Please help me find the best eye concealer for dark circles. I do splurge on beauty products, especially if they really work on my skin. Can you please share me your favorite ones? Thanks and more power. —CLAUDINE

Most of us are in constant search for the best products. I get asked on a regular basis what brands or products are worth buying, in the same way that I ask my favorite makeup artists for their list of recommended products. Admit it, we all want to find that one miracle product that will deliver beyond our expectations and make us look beautiful. And finding a great concealer is no exception.

Concealer seems like an add-on. If foundation and powder were makeup essentials, you would only need concealer if you wanted to cover up a pimple. But really, this product can do so much for you if you knew how to use it. Definitely, some makeup rules apply when putting on concealer. But first, we must differentiate the three kinds of formula just so we know which is which (concealer isn’t exactly a one-size-fits-all kind of product).

Light-diffusing concealer. This usually comes in sheer or ultra-light textures, and is ideal for lifting tired points of the face: under the eyes, the corners of the nostrils and on the sides of the mouth. The concealer seems to disappear into the skin, but when you are photographed, that’s when it does its magic. It provides light coverage and is stealthy enough to be worn without makeup to give you a fresh, rested look.

Crème concealer. This comes in a drier and creamier texture, so blending is required for this product. Makeup artists love using this product because of its great coverage (it can hide scars and birthmarks) and it really works well with photographic and television lighting. Most of the time you’ll find it packaged in a makeup pot.

Stick concealer. This is the driest formula of concealer, and works as a spot corrector. This means it hides pimples and scars best, as it has the richest pigment. Also, the absence of oil means it will stay on the skin longer. This usually comes in pencil or stick form.

So for what you need, which is for your eye area (I’m assuming you want to hide dark circles and brighten up the area), you’ll need a light-diffusing concealer. I have my favorites for this one; I hope these will work for you as they have for me. Here are my top picks for light-diffusing concealers.

Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat. This works as both an eye brightener and highlighter, as it brings light back to the face. It is one of the most expensive concealer-highlighters around, but rest assured this really delivers. It is creamy, moisturizing and weightless, and contains ultra-fine light-reflecting pigments.

Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Concealer. This is one of the few brands that carry high definition-ready makeup. It works amazingly well on HD television, as it diffuses light, blends imperfections and, most importantly, helps brighten dark areas like dark circles. This provides great coverage and has good staying power.

The Body Shop Lightening Touch. This is the most affordable, but it doesn’t disappoint. It also does its job to lighten and refine skin; the only downside is that it lacks concealing power. This is best used if you really just want to brighten your under-eye area, but won’t work if you need coverage.

One important tip I’ve learned from using this kind of concealer-highlighter is that, if you have under-eye bags, you’ll need to apply the product on the shadow beneath the bags and not on the area itself. You might end up highlighting your eye bags rather than hiding them!