How to stop your concealer from creasing under your eyes

Have you ever tried to apply your foundation and concealer nicely only for it to settle into fine lines within minutes of finishing? Whether the make-up goes patchy under your eyes, creates the illusion of a crepey skin texture or accentuates eye bags and wrinkles, it can be incredibly frustrating and tricky to fix without starting over.

So what are the secrets to a smooth, even under-eye area? Some people seem to have effortlessly mastered the technique while others wonder what they’re doing wrong. In a very helpful TikTok video, make-up artist Melissa Murdick covers the topic and shares all of her tips to help your under-eyes look their very best. 

rom prepping properly to making sure you use the right type of brush, here are the dos and don’ts to applying under-eye concealer

DO prep the area properly

Melissa starts her tutorial after prepping her under-eye area. Though she advises against using too much eye cream or a very rich eye cream, as these both can cause creasing, she says it’s important to hydrate the area.

We love Avant Skincare Hydra-Bright Collagen Eye Restoring Pads, normally £12 for a pair but available alongside four other products in this month’s Treat Time OK! Beauty Box, which costs as little as £7.50*. Just pop the pads on for 10 minutes before applying your make-up to hydrate and smooth the area ready for concealer.

DON’T apply foundation underneath your eyes

“Start your foundation right beneath your orbital bone,” says Melissa. If you bring the foundation all the way up under your eyes, your concealer can crease. This is because many formulas feature heavy silicones that make them prone to slipping under the eyes.

DO use a brush to buff

If you tend to use your fingers to apply concealer, try using a brush instead. “Brushes help to work the product onto the skin instead of letting the concealer just sit on top of it,” says Melissa. Since too much product on the skin can cause creasing, using a brush to buff on the smallest amount of product is the best method for a flawless finish.

DO look at where you’re placing the concealer

“You want to focus your concealer on the actual darkness. Don’t make a huge patch or triangle under your eyes,” the influencer advises. “I know a lot of young folk do that, but when you are older with fine lines, you have to just focus on concealing that one area in the smallest amount of product.”

DON’T feel you have to set your concealer

Since powder can dry out the skin and cause creasing, you might want to avoid setting your under-eyes if you don’t need to knock off too much shine. “If you need to set and mattify the area, use a very lightweight powder and use a minimal amount of it. Use a firm brush to pick it up and press it onto your skin,” Melissa adds.

*New subscribers pay £7.50 for their first OK! Beauty Box. Subscription is £15 a month thereafter, and you can pause or cancel it at any time.