Over 40 & Struggling To Cover Dark Circles Without Emphasizing Wrinkles? A Pro Shares The Life-Changing Hack That Camouflages Dark Under Eyes For A Youthful Look: Stop Using Concealing & More

Covering dark circles when you also have fine lines and wrinkles under your eyes that you might want to conceal can feel like a carnival game of Whack-a-mole. You apply a layer of concealer, followed by another layer, followed by a third layer. Finally, it seems, the blue and blackish circles encasing your eyes appear to be light enough that you don’t feel so self conscious anymore. But then, one hour later, the inevitable happens: your fine lines are “cracking” through the makeup and all you can focus on now are those lines.

It can sometimes feel like you have to choose between dark circles and less noticeable fine lines and wrinkles or exaggerated fine lines and a more even skin tone with lighter under eyes. And while there is some truth to the idea that less makeup can be better sometimes, especially over 40, knowing a few good makeup tricks can help.

Here is one makeup artist’s tips for concealing dark circles without highlighting wrinkles.

Stop Using Concealing

Tip number one may blow your mind: you can put your concealer away or save it for another time — you aren’t going to need it for under your eyes.

This may sound like excellent news if you are so tired of dealing with concealer that streaks, cracks, and shows off lines. What are you going to need instead? A color corrector in a peachy or orange shade will counteract the blues and blue-blacks typically found in under-eye circles.

Mix Color Corrector With Moisturizer

The more hydrated your skin, the more plump it looks, and the more plump your skin looks, the less noticeable fine lines become. One way to keep the area under your eyes smooth is by mixing your color corrector with a lightweight moisturizer. Apply this under your eyes with your fingers, not with a brush, and don’t just drag the color around — tap it into your skin.

Set Your Makeup Between Steps

Instead of waiting between makeup steps to set your makeup with a setting spray, apply the setting spray to a sponge and dab it over your skin after you’ve applied color corrector. You’re not finished with your makeup just yet, but doing this in between steps really helps keep your makeup secure on your skin.

Apply Highlighter

No, this isn’t the step where you apply concealer — I promised, no concealer! This is the step where you apply a bit of liquid highlighter to a sponge and press it in two key areas: the inner corner of your eye and the outer corner. This application method will ensure your eyes appear brighter and more awake.

As always, setting your makeup is crucial so that it doesn’t streak or fade. Apply more setting spray to a sponge and press it beneath your eyes to set your highlighter in place.

That’s all it takes — a few simple steps and zero concealer to reach over-40 under-eye goals.