How To Prevent Concealer From Creasing Under Eyes - Byrdie

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How to Prevent Concealer From Creasing Under Eyes

Straight from celebrity makeup artists.

By Amanda Montell

Amanda Montell Amanda Montell has worked as a beauty editor in Los Angeles for over three years covering hair, skin, and more. She previously served as the features editor for Byrdie and currently writes for Time Magazine, Cosmopolitan, and more. Byrdie's Editorial Guidelines Updated on September 27, 2023 02:04PM Reviewed by Ashley Rebecca

A seated woman holding a black cat, smiling at the camera

Reviewed by Ashley Rebecca Ashley Rebecca is a NYC-based contributor for Byrdie, where she covers makeup, skincare, and more. She has 20+ years of experience as a makeup artist and has contributed to Byrdie for the past ten years. About Byrdie's Beauty & Wellness Board Contributing Writer and Makeup Artist

Close up of a woman with mature skin applying concealer under her eyes — D Mills / Byrdie

In This Article

Frequently Asked Questions Prep With an Eye Cream Choose a Lightweight Concealer Use the Right Tools Be Strategic About Your Placement Slowly Build Up Product Avoid Getting Too Close to the Lashes Remove Excess Product With Blotting Papers Minimize Creasing With a Setting Powder

As far as makeup must-haves go, under-eye concealer is at the top of the list. Masking the appearance of dark circles and a poor night's sleep is one of the easiest ways to give the skin a brighter, more wide-awake complexion.

Applying concealer under your eyes is pretty simple, but it's common for makeup to crease due to the fine lines in this dynamic area. "You can minimize creasing, but since we are moving, breathing beings, it is not always possible to prevent it altogether," says Suzy Gerstein, a Manhattan-based celebrity makeup artist. "Remember to go easy on yourself. As much as a crease annoys you, it's usually nothing a couple of swipes of a damp Beautyblender or a fingertip can't fix."

Meet the Experts

Suzy Gerstein is a celebrity and editorial makeup artist based in New York City. She has worked with Christy Turlington Burns, Christine Taylor, and Gloria Steinem, among others.
Min Min Ma is a New York City-based celebrity and editorial makeup artist. Her clients include actress Tina Fey, singer Grimes, and actress Mia Goth.

For tips on keeping under-eye concealer smooth and crease-free, we tapped Gerstein and pro makeup artist Min Min Ma for their expert input. Read on for their advice.

7:19

Learn 5 Tricks for Using Concealer from MUA Bob Scott

01 of 08

Prep With an Eye Cream

A lesser-known tip for crease-free concealer is to prep the under-eye area with an eye cream or serum that absorbs easily, like Tatcha's Luminous Deep Hydration Firming Eye Serum. To prevent your eye makeup from smearing or running, Gerstein says to wait a few minutes after applying eye cream before applying concealer. "I like to do this step first, then apply the rest of the makeup, and then go back to under-eye concealer to ensure that the product has had time to absorb," she says.

Byrdie Tip

If you're in a hurry and don't have time to wait it out, Gerstein says to apply your eye cream, separate a two-ply tissue, and press it on your under-eye area. This hack removes any excess cream and readies the under-eye area for concealer.

02 of 08

Choose a Lightweight Concealer

According to Ma, the texture of your concealer affects how much it will crease. Dry concealers tend to crease more, as they're less flexible and can cling to the folds of your skin. If you haven't found your perfect formula yet, we suggest Ilia's True Skin Serum Concealer.

03 of 08

Use the Right Tools

The tools you use to apply your under-eye concealer matter. For a no-makeup makeup look, apply concealer only where you need it to look naturally well-rested. "My trick is to use a small, pointed synthetic brush to apply the concealer to the areas where you see a shadow, then pat into place with your fingertip," says Gerstein. "The warmth of your skin will melt the product and blend it in, making it look like real skin." Be sure to use your ring finger (the finger with the lightest pressure) to avoid pulling at the delicate skin around your eyes.

Key Takeaways

Creasing concealer is a common beauty problem, but there are many solutions.
Using a lightweight formula, applying it with the right tools, and properly prepping the area can all make a huge difference in keeping creases at bay.

04 of 08

Be Strategic About Your Placement

"We tend to get most darkness around the triangle part atthe inner corner of the eyes, so focus there," suggests Ma. "The skin around that area tends to be smoother, hence less creasing." Apply the bulk of the product in this darker area, and blend it out toward your orbital bone for a traceless finish.

05 of 08

Slowly Build Up Product

Finding the sweet spot between too much concealer and not enough is crucial. You want to apply enough to cover the entire area and be able to blend without it getting splotchy or too thin, but you don't want to cake it on the delicate eye area, either.

So try a less-is-more approach: Rather than starting with a thick coat of concealer, build it up as needed. "I like to work in thin layers to achieve a realistic finish and only apply as much as needed," says Gerstein. This way, you don't end up applying way too much product all at once, leading to inevitable caking and creasing (especially if you're using a heavy-duty formula).

06 of 08

Avoid Getting Too Close to the Lashes

You don't need to apply concealer up to your lashline to yield full coverage. Just like you should blend the edges of your concealer out toward the orbital bone for a seamless fade, do the same in the other direction. Blend up toward your lash line rather than applying product directly along the line. If you take the concealer too close to the bottom lashes, it can pool and crease in that area, Gerstein tells us.

07 of 08

Remove Excess Product With Blotting Papers

Remember when you learned to blot your lipstick on a piece of tissue to remove the excess product? Utilize that same concept for creaseless, stay-all-day concealer. After you've applied your concealer, gently press a sheet of blotting paper over the under-eye area. This "really blots off excess oil, leaving just the pigment behind, which ensures long wear," says Gerstein.

What will you be left with? The perfect amount of coverage. What won't you be left with? Excess product accumulating in your fine lines and creases.

08 of 08

Minimize Creasing With a Setting Powder

According to Gerstein, applying powder on top of your concealer sets the look and minimizes creasing throughout the day—as long as you don't overdo it. "Use a light powder sparingly, like Laura Mercier's Secret Brightening Powder" says Ma. Let it sit on the skin for two to three minutes before gently dusting off all remaining powder that hasn't set in until the look is smooth and set.

For best results, apply and dust with a small, fluffy powder shadow brush like the Fenty Beauty Tapered Blending Brush.

FAQ

What is the best way to apply under-eye concealer?
Use light layers and build up as needed, instead of taking a heavy-handed approach with your concealer. Use a small blending brush to blend it out and set it with a light layer of under-eye powder.
Should I wear eye cream if I plan on wearing concealer?
You don't need to skip eye cream but to prevent creasing, you should try to let it dry completely or blot using tissues.
What is baking?
Baking is a makeup setting technique used by drag queens and later adopted by Instagram and Youtube makeup influencers. It involves setting your concealer with a thick layer of powder, letting it sit or "bake" on the skin for a few minutes, and then gently brushing it away.
LEARN MORE: How to Bake Your Face For a Budge-Proof Makeup Look