The best concealer hacks for fine lines, according to makeup artists

Prep your under eyes before applying concealer

Before any makeup touches your face, artists stress the importance of prepping your skin. Concealer will grab onto lines if your skin is dry, and that’s especially true for the under eye area. Joseph Carrillo, a makeup artist in New York City, recommends tapping on a lightweight eye cream and letting it dry. We recommend the Cocokind Revitalizing Eye Cream for its lightweight, hydrating texture and cooling metal applicator.

Not all eye creams play nice with base makeup, though. Some cause pilling or prove too slippery for your concealer to adhere to. Amanda Lam, a cosmetic chemist based in Los Angeles, recommends using an eye cream without silicones because they don’t mix well with many concealers. “Look for dimethicone [a silicone] on the label,“ says Lam. “Eye creams with a high percentage of silicones won’t mix well with concealers and will likely cause pilling.”

Lam also warns against eye creams that are too emollient or have a lot of oil in the formula because they can make your under eyes too “slippery.”

Use a lightweight, hydrating concealer

When shopping for a concealer, keep Carrillo’s words in mind: “Texture matters more than coverage.“[For fine lines], I usually look for formulas that are hydrating and flexible rather than thick or overly matte.” He adds that when concealers are too heavy, they tend to “sit on top of the skin and exaggerate lines.”

“Thin, serum-like formulas move with the skin and tend to look more natural throughout the day,” adds Carrillo, who recommends the Kosas Revealer Super Creamy + Brightening Concealer and Armani Luminous Silk Concealer, both of which have lightweight, fluid textures that are easy to blend and less prone to settling into fine lines.

Caroline Barnes, a makeup artist in London, is also a big fan of the Glossier Stretch Concealer. “It’s a really hydrating formula,” she says. Barnes also loves the Jones Road Face Pencil, especially for those who find liquid or cream concealers hard to blend because they move around too much. “It’s really great for targeting darkness or discolouration under the eyes too,” says Barnes.