Rihanna's makeup artist shares his best concealer hacks for covering dark circles on every skin tone
One of beauty's most-asked questions has always been 'how can I hide my dark under-eye circles?'
And it's not likely to change any time soon, because unless you're willing to try cosmetic concealer tattooing, there's no permanent solution for the shadowy bags beneath your peepers.
Every day we count our lucky stars for handy helpers such as eye cream and under eye masks. But let's be honest, nothing beats the camouflaging magic of concealer.
And who better to teach us all the hacks for flawless under eye concealment than Fenty's Global Makeup Artist, Hector Espinal. With fifty shades in the Fenty concealer lineup and the task of acing Rihanna's base, he has a few tricks up his silk sleeves...
Ditch the 'v' technique if it's too severe
The 'v' technique is when you apply your concealer from the inner corner of the eye, down to the top of the cheekbones and back to the outer corner of the eye. It's very popular, particularly on Instagram.
If you're going down this road, Hector says to "apply the 'v' and then fill it in with your finger or a damp sponge."
While the technique is great for neutralising the entire area, a common mistake with concealer is using too much, which can accentuate lines and crow's feet.
If this is the case, and it's too severe, Hector says to "start with dots and buff it in with a brush."
Always go lighter no matter your skin tone
No matter what shade of foundation you wear, Hector says to "always go lighter under the eyes to add dimension."
"Fenty concealers are automatically two shades lighter than your foundation shade. So if you're 340 in the Pro'Filtr Foundation, you'll be 340 in the concealer, it's already made lighter for you."
The red lipstick trick is pfffft
Remember when videos of using red lipstick to hide dark circles on darker skin tones went viral? Hector says he's been there, done that and "I didn't really see a difference, and the average woman is not going to do that."
"I would go for a peachy concealer instead", he says. "If you do red, you're going to see the red."
Lighter skin tones often have puffiness, not darkness
Hector says people with really light skin tones are often experiencing puffiness, rather than dark circles. "Or maybe it's veins you can see."
To remedy this, he says to put "eye cream in the fridge", to cool and depuff the area before applying concealer.
Use it to neutralise your eyelids too
If you're going to be wearing eyeshadow, Hector says to use your concealer to neturalise your eyelids.
"Use what's leftover on the brush", he says. "Sometimes if you don’t do that, the eyeshadow will appear a different colour because of the veins or the darkness."
He also likes to use the concealers themselves to 'create a smokey eye'. Just mix some of the darker shades into the outer corners with your fingers.
Sponges are great, but a brush will give you better coverage
Every makeup connoisseur loves a beauty blender, and Fenty even has mini sponges designed for the under eye area.
"But if you want more coverage, use a brush", says Hector. It will help to give a more precise placement of your product too.
Ready to put these tips into practice? Choose your weapon from our edit of the best concealers...
Best concealer for brightening undereyes
Trinny London BFF Eye / Serum Concealer, £26, Trinny London
Blended with hyaluronic acid, this clever concealer/serum hybrid delivers immediate hydration to the delicate under eye area while potent Vitamin C brightens and banishes dark circles. Women are so impressed with the product that in reviews, they hail it a 'must-have' product, 'truly amazing' and say they are completely blown away by it.
Best concealer for a natural look
Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer, £23.90, Feel Unique
If you’re looking for complete coverage with a light texture, try NARS. Enriched with hydrating ingredients and light-diffusing technology, it’s our pick for natural-looking buildable coverage and the women of Reddit (beauty's most honest beauty forum) have hailed it the best concealer in the world. We're sold.
Save when you shop for the best concealer with these Feel Unique discount codes.
Best concealer for an incredible shade range
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Away Concealer, £24, Charlotte Tilbury
This concealer is the real deal. Its springy formula has been described by Queen Tilbury herself as nothing less than 'Spanx for your eyes', and we couldn't agree more. With full coverage and easy blending, your skin will look brighter, lighter and completely resurfaced.
Best concealer for shade matching
No7 Match Made Concealer, £8, Boots
Have you tried the No7 match made service yet? Never wear the wrong shade again – just pop into your local Boots and be measured up with the perfect concealer shade. Apply this creamy stick concealer straight from the bullet.
Save when you shop for the best concealer with these Boots discount codes.
Best concealer for hydration
Bobbi Brown Intensive Skin Serum Concealer, £30, Bobbi Brown
This concealer is long-wearing but lightweight, feels luxurious to apply and is blended with Indian tree root and coffee seed extract to give your under-eyes a pep.
Save when you shop for the best concealer with these Selfridges discount codes.
Best concealer for matching undertones
Laura Mercier Secret Concealer, £23, Look Fantastic
Our editor's top pick. This gets undertones exactly right, whether you're fair, olive or deep. The creamy consistency glides on beautifully, offers natural (but full) coverage and, crucially, doesn't cake in fine lines round the eyes.
Save when you shop for the best concealer with these LookFantastic discount codes.
Best concealer for airbrushing
Benefit Boi-ing Airbrush Concealer, £19.50, Look Fantastic
We're big fans of Benefit's light-as-air concealer. With a rich, creamy texture, yet a feather-light feel, this will cover a multitude of sins.
Save when you shop for the best concealer with these LookFantastic discount codes.
Best concealer for a buildable coverage
Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Ultra-Longwear Concealer, £25, Space NK
We love this concealer for its medium to full coverage, luminous blurring finish and lightweight feel, plus it's budge-proof for up to 12 hours. It doubles up to cover under-eye bags and blemishes. "Gently press and blend with fingertips, using the warmth of you fingertips to create a seamless finish," says makeup pro, Laura Mercier. "For more coverage, layer and repeat, blending with fingers." Want to give it a try? Be sure to use our Space NK discount codes to save some money on your purchase.
Best concealer for a silky texture
BareMinerals Complete Coverage Serum Concealer, £21.60, John Lewis
A super high coverage concealer which doesn’t clog up the skin, this is an iconic product for a reason.
Best concealer for illuminating
Loved by makeup artists, celebs and beauty buffs alike, YSL’s cult product is our absolute favourite for brightening eyes and adding radiance to your complexion. Use to conceal dark circles and apply to the sides of nose, mouth and chin to shape and contour.
Best concealer for blurring pores
Becca Aqua Luminous Perfecting Concealer, £21, Space NK
Acne sufferers, rejoice; Becca's concealer is 32% water, meaning it won't clog up pores, and the flexible pigments and light technology mean even the most stubborn imperfections are totally covered.
Best concealer for under the eyes
Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit, £26, Look Fantastic
This cream and powder duo is the perfect long-lasting cover-up. Apply the corrector to any discolouration under eyes then set with the powder for a flawless finish.
Save when you shop for the best concealer with these LookFantastic discount codes.
Best concealer for tailoring for your skin tone
MAC Studio Conceal and Correct Palette, £30, MAC Cosmetics
The ultimate offering for those who like to correct before they conceal. The palette contains two corrective shades to tackle uneven skin tone and four concealer shades can be easily blended together to mask any possible imperfection.
Save when you shop for the best concealer with these MAC discount codes.
Best concealer for full-coverage
Tarte Shape Tape Contour Concealer, £28, QVC
The Shape Tape Contour Concealer from Tarte is a full-coverage, radiant, creamy concealer featuring a tapered wand applicator for precise sculpting, strobing and spot coverage. People love it so much that one flies off the shelves every 12 seconds.
Best concealer for on-the-go
Dior Fix It Concealer, £27, Dior
Perfectly blends with any liquid foundation, it not only conceals imperfections but primes the skin for long-lasting makeup. We love this Dior concealer.
