As we age, our skin changes. Two of the most common signs of aging are under-eye bags and dark circles. They can make us look tired, even after a full night’s rest.
For women over 50, it can be difficult to find makeup that helps us hide them without looking cakey or unnatural.
With the right products and techniques, however, you can easily disguise those dark circles and puffy bags for a youthful look without resorting to surgery or other invasive treatments. Read on to learn how to cover those pesky signs of aging in just a few simple steps.
What Causes Under-Eye Bags and Dark Circles
Dark circles and bags under the eyes are two of the most common beauty issues for women. Although these conditions are usually associated with aging, they can affect people of any age. So, what causes dark circles and bags under the eyes?
It’s no secret that genetics plays a role in our physical appearance, and some people are simply more predisposed to having under-eye bags or dark circles than others.
Lifestyle may also play a role. When we don’t get enough sleep, our bodies go into overdrive trying to conserve energy. This often results in puffiness or bags around the eyes due to fluid buildup beneath the surface of the skin.
Allergies or irritants, such as dust mites, pet dander, pollen, or even certain cosmetics, can cause inflammation in your eyes, leading to redness, puffiness, and dark circles.
If you believe allergies might be contributing to your eye issues, it’s important to identify what allergens you’re reacting to so you can take steps toward avoiding them in the future.
Finally, age is also a factor. As we get older, our skin naturally starts to lose collagen and elasticity. This can lead to an increase in wrinkles, sagging skin, and even under-eye bags.
Since the area around the eyes is much thinner than other parts of the face, this aging process can be particularly noticeable here.
Choosing the Right Concealer to Cover Under-Eye Bags and Dark Circles
The first step is finding a concealer that perfectly matches your skin tone. This is important because if the concealer is too light or too dark, it won’t blend in with your skin properly and will actually make your problem areas even more noticeable.
To get the perfect shade of concealer, try testing different shades on your jawline until you find one that blends seamlessly into your skin.
Look for a product that provides good coverage without feeling too heavy on the delicate skin around your eyes. Look for creamy formulas that contain hydrating ingredients—these help keep wrinkles at bay while providing excellent coverage for bags and circles under the eyes.
Another tip is to look for a full-coverage concealer that contains light-reflecting particles. This will help brighten up those tricky under-eye areas without looking cakey or overdone.
Once you’ve found the perfect shade of concealer, it’s time to choose the right tool for application. Your best bet is to use a small brush or a BeautyBlender sponge. If you’re using a brush, make sure it’s soft so that it won’t irritate the delicate skin around the eyes.
Using your fingers to apply concealer is also a great option since your fingers warm up the product and ensure it applies more naturally. When using any makeup tool around this area, always pat—never rub—to avoid stretching the delicate skin under your eyes.
How to Prep Your Skin
Before you start applying your makeup, it’s essential to prep your skin. Start by washing your face with a gentle cleanser and patting it dry with a clean towel. Then, apply an eye cream designed to brighten dark circles and reduce puffiness around the eyes.
You may also want to consider using an eye primer before applying your concealer, as this will help ensure your makeup lasts all day. Allow the eye cream to soak into your skin for at least 5 minutes before moving on to the next step.
How to Apply Concealer to Cover Under-Eye Bags and Dark Circles
Once your skin is prepped and ready, it’s time to apply concealer around your eyes. Dab the concealer onto your finger or brush, then gently pat it onto the areas you want to cover until you have achieved a natural-looking coverage level.
How to Set Your Concealer
Next, set your concealer with powder using a soft brush or sponge applicator. This will help prevent creasing throughout the day while absorbing any excess oils from your skin so that everything stays in place all day.
Try using an illuminating powder—this will give you a subtle glow while also helping add more definition to areas where you may have used too much concealer. Finally, use a setting spray to lock everything in place.
By following these tips, you can achieve beautiful coverage that looks natural yet still hides imperfections for an overall flawless complexion all day long. Looking for specific product recommendations? Check out our list of the top concealers.
Ditch the Bags
Here are some of our favorite products to help alleviate (or prevent) dark circles and under-eye bags.
Treat and conceal to get the appearance of flawless-looking eyes with this IT Cosmetics collection at QVC.
IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer is your super full-coverage concealer that covers anything and everything but never creases or cracks. Bye Bye Under Eye Cream is a nourishing eye cream that helps to hydrate the skin around your eyes. The dark shadow minimizing soft sheer blue tint is formulated to help brighten the look of eyes. The Heavenly Luxe Double-Ended Concealer Brush is custom-designed to do all the work for you. This brush makes looking and feeling your most beautiful you easier than ever.
This fabulous eye cream helps you turn heads with an advanced, visible reduction of dark circles. Plus, it has lightweight hydration that is great under makeup. Just a dab helps instantly depuff the appearance of eye bags. It smooths away the look of fine, dry lines. Its pearlized, brightening tone is ideal for fair-to-medium skin tones and cooler undertones, and it revives tired-looking eyes in a snap.
Available in 45 shades to match any skin tone, Age Rewind helps you erase the look of dark circles and brighten the look of dull skin.
Long-lasting finishing spray that gives a matte look and keeps your makeup in place for up to 16 hours.
Choose from a number of brush sizes and combinations to get the best under-eye coverage options.
Choose from 20 fun colors. This sponge grows to about 2x its size when it’s wet to give you the best coverage possible (without absorbing too much product).
Read Next:
5 Photo-Finish Eye Makeup Tips to Look Your Best on Camera
