5 Products That Cover Dark Circles In Seconds, From A New Mum Who Knows

I always wax lyrical about this concealer. As the name suggests, it's balm like in consistency, but doesn't compromise on coverage - a single layer regularly conceals the most obvious dark circles I have been known to muster. My under-eye area is prone to dryness, so I make a beeline for make-up products that aren't likely to dehydrate it. This concealer is fortified with emollients and keeps the area covered and dewy all day long. There's no hint of cakey-ness and if I catch the odd crease of product (usually come 2PM) it only takes a gentle pat or two with my fingertips to blend it back to an even finish. Application wise, if I have time to rummage around in my make-up bag I use a soft concealer brush, otherwise warm fingertips do the job just as well.

If my dark circles are out of this world, I pair this with an under-layer of Bobbi Brown's Skin Corrector Stick, £29, to fully neutralise those tell-tale purple tones. A thin layer of this on tops brings things back to my natural skin shade a the cover-up operation is complete. I reach for this duo when I'm bringing in the big guns - we're talking up-all-night-with-a-teething-toddler-level dark circles. And trust me, this two-step find does the job. The staying power is impressive too.

I have been using this concealer for years, long before my dark circles became such a recurring bugbear. I see it more as a mini foundation stick - the formula is silky smooth and delivers a satin-like finish, making it a great concealer to make a grab for if you're more likely to mattify than endeavour to boost your glow. Again, I apply this with my fingers and often it's the only piece of make-up I wear. I tap it across my under-eyes to conceal my dark circles, which it does with a second-skin-finish, around the sides of my nostrils and across my chin to neutralise redness.

From a mini foundation stick to a fully-fledged full-size one. Gucci Westman is a legendary artist, best-known for her work with the A-list likes of Jennifer Aniston and Nicole Kidman. Westman Atelier is her brainchild and the product of years spend in the hands-on business of make-up artistry, working for some of the most discerning in the industry. Gucci Westman knows good skin and makes no bones about the fact that she demands best formulas, finish and staying-power of every product the brand launches. This foundation stick is one of Westman Atelier's calling cards, beloved by pros and celebrities alike. It's a creamy base packed with hydrating squalane and antioxidants like camelia seed oil that work to brighten skin over time. But it's the instant coverage it offers that I'm lauding today. Tapped into skin it delivers a wash of coverage and a light dewy finish that - because of that hydrating squalane - swerves patchiness.

Anyone who as read a few of my foundation-focused-features will know that I'm a huge fan of this one and for good reason. It goes on in super thin layers, especially if you apply I with your fingers, and delivers a radiant finish that belies the sleeping pattern of a new mother. If I'm short on time and want to prioritise evening the tone of my skin as a whole, I often apply this the way I might a tinted moisturiser and tap it across my under-eye area too. It does an impressive job of concealing my dark circles considering it's a medium-to-high coverage foundation rather than a purpose-made concealer, and the consistency of texture makes for a put-together make-up look too. It's a handy way of streamlining my make-up routine if I'm short on time.