5 Makeup Tips to Know About If You're Trying to Disguise Tired Eyes

I am no makeup whiz. Trust me. I can't do winged liner (despite years of trying), I have no idea how to contour like people on TikTok do, and any attempt at lining my lips is guaranteed to end badly. Truthfully, my lack of artistic ability is probably the reason I like to keep my makeup natural-looking and as quick and easy a possible. 

There is, however, one makeup technique I consider myself a master at, and that's my ability to brighten up my constantly tired eyes. My incessant dark circles, puffy eyes, and persistent under-eye bags mean that I've become somewhat of an expert in disguising tired eyes. I have absorbed every tip and trick that I have received throughout my eights years as a beauty journalist from makeup artists and learned how to achieve a look that hides every hint of tired eyes. So without further ado, this is everything you need to know about how to use makeup for tired eyes.

1. Use Color Corrector

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(Image credit: @AMAKA.HAMELIJNCK)

This is by far the most game-changing tip I have ever picked up. When it comes to dark circles, covering them up with concealer often isn't enough—the purple-hued circles will likely always peep through. Beyond that, slathering on layer upon layer of thick concealer risks making your face look flat and two-dimensional. The best thing you can do to counteract dark circles is apply a color corrector before applying your concealer.

Purple tones are counteracted by apricot-orange hues. Tapping an apricot-toned color corrector over dark circles and then layering concealer over the top will limit the amount of dulling concealer you need to apply and ensure dark circles are well covered all day long.

2. Apply Concealer Cleverly

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(Image credit: @LUCYWILLIAMS02)

Once you've nailed your color-corrector application, it's not just a case of slapping on as much concealer as you can. Many makeup artists have told me in the past that under-eye concealing is at its best when it doesn't stretch all the way up to the lower lash line. Instead, dot the concealer along the darkest area of your under-eye circles (this tends to stretch in a quarter-circle from the inner corner downwards) and pat and blend with your ring finger. Applying your concealer too close to your lower-lash line will risk making your makeup look unnatural and flat.

3. Swap to Nude Liner

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(Image credit: @CLAIRE_MOST)

When you're feeling tired and your eyes are showing it, it's important to reach for makeup products that work to brighten things up. While dark liners and shadow can make tired eyes look heavier and smaller, that's not to say you shouldn't reach for liner at all. In fact, one of the biggest tricks that makeup artists use on set to widen and awaken the eye area is by applying a nude liner to the lower waterline. It also helps brighten up the whites of your eyes, creating the illusion of a wider and brighter look.

4. Brush Up Your Brows

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(Image credit: @VALERIALIPOVETSKY)

This might not be an obvious trick at first, but believe me when I say that brushing up your brows can help make tired eyes look more alive. The simple act of brushing up brows helps to lift the eye area, taking the eye away from any areas of heavy puffiness. Using a clean spoolie, brush brow strands up and across to create lift, and finish by fixing with a brow gel.

5. Tactical Highlight Application

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(Image credit: @MEXICANBUTJAPANESE)

I've only adopted this tip recently, as it's taken me a little while to get right—but it's easily the most eye-brightening makeup application technique out there. The trick is to apply a small amount of luminous highlight to the inner corner of your eye and to the outer edge of the brow bone, just underneath the brow itself. The light-reflecting properties of highlighter will create the illusion of brightness, opening up the eyes to counteract every hint of tiredness. The key to this technique, I have learned, is to adopt a less-is-more approach. Remember, you can always build intensity, but you can't take it away. Going in light with the highlight at first helps prevent the light-reflecting pigment migrating into areas you don't want it.

Next up, these are the best color correctors for dark circles money can buy.

This post originally appeared on Who What Wear UK.

Freelance Beauty Editor

Shannon Lawlor is a renowned beauty journalist and has contributed to Who What Wear’s beauty content since 2020. As a leading beauty editor, expert and brand consultant, she has over eight years of experience working for some of the industry’s most esteemed titles, including Who What Wear (of course), Glamour UK, Stylist, Refinery29 and Fabulous. Having also worked behind the scenes with some of the industry’s biggest brands and retailers, Shannon has a unique insight into what people really want from their beauty routines. Understanding that beauty lovers seek honest, open and responsible advice, she has it made her mission to demystify the intimidating world of beauty, taking a no-frills approach to the most relatable topics. While Shannon is the first to admit she doesn’t hold the answer to every beauty question out there, she is dedicated to sharing her expert insights in a bid to help. As a self-proclaimed lazy girl, Shannon has an affinity for easy-to-use, foolproof beauty products and has made it her mission to scope out the best of the best. When she’s not working, Shannon is likely soaking in the bath or giving no-holds-barred beauty reviews on Instagram from her bathroom floor.