Under Eye Circles

Just as there are tricks for concealing pimples without making it look too obvious, there are ways to hide under-eye circles sans the cakey, flakey effects. The biggest mistake many women make is trying to hide too much, explains What Not to Wear's Carmindy. "I see women put on so much concealer," she says. "It settles into those fine lines and wrinkles, and lines end up looking worse than if they just left well enough alone." But how do you use that concealer to your advantage? Get three steps to quelling darkness and brightening your complexion when you read more.

We're happy to present this article from one of our favorite sites, Real Beauty.

If getting more sleep isn't an option, we've found other ways to get rid of pesky under-eye bags.

Find the perfect cream for your eyes

It's normal for your eyes to look a little swollen first thing in the morning. But drinking alcohol, eating salty foods, allergies, and watching The Notebook can produce bigger bags that stick around for a few hours. Here's how to get rid of them fast.

Dark circles under eyes plague most of us at some time or another, and they're a chronic issue for lots of people. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to give raccoon eyes a temporary lift. To see how you can brighten up your peepers in a flash, just keep reading.

While it's certain that Shakespeare was not referring to hyperpigmentation, scars, or the markings of acne when he wrote, "Out, damned spot," he was actually on to something. Let's face it, a good concealer is a necessity. Many makeup artists recommend going with two different shades of concealer: one for under the eyes and one for other imperfections, like acne. With MAC's Pro Longwear Concealer ($16), I was able to cover both areas with impressive results.

While creamy to the touch, its surprisingly lightweight formulation provides medium coverage that dries to a semimatte finish, leaving ample time to blend while you're working with it. It's also easy to layer in case you're going for some full-on concealing. Also, not only is it crepe-, cake- and slip-resistant, but it wears for a very (very) long time. The only thing I'd change about the Longwear is the pump. It dispenses far too much product, and because of the way it's attached to the glass vial, I'm concerned I won't be able to reach every last drop toward the end.

Speaking of that glass vial, I drop things — a lot. And so far Longwear's been put through the ringer countless times, holding up to all sorts of klutzy action. For its resiliency, relatively low price, and multitasking abilities, this concealer is a great buy.

Been crying for hours? Job stress making you look like something out of a George A. Romero movie? In a better, more perfect world, you'd get the week off, but likelier than not, you just have to keep your chin up and get on with it. It can be hard to maintain appearances when you're having a truly crappy time, so here are a few easy tips to keep you looking chipper. Just keep reading.

In the Bella Community's Problem Solved group, reader IHEARTGGFASHION had a question about concealing dark circles. Think we can help her out? She says:

No matter what I try, I can never seem to mask my dark under-eye circles. And wearing eye makeup is the most frustrating thing of all. I can never wear dark colors or my face looks sort of dirty, but I can't wear light colors, either. And heaven forbid I try to wear liner or shadow on the lower lid. They all seem to make the dark circles seem more prominent. I need makeup tips for my light skin tone and Asian features. Please help!

Have some much-needed advice for IHEARTGGFASHION? Help her out in the comments below, and while you're at it, be sure to see what else is going on in the BellaSugar Community. Join now, and perhaps we'll feature what you have to say right here on BellaSugar.

Creasing, caking eye makeup is a surefire way to highlight every fine line and wrinkle. But luckily, there are a few products and techniques you can employ to avoid the cracks from settling in. Last week, a reader wrote the BellaSugar Q & A Group asking for advice on how to prevent her makeup from caking, and I followed up with tips on how to keep foundation looking smooth. So now, let's move on to another topic: under-eye caking. To find out how to keep your concealer looking fresh and even, read more.

Continuing our series on covering up under-eye circles once and for all, we come to the workhorse of the dark circle destroying team, the concealer. The conventional wisdom on under-eye concealers is that you use something thick, with yellow undertones and as much long-wearing capability as you can get. And while this is certainly not a bad school of thought, there lots of other options that include interesting twists on the old standard. Want to check out what's available for your particular concealing needs? Then just read more

I have under-eye circles for which a baby raccoon would be jealous. The kind that no concealer can truly cover, and no camouflaging light refractors can truly disappear. For 2010, I've resolved to find some way — even if it takes me five or six products — to cover up and fill in under-eyes once and for all. For the next few weeks, I'll be examining all the options, from high-tech formulas to old-fashioned recipes to drugstore shelf standbys. Let's start by breaking down the big "miracle" ingredients on the market. To see what you're really getting, just read more

Raccoon eyes are the bane of many a woman’s existence, but luckily there are some tried-and-true products that provide great results with very little effort. See the best of the bunch.