Don’t have time to head to the salon or try out homemade beauty treatments to conceal your under-eye bags? Then a quick makeup fix can be your savior! And if you want to learn the right way of concealing the under-eye bags and circles like a professional, you’re in the right place. Read on for an expert step-by-step guide for proper under-eye makeup.

Step 1: Prep the Skin

Go for moisturizing eye creams instead of the literal makeup foundation, as it can make your under-eye appear cakey. Put a drop on a fingertip and dab it lightly along the under-eye area. This will plump the delicate skin and cover the visible veins underneath. Use a refrigerated cold roller or under-eye gels to de-puff your eyes.

Step 2: Color-Correct the Dark Circles

Use the color corrector for priming the eyes to make the concealer more effective on dark circles. A shade of a sunny color like yellow, orange, or peach can essentially neutralize the hyper-pigmented bluish dark circles when applied tactfully on the darker eye areas.

Step 3: Contour the Under-Eye Bags

Yes, you can contour your under-eyes with the help of a thicker or stiffer balm concealer. The trick here is to choose one 2-3 shades lighter than your skin tone and apply it only to the bottom of your under-eye bags. This technique creates the illusion of lifting the surrounding skin, receding any ballooned creases.

Step 4: Go for a Creamy Liquid Concealer

Skip this step if your eyes are bagless. Use a creamier liquid concealer closer to your original skin tone as the skin’s warmth softens the formula easily, making it smoother. Wait for 10 seconds after applying to make the formula stick to your skin, then tap and blend using the ring finger.

Step 5 (Optional): Apply Powder to Set

A light dusting of a translucent powder gives the final touch in concealing the creasing texture of under-eye bags. To prevent streaking, use a sponge or a brush to stamp the powder into the skin, making a smoother final appearance.

Finding the perfect makeup artist for your wedding is both an exciting and somewhat nerve-wracking experience. Do you rely on personal references, or do you turn to artists you’re following on Instagram? Should you get a preliminary consultation, and what type of questions to ask? Find the answers to these and many other questions below!

How to Find a Bridal Makeup Artist

Celebrity makeup artist Mehak Oberoi says that at the beginning of the process, each future bride should understand that there is not a single right answer. To some brides, word-of-mouth recommendations may be the safe option they need, but to others, the solution may be to give an experimental artist whose work they admire a chance. Since trials aren’t currently possible in most places, she advises brides to do their homework beforehand, (and this includes the products they want their artist to use).

Both Oberoi and Bianca Louzado caution future brides not to trust every fancy Instagram photo because they have all been retouched. They advise you to look at pictures “where you can see skin,” as well as to focus on the one feature you want to accentuate – be it brows, lips, contouring, eyes, etc. Know your budget before you start contacting makeup artists, and don’t trust the number of followers an artist has because that doesn’t necessarily reflect their talent and/or professionalism.

Discuss Safety Precautions Beforehand

Regardless of how you go about choosing a bridal makeup artist, it’s important to discuss the safety measures before meeting in person. Whether that includes both sides bringing a negative test result, proof of vaccine, or another precaution, you need to make sure everyone is on the same page.

Oberoi advises that the makeup artist should use separate brushes, pencils, and tools when working on two or three people at the same time (such as the sister and the mother) and that if liquid formulas are used, the applicators should never come in direct contact with the skin. These and other aspects of your safety on your big day should be talked over with your artist to guarantee everyone’s well-being.