The ideas here run from a white pencil on the lower waterline to a small brush for placing product on the darkest spot, and from shimmer on the lid to changes in salt and sleep.
Puffiness and shadow are separate problems, so I’d match the fix to the one you actually have, whether that means a color read, a targeted concealer or a change in daily habits.
1. Using White Eyeliner
A white pencil on the lower waterline brightens the eye by canceling the red, tired edge that makes bags look heavier. Pick one with a creamy, soft formula rather than a stark, chalky white.
Pull the lower lid down gently and draw a thin line, keeping it light. A cream or off-white shade looks more natural than pure white, which can make the eye look smaller.
This is a brightening trick, not a concealer. It will not cover dark circles, so I’d pair it with concealer below.
2. Smooth Luminous Concealed Finish
Smooth skin under the eye makes a warm eyeshadow look finished. Gold and brown tones sit well against a flat, even under-eye, because shimmer on the lid draws the eye upward and away from puffiness.
Keep the shimmer on the lid and the crease. Skip glitter below the lashes, since sparkle catches light on any texture and can make bags more obvious.
Set the concealer so it stays smooth, and leave the skin with a soft glow rather than a matte, dry look.
3. Targeted Concealer Application
Small brushes let concealer go exactly where the shadow sits, instead of spreading product over the whole under-eye. A small, firm applicator brush gives more control than a fingertip.
Place product only on the darkest spot, usually the inner corner and the hollow just below the bag. Tap it in rather than dragging it, which pulls at delicate skin.
Blend the edges outward until no line remains. Thin layers beat one thick coat, which tends to crease and emphasize texture.
While makeup cannot make them disappear completely, it can camouflage them intelligently. The key is understanding how light works on the delicate skin around the eyes and applying products strategically.
— Hola!
Lifestyle Tips for Reducing Bags
Salt is the first thing I’d look at. Pickles, olives, soup and fast food are the usual sources, and swapping in potassium-rich foods like bananas, avocados and celery helps balance the sodium your body holds on to.
Water-rich produce like cucumber, melon, oranges and leafy greens adds to your daily fluid intake, so a few extra servings help. A cup of tea or coffee is mostly water, so it adds to your total too.
More sleep is not an automatic fix. Once you’re already getting enough sleep, piling on more hours won’t shrink bags that have another cause.
Smoothing on a moisturizing eye cream before bed can soften the fine lines that often show up alongside puffiness.
If sinus congestion plays a part, an over-the-counter decongestant or a neti pot keeps things moving without a prescription, and staying hydrated keeps the nasal passages lubricated.
Lifestyle changes work on the cause, so I treat the 2 as a team.
Understanding Under-eye Colors
Match the corrector to the color you see, and the finish gets much easier.
Redness on the lower lid calls for green, which sits opposite red on the color wheel and cancels it. Purple tones call for yellow for the same reason.
The lighter shade brings the hollow forward, so the fold reads as shallower.
Texture matters as much as shade.
Liquid concealers give light coverage and can look glossy, sticks suit small, narrow areas, and powder reads matte. If your skin runs oily, some liquids will turn shiny fast.
Order counts too: foundation goes on before concealer. For a little extra help with puffiness, try keeping your eye cream in the fridge first, since the cold tightens the skin, or choose one with caffeine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What color cancels out eye bags?
It depends on the tone you see. Green cancels redness, yellow cancels purple, and peach or orange cancels blue-gray, which is what many makeup artists reach for on fair to deeper skin.
Colors sit opposite each other on the color wheel, so the corrector neutralizes the shade underneath before you add regular concealer.
What causes bags under the eyes?
Salt is the first thing I’d check, since the sodium makes your body hold fluid.
Lack of sleep, genetics, stress, allergies, and a stuffy nose or sinus congestion can also play a part. Because the causes vary, makeup hides bags but lifestyle changes work on the source.
What concealer shade is best for under-eye bags?
For shadowed hollows and hyperpigmentation, I’d pick a concealer roughly 2 shades above your skin tone. Apply foundation first, then concealer.
Does white eyeliner help with eye bags?
Yes, a creamy cream or off-white pencil on the lower waterline brightens the eye by canceling the red, tired edge that makes bags look heavier.
Pure white can make the eye look smaller, so I’d skip the stark, chalky kind. White liner won’t cancel dark circles on its own, so I’d pair it with concealer below the eye, the way the white eyeliner section describes.
