Please help me sort my dark shadows and under eyes!

[Whatnamesareleft]

So naturally I have dark circles. The added trouble is when I put concealer on (doesn’t matter what brand) it goes on looking like I have dry skin but when I have no make up it doesn’t look dry and doesn’t feel dry when I have no make up on?

My skin is very sensitive around my eyes so have to be careful what I use around them. I am prone to eczema but don’t have any at all a present.

I use Mac Pro longwear concealer at the moment and the foundation.

I have hideous dark circles though, and concealer never helps that much! Personal preference though. But I totally agree with the fake tan suggestion, it reduces the contrast between the skin and the dark shadow, and makes you look a bit healthier too!

I hate doing fake tan. With a vengeance. If you do the face surely you have to do whole body? I’m pale so would look silly with tan face and nothing else? Especially as I don’t tan!

I use Bobbi brown corrector and it still cakes. What does help is spraying some make up fixer on your face and the putting it on. I use urban decay fix on my fingers and dab it on. Also a primer might help but it's another layer.

Primer makes it worse so I don’t bother with that. I do have some fixer spray so will try patting that on before! Will try anything once!

@Whatnamesareleft

I hate doing fake tan. With a vengeance. If you do the face surely you have to do whole body? I’m pale so would look silly with tan face and nothing else? Especially as I don’t tan!

It's not THAT obvious. Nobody's seeing my body anyway and if you get a natural tan it also only goes on your face and any other exposed area. If you put foundation on, you extend some to your neck, but you don't have to put it all over your body, do you? I use tan drops that you mix with your moisturiser.

Ok I can give that a go. Any recommendations for drops?

I use this one. It's not really that gradual - you see your skin a bit darker the next day.
www.marksandspencer.com/c/style-and-living/best-fake-tan-autograph-gradual-tan-drops-face
I got it after a recommendation from Sali Hughes.

I hate the consistency of concealer. I use a pigmented eye cream from Space NK and pat it on. I then dust some pale Laura Mercier lightening under eye powder. Best I have found yet.

I find that now I am in my 50s concealer just accentuates any lines and doesn't sit on the surface any more. The pigmented cream is very fluid and just patting it on seems to work well.

I have naturally dark under eyes. Tarte Shape Tape is the best concealer by far.

@Sexnotgender

I have naturally dark under eyes. Tarte Shape Tape is the best concealer by far.

Maybe OK if you have good skin, if there's any dryness it's really bad for sitting in the fine lines.

Have you tried the maybelline eye eraser? It's brilliant. Lots of shades. A friend couldn't tell I was wearing it- with no other make up. It's brilliant.

I have dry skin and naturally dark circles around my eyes, even after a good sleep.
I have tried so many concealers and the best is Tarte Shape Tape creaseless concealer, I had to wait a week or so as it’s shipped direct from Tarte in the states. They offer a colour matching service online, I bought 3 different shades in the mini size and they are all good. I make sure I use lots of moisturiser and a good eye cream too.
Another tip is after applying concealer tap on a little bit of setting spray under your eyes, until you start to feel it go tacky and start drying. I spray a little bit on the back of my hand and pick it up on a finger tip from there. It really does seem to stop creasing xx

Yes I have tried the maybelline one of that is the one that has the round sponge on the end. Really don’t understand the hype with that. Did nothing for me at all. I am also having the issue with it sitting in the crease under my eye what a pretty picture I am!

@Clarelouise1976 if you are tapping setting spray onto concealer surely if will go a bit funny won’t it? Make like a paste? Will happily give it a go though as I haven’t done that!

Here is the YouTube video I saw it on! Xx

@Whatnamesareleft

Yes I have tried the maybelline one of that is the one that has the round sponge on the end. Really don’t understand the hype with that. Did nothing for me at all. I am also having the issue with it sitting in the crease under my eye what a pretty picture I am!

It doesn't work for me either.

Try the Bobbi Brown corrector, it's very pigmented. You apply your concealer over the top afterwards to ensure your skintone looks right.

You sound the same as me OP. Am considering trying IT cosmetics concealer but it is a bit spendy considering I'm at that awful point where I need mostly new make up. Best of luck!

With the setting spray - I do something similar but I don’t apply setting spray with my fingers, I spray a beauty blender and then push that into the concealer under my eyes.

So conceal, wait a minute or too, pat any creases out with your ringer finger, then bounce a beauty blender sprayed with setting spray, then powder.

It keeps everything in place and not creasy.

MythsandSparkles which setting spray do you use?

I’d like to give your tip a try.

stayathomer I have the IT under eye concealer pot. It’s very thick so quite cakey.

I’d like to try the Tarte tape.

Concealer does the same thing to me. Just emphasises texture and makes the under eye skin look very crinkled.

Funnily enough pressed powder by itself does not seem to have the same effect in emphasising crinkles and blurs some of the shadow. Even though that's the opposite to what you hear! I actually find pressed powder instead of foundation suits my skin the best. My loose mineral powder foundation, however, will emphasise under eye crinkles. I think because it's high coverage. Great for concealing any blemishes, though. I'm nearly 50.

I have come to the conclusion that it is mainly hollows under my eyes, though, I have not actually differently pigmented skin. They look different according to the light conditions. My prescription glasses also do a great job in hiding the shadows! You can get frames to sit just where they occur.

@BaconAndAvocado I’ve got open at the moment, Mac Fix+, urban decay all nighter or a sport FX mist and fix that I got from a glossy box.

I use whichever I fancy that day - the urban decay if I’m going to be spending a lot of time in masks but the others work well.

I used to have an essence one from wilkos that was amazing but I’ve not been for ages so ran out of that.

pensivepigeon I totally agree re glasses.
However, I only need glasses for reading.......perhaps I should get some fake ones!

Thanks pensivepigeon
I've spent all my Christmas money now so might look up the Wilko one!

So, just to be clear, you apply it after you've done all your make up?

I have terrible under eye circles and recommend the becca under eye brightner! I use it on top of nars concealer