How to Cover Dark Circles
Wash your face using a gentle cleanser, giving a final rinse using cold water., Apply a moisturizer., Put on foundation., Choose an orange or yellow shade., Find this color in a stick concealer (recommended)., Cover the under-eye area with...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Wash your face using a gentle cleanser
This decreases blood flow in your face, and helps reduce puffiness. -
Step 2: giving a final rinse using cold water.
Apply this over your whole face, but especially around the eyes.
This will help the makeup apply more evenly.
If your skin is easily irritated, use a special eye moisturizer rather than a face moisturizer.
Don't worry — it's a myth that rubbing your eyes will cause wrinkles, unless it becomes a constant habit., As always, choose a foundation that matches your skin tone and skin type.
Don't go overboard; this is a base for the concealer, not a product that will cover the circles on its own.Applying foundation first allows you to use less concealer, making a natural look easier to achieve.
Powder foundations tend to be easier to control, allowing you to target the dark areas more accurately., Orange, salmon, or peach concealer counteract the blue tones prevalent in most under eye circles.
Go with a darker orange if the circles are especially dark, or bright blue.A lighter, more yellow-y orange conceals purple tones more effectively, while a redder tone can conceal green circles.If your eyes are puffy, go a little darker.
Darker colors create the illusion that the area is recessed, reducing the puffy appearance., Stick concealers use a thicker, creamier formula that covers dark areas more effectively.A matte finish tends to last longer and conceals creases more effectively.Stick concealer may trigger an acne breakout on oily skin.
If this is a concern, use a liquid concealer.
For liquid concealer around the eyes, satin or shimmer finishes sometimes work better than matte, especially if there are dry or flaky areas of skin. , Now that you've tackled the complex task of choosing the right concealer, apply it in small dabs to the undereye area.
Pat it in using your finger for more effective crease concealment, or a brush for fine control.It's best to start with as little as possible, putting a thin layer over the darkest or most discolored areas. , Load your puff up with powder and gently press it under your eyes.
This will add a little more coverage and help your concealer to last throughout the day. , Blend in the edges of the concealer until they are no longer visible.
If the concealer is still obvious, apply any other desired makeup to the rest of your face and blend again.
It may help to use a different shade of concealer on your cheeks and forehead, in between your skin tone and the tone of the eye concealer. , This will immediately brighten up your eyes and make you look more awake.
The brightness also draws attention away from under eye circles.
For more staying power, use white eyeliner underneath the shadow. , Highlighter along the top of your cheekbone can reflect light to nearby shadows, brightening any remaining hint of darkness. , Yes, your eyelids can get a tan, and the brown cast can make dark morning eyes harder to conceal.Use a moisturizer with SPF 25 or greater, or ordinary sunscreen.
Sunscreen which uses only zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as the active ingredient is less likely to irritate the skin around your eyes. , Getting enough sleep can help you avoid pale skin that makes dark circles stand out.
Drinking plenty of water and minimizing salt can prevent water retention, which is one factor in puffy morning eyes., If you have a congested nose or sinuses, your eyes probably appear darker due to swollen blood vessels.Take antihistamines or visit the doctor for other allergy treatments.
These "allergy shiners" are more common in children and teens. , While this won't make your eyes lighter, it can make dark circles less noticeable.
Here are a couple treatments:
Chill a pair of spoons in the freezer.
Lie down with the bowls of the spoons over your eyes and let the cold reduce the swelling.
Give yourself a facial massage to encourage lymph drainage.
If this helps reduce swelling, you may have poor lymph drainage, which you can address with lifestyle changes., While eyelids do change in appearance as you age, this is a very gradual process.
If your eyelids have become much darker or more swollen in the past few months, ask your doctor to examine them.
There are many conditions that can cause a change in eyelid appearance. -
Step 3: Apply a moisturizer.
-
Step 4: Put on foundation.
-
Step 5: Choose an orange or yellow shade.
-
Step 6: Find this color in a stick concealer (recommended).
-
Step 7: Cover the under-eye area with concealer.
-
Step 8: Set your under eye concealer with powder.
-
Step 9: Blend thoroughly.
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Step 10: Apply shimmering beige or white eye shadow to your tear duct area (optional).
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Step 11: Highlight cheekbones (optional).
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Step 12: Protect your eyes from sun.
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Step 13: Make small lifestyle changes.
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Step 14: Treat allergies.
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Step 15: Fix puffy eyes.
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Step 16: Visit the doctor if this problem appeared suddenly.
Detailed Guide
This decreases blood flow in your face, and helps reduce puffiness.
Apply this over your whole face, but especially around the eyes.
This will help the makeup apply more evenly.
If your skin is easily irritated, use a special eye moisturizer rather than a face moisturizer.
Don't worry — it's a myth that rubbing your eyes will cause wrinkles, unless it becomes a constant habit., As always, choose a foundation that matches your skin tone and skin type.
Don't go overboard; this is a base for the concealer, not a product that will cover the circles on its own.Applying foundation first allows you to use less concealer, making a natural look easier to achieve.
Powder foundations tend to be easier to control, allowing you to target the dark areas more accurately., Orange, salmon, or peach concealer counteract the blue tones prevalent in most under eye circles.
Go with a darker orange if the circles are especially dark, or bright blue.A lighter, more yellow-y orange conceals purple tones more effectively, while a redder tone can conceal green circles.If your eyes are puffy, go a little darker.
Darker colors create the illusion that the area is recessed, reducing the puffy appearance., Stick concealers use a thicker, creamier formula that covers dark areas more effectively.A matte finish tends to last longer and conceals creases more effectively.Stick concealer may trigger an acne breakout on oily skin.
If this is a concern, use a liquid concealer.
For liquid concealer around the eyes, satin or shimmer finishes sometimes work better than matte, especially if there are dry or flaky areas of skin. , Now that you've tackled the complex task of choosing the right concealer, apply it in small dabs to the undereye area.
Pat it in using your finger for more effective crease concealment, or a brush for fine control.It's best to start with as little as possible, putting a thin layer over the darkest or most discolored areas. , Load your puff up with powder and gently press it under your eyes.
This will add a little more coverage and help your concealer to last throughout the day. , Blend in the edges of the concealer until they are no longer visible.
If the concealer is still obvious, apply any other desired makeup to the rest of your face and blend again.
It may help to use a different shade of concealer on your cheeks and forehead, in between your skin tone and the tone of the eye concealer. , This will immediately brighten up your eyes and make you look more awake.
The brightness also draws attention away from under eye circles.
For more staying power, use white eyeliner underneath the shadow. , Highlighter along the top of your cheekbone can reflect light to nearby shadows, brightening any remaining hint of darkness. , Yes, your eyelids can get a tan, and the brown cast can make dark morning eyes harder to conceal.Use a moisturizer with SPF 25 or greater, or ordinary sunscreen.
Sunscreen which uses only zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as the active ingredient is less likely to irritate the skin around your eyes. , Getting enough sleep can help you avoid pale skin that makes dark circles stand out.
Drinking plenty of water and minimizing salt can prevent water retention, which is one factor in puffy morning eyes., If you have a congested nose or sinuses, your eyes probably appear darker due to swollen blood vessels.Take antihistamines or visit the doctor for other allergy treatments.
These "allergy shiners" are more common in children and teens. , While this won't make your eyes lighter, it can make dark circles less noticeable.
Here are a couple treatments:
Chill a pair of spoons in the freezer.
Lie down with the bowls of the spoons over your eyes and let the cold reduce the swelling.
Give yourself a facial massage to encourage lymph drainage.
If this helps reduce swelling, you may have poor lymph drainage, which you can address with lifestyle changes., While eyelids do change in appearance as you age, this is a very gradual process.
If your eyelids have become much darker or more swollen in the past few months, ask your doctor to examine them.
There are many conditions that can cause a change in eyelid appearance.
About the Author
Virginia Robinson
Writer and educator with a focus on practical cooking knowledge.
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