Last updated: March 2026
What Is Undereye Brightening?
Undereye brightening is a concealing and color-correcting technique that reduces the appearance of dark circles and makes the eye area look more awake and lifted.
Undereye brightening goes beyond simply applying concealer—it involves understanding the cause of dark circles (pigmentation, thin skin showing blood vessels, hollowness, or shadowing) and using the right combination of color correction and concealer to counteract them. For blue-toned circles, a peach or orange corrector neutralizes the color before concealer is applied. For brown or hyperpigmented circles, a yellow-toned corrector works better. The concealer is then applied in a targeted area (not a thick blanket) and set lightly to prevent creasing. The technique also includes strategies like the inverted triangle method, where concealer is applied and blended in a triangle shape under the eye to both conceal and lift the midface.
Tips
- Color correct first, then conceal. Don't try to do both jobs with one product.
- Use a shade one to two shades lighter than your foundation for brightening, not three shades lighter—that creates a reverse raccoon effect.
- Set under-eye concealer with a tiny amount of finely-milled powder to prevent creasing, but don't over-powder or it will emphasize texture.
See it in action
Tutorials that use or demonstrate this technique: