BEGONE, DARK CIRCLES
Arguably the most delicate [and therefore easily damaged] area of the skin, the under-eye area is one of the first to reveal our sins when things take a turn for the worse. Dehydration, lack of sleep, stress, anaemia, [and even hereditary factors] all play a role in contributing to the notorious dark circles we are all plagued with, albeit to varying degrees. Whilst my own are far from severe, I do find that a little coverage goes a long way in ensuring a flawless complexion, serving to brighten the eyes and consummating any base look. The cure to those 'little dark circles' encompasses both the science of skincare and the art of makeup in order to ensure that darkness is reduced from inside and out.
A good eye cream is vital to maintaining optimal under-eye health and EVE LOM's Eye Lift* is high in Vitamin C, which brightens darkness and evens discolouration, with a noticeable improvement after just a few uses. Aside from adopting an 'inside out' approach to fading dark circles, the light and easily-absorbed formula will ensure that consequently applied concealer sits and lasts well without fading or sliding, thanks to the inclusion of smoothening retinol microspheres. Meanwhile hyaluronic acid and collagen boosting Soy Kernel extract safeguard against lines and wrinkles, which cause concealer to crease. I favour this particular offering for its easily absorbed and non-irritating formula, which doesn't aggravate my sensitive eyes. Eye cream is best applied with the ring finger [which has the lightest pressure] and should be dabbed on rather than rubbed or wiped, which pulls the skin, exaggerating lines.
With a smooth, hydrated base ensured, and virtuous ingredients working behind the scenes to even and brighten the skin, a joint offensive can be undertaken in order to implement the second phase of dark circle attack. I've long since gravitated towards light, creamy formulas when it comes to concealing under-eye darkness. Whilst solid to cream concealers offer a durable and opaque finish, they do tend to cake and crease when used in an area that sees frequent movement. I adore MAC's Studio Finish Concealer for masking blemishes and pigmentation, but my under-eye concealer of choice is NARS' Creamy Concealer in Chantilly*. The soft, silky formula blends seamlessly, setting to a crease-resistant finish that neutralises darkness and cancels out blue tones, correcting rather than masking discolouration. With just a minimal amount of product required, the texture allows for product to be layered in order to cancel out the most extreme discolouration without caking, and the formula intuitively contains light-diffusing particles, which obscure irregularities in the skintone. Even when the desire to cover dark circles overwhelms, do not be tempted to slather concealer straight on with the applicator; instead dab small amounts beneath the eye before blending carefully with the ring finger or brush sparingly with a small, rounded buffing brush. A cheaper alternative is the COLLECTION Lasting Perfection Concealer, a product that costs just a fraction of the price of Nars' offering, but does lack finesse due to a thicker texture and vaguely chalky finish.
How do you tackle dark circles?
