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.
While the majority of experts recommend applying a light layer of foundation before concealer, we admit there are instances where you benefit from a concealer first—if you're getting photographed, your concealer shade isn't the same as your foundation, and if you're color-correcting discoloration.
Never put concealer or foundation on your eyelids as a base, it will cause your eye makeup to crease.
Use complementary colors (which are opposite on the color wheel) to cancel each other out. That means when it comes to correcting pesky under-eye circles, you should reach for sunny colors, like peach, yellow, and orange.
"When applying eye shadow I suggest applying the eye shadow first before you apply foundation to avoid the fallout. First apply a thin layer of eye shadow primer, then eye shadow and eyeliner where you desire," celebrity makeup artist Billie Gene said.
According to Gerstein, applying powder on top of your concealer sets the look and minimizes creasing throughout the day. That is if you don't overdo it. "Use a light powder like this one from Laura Mercier sparingly," says Ma.
Applying foundation first creates an even base to reduce overall redness, discoloration and minor blemishes. If you apply your concealer first, you may end up wiping some off when you apply foundation or using a lot more product than necessary, which can create a heavy, cakey look.
It's best not to use your basic concealer to try to disguise dark under-eye circles. Instead, choose an "under-eye concealer" specially formulated to cover up dark spots. These work by brightening the dark areas under the eyes and are not to be used to camouflage redness or blemishes.
As Reiss-Andersen points out, concealer is designed to color-correct dark circles and spots, as well as blemishes, while foundation works to enhance the overall skin tone. “It's great to combine both concealer and foundation to make the skin look as radiant as possible,” she concurs.
This usually means your skincare products underneath are clashing. Always leave enough time for your serums and moisturisers to dry between layers. Applying hydrating serums to damp skin can also help.
Use a foundation all over, blending in a very thin layer under your eyes. “Most of my clients from India have a neutral skin undertone, which is often a combination of pink and yellow," says Asadi. She suggests applying it with a finger to create a dense coverage, and then blend it with a damp beauty sponge.
Over time, dead skin cells and impurities build up on your skin. If exfoliation isn't part of your regular skin care routine, this build-up can cause your foundation to apply unevenly and separate throughout the day.
Applying Vaseline® Jelly under eyes is a tried-and-tested way to lock in moisture, keeping skin in the eye area soft and elastic, and rejuvenating skin that looks dry and tired.
If you are rubbing and pulling on the delicate skin around your eyes while putting on your makeup, you could be causing your eyelids to lose elasticity and become more wrinkled. The skin there is much finer and thinner than the rest of the face, so tugging, even slightly, can really break down the collagen.
If you've ever thought your makeup makes you look more wrinkled, it might be by virtue of dehydrated skin. Makeup has a way of leaching the moisture from the skin, accentuating pores, and highlighting fine lines and wrinkles. So if your skin looks worse with foundation, this could be a major culprit.
Correct Order of Face Makeup
Foundation. Concealer. Powder. Bronzer/Blush/Highlighter.
Many women use an excessive amount of eye cream. This makes the skin greasy, so concealer can't stay in place. A pea-sized amount of any eye gel or cream is sufficient. If you have over-moisturized, blot away the excess with tissue paper.
You Can Totally Wear Concealer Without Foundation—Here's How. Concealer is kind of like your favorite skin-care serum: You can't really see it, but it does some heavy lifting behind the scenes. Once blended under your foundation, it chameleons those uninvited pimples, dark spots, or bits of redness away.
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.