Under Eye Brightener

This $6 under-eye brightener/concealer works just as well as similar products that are 5 times the price. It’s silky & smooth, and gives a very soft glow when it’s applied properly. The trick is knowing how to apply it. The most common mistake people make is using too much product at once - it will end up a cakey, flaky mess. You need way less than you think you do. Because it’s so reasonably priced, I bought two of these; this one (Rose), and the next color up (warm nude). For reference, my skin tone is light with neutral undertones. I’ve been using the following makeup application technique for about 2 years now, and it works every time. Make sure your skin is very well moisturized and/or primed before you start: 1. Begin with a brush or makeup sponge, not your fingers. For this product, I use a small concealer brush or an angled makeup sponge (the type with the point to get into corners. You can get one for under $10). 2. Swipe the brush lightly over the product, using both sides of the brush. Or, wet your sponge, squeeze really well, & swipe the corner over the product. 3. Next, dab your brush or sponge a few times onto the back of your hand to remove excess product. This is called ‘priming’ your makeup & it’s a game-changer - seriously. 4. Very lightly dab your brush or sponge along your under-eyes, and into the corners if your black circles extend that far, like mine do. Keep dabbing very gently until the concealer is fully absorbed. Now stop & take a look. Happy with the coverage? Need a bit more? Pick up more of the product from the back of your HAND. Yes, there’s plenty! I promise :). 5. For my skin, I like to use this rose color first, let it sit for a minute or so, then I add a layer of the warm nude, using the same technique. Use this exact technique with all your makeup - anything tinted (moisturizer, sunscreen etc), foundation, concealer, eyeshadow, highlighter, blush & bronzer, even your lipstick if you want :) - and your makeup will look flawless. For products in a tube or pump bottle, put a very small amount onto the back of your hand, then prime with your application tool of choice. With foundation in particular, always, always use less than you think you need, and use the priming method every time. Keep repeating the process until you have layered enough to give the coverage you’re looking for. If you’ve done it correctly, the layers are extremely light and therefore actually sink into your skin, as opposed to sitting on top of it. When makeup sits ON your skin, that’s when the dreaded caking & pilling starts 😐. Giving each light layer a minute or so to settle before adding the next one will add a few minutes to your routine, that’s true. But the results will absolutely be worth it. Lastly, if you need your makeup to stay put all day and into the evening, finish with a setting spray. There are plenty on the market but do your research because some of them are just repackaged hair spray 😒. I’ve made that mistake and turned my face into a sticky mess that attracted lint 🤦🏻‍♀️. I haven’t tried it yet but I’ve read that the RMS Beauty Radiance Lock setting mist is excellent - not sticky at all, and moisturizing as well. Oh, and if you like to finish your face with a powder, prime that well also. Then gently apply to your face using a very light tapping motion. Yikes, long review! I hope this info helps a bit.

The title of my review covers my main thoughts on this product. But I'm a firm believer that cosmetics and other skin products do not belong in the "one-size-fits-all" category. Everyone has different skin types, issues, and lifestyles. So the more info someone can get about how a product worked for a certain kind of person and how that person used it, the better they can decide if it's worth trying for themselves. Read on if you want more info. I'll put headers so you can skip to what you think is important. *If you don't feel like reading, just know: I'd mainly recommend this product as a subtle under eye brightener for someone with normal to dry or wrinkled/creased skin. It's not the best product out there, but it does a great for the current price. I think it's good value. It can work for someone who prefers a low maintenance skin routine or a person who really likes to experiment with cosmetics to achieve a specific look.) WHICH COLOR I BOUGHT AND WHY: I purchased the pink-toned undereye brightener since I have really fair (mostly neutral toned) skin. The skin under my eyes can look very dull and dry sometimes, but it doesn't really turn a very noticeable dark tone. Occasionally, it may take on a very faint bluish-purple hue. WHAT DROVE ME TO TRY THIS SPECIFIC PRODUCT? I actually bought this along with another product that promised to create a similar look, but which seemed like a formula that better fit my lifestyle. (It came in small tube with an applicator and was waterproof. I tend to look for cosmetics that offer convenience, can fit safely in my pocket without breaking, have maximum staying power, and that are non-comedogenic.) However, I also decided to try this under eye brightener because I read that it was non-drying and kind of moisturizing. I recently dried the heck out of the skin under my eyes, and I figured I needed something that could help with damage control until I could handle the other product. (Waterproof and no-budge cosmetics tend to be drying.) I also liked how reviewers were consistently saying this product was very sheer, subtle, and not glittery or too sparkly. I was on the hunt for something "brightening" as in illuminescent, glowing, or even slightly pearlescent. I definitely did not want anything glittery, sparkly, metallic, etc. WHAT IS MY SKIN TYPE & ANY ISSUES I'M HAVING RIGHT NOW THAT MAKES THIS PRODUCT IDEAL FOR ME? I have combination type skin right now... oily in the T-zone, but more normal to dry around my cheeks and especially under my eyes. I have to use an oil-controlling, mattifying product daily. Otherwise, parts of my face will look outrageously shiny/greasy. But I kind of got lazy with my skin care and makeup routine as the weather got colder and dryer. I started overusing the shine control products and applying it recklessly. I was applying a super drying mattifying serum/primer all over my face... even blending it under my eyes, knowing I absolutely did not need any oil-absorbing or otherwise drying products in that specific area. Next thing I knew, my undereye skin was dull and somewhat patchy looking. My normal undereye concealer just wasn't cutting it anymore. In fact, since my skin became so dried out, the various concealers I would normally use all looked streaky, creased, and/or dry within minutes to hours. They made me look sloppy, tired, or older. I did try using a heavier moisturizer around my eyes, and it was helping to get my skin back to normal... just not as quickly as I wanted. And for some reason, it was causing some of my concealers to lose a lot of coverage power or to eventually settle on my face in a very streaky or creased way. Then this little miracle finally arrived! WHAT WAS MY FIRST IMPRESSION OF THIS PRODUCT? I was honestly skeptical when I first saw it and touched it. It has a very pink tone when it's just sitting in the container. There didn't appear to be anything "brightening" about it. It looked like a thick, strongly pigmented salmon pink paste. And then I touched it with my finger. I would say it has a texture that's in between a gel-like cream and a balm. Very slippery. I was worried I just wasted my money on a weird pink-colored balm that was going to melt down my face within an hour or so. I was wrong. With this product, less is more. (That also means there is a lot of product in the tiny pot. So for the price, it's an excellent value.) The product applied smoothly under my eyes. I didn't like how it looked at first, but I realized I had just applied too much... and I applied it over other makeup that had already dried out on my skin. When I tried again with less product and a clean face, I was very happy with the results. The product is VERY SHEER. Don't expect it to cover any blemishes or really dark spots. I wouldn't really call it shimmery either. It basically reflects light in a way that makes your dull or slightly darkened skin less noticeable. It has a subtle and natural looking effect. The first time I wore it without any other cosmetics on, my daughter commented that I looked like I finally caught up on some sleep. She actually asked to take a closer look at my face. She noticed I looked "better," but couldn't figure out why. It's the perfect product for anyone trying to achieve the deceiving "no makeup" look. (Not gonna lie... it feels good when people really believe you just naturally look youthful and vibrant.) The makeup worked well with my moisturizer, and I feel like it helped restore my skin to it's normal state. I'd say it has some moisturizing properties to it. If anything, it's at least non-drying. As far as longevity, this product doesn't have much staying power at all. As my skin returned to a more normal state, the undereye cream became easier to accidentally wipe off or to just naturally fade away after a few hours. I didn't dock a star for that because I kind of liked reapplying it mid-day. It feels slightly cooling. I also found a work around for the longevity problem! HOW I TYPICALLY USE IT: I mostly use this undereye brightener to enhance my other plain undereye concealers (which are mostly medium coverage). I'll mix the two products together on the back of my hand or directly on my face. I get most of the coverage and staying power of my normal concealer, and the light reflecting and overall brightening properties of this product. I sometimes apply it to my brow bone or the inner corners of my eye, too. The other similar product I mentioned at the start of this review turned out to be very waterproof and smudge-resistant. But it was also very drying, heavily pigmented, and difficult to blend despite being a liquid. I found that it actually blends very well with this product, though. And the two combined make for a brighter, less subtle look with enough staying power to last a good 14 hrs or so. The two combined are better for carefully applying around the eyes with a makeup sponge for a contouring effect. Basically, I found this undereye brightener to be great when used alone or to enhance other cosmetics. I like it. It's very versatile. If you decide to try it, just make sure you're not allergic to any ingredients and you pick the appropriate color to match your skin tone and needs. If it doesn't work well the first time you apply it, play around with it a bit. My daughter is a very young adult. She has borrowed this eye brightener to rub on parts of her face for a natural-looking dewy, glowing complexion. (I can't get away with that due to my combination type skin type.) OTHER HELPFUL INFO: If you're like me and rely on waterproof liquid eyeliner, you should know that this will negatively affect your eyeliner's staying power. When the two cosmetics are overlapped at any point, the eyeliner seems to lose its water-resistance abilities. In fact, this undereye cream can actually remove/dissolve some really strong waterproof liquid liners. I think because it's kind of oily/greasy in a way. (Kind of like Pond's cold cream will remove super stubborn eyeliner. Except this eye brightener is not THAT strong.) I only line the top of my lids, but my eyes kind of slope downwards. So, I try to be careful not to blend this undereye cream too close to my lower lashline (in case it transfers to my upper eyelids) or too close to the outer sides of my eyes. So far, that tactic had worked for me.

When I first received this product, I was honestly a bit confused. It didn’t come in a box and had no directions, so at first I thought it might be some kind of eye mask. I ended up having to look the product up again to understand how it’s supposed to be used. For clarity: this is not a mask — it’s meant to be applied under the eyes in the morning, either with your finger or a brush, and then you put your makeup on over it. Once I understood how to use it, I was pleasantly surprised. The texture is very smooth and easy to apply. The instructions recommend applying it in thin layers, which I did, and that definitely helped with blending. I was worried it might clump or cake, but it does neither, which I really love. In terms of performance, it actually does a great job of covering and brightening dark circles. I struggle with under-eye darkness from lack of sleep (night owl problems), and this made my under-eye area look noticeably brighter and more awake. It feels similar to having concealer on — it does start out a little sticky, but it doesn’t stay that way for long and dries at a medium speed. The smell isn’t great — it just smells like makeup — and the product itself is pretty small for the price, which is worth mentioning. That said, you don’t need much product, and I don’t wear makeup daily, so I feel like this will last me a while. Overall, this has become a must-have for me when I’m doing my makeup and want to look my best. It’s effective, blends great with my skin (I have a lighter complexion), gives good coverage, and really helps with dark circles. My biggest complaint is the lack of packaging and directions, which caused unnecessary confusion at first. Bottom line: very effective eye-brightening product with great coverage and smooth application. I’d easily give this 4 stars, and I’ll definitely be buying it again when I run out — I just wish it came with clearer instructions.

Ummm - WOW? You wouldn't think that a product that looks pink in the pot would match skin tone and visibly brighten your under eye area like this, but it does! The color blends into my skin and brightens up this problem area better than a colored concealer that's been color-matched to my skin, making it an effective and more efficient solution. It covers redness and mild purple and green discolorations really well, blends seamlessly, doesn't settle into fine lines and wrinkles like traditional concealer, and sets/dries quickly. It also works as a highlighter for cheeks, brow bones, tear ducts, and cupid's bows, and I can dab a bit on any redness, blend, and apply a concealer over top of that to any other area of my skin for a far more flawless look than I'd get with any "buildable" concealer. It's perfect as a one-step solution for those no-makeup, makeup days where you want to look naturally effortless but still need a little help to cover those flaws that we all have. This comes packaged in a sturdy, generously sized pot that should last for quite a while, which makes it an excellent purchase.

This product tends to get patchy -- like fine little dusty patches under my eyes. It does crease a bit, but I feel like you can mitigate that somewhat by not using too much. Yet, it's not very pigmented so you just have to settle for not much coverage. When you apply it, let it crease and then pat the crease out. I think they should make this higher coverage so you can just use a tiny bit and that would help. I got this hoping to just brighten my eyes up in a natural, glowy, no-makeup sort of way. I don't have major undereye bags but just some minor darkness. This product gives more of a 2010s, ultra-bright undereye vibe. I am pretty fair but I feel like this is too light and pink to look natural on me. I have skin that is mostly neutral with a bit of warmth and I prefer a stick concealer in a neutral (not pink) shade for my undereyes. In hindsight, I probably would have been happier buying a luminous caffeinated eye cream. The Catrice brightener also causes my mascara to smudge more than normal. I will keep experimenting with it but I think regular face concealer is more effortless. If this product has one saving grace, it's that you do get a lot of product for not much money.

I am SO impressed with the Catrice Under Eye Brightener in 010 Light Rose! From the very first use, I could see a noticeable difference under my eyes. It gives such a soft, luminous glow and makes me look well-rested—even on days when I’m definitely not! What I love most: ✔️ Brightens without looking cakey ✔️ Lightweight and super blendable ✔️ Hyaluronic Acid & Shea Butter keep my under-eyes hydrated ✔️ Vegan, cruelty-free, and paraben-free! ✔️ Works great alone or under concealer The texture is creamy but not heavy, and it melts right into the skin. The Light Rose shade is perfect for canceling out dark circles and brightening my whole eye area. I’ve tried expensive brands that don’t perform half as well as this—and this one is so affordable! If you struggle with dark circles or just want a fresh, awakened look, this is an absolute must-have. My under eyes have never looked smoother or brighter. I’ll definitely be repurchasing—five stars all the way! 💖

I absolutely despise wearing a full face of makeup, but have horrible under-eye bags. So I got this as a gift and tried it right away and it is honestly the best “concealer” I’ve ever tried. In the morning I just put my regular face lotion and then this and I’m done. It’s like a crème texture. It smells like nothing. Easy to blend. I’m fair skinned so I got pink and it works phenomenal. I will absolutely repurchase this item and I’m sure it works well under a full face of foundation. It mutes out my dark circles so well!

I would give this a 4.5 stars if I could. I love the almost putty like paste texture that it is, the color definitely works for my skin tone and I can see an overall improvement of color under my eye in different lighting. All three pictures I have this on, but it definitely looks better in sunlight with a dewy like finish. I naturally have dark under-eye and a inconsistent puffiness as well so I look for a product that makes me feel like I look better, but not a makeup look, and this does that. It does crease overtime throughout the day but with a fresh smudge of the already applied product with a clean hand and it sorts itself out for longer wear. I don't wear makeup, so I add this onto my morning routine almost daily. Can't beat the price too!