CONCEALING UNDER EYE CIRCLES..

I was recently asked via facebook mail if I could do a post on under eye circles. So I have put a lot of work into this post trying to get as much information as I can about it.

.Hopefully this helps!!!

Dark circles under the eyes tends to be a genetic issue and practically unavoidable if dark under eye areas run in your family. But for people whose genetic background doesn't predispose them to dark circles, the easiest solution may be to get some sleep and drink a lot more water. One of the first signs of fatigue or dehydration is dark circles that appear under the eyes. The under-eye skin is thin, with a membrane that runs between a fatty layer and the outer layer of skin we see. When your body needs water, it shows up around the eyes first. Drinking liquor causes dehydration, as does over consumption of sugar and caffeine. Stress also causes under eye puffiness. Diet can impact your face too, especially if you have food allergies, and sulfites in wine can wreak havoc on the delicate skin around your eyes. So, once again, the answer nobody wants to hear: you might be able to banish undereye circles from within by taking care of your health.But home remedies can only do so much. If your dark under eye circles don't budge even after a long nap and eight glasses of water a day, it's time to go the cosmetic or make up route. There are lots of options here, some more useful than others. Moisturizers are helpful mainly in that if you have lines around your eyes, the shine from the moisturizer will help lessen them and create a lighter look. Look for moisturizers with natural ingredients such as avocado oil, sesame, Vitamin K and Vitamin E. Moisturizer also works well as a base for under eye makeup like concealer because it smoothes the skin and makes it easier to apply a tinted cosmetic. There are no make-up secrets here: moisturizer will help other makeup keep from caking.

Here are some tips to help you out..

When deciding on the appropriate concealer color, choose a shade that is one to one-and-a-half times lighter than your skin tone. Choosing a concealer that is too light will result in a grayish, violet cast to the skin. Choosing a concealer that is too dark will only compound the problem.

Before applying any makeup, hydrate the eye area with an eye cream. The extra moisture will ensure that your concealer glides on the skin, making it less likely to appear cakey or heavy.

Apply your concealer after you apply your foundation. Your foundation will partially hide the dark circles under the eyes, lessening the amount of concealer you need to use.

Apply the concealer using a makeup brush. This provides more control and allows you to get into the hard to reach areas, like the corner of the eye, without getting the makeup into your eye.

If using your fingers to apply the concealer, use your ring finger. It's soft touch will lessen the likelihood of pressing too hard into the delicate tissue of the eye area.

If you concealer feels too thick, or tends to look dry and cakey, mix into it a drop or two of your favorite eye cream. The eye cream will help it absorb into the skin and thin the concealer into a more workable consistency.

Remember that less is more. Using too much concealer actually draws more attention to what you are trying to hide. Start by using only a little concealer under the eye, and add more only if necessary.

This is what I tend to use to help with preventing and also to help in concealing under eye circles..

On a daily basis I this Olay daily regenerating serum. I am a strong believer that it helps with everything. Including baggy eyes!

When needed I use this Olay eye lifting serum to help with lines and bags. Actually my husband uses this more than I do..

I also use this every morning to help my skin look its best. I believe this helps prevent bags. I dont ususally have under eye circles and my theory is..its because of this..I love this stuff...

Here is my night cream.. Which I think also helps all your skin look amazing..

I also this Gariner Nutritioniste Skin Renew Anti Puff Roller when needed. Again, my husband uses this more than I do.. But it does seem to make a little difference. 

It has a metal roller ball that you gently roll under your eye from inner conner to outer corner..It has some kind of product inside it that comes over the metal ball when you use it. 

I had to pull a picture from the Olay website for this roller. Scott really does have really bad dark circles under his eyes at time so I bought him this Olay Regenrist anti aging eye roller to keep in his desk at work. I think he likes this one a lot. It has 3 small metal balls that help reduce redness and puffness around the eye.

Concealer wise..this is what I use..

This is the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind that is a dual ended stick..

On one end is the concealer that has a soft applicator..

On the other end is a illuminator. I love this concealer..This product works well to cover dark circles and the highlighter is good for after applying all your make up to brighten up the under line eye area. 

I know the picture is not so good one this one but this is the Revlon Age defying concealer. I actually like this one a lot too. 

It has a brush applicator and really conceal dark circles. 

Here is the Covergirl & Olay Simply Ageless eye concealer. I have only used this a couple of times but it seemed to really work well..Its thicker and it goes on easy..However you need to use a brush or your finger with this one. 

Here is the Maybelline Dream Mousse Concealer. I have not yet used this but this one is pretty thick too. I am thinking it will work well to hide under eye circles. 

This is the Physicians Formula Perfecting Concealer Duo. The Green hides reddish skin imperfections such as blemishes or scars and the Light Flesh tone concealer can be used alone or to cover any flaw or on top of the green to even out your skin tone. I have used this one a lot and it has worked really well for me. 

As you guys probably already saw on a earlier post today this is the Hard Candy Nobodys Perfect Concealer Palette. I have only used this one today and I liked it. I didnt have bags so I am not sure how it will cover dark under eye circles but I am thinking it will do a pretty good job! 

This is the Loreal Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base that I tend to use a lot. I have also used it on top of foundation right under my eyes before using concealer. It really seemed to help smooth out the conccealer and  really helped in covering up circles. 

Also..

If you do have under eye circles try taking some warm and wet tea bags ( any kind will do) and letting them sit on your eyes for 15-20 minutes. It will help reduce redness and puffiness. 

And lets not forget that Cucumbers are a great way of reducing puffiness giving you a more rested look. Just slice a cold cucumber and lay it over you eyes for 15-20 minutes. Its very refreshing. 

And A Few More Notes...

Keep the eye area moisturized. 

"The best thing you can do to improve the way your eyes look is to moisturize the skin around them,"

Try to get enough sleep each night (between eight and nine hours), which can help minimize shadows and puffiness. Also, look for gentle eye creams that contain vitamin K and the natural skin-lighteners kojic acid and licorice extract. Some experts believe dark circles are caused by veins and capillaries showing through the thin undereye skin--why vitamin K, which seems to constrict capillaries, seems to help.

Get briqhter eyes instantly. A concealer or eye cream that has reflective pigments brightens the darkest areas under the eyes. 

"Concealer is the secret of the beauty universe,"

. The trick is finding the shade that blends effortlessly: It should be one shade lighter than your foundation.

So that is just about as much as I can think of when it comes to preventing and concealing under eye circles! 

Sure hope this helps!!

K Jaggers

♥