Get Rid of Dark Circles With Red Lipstick—Seriously

We write a lot about sleep.Here’s what we’ve learned: You need at least seven hours a night—eight is better. Avoid looking at computer and phone screens or blue light for at least three hours before you hit the hay. Take a natural supplement like melatonin or magnesium if you have trouble falling asleep. If you can’t get enough sleep during the week, you might be able to make up for it on the weekends (thank goodness!). And your dreams are definitely trying to tell you something, so get enough zzz’s so that you can make them happen.

But getting the appropriate amount and proper type of sleep can be challenging. Fussy babies, obnoxious neighbors, or maybe just evening plans that finally wind down long after bedtime can make getting the “great eight” downright impossible. Thankfully we’ve got a magic weapon when it comes to easing a common side effect of sleep deprivation: under-eye circles.

And that weapon is something most women have tucked away somewhere—bright red lipstick. Yep, we’re telling you to put red lipstick under your eyes (with a little concealer on top). Trust us. Even we were skeptical at first, but after trying it, we’re believers. While this trick can’t undo the mental effects of fatigue—lack of focus, grogginess, anxiety, and increased appetite—it really makes dark shadows and puffiness seemingly vanish.

How does it work? Color correction, of course. The best makeup artists know that a palette of color correcting concealers is one of the most important tools for making skin look absolutely flawless. Using pastel-tinted concealers as a base for flesh-colored concealer evens out the complexion.

Here’s how to do it, step by step.

Step 1: Prep skin

Wash your face with a gentle cleanser. Then using your ring finger, tap a moisturizer or eye cream under the eyes to prep the delicate skin for makeup.

Step 2: Apply red lipstick

Check out the reds you have on hand—is it true red, orange-red, or blue-ish red? To get the best results, you want to choose the right type of red to truly color-correct your skin depending on the hue of your dark circles, as follows.

If your under-eye circles are…

…yellow-ish, use true red

…deep purple, use orange-red

…reddish, use blue-red

Dab three or four dots directly under each eye, evenly spaced from the outside of the lash line to the inner eye (see demo above). We’re partial to using a mineral-based product because it’s less likely to irritate skin. Our fave? The blue-ish shade In the Redzone by Mineral Hygienics.

It’ll look a little freaky at first (although it’s perfect for a Snapchat selfie). But when you’re all done it’s going to look fantastic.

Step 3: Blend!

Using your ring finger, lightly tap to blend the lipstick until it’s even.

Step 4: Top off with concealer

Don’t be scared—you’re not done yet! Use your normal shade of concealer to on top of your freshly pink under eyes. Blend well with a concealer brush, and set with a translucent powder. And, voila, you’re done.

So: did it work for you? We want to know—tell us how it went in the comments below!