Caky Concealer Is The Worst: A Makeup Artist's Go-To Trick For Dewy Under-Eyes

When it comes to choosing makeup for dry skin, cream formulas are the gold standard. This rings especially true for your under-eyes, as the skin there is so thin and prone to dryness already. But sometimes, no matter how buttery and delectable the formula, your concealer creases. Or pills. Or feels like sandpaper every time you rub your eyes—which you know you shouldn't do, but hey, it happens during dry-eye season!

First, let's be clear: Your perennially dry under-eyes likely signal a skin care issue and are not the fault of your poor concealer. It takes more than makeup to help them become dewy and smooth—no matter how seamlessly a formula may melt into your skin.  

Two words: eye cream. Generally, you want to give your eye cream a few minutes to sink in before applying makeup so you can let those active ingredients get to work. But after your eye cream is dried down, Irwin suggests applying another layer—this time, "right before you apply concealer."  

One big caveat to mention here: If you have a water-based eye cream, you'll need to snag a water-based concealer (like Tarte's Hydrocealer Concealer). Otherwise, the two formulas just won't blend—oil repels water, remember? It's not a problem when you let your eye cream fully absorb before applying makeup, but if you're hoping to layer one right on top of the other, they need to have the same working base.