Here’s the thing about undereye concealer: it’s secretly the workhorse of your entire beauty cabinet.  I can feel like I look fine without mascara, without blush, without foundation even — so long as I’m wearing concealer.

And yet, for a long time, I didn’t use it at all.  I couldn’t find one that I liked, and I never quite knew how to blend it in properly.  I tended to dot it thickly in small places, where it would look totally unnatural and stick out just as much as whatever I was trying to cover up.  Benefit’s Erase Paste ^[1] was basically a godsend for me — billed as “Industrial Strength” concealer, it’s basically a miracle worker. (I use shade 2, Medium.)

So I wish I’d had this video way back when, it would have saved me some serious time.  Two basic tips: 1) Pat the concealer, don’t rub it, to blend it in, and 2) Use it in a broader area on your face than you think.  It seems counter-intuitive, but the more area you cover (lightly), the more natural it will look.

I was at a Q&A with a professional makeup artist a few months ago, and when someone asked how to best cover undereye circles, literally every girl in the group nodded. For something that’s such a universal problem, it’s surprising how little people talk about it!  But I’m not afraid to admit on the days I want to look flawless or camera-ready (or on the days I haven’t gotten enough sleep the night before), this is my go-to method.

PS — Sorry my hair is such a disaster in this video!  I let it air dry without any styling, and it could have used a little touch-up too.