Concealing the dark circles under your eyes can be tricky. Finding the right formula and color for your face can make all the difference in looking youthful, fresh, and awake. If you do it incorrectly you can end up bringing more attention to your under eyes and get that Kim Kardashian effect, which is too much for every day.

The main goal is for them to appear natural and blend in with the rest of your face. Establishing what kind of dark circles you have and what is causing them will help you figure out the best technique to cover them. Below are some tips and videos to help you learn how treat and conceal dark under eye circles.

Exfoliate and Treat

In order for your concealer to look smooth and pretty you first have to begin with a good skin. The skin underneath your eyes is thinner than the rest of the skin on your face. Therefore you have to treat it delicately. Do not exfoliate the under eye area with your regular exfoliator. Purchase an under eye treatment in the form of a cream or serum with ingredients that contain retinol. This will help to exfoliate the area without being too harsh. Apply in the evenings.  A healthy under eye treatment will help to keep the skin from getting puffy and keep it firm.

Hydrate and Prime

Hydrating underneath your eyes will help keep the skin moist and youthful. When you apply concealer it will help prevent that area from looking dull and dry. Get an eye cream or gel (depending on your skin type) that is not too thick but has plenty of moisturizing ingredients. Some moisturizing ingredients to help hydrate are caffeine, vitamin E, vitamin C (which will help lighten as well), safflower oil, and green tea.

Priming your under eyes with an eye gel in the morning can help to prevent the concealer from settling in any fine lines. Purchasing a product that does everything (hydrates, protects, and primes) is ideal so you don’t have to do too many steps in the morning.

Concealing

Now you are ready for concealer. The concealer you choose will be based on your skin texture and color. Below is a video to help you determine what kind of concealer you should use as well as how to apply it. Hope this helps! Enjoy!

(spotlight image: dietandi.com)