Prep With an Eye Cream

A lesser-known tip for crease-free concealer is to prep the under-eye area with an eye cream or serum that absorbs easily. To prevent your eye makeup from smearing or running, Gerstein says to wait a few minutes after applying eye cream before applying concealer. “I like to do this step first, then apply the rest of the makeup, and then go back to under-eye concealer to ensure that the product has had time to absorb,” she says.

If you’re in a hurry and don’t have time to wait it out, Gerstein says to apply your eye cream, separate a two-ply tissue, and press it on your under-eye area. This hack removes any excess cream and readies the under-eye area for concealer.

Choose a Lightweight Concealer

According to Ma, the texture of your concealer affects how much it will crease. Dry concealers tend to crease more, as they’re less flexible and can cling to the folds of your skin. If you haven’t found your perfect formula yet, we suggest Ilia’s True Skin Serum Concealer.

Use the Right Tools

The tools you use to apply your under-eye concealer matter. For a no-makeup makeup look, apply concealer only where you need it to look naturally well-rested.

“My trick is to use a small, pointed synthetic brush to apply the concealer to the areas where you see a shadow, then pat into place with your fingertip,” says Gerstein. “The warmth of your skin will melt the product and blend it in, making it look like real skin.” Be sure to use your ring finger (the finger with the lightest pressure) to avoid pulling at the delicate skin around your eyes.

Be Strategic About Your Placement

“We tend to get most darkness around the triangle part atthe inner corner of the eyes, so focus there,” suggests Ma. “The skin around that area tends to be smoother, hence less creasing.” Apply the bulk of the product in this darker area, and blend it out toward your orbital bone for a traceless finish.

Slowly Build Up Product

Finding the sweet spot between too much concealer and not enough is crucial. You want to apply enough to cover the entire area and be able to blend without it getting splotchy or too thin, but you don’t want to cake it on the delicate eye area, either.

So try a less-is-more approach: Rather than starting with a thick coat of concealer, build it up as needed. “I like to work in thin layers to achieve a realistic finish and only apply as much as needed,” says Gerstein. This way, you don’t end up applying way too much product all at once, leading to inevitable caking and creasing (especially if you’re using a heavy-duty formula).

Avoid Getting Too Close to the Lashes

You don’t need to apply concealer up to your lashline to yield full coverage. Just like you should blend the edges of your concealer out toward the orbital bone for a seamless fade, do the same in the other direction. Blend up toward your lash line rather than applying product directly along the line. If you take the concealer too close to the bottom lashes, it can pool and crease in that area, Gerstein tells us.

Remove Excess Product With Blotting Papers

Remember when you learned to blot your lipstick on a piece of tissue to remove the excess product? Utilize that same concept for creaseless, stay-all-day concealer. After you’ve applied your concealer, gently press a sheet of blotting paper over the under-eye area. This “really blots off excess oil, leaving just the pigment behind, which ensures long wear,” says Gerstein.

What will you be left with? The perfect amount of coverage. What won’t you be left with? Excess product accumulating in your fine lines and creases.

Minimize Creasing With a Setting Powder

According to Gerstein, applying powder on top of your concealer sets the look and minimizes creasing throughout the day—as long as you don’t overdo it. “Use a light powder sparingly, like Laura Mercier’s Secret Brightening Powder” says Ma. Let it sit on the skin for two to three minutes before gently dusting off all remaining powder that hasn’t set in until the look is smooth and set.

For best results, apply and dust with a small, fluffy powder shadow brush like the Fenty Beauty Tapered Blending Brush.