Need Help w/ Under Eye Concealer Issue.

Nov 5, 2013

Anna S.

Hey Beauties,

I have always had prominent dark circles under my eyes, so I have tried a lot of products to cancel them out. I still haven't found a holy grail, especially since it gets expensive trying so many products, and I can't afford to shell out the big bucks unless I'm confident it would work for me. Currently I'm using the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer, and it works OK...

Biggest issue is that my eyeliner, especially in my lower waterline, always always always smudges. Adding concealer into the mix only makes the skin around my eye greasier/more slippery. Any liner on my lower lash line simply doesn't last and turns into a smudgy mess at the corners of my eyes within an hour. I have tried setting the concealer with a powder but most usually settle into fine lines under my eyes or dull the eye-brightening effect of the concealer.

Do you ladies have any products you can suggest? Amazing non greasy under eye concealers? A concealer/powder combination that leaves eyes looking bright? A powder that won't settle? An incredible eyeliner that won't smudge from my waterline/lower lash line?

Any recommendations are welcomed and I would be willing to look into higher-end stuff if that's truly the best in this case.

Thanks so much!

Nov 5, 2013

Sara V.

MAC prolong wear concealer works the best for me. Have someone help you pick out the best color. The best eyeliner for the water line that I've heard of is by em cosmetics. Have you tried setting the eyeliner with a little bit of black eye shadow? Sounds weird but it works.

Nov 5, 2013

Anna S.

Sara V. -

Thanks for the suggestion! I do sometimes trace over the pencil liner with a shadow, sometimes for a shimmery effect or I'll apply a neon shadow over the black liner to tone it down a bit but still add a little pop. In those instances, I do notice that the liner lasts a bit longer, but the creamy liner underneath still ends up smudging into the corners of my eyes. I do have pretty watery eyes so I don't have high hopes for products staying on my water line, but I'll totally look into the em cosmetics liner.

As for the MAC pro longwear concealer, do you use that in conjunction with a MAC foundation? do you use a primer (overall face primer under foundation, or blue-cancelling eye primer)? Do you set it with any powder?

Sorry for all the questions, just want to make sure I have all the info before shelling out for MAC.

Nov 6, 2013

Sara V.

You can use any foundation really - I use it with a MAC studio fix fluid or even my loreal true match! Yes I definitely always use a primer and it really helps! I use Smashbox color corrector primer which is a salmon color. I set it with a revlon loose setting powder or Urban Decay deslick powder with a small lightweight fan brush or just tap with my ring finger. Check out my highlighting and contour video and see how I did the concealer part. It might help! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgWS26rMESE&feature=c4-overview&list=UU0ZtHjk4EkOl54GZGvAz6TQ.

Nov 6, 2013

Anna S.

Thanks so much! I actually got really excited at your eyeliner suggestion and already ordered the em cosmetics waterliner. Really hope this one works... if not it will just go into my growing collection of "top lid black liners"

Nov 6, 2013

Sara V.

Lol! Good luck girl!! I think you will have luck with this one :)

Nov 6, 2013

Jessica F.

I also have really bad dark circles and fine lines and I have tried sooo many concealers, finally I used a color corrector and I've been hooked every since. I use Graftobian soft orange color corrector and I ordered it off camerareadycosmetics.com for not that much. As for the fine lines when I prime my eyes I also take it under my eyes and it works good. Hope this helps a little

Nov 6, 2013

Brittany O.

Using vitamin e oil at night will help the under eye area a bit, really helped my dark circles! Also I agree with Sara, MAC prolong wear is the best! Setting it with the bare minerals "awake" powder keeps the area nice and bright without looking shimmery or powdery, also using white or nude liner and some visine will make your eyes appear bright and awake and distract from dark circles :)

Nov 6, 2013

Anna S.

Thanks for the concealer suggestion, Jessica. I'll check it out :)

Brittany, do you just use liquid vitamin e? Someone told me you can break open the capsule pills and use the oil inside. What concentration do you use?

I do love nude liner - and as a bonus, when it smudges it isn't so obvious and sloppy looking like black.

Nov 6, 2013

Roz X.

Perfekt tinted eye gel. Soothing, cooling, smoothening, brightening. Need only a bit..worth every penny.

Nov 6, 2013

Anna S.

I should mention, my dark circles are more concentrated in the inner half of my under eye area, and they're very purple. Leaning more red than blue. Then toward the outer corners I just have very thin skin and visible blue veins. Should I get a less orange, more yellow concealer?

Nov 7, 2013

Anna S.

Thanks, Taylor! I was thinking of trying Glamoflauge but was afraid it'd be too heavy or cakey. I've only seen it at walmart, next time I'm at one I'll pick it up, since it's so cheap I don't have a lot to lose.