It’s easy to apply concealer: dab it on your dark circles and spots, pat it in, and set with powder. The problem starts hours later, when all our careful concealing work becomes a dry, cakey mess. How do you apply concealer so it actually stays put and doesn’t crease in the middle of the day? Makeup pros share the secret.

Hydrate the undereye area

The skin under our eyes is very thin and loses moisture quickly. When the skin dries up, the thick layer of creams we patted on top of it will crack. That’s why you need to apply a hydrating eye cream before you apply any concealer.

Choose the right formula

Instead of using a lot of concealer, pick the right concealer. You need less product to brighten and correct your skin. Hide dark circles with a peach, bisque or salmon concealer, which will counteract the blue or purple undertones Try: Bobbi Brown’s color corrector. Follow this simple guide, or go to their counters to get a perfect match for your skin tone.

If you’re trying to hide redness, look for concealer with a bit of yellow in it. Try Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer, a cult favourite for its super-blendable formula and natural-looking finish. Pick from a wide shade range!

If you have very dry or mature skin, then avoid heavy concealers that will settle into the creases. Look for light-reflecting concealers that can diffuse light, instantly creating a soft-focus effect that make your eyes look fresh and young. Celebrity makeup artists like Lisa Eldridge love YSL Touche Éclat All-Over Brightening Pen. Watch their concealer tutorial:

Apply concealer with your fingers

For spot-concealing blemishes, you should use a concealer brush. But for the eye area, your fingers are your best tool. Rub your fingers to warm up the skin, so your body heat melts the concealer so it’s easier to pat and meld into the skin.

Gently stretch the eye area

“If there’s no creasing when you set your concealer, it’s all the more likely that makeup will stay crease-free throughout the day,” says makeup artist Robert Sesnek. Look up and then gently pull the skin under your eyes with your pinky finger.Now, you can apply concealer on a smooth canvas.

Apply layers

Instead of applying one thick concealer, use several sheer layers. Start with a very thin layer of liquid concealer, which can act like a primer that fills in fine lines. Then, look down (so you know where the shadows of your face fall) and apply a more full-coverage concealer in the darkest areas around your eyes. Blend it together with a small damp sponge.

Look for hydrating ingredients

Get a concealer with ingredients that help keep the eye area moist and plump. Try:

Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Self-Setting Concealer. Contains hyaluronic acid spheres that trap moisture and prevents caking. $50, Sephora.

Tarte Double Duty Shape Tape Contour Concealer. The Amazonian soak up skin oils that can cause concealer to smudge, while hydrating shea butter, olive oil, and sunflower seed oil hydrate the area to stop creasing. $42, Sephora.

It Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye. The hyaluronic acid, brightening antioxidants, and light-reflecting flecks make your eyes look brighter and your concealer looks fresh. $42, Sephora.

Set your concealer

Yes, baking your concealer works. Apply a thick layer of setting powder over your concealer, leave it for a few minutes so your body heat seals it, then brush off the excess powder with a big fluffy brush.

Translucent powder is the best for baking concealer, but you can also use a yellow powder if your dark circles are very prominent.

If you don’t have time to bake your concealer, just press a powder puff on the eye area. The key word is press, so you don’t move the concealer or cause it to streak.

Refresh makeup with a mist

If your concealer (or the rest of your makeup) starts to look dry in the middle of the day, just spray a face mist. Just hold the bottle a few inches away from your face so you only get a fine layer — too much mist can make powder products streaky.