Glamour

Gorgeous Eyes

How to conceal like an expert
Your letters to us make one thing clear: When it comes to your face, your eyes are your top concern. And no wonder. The skin under the eyes is the thinnest and driest part of your entire body. Packed beneath it is a complex network of blood vessels, with no bony reinforcement, just a fragile layer of muscle and fat for support. Not surprisingly, the area is extremely sensitive to health and environmental changes and is quick to show dark circles or puffiness. Here, the Glamour survival guide with expert advice on how to smooth and soothe, plus a lesson on hiding dark circles from Baltimore Concealing expert Linda Seidel, creator of Natural Cover cosmetics.

Problem #1: Dark Circles
Most circles are purplish. What you’re seeing are blood vessels below the skin surface, which become noticeable when they’re dilated (from allergies, alcohol) or if you have very fair skin. Brown circles can appear when the skin itself darkens temporarily (from inflammation, pregnancy, birth control pills).

1. Choose a Concealer For purple circles, select a color that’s slightly yellower than your skin color; for brown circles, go rosier. Before applying concealer under your eye, dab it onto the back of your hand. “The warmth of your skin will soften the concealer, making it easier to blend,” says Seidel. What also helps, priming skin with a light moisturizer. If you prefer a heavier cream, let it set for a minute, then pat with a tissue.

2. Where to Apply With finger, place a few dabs within the dark circle. Apply more at perimeter near nose, where skin is darker; less at outer corner of eye, where you risk accentuating laugh lines. We used Natural Cover’s pot concealer for heavier coverage, longer wear and more control.

3. How to Blend Press into skin with sponge —blending from the inner corner outward, then vice versa. This prevents the concealer from settling into fine lines. Dust lightly with powder to set.