Trying to kick the touche éclat habit, how to avoid a reverse panda look?

[BartlebyTheScrivener]

I'm about to turn 40, very pale, with permanent purple marks under my eyes. My skin is on the dry side and prone to wrinkling/flaking. After using touche éclat for years to camouflage my ample purple eye baggage and getting through vats of the stuff in the process, my budget can no longer justify the pricetag. I am also aware that as a highlighter, it perhaps has never been the right product (although I've always felt it made a significant difference).

I am trying Max Factor colour corrector stick for purple but a quick glance in the mirror today before the school run revealed it is giving me reverse panda eyes. Perhaps I could pretend I just returned from skiing...

Before I cave in and pummel the credit card a bit more to get my touche éclat fix, does anyone have any low budget solutions please?

I stopped using Touché Eclat years ago and replaced with Clinique Airbrush concealer.

I switched to dermacol which is great in small quantities.

Maybelline Age Rewind concealer gets good reviews.

Bourjois healthy mix is really good I think. And bargainous.

Did you really blend it in? I think it looks better a bit lighter. Although Bobbi Brown stuff suggests use a corrector to solve the problem then put a concealer on top.

I find Rimmel Match perfection tone adapting 2 in 1 concealer and highlighter is good. Comes in a tube with brush. I moisturise the area first and blend it well.

Number 7 highlighter / liquid concealer is brilliant. I used TE for years but bought the No 7 one at a Boots before a trip and haven't looked back.

Thank you so much for all the replies, lots of options for me to try! PETRONELLAS I haven't really managed to blend it, I've found it too dry for that but I will give it another go.

I recently bought the Aldi one which is great.

Hadn't even thought of Aldi, thanks!

I just came on to suggest the Aldi one! It’s brilliant!

I have the same problem. What works best for me is not a concealer but mineral makeup. I put a little bit of sheer colour on my whole face and I stipple a bit of light mineral powder (I use Bare Minerals) on the purple bits with a small brush. It leaves a soft edge and has a bit of luminescence (like TE) which makes it look more sheer than it is.

On the night of a very special party I had a spot on my back which showed where my dress was low. I had my dh (who is wonderful in most ways but not a makeup artist!) tap a tiny bit of mineral powder on it (I couldn't reach) and he said 'Huh, it has just disappreared' and indeed it had. I love my mineral makeup.

I also liked one of the Mac Paints (now discontinued, tut) which was heavy enough to conceal, blendable and also a little bit dewy (looked sheer but wasn't), and it stayed where you put it.

I find most concealers are too thick, sticky or sheer or they settle into lines.

I blend mine with a little moisturiser to make it go on smoothly enough. I wear translucent loose powder over the top.

If I have underdone my eye makeup and blusher then the "colour" under my eyes becomes more noticeable.

Darker eye liner, a good blusher and highlighted cheekbones make the eye circles much less noticeable.

Bought the no7 highlighter today and will try wearing it over the correction pen with lots of blending! Thanks for all your advice.

The new YSL 24 hour concealer is amazing but again might be £££

Try the Collection concealer. Available in supermarkets and is £3.99. Make sure your under eyes are well moisturised and blend with a brush.

Aldi do 3 colour correcting crayons for not much money. Green for redness, lilac for shadows and a concealer.