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.

A corrector is better than a concealer IMHO but if the issue is dryness you need a product that isn't drying and your skin isn't reacting to.

You also may need to moisturise the area with a good eye cram and perhaps also put primer on before the concealer.

Some concealers are dryer in consistency eg I recently got the Laura Mercier secret camouflage concealer and it's great for blemishes but it looks dry around the eyes.

I find the bobbi brown cream corrector okay as well as the Armani corrector and tarte shape tape to be ok.

But the other thing is how and where you put it. If you get one that gives good coverage then you shouldn't need too much and that might help with it not highlighting dryness.

I just saw you say a primer makes it worse. What primer are you using?

It shouldn't be making the issue worse unless you are using a primer that doesn't suit your skin type or you are reacting to. Many primers are mattifying and you might be better with a moisturising primer.

Have you tried simply putting some moisturiser over your eye cream and before your concealer?

Also do you powder? I don't powder under my eyes as it always looks dry and cakey.

Primer I have tried Mac as that is the same brand as my base and also a benefit one. I do use plenty of eye cream and have also started to try to put some vit e oil around my eyes before bed too. @ElderMillennial what do you mean moisturiser over eye cream? After my shower I will put eye cream round my eyes, wait for face to dry before starting make up. I never use powder round my eyes as it definitely makes it worse!

If my skin feels dry I would want a barrier between the eye cream and the concealer (assuming eye cream alone isn't solving the issue)

I have sometimes used a moisturising primer for that reason or I have an eye primer by tarte that you can use under the eyes or otherwise I'd put a little bit of moisturiser on top of my eye cream (once it has sunk in) and then put the concealer on.

But it could also be that the concealer doesn't work well for dry skin.

I have dry skin anyway so I do find make up can cling.

Can I ask those of you who mention using correctors, how do you know which one to use?
I've always gone for a slightly yellow under eye concealer but haven't got it perfected yet and I've seen some of you mentioning a pink one.

I use a corrector and find an orangey pink colour works best but I have a slightly tan skin tone.

It depends on the colour of your dark circles. In theory

Pink would best counteract green tones
Orange would best correct purple
Yellow corrects green

You could try a palette that has a few colours in and then once you know what colour works for you, you can branch out

What’s weird though is right now the skin does not feel dry at all. When the make up is on, it looks like my skin is dry? It is sort of in little patches?? Why does it do that if it does not feel dry to start with? My under eyes are quite ‘crepey’ under my eyes are dark, so a blue colour

I recommend La Roche Posay Retinol eye cream, Bio Oil and also Buffet from The Ordinary which can all be used on eye area. Totally back the recs for Nars concealer - best concealer ever!! Have you ever used a jade roller after creams/oils?? I use it at night and by the morning find it helps with any puffiness around eye area X

Yeah, I had my makeup done by mac, all the shades, and I have a significantly darker concealer (nw3) from that consultation than foundation (nc1).

It makes a huge difference. Try the Tummel pallet. The consistency is very elastic, so doesn't dry out all on the skin. Like I said, I also add drops of oil to my pre makeup moisturiser and it's made an enormous difference!

Have never heard of a jade roller! I don’t get on with the ordinary products for some reason. I use the la Roche eye cream in the little tube with a pump, can’t remember the name but one of the only things that doesn’t set my eczema off. Touching my skin under my eyes now, it is not dry... as soon as concealer goes on (no matter what is under neath) it ‘looks’ dry so it’s patchy looking? Doesn’t matter what brand of make up I use.

@DonLewis is there a way to work it out? I wear nc15? I do think I need a darker shade but I don’t know what I would need and can’t get into any shops obviously.

I’ve just discovered veil cosmetics concealer pen. Saw it on Beauty and the Boutique. I was a bit skeptical but thought it was worth a go. I’ve been using it over my usual corrector and concealer (Bobbi Brown and Nars) and it’s made a massive difference. A few layers of this and my under eye is much brighter.

DonLewis I’ve also started using oil (Tropic Elixir)mixed in with my moisturiser.

5 drops on the morning and 10 at night.
It definitely helps when applying my underdone make up.

@LolaSmiles I use pink corrector for greyness under my eyes, either Sleek Corrector from Boots or Chanel Rose Correcteur. I have fair skin and these products have been game changers!

@Volcanoexplorer

I’ve just discovered veil cosmetics concealer pen. Saw it on Beauty and the Boutique. I was a bit skeptical but thought it was worth a go. I’ve been using it over my usual corrector and concealer (Bobbi Brown and Nars) and it’s made a massive difference. A few layers of this and my under eye is much brighter.

Agreed, I love Veil and often use it on its own for day time.

The Becca corrector is good too and definitely takes the dark out, but the colour it corrects to isn't right for my skin tone so I have to then do foundation/concealer/highlighter. Layering is a big issue for me as products then cake and collect in the creases... Have just bought some Trinny London stuff so we'll see. Under eyes have been an issue for me since I was 15, the search continues and I'm 50 now.

*undereye make up, “underdone” is something it definitely isn’t 😂

Marking place

Not sure if this has been mentioned yet but I've recently discovered Magic Vanish by Charlotte Tilbury.
It's fabulous and I sometimes just use it on its own for a light make up look.
It's a set cream in a palette and for me is a definite game changer.