Celebrity Makeup Artists Reveal How to Stop Concealer Creasing for a Flawless Finish Every Time

Ladies, we're at war. No, we're not talking about international conflicts, politics, or gender equality (not right now, anyway). We're talking about the struggle for beauty. Your skin is a battlefield where everything from toxins to sun damage to poor sleep - and all that falls in between - is trying to destroy your attractiveness. And it's time to fight back.

One of the most vulnerable fronts in the battle for beauty is the delicate area under your eyes. It's the first place people see blemishes when you've been sick, when you haven't slept well, or when you just generally feel like crap. As much as we want to believe makeup companies when they tell us that their concealer will vanish these blemishes away, more often than not they turn the skin under your eyes into a creased, caked-on mess.

So what's the solution, then? Give up on eye concealer entirely? Absolutely not! We have a better way - and you can use it to your advantage, too. Today is the day you give yourself a pep talk in the bathroom mirror and tell those blemishes under your eyes "not again, dark circles. The line must be drawn here! This far, and no farther!" Today is the day you're going to get your under-eye concealer right. If you follow our tips for a flawless under eye concealer finish (courtesy of Hollywood's most talented celebrity make-up artists), you'll never have to deal with concealer creasing ever again.

How to Stop Eye Concealer from Creasing

When you really start asking around, it seems as though there are two camps in Hollywood makeup artistry which have different methods of attacking the threat of concealer creasing. One Camp favors a gentler, more pacifist approach which seems to cater well to women who are striving for a natural look. However, if you're getting ready for a night on the town or if your makeup routine is a hard core exercise and achieving the perfect aesthetic, then you're going to want to talk to the other camp. Because they can give you the advice you need to blast away concealer creases with a tactical strike.

Banishing Concealer Creasing from Your Daytime Look

For starters, you have to start with the right materials. If you want to banish your under eye blemishes with as little effort as possible, you'll want to pair a lightweight concealer with a moisturizing serum. Moisturizing eye serums are great because not only do they treat the skin below your eye in ways that keep it firm, wrinkle-free, and well hydrated, but they absorb better than a thick, heavy cream. Avoiding thick, heavy under eye cream is essential if you want to stop concealer creasing with this method because a heavy  cream will be more likely to cause caking.

Setting your concealer with dry powder is also a no-no if you're trying to achieve that flawless, natural look. Again, if you use the right products, you can work around this. Between your moisturizing eye serum and your lightweight concealer, you need to apply at least one layer of primer. You can use either a regular eyeshadow primer that you would normally apply on your top lid and brow, or you can use a specific primer designed to prevent under eye makeup creasing. Many makeup artists suggest that you use both at the same time! Apply one layer of primer, let it dry, and then apply the second prime or product - the application order is completely up to you. After that, put your concealer on top. When the primer in the concealer mixed together, the primer will set it and you can forget it.

Another thing that can kill a smooth, flawless under eye finish is excess oil. But that's what blotting-paper is for, and it's especially helpful if you're trying to use your eye makeup sparingly in order to keep you looking naturally fresh. Be sure to keep the blotting paper with you throughout the day to blot away any excess oil that may creep up and cause concealer creasing.

If you really want to go bare bones with your under-eye concealment, then you can hit the express lane and apply only two products: a non-greasy face oil, and your lightweight concealer. Put a small drop of face oil onto your ring finger and tap it under your eye until it is well absorbed. Then apply your concealer. Keep an eye on your face throughout the day, and if you catch any creasing or caking, take your face oil and your ring finger and dab another small droplet under each eye. Don't go overboard with the face oil, and do not - under any circumstances - apply more concealer.

• Jojoba Oil for Banishing Concealer Creasing

Drop a Makeup MOAB on Those Concealer Creases

About a year ago, a new trend started sweeping the makeup scene: the act of "cooking" or "baking" your makeup. Keep in mind, this strategy is not for the faint of heart. And it is certainly not ideal if you are trying to achieve a more natural look. But if you want to make a bold, beautiful statement, then makeup baking is the best way to stop concealer creasing under your eyes.

One good thing about makeup cooking is the fact that you can prep your under eye skin however you want! It doesn't matter whether you use a serum or cream to moisturize the skin first. As a matter of fact, if that cream is a skin-plumping one, it can actually be helpful. Plumping up and stretching out the skin under your eyes is a great way to eliminate any creases your makeup could fall into.

Once your skin is clean, moisturized, and prepped with the primer(s) of your choice, it's time to apply your concealer. Again, there are fewer restrictions on what type of concealer you can use. Feel free to go nuts with the heaviest, waxiest concealer you can find if that's what you need to achieve your perfect look. Or you could stay on the lightweight side of the spectrum. It's totally up to you.

Either way, whenever you're ready to put it on your face, you're going to want to apply it to a larger area than just that delicate skin between your lower lash line and your orbital bone. Draw an upside-down triangle on your face with your concealer using your lower lash line as the base and extend the tip of the triangle down to an imaginary horizontal line that is even with the top of your nostril. This is a contouring method that naturally draws people's attention to your eyes (instead of your under eyes) and also helps brighten your cheeks.

• Advanced Concealer Makeup Tutorial

Baking your makeup is all about that flawless powder finish. Using the video tutorial above, make sure you give your finishing powder plenty of time to bake into your liquid concealer. After several minutes, you can brush away the excess pattern with a dry, clean brush, or you can add the extra finishing touch by putting a little bit of extra powder on the tip as you see in the video. Whether you're prepping your face for a low-key day at the office or a high-profile night on the town, either of these methods will successfully help you stop your concealer from creasing under your eyes.

Are There Eye Concealer Alternatives?

If you're so worried about under eye makeup creasing that you'd rather just get rid of your concealer all together, there may be alternatives you can try. Unfortunately, they aren't as fast acting as applying makeup to your face. But if you give the delicate skin under your eyes some time, attention, and TLC, you may be able to clear up your skin in ways that completely eliminate the need for undereye concealer.

We particularly love dark circle under eye treatment creams for this exact purpose. No matter what is causing the blemishes tarnishing your skin, these creams and serums can brighten, firm, and even out your skin tone. Many of them are potent but safe with natural ingredients that enhance the condition of your skin instead of just covering up.

Now that you know everything there is to know about eliminating concealer creasing, have fun experimenting with the different methods on your own. We've even used some of our own staff members as guinea pigs, and we love how effective and aesthetically pleasing these looks are! We're confident that you will, too.