Dark circles, shadows and puffiness; The great cover-up

Although medical treatments can usually offer the most lasting solutions, there are some things you can do with the simple art of "cover-up." Make-up and skin care can help improve the look of some of these problems. Make-up guru Michael Maron offers these tips for looking your best:

• When covering dark circles caused by a reddish or bluish cast, choose a salmon- or peach-colored concealer for best results. "Don't use a beige or white concealer," Maron says. "It's only going to make the darkness look gray."
• When looking to conceal puffiness, don't apply a light color or light-reflecting concealer on the puffy area. "Light brings volume out, so it will make the area look puffier," Maron says. Instead, use a nylon (and not natural hair) concealer brush to apply a thin layer of lighter product in the crease below the puff, and into the tear trough. Then use a concealer one to two shades darker than your foundation on the puff to reduce the appearance of volume.
• Always put on foundation before concealer. "First, you might not need as much concealer as you think; second, the foundation will only wipe it off," Maron says.
• Do start your cover up with an under eye primer. This will help smooth the area and give whatever other products you apply a gripping foundation that will keep them in place.
• If your eyes become puffier or your dark circles darker or redder after applying makeup or skin care products, remember that it could be the products themselves causing or exacerbating the problems. If this is the case, Marmur says, look for unscented products (fragrance is often the culprit) and avoid those containing glycolic acid or salicylic acid. Both can be irritants to delicate skin around the eyes and cause swelling or redness.