For the next seven days, I will be ditching under-eye concealer, which is craziness, considering the fact that there was a time when I’d literally never leave home without it.
No, seriously, I used to apply under eye-concealer to pick up the mail…right outside the house.
Lately, however? Nuh-uh. It has NOT been doing me any favors, and I don’t know exactly what happened, because I really haven’t changed my skin care routine. Suddenly, though (or so it has seemed to me), everything I put under my eyes looks heavy and thick and textured and like — pardon my French — crêpe. I feel like I’m looking much older than I am.
It appears that I have come to a fork in the road, and I can either completely cover the dark areas under my eyes but look 10 years older, or, I can wear less (or maybe nothing at all?) and look kinda tired…but closer to my age.
I’ve also realized that maybe the darkness I see under my eyes is all (or mostly) in my head, and that, my friend, is kind of blowing my mind right now…
Anyway, still not ready to quit concealing cold turkey, so my plan is to experiment at length with non-concealer-y products, like illuminators, tinted moisturizers, sheer foundations, and basically whatever else I stumble upon that looks like it might work. I hope to find a solution that doesn’t age me as much as standard concealer.
And hey, maybe I’ll get better at accepting myself and the inevitable march of time along the way.
So, in my last non-concealer-y product experiment, I tried It Cosmetics CC+ Illumination Color Correcting Full-Coverage Cream in Tan under my eyes, and I wore it with the new It Cosmetics CC+ Oil-Free Matte (also in Tan) on the rest of my face.
I picked this pairing because one of issues I’ve had is with full-coverage concealer looking too harsh when paired with the sheer foundations and tinted moisturizers I wear on the rest of my face, but these two “It” products are medium coverage (different finishes, though) and have similar textures, so I’d hoped that the transition from my under-eyes to the rest of my face would be more seamless and less jarring/obvious.
To test, I blended the tiniest amount of CC+ Illumination in the inner corners and under my eyes with a pointy eye brush, and buffed a bit of CC+ Oil-Free Matte on the rest of my face with a Real Techniques buffer brush.
No powder. I skipped it because I wanted to avoid any caking under my eyes. I also didn’t want to make the matte finish on the rest of my face look too matte, so I set everything by generously spraying Urban Decay All-Nighter instead.
Girl, it worked!
Illuminating CC+ has these teeny, tiny pieces of glitter in it, and it’s a little too much shimmer for me to use on the rest of my face, but I think it totally works under my eyes. As long as you don’t use too much (because then it’s like a glitter spotlight on your lines), it brightens everything up, and because the It CC creams tend to skew peachy, it also helps to color-correct.
I also like how CC+ Illumination blends so well into CC+ Oil-Free Matte, so there’s no obvious transitions between them, and skipping the powder and opting for the setting spray instead avoids a heavy or powdery finish. Plus, it helps the products stay put. When I go to remove my makeup at night, yes, the CC+ under my eyes wears off because I’m not setting it with powder, but there’s still enough of it there to take the edge off.
I’m gonna keep looking around to see if I can find anything better (I’m combing through the recommendations you guys left in the comments the other day. Thank you again!), but I’m liking CC+ Illumination so far. Who knows? Maybe it’ll be a new go-to!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Hey there girl! Did you know It’s Cosmetics make an Illumination Concealer. I think it’s on their website. I love their Bye Bye Undereye concealer. However, I do think a lot of what you see is in your head. You always look gorgeous.
I agree with Janine! You always look awesome, and we all have our bad days when we look (or think we look) less than perfect. You’re awesome, Karen!
So, second pic where you’re facing front, are you wearing this combo on the right side (of the pic)? I already chimed in on the concealer issue but one of the other reasons I don’t like it on me is because I feel like it makes my eyes look smaller and puffier (it removes the depth that helps to define (my) eyes. Of course, I’m crepey like Paris, so the cakey, fine line enhancing effect is not what I’m looking for either. 🙂
You look so glowy, love this on you! I’m getting to be in the same boat, except for me it’s the way foundation is settling in my forehead lines, and I’ve been using less concealer under my eyes too (I’ve started doing my makeup in natural light in the living room while the baby plays and OMG). I think I’ll try skipping powder to set today (deep breath), because seriously why is it so hard to stray from our routine the older we get? Like I’ll wind up in the hospital if my makeup moves during the day? ? Lately I’ve been mixing half L’Oreal pro matte foundation and half L’Oreal Lumi Glotion for a more lightweight base, but setting with powder is probably defeating the purpose!
Thanks for the inspiration amiga! ❤
Is it weird that I don’t think you need it? I remember someone in fashion saying years ago that it isn’t about covering every little perceived blemished, it’s about bringing attention to other things. Maybe the pic is hiding what you are talking about, but I don’t think your under eyes look bad. If it bugs you, try an eye brightening serum instead (Estee Lauder and La Mer both make them, I’m sure other brands do too). I think the trick is it has mica in it to brighten things up. Also, La Mer makes an eye concentrate that my friend swears by for under eye darkness. The Nordie sale is still going on and there is an $85 set with the soft cream and concentrate…that way you can try it without committing to the (admittedly insane) cost of getting a full size eye concentrate. Happy Wednesday!
I have dry eyes so I never wear concealer under my eyes. Today I tried Cle de peau’s new illuminating eye concealer and I like it as an eye primer, but I feel that my fine lines are a little more noticeable and my circles are still there. Le sigh.
Never will I ever ditch concealer. I’ve had dark circles under my eyes since the day I came into this world. I have deep-set eyes and I have to do something to look alive. I’m still trying to find my HG concealer – something that gives coverage but doesn’t crease (suggestions welcome). I’m thinking of trying MAC waterweight concealer next. Getting (*ahem*) older causes things to crease that I didn’t have to worry about in my 20s.
You look gorgeous! What mascara are you wearing? And as for wearing too much bronzer, after watching the Kardashians I have become desensitized to over application of bronzer/highlighter/lipgloss 🙂
Hi Karen,
From a “woman of a certain age” (58), I have ditched full coverage concealers also.
I find that no matter the formula by mid-morn my under eye area looks dry and crepey. Even with eye cream before concealer it is a disaster. I cannot go naked under eye so I have discovered Garnier’s SkinActive Clearly Brighter Anti-Dark Circle Eye Roller. Added Bonus-it is a drug store brand that is less than $15.00! Just enough coverage for the darkness and a light serum like feel; just roll on under eye and work/pat in with concealer brush. I do use Clinique’s All About Eyes Serum Roller Ball first when I get up in morning for moisture and additional de-puffing.
What I cannot give up are my glasses, jewelry for my face, and additional deflection of under eye circles!
I love this, Karen! I think you look great. I’ll look forward to your other experimentation since I have the same issues with concealer. I only have the original It Cosmetics CC Cream so I may try putting an illuminating primer under my eyes and use the same product for both eyes and face.
You keep talking about dark circles and I keep seeing nothing. But I’m totally feeling what Trude said above about it being hard to change makeup routines when you’re older. None of the women in my family wore much makeup, so I had to figure it out for myself. (Without the help of YouTube, lol.) I’ve re-learned a lot of things, but I can’t get eye liner right to save my life.
And I was in my late teens and early 20’s in the super-matte 90’s. Letting go of that pressed and loose powder is so, so hard, even though I know it doesn’t work with those fine lines I have now. I feel like “No, I have to have the powder!!! I’m SHIIIINNNYYYY!!!!”
You look fine without it! Bright, radiant, and awake! I actually have never worn concealer under my eyes and just stick to a very fluid and sheer highlighting pen, like Mac Prep & Prime or by Terry or YSL (you know, that type of product). I’ve never really had dark circles, though, unless I’m lacking in sleep, but whenever I do try concealer, it looks too thick for me.
Same boat, lady, same boat. I normally blend two shades of SPF tinted moisturizer for my face. Instead of any kind of under eye concealer, I now use the lighter of the two tinted moisturizers patted with a flat brush directly under my eyes and this causes no lines or crinkles but gives just a little “bright lift”. This is preceded by copious amounts of facial oil (a blend of avocado, argan oils). Seems to be working so far. My skin overall looks better and less crinkly without any makeup coverage and lots of oil/moisture; and I spent a lot of time in the sun (Honolulu). Also, getting lots of sleep, and avoiding all sugar/carbohydrates makes my eyes less jacked up (i.e., puffy, tired-looking) in the morning. 😉
GREAT EXPERIMENT, Karen, YOU CAN DO THIS!
I think you look great, Karen! I am excited to see what else you experiment with, as I think I am going to have to go the same route and ditch the concealer. I have hereditary dark circles that nothing can cover, and the heavier concealers look awful on me. I have had some success with the MAC waterweight concealer. I have started wearing the lighter serum foundations and I really do not want to go back to full coverage. Do you think the IT CC +illuminating cream you used under your eyes would work with the lighter foundations, or would the transition be too much?
You look great! Glowy and healthy, and no hint of circles to me!
In the same boat. I’m 51 and I feel like a few years ago any concealer under my eyes just drew more attention to the area and looked dry and crepe-y. I’ve been loving the new Hourglass
Retouching Fluid and also Tatcha’s The Pearl. Both are sheer and add illumination which sort of deflects the darkness rather than covering it.
You look great! I don’t feel like there’s much darkness that needed to be covered!
I’ve heard very good things about the Tatcha Pearl eye cream thing lol, maybe worth a try if you haven’t already!
I’ve been doing this as well this year! If my under eyes are still looking dark i’ll add a peach corrector but I much prefer the finish of a concealer-less face. Also are those some chantecaille products I spot in the background? Hope they’ll make it to an upcoming post!
Hi Jenna,
Yes, they are. Good eye! I’ve been wearing the Cheek Gelee Blush and Radiance Gel Bronzer lately and am in love. Are you familiar with the line? It’s pretty new to me so I’m looking for more things to try, so please send me a list of your faves!
I love the loose powder and just skin tinted moisturizer (i’m a similar shade to you and wear the shade wheat and one shade lighter in the future skin)! I’ve heard good things about the corrector pen as well so that is next on my list to try
Hope the link works, but if it doesn’t, google how drinking water for 30 days can change your face.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/nutrition/how-your-face-changes-after-30-days-of-drinking-water/ar-AAuUN4H?li=BBnba9O&parent-title=13-negative-side-effects-of-not-getting-enough-protein&parent-ns=ar&parent-content-id=AAmtwZi
I do use a peach concealer by Catrice on days when I have only a few hours of sleep.
I only use corrector, no concealer at the moment, as I have similar issues with crepey undereyes, and that works for me.
I am curious to learn what you will discover with time though, it never hurts to have options.
You look beautiful without any concealer. Seriously, where are your undereye bags?! Have you tried Maybelline’s Age Rewind concealer? I just started using it and I really like it. It’s designed to not accentuate fine lines and it sort of has a blurring effect.
whatever you did in that photo – you look AMAZING! FLAWLESS! FRESH AND BEAUTIFUL!
Hi Karen – I love using MD Solar Sciences daily eye repair emulsion, rms beauty un-cover up, and RCMA no color powder to set. The daily eye repair is the must for me tho because without that I can’t blend my eye concealer well. It’s more like a primer to me but it says it has all these good benefits to it.
I feel you! I hardly reach for concealer at all anymore, I’d rather look tired and young than rested and yet somehow old. I think the issue is as we are in the late 30’s/early 40’s bracket, something a little lighter and illuminating suits the eye more. I also think we’re more accepting of ourselves. I think you look younger with this combo then some of the others I’ve seen. You always look good, but you look “fresher”.