black circles under the eyes

[butter1]

Hi, what's the best make up to cover up black circles under the eyes?  Thanks

[nicola_red]

Yves St Laurent Touche Eclat is considered pretty good but you do need another concealer to use with it as it's really more of a highlighter.  I use an Almay one, the exact name of which escapes me.  Also try using a light eye cream containing caffeine before you put make up on, like Clinique All About Eyes. 

[Little Lady]

The best stuff i know on the market i know is touche eclat by YSL it is around �18 but so worth the money, alot of people make the mistake of wiping in concealer but you need to pat it into the skin, it will last longer and give better coverage.

[Toothfairy]

A tip I was given to help reduce the appearance of my black bags is to wear lilac eyeshadow.  I know you want to cover yours but this works for me.

[acw]

I was told by a make up adviser type lady that many "bags under the eyes" actually appear AFTER the make up has been put on.  It turns out to be eye shadow that has dusted down onto the area underneath the eye and looks like a dark shadow.  Applying concealer will only worsen the problem.  Therefore try this technique:

1. Apply foundation (and/or powder) to whole face - including to top lids - this helps eye shadow to stick and last for longer
2. Apply eye liner
3. Apply eye shadow
4. Apply mascara
5. Use a cotton bud to wipe the area under the eye
6. If the under-eye shadow still remains, then take the advice of other users and use a concealer like the ones they reccomended!
7. Do rest of make up as usual. 

Much eye bag cosmetic surgery actually involves surgeons scraping away years of "anti eye bag puffiness" cream where people have been trying to combat bags that weren't actually there.

Don't for get the old "cold spoons" trick before you apply your make up - that may also help reduce any puffiness and thus make the shadows less visible!

Good luck! :-)

[Sasha13]

Boots No 7 do an "own brand" version of YSL Touche Eclat... Can't remember what it's called off the top of my head, but it's less than �10 and is very good. It comes in two shades, one yellow based, and one pink based. Definitely put this on after foundation (which you shouldn't apply under the eyes anyway), powder etc. These types of shadow concealers work by reflecting light so shouldn't be covered up with other tpes of make up. Another hint (if you have time) is to put something cold on your eyes for about 10 minutes to reduce the puffiness.

[smudge]

I occasionally use St Laurent Touche Eclat for the morning after! My daughter bought it for me so long ago, but there's still plenty in there.

[Wispy68]

I used to use YSL Touche Eclat, but as it's quite expensive, I now use either Body Shop Lightening Touch or Tesco Make-Up Light Effect concealer pen. Both just as good as Touche Eclat (in my opinion).

[angel1978]

I tend to use a cooling eye gel and one of those lovely cooling gel eye masks fresh out of the fridge/freezer (also very good for headaches/colds/fevers, you look a bit silly but they will just sit on your forehead nicely and don't keep falling off like a wet cloth/flannel).

Sometimes use, dare i say it, piles cream, under my eyes to reduce the puffiness. Tend to use the night before though as it's quite greasy.

I was always told to dab little dots of light reflecting stuff under my eyes and dab it in rather than rubbing it as too much (or the wrong shade) can make it look much worse and draw more attention to your eyes.  I always dab under my eyes after to wipe off any rogue eyeliner/shadow after. 

As ACW said, I often see myself in a mirror and think I look like I need about 2 days sleep when a little wipe under the eyes shows it's only eyeshadow or eyeliner that's slipped.

Using white liner on the bottom eyelids is quite good for making your eyes look fresher as is clear mascara and a lighter natural looking highlighter eyeshadow up to your brows.  Having a decent eyebrow pluck/wax can also make a big difference.

It always seems something people are more paranoid about than what others see, I always think I have big dark circles and bags under my eyes but most people I mention it too say I don't. 

Maybe try asking an honest friend and see what they say or maybe go to one of the good counters in a department store and ask for their advice and see if you can try what they have on offer and see how it works?