We’ve all been there — pulling all-nighters to meet deadlines only to end up looking like Kai Kai and Jia Jia’s friends (those are the names of Singapore’s resident pandas, by the way). Or it could be the genes or age that’s causing our dark circles. So we dip into our foundation stash to find the one with the fullest coverage, then paint on the concealer in hopes that we can still look great despite everything.

But the layers of foundation can cake by midday, and the concealer can fade or worse, emphasise the fine lines around our eyes. Is there an easier, more effortless way to draw attention away from the dark circles? Turns out, the answer’s yes — by using eyeshadow colours to colour-correct and balance out the dark circles. And here are the best colours to use.

1. Green

If your dark circles have a purplish or reddish tint, it’s likely due to the thin skin around your eyes (and ageing). And like how you use a green colour corrector to even out reddish skin tones, use a green eyeshadow to balance out your purplish/reddish dark circles.

Try Huda Beauty Obsessions Precious Stones Eyeshadow Palette in Emerald. There are two matte green shades – one pastel, one forest green – that you can use for both day and night looks. Plus, the complementary shimmer shades of green make it easy to create an nice smokey eye.

dark eye cover make up

Huda Beauty Obsessions Precious Stones Eyeshadow Palette in Emerald $55 from Sephora.

Stila Shimmer & Glow Liquid Eye Shadow in Vivid Jade is a liquid eyeshadow that is easily blendable and dries down into a barely there feel with a high-shimmer sheen.

dark eye cover make up

Stila Shimmer & Glow Liquid Eye Shadow $35, from Sephora.

2. Red or Coral

If your dark circles are bluish, you will want to go for red and coral eyeshadows (incidentally the trending eyeshadow colours right now – don’t believe us? Just take a look at the number of Korean beauty bloggers and makeup artists using coral eyeshadow) to balance that out.

Try Urban Decay Naked Cherry Eyeshadow Palette. The 12 pans in different cherry shades can eliminate any hints of blue-tinge under eye circles. Plus, the colours come in different finishes – matte, shimmer and glitter – so you can create just about any look for any occasion.

dark eye cover make upUrban Decay Naked Cherry Eyeshadow Palette, $83 from Urban Decay and Sephora.

Nars Voyageur Eyeshadow Palette also has shimmery red and coral shades. The formula utilises a innovative technology to ensure the eyeshadow is easily blendable, long-lasting and gives rich and intense colour payoff with just one swipe.

dark eye cover make up

Nars Voyageur Eyeshadow Palette $49, from Sephora.