Quick answer: The secret isn't more concealer — it's reverse contouring. An under-eye bag protrudes, so light already catches it, and a bright concealer on top only makes it pop. Instead, color-correct the dark crease beneath the bag to bring it forward, then cover the bag itself with a concealer that matches your skin (or goes a touch deeper) to gently push it back.
Key takeaways
- Treat an under-eye bag as a raised area, not just a dark spot — this is reverse contouring.
- Don't highlight the bag: a light, brightening concealer accentuates what already catches the light.
- Color-correct the shadowed crease first, then conceal the bag in your skin tone or slightly deeper.
- De-puff before you start so there's less to camouflage.
- Technique beats owning more product.
Hey ladies — if under-eye bags are your daily frustration, Nikol shares the one makeup trick most of us were never taught. No surgery, nothing drastic — just a smarter way to place product so light works in your favor. Here's exactly how she does it in the video above.
What is the under-eye trick no one tells you?
Most of us reach for a light, brightening concealer and swipe it right over the bag — then wonder why it looks worse. Nikol's point: a bag protrudes, so light already hits it. Brightening it only highlights it further. She calls her method a kind of reverse contouring — you correct the shadowed crease beneath the bag and keep the raised part neutral, so the whole area reads flat and smooth instead of puffy.
This is a makeup technique for the look of the under-eye area, not a medical treatment. If puffiness or discoloration genuinely worries you, it's always fine to check in with a dermatologist or another professional.
How do you prep the under-eye area first?
Nikol starts by calming and de-puffing so there's less to work around:
- A little lymphatic-drainage massage using your ring finger and gentle pressure points to move fluid away from under the eyes.
- Optional cryotherapy — a bit of ice in the morning — to help with puffiness.
- The Cooling Eye Roller with its metal tip, gliding on an eye serum, cream, or balm (she uses a U Beauty eye concentrate).
She also mentions her playful These Bags Are Designer silicone reusable eye masks — a reminder to keep the morning mindset kind rather than picking yourself apart.
How do you color-correct and conceal eye bags, step by step?
- Color-correct the dark crease. Using Just Peachy Color Corrector (it works like a crayon), Nikol draws right into the hard, shadowed line beneath the bag to lighten and neutralize it, bringing that dark edge forward.
- Brighten the surrounding areas. A pink click-up eye brightener lifts the inner corner and the ends — the spots you do want brighter — without touching the raised bag itself.
- Conceal the bag in your skin tone. With a brush, she taps a concealer that matches her skin (or goes a touch deeper) onto the bag — never lighter — keeping it up near the lash line and using very little so it won't crease.
- Set it. A dusting of Nikita Banana brightening powder over the under-eye locks everything in so it doesn't move, before she goes over with a BB cream.
Because every face is different — even her own two eyes need different amounts — she adjusts shade and placement side to side, like a mosaic, rather than doing the exact same thing everywhere.
Why does more concealer make eye bags look worse?
It comes down to light. A raised bag catches light on its own, so a pale, brightening concealer piled on top exaggerates it and sinks into creases. The fix is less product, placed strategically: lighten the shadow beneath, keep the bag neutral, and set only where needed. As Nikol puts it, you're enhancing and gaining control — not trying to erase what's there.
The bottom line
The real secret is placement, not more coverage: correct the dark crease, keep the bag itself in your true skin tone, and set lightly. Once you know the trick, mornings feel a lot calmer. Ready to build your under-eye kit? Explore our concealers, color correctors, and everything face.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you cover under-eye bags with makeup?
Prep and de-puff first, then color-correct the dark crease under the bag instead of piling concealer on the bag itself. Cover the raised bag with a concealer that matches your skin tone or goes slightly deeper, blend it in with a brush, and set lightly so nothing creases or looks cakey.
What is reverse contouring under the eyes?
Reverse contouring means treating an under-eye bag as a raised area rather than a dark spot. Because the bag protrudes, light naturally catches it, so brightening it makes it stand out more. You lighten the shadowed crease beneath and keep the bag itself neutral, which visually pushes it back.
Why does more concealer make eye bags look worse?
A bag sticks out, so light already hits it. Adding a pale, brightening concealer on top highlights it further and settles into creases, drawing more attention. Using less product in your skin tone, or a touch deeper, keeps the bag neutral and far less noticeable.
What products does Nikol use for under-eye bags?
She de-puffs with the Cooling Eye Roller and an eye treatment, color-corrects with Just Peachy and a pink eye brightener, covers with a skin-tone concealer applied by brush, and sets with Nikita Banana brightening powder. Technique matters more than the number of products you own.
Should under-eye concealer be lighter than your skin tone?
Not for a protruding bag. A lighter concealer highlights what already catches the light. Match your skin tone or go slightly deeper on the bag itself, and reserve any brightening for the inner corner and the shadowed areas around it, not the raised bag.
Do you need to de-puff before concealing?
It helps. A gentle lymphatic-drainage massage with your ring finger, a little cooling or cryotherapy, and a rolled-on eye treatment reduce puffiness so there is less to camouflage. Starting with a calmer, flatter under-eye means your corrector and concealer sit better and look more natural.
