are a few reasons it does this: dry skin, using the wrong product, or laying on makeup too thick.
Keep in mind that as we age, under-eye skin becomes finer and more crepe-like in texture, which also makes it harder for makeup to stay in place. But using the right product will make all the difference, especially if you use a concealer with extra hydration.
Image by George Milton on Pexels: The right concealer can make all the difference when you’re trying to prevent caking, a massively annoying problem.
Which color concealer is best for dark circles?
After a long night of partying, a stressful day of work, or just a few days of insomnia, under-eye circles and bags can happen to us all. For some womxn, there’s also a genetic component, meaning they naturally have darker skin under their eyes, even when they’re well-rested.
No matter the reason, if you’re wondering how to cover dark circles with concealer, it all comes down to the right colored product. This will depend on your skin tone. An orange-tinted concealer is great for dark skin, pink/peach is ideal for fairer skin, and purple is best for yellow skin tones.
How do I stop my under-eye concealer from caking?
Ready to apply under-eye makeup that looks smooth and picture-perfect all day long? These tips will getcha there!
1. It all starts with hydration
One of the main reasons for creasing under the eye is dry skin. Your skincare routine should always be your foundation for great skin, since makeup is going to sit better on a healthy, nourished face. To achieve this, commit to using a moisturizer both in the morning and evening, along with a daily SPF. You can also use an under-eye product designed for hydration if you really struggle with dry skin in that area.
As your skin becomes more nourished, you’ll find that all of your makeup looks better. Of course, if dry skin is a serious issue for you and moisturizer doesn’t seem to be helping, it’s worth talking to a friendly dermatologist about any ongoing skin issues – they can help with prescription-strength products for your skin.
2. Find the right product
There are so many concealers out there, so take some time to research brands and try out a few products. It can help to head to a makeup store and ask for recommendations, or samples so that you don’t need to commit to buying a full-size concealer that might not be right for your skin.
Lots of concealers are designed for different purposes, such as dry skin, fine lines, or a bare look, so shop around.
3. Easy does it
Okay, so the verdict is still out on whether it’s better to apply concealer before or after foundation! You might want to try both ways and see what works best.
Once you’re ready to apply your concealer, know that a small amount goes a long way. It often cakes and cracks because it’s applied too thickly, so always apply to skin in thin layers. Some makeup artists use their hands for this, but just make sure they’re clean first. If you do have a few fine lines or wrinkles, you can also gently stretch them out so you can apply the concealer evenly.
Try out the inverted triangle approach: gently brush on your concealer at an angle from the inner and outer corner of the eye, making a triangle shape where both points meet below the eye. And remember that thin, sheer layers are better than applying a big blob of product all at once.
Image by Ron Lach on Pexels: If life has left you yawning, it’s easy to cover up dark circles and look fresh.
4. Blend and set
The next step is to blend, baby, blend. Applying concealer correctly is all about the blend, so use your makeup brush to softly blend your makeup in and around your under-eye skin.
If you’re up for adding an extra step to the process, it can also help to use setting powder. A translucent setting powder is a good option, since you can lightly brush it over your concealer, wait for it to dry, then brush off any extra.
5. Finish your look
Once your concealer is dry, you can then put on your foundation, your contouring (if that’s your jam), and the rest of your makeup. You definitely need to wait a few minutes for your concealer to set, since otherwise it’s going to get smudged as soon as you start touching your eyes to put on mascara or eyeshadow.
Cake be gone! There’s no need to suffer through creasing under eye makeup once you know how to deal with it. Like any new skill, it may take some trial and error before you’ve got the hang of it, but soon your makeup will be looking fierce – just like you!
