This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost Australia, which closed in 2021.

How To Cover Your Tired Eyes With Correctors And Concealers

Because there are some days when coffee doesn't do enough.
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There are too many days when we wake up, look in the mirror, and think, “Why didn’t I go to bed earlier?”

Dark circles are just the damn worst. And sadly, because they’ve become a fixture in our lives, we’ve become masters at hiding those zombie-like under-eyes.

Depending on the day, we may need a color corrector or something with more moisture (#hangoverdays). But how do you know if you need a corrector, concealer or both?

Well, concealers will just disguise those nasty shadows and they’re usually a bit translucent ― meaning your skin is a bit visible through it. This is good because it gives you flexibility with your makeup look and also lets your skin look like skin.

The downside with just using a concealer is that if your shadows are particularly dark, they’ll shine through the product too.

That’s where correctors come in. They neutralize the darkness using the same principles you learned in middle school art class.

Using colors like green, yellow, peach, and lavender, you can put a color on your spots or shadows that is opposite on the color wheel. Think peach pigment on purplish, blue circles; green on splotchy reds; lavender to counteract sallowness.

Wearing the correctors alone or with concealer over them is up to you and the finish you’re looking to achieve. For major skin concerns (super dark circles, hyperpigmentation, acne, etc.), the combo of a corrector and concealer is a life-saver.

Now that you know the basics, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite concealers and correctors so you can say “hello world!” without having people run away from you screaming.

The Correctors We Love

  • Becca Backlight Targeted Colour Corrector ($30): We can’t say enough good about the texture of these. The names of each color (Pistachio, Papaya, etc.) are purely edible and the pigment is super intense, making the coverage seriously DOPE.

  • Bobbi Brown Corrector ($27): Shout out to Bobbi Brown for this OG corrector that is specifically meant for dark circles. The range of peaches and pinks are all thoroughly layerable and don’t crease at all.

  • Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Wipeout Color-Correcting Palette ($45): This palette is a one-stop correcting shop. The green is perfect for redness around your nose or T-zone area while the yellow and peach will fight the worst of your dark circles. Also a bonus: Each shade plays really well with both oily and dry skin.

The Concealers We Need

  • NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer ($29): The light-diffusing technology in this smooth, delight-of-a-formula has an applicator that suits us on days when we need dabs or thick smears. It also comes in a nice array of shades.

  • Glossier Stretch Concealer ($18):If you hate putting on concealer because you can’t find one that makes you look au naturel (but better), this is the one for you. Its super silky texture covers what needs to be covered (i.e. those bluish shadows) and lets your skin live its best life.

Sorry to keep you guys waiting. Stretch Concealer is back in every single shade!

A photo posted by Glossier. (@glossier) on

We’re suddenly feeling a lot more well-rested.