How to hide bags under eyes with makeup

By Anite SalihuOctober 28, 20265 min read

How to Hide Bags Under Eyes with Makeup

Hiding bags under eyes when you’re applying makeup can get tricky. Some people naturally have dark circles on their skin in that under-eye area, while others get bags when they’re tired. But whatever the reason for those pesky dark bags, you want to use makeup to cover them over. The problem is that concealer often sinks into the lines under your eye or makes the puffiness look even more obvious. Let’s solve it with a simple routine that will stay put.

Bags vs. Dark Circles: What You’re Actually Covering

There are actually two kinds of darker skin issues that naturally affect your under-eye skin. The first one is bags. Bags happen when your eyes get puffy (often from tiredness) and the puffiness creates a shadow that lands in your under-eye area. Dark circles, on the other hand, are created by discoloration, either from hyperpigmentation or from very thin skin that shows the blood vessels underneath.

Because these are different issues, they’ll require different products in your makeup routine: smart concealer placement for bags, and color correction for dark circles.

The Makeup Products You’ll Need

There are 4 makeup products you’ll need in your bag to start correcting your under-eye area:

Under Eye Concealer: Try this one from Jane Iredale
Color Corrector: Try this one from Jane Iredale, specifically the peach color:
Light Setting Powder: Try this one from Laura Mercier
Small Sponge or Brush: Try this one from Jane Iredale

How to Hide Bags Under Eyes, Step by Step

These are the exact steps you need for correcting under-eye color in your makeup routine.

Step 1: Start with Minimal Prep.

Preparing your skin for makeup comes before the color correcting you’ll be doing on the under-eye area. That makeup prep includes hydrating serum and moisturizer. Check out these posts for your full guide on which hydrating serum is best under makeup and which moisturizer is best under makeup.

Step 2: Color Correct the Dark Areas.

Now that you’ve prepared your skin, you can move on to correcting your dark areas. If you’re working with dark circles, not bags, what you need is a color corrector. Pick a color corrector in a peach or orange tone to counter the darkening effect of the hyperpigmentation. Make sure to apply the product sparingly.

Step 3: Pick the Right Concealer Shade.

If you’re trying to conceal bags, not dark circles, you need concealer, not color corrector. But the type of concealer will make all the difference. Using bright concealer on your puffy areas will highlight the puffiness and make it more obvious, so don’t use a brightening product there. Instead, use a skin-tone concealer on the puffy areas and use brightening concealer only in the hollow under-eye area.

Step 4: Apply Thin Layers.

Once you know which product you’ll be applying on your skin, apply it carefully. Pat a small amount with a damp sponge, instead of dragging the product across the area. (Rubbing can cause the makeup to settle in the fine lines.)

Step 5: Set Lightly.

Your next step is to use setting powder, but you want to use this makeup product sparingly, so you don’t end up with a cakey look. The best advice is to add setting powder only to the areas that crease. Don’t apply it anywhere else.

Step 6: Check in Natural Light.

Once you’ve finished applying, check your face in natural light, like near a window. Fluorescent light can hide patches and creases that daylight will show, so a quick check in both is worth it.

How to Stop Makeup Creasing Under Your Eyes

Sometimes, even when the dark areas under your eyes are color corrected, there can be creases that show up specifically in those areas.

There are a few reasons this can happen. Here are the main reasons and the quick fix for each one:

Applying too much product. A lot of makeup can settle in fine lines and make creases show.
Fix: Apply only a sparing amount of the product.
Using a heavy or full-coverage formula. A heavy formula can show creases even with a sparing amount of product.
Fix: Use lighter products.
Setting powder. Sometimes using setting powder can make creases show up.
Fix: Use setting powder only if you need it.

Mistakes That Make Bags Look Worse

Here are some common mistakes that you might make with makeup application in the under-eye area.

Using a color corrector that’s too light for your coloring. If you’re covering a dark area, you need a deeper shade of corrector to counter it. Go peach or orange for color corrector tones.
Using too much powder. This goes back to the creases issue, which happens easily with too much powder. Use very little powder, only as much as you need.
Applying heavy layers. Too many layers, with too much product, can often make under-eye problems worse. Keep products and layering light.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can makeup hide bags completely?
Not completely. Bags are caused by puffiness, which creates a shadow, and makeup can’t flatten that. What it can do is reduce the shadow and even out the color so the bags are much less noticeable. A skin-tone concealer on the puffy area and a brighter one in the hollow just below it gives the best result.

Why does my concealer look worse by afternoon?
Usually it’s one of three things. Concealer that’s too heavy settles into the fine lines under your eyes as your skin moves throughout the day. Skin that’s too dry or too oily underneath makes it break up or slide. And skipping setting powder leaves the product wet enough to crease. Use a thin layer, press it in rather than rubbing, and set it with a light dusting of powder.

Do I need an eye cream first?
Not necessarily. A hydrating serum and a light moisturizer are enough for most people, as long as the under-eye area isn’t dry. If your skin there feels tight or flaky, a light eye cream helps the concealer sit smoothly. Let it absorb for a minute or two before applying, since a greasy base makes the concealer slip and crease.