Some days a light, creamy formula is not enough. A blemish, a patch of redness or a dark mark needs more pigment, and that is when a full-coverage concealer earns its place in the bag. The trick is to use it in the smallest possible amount, right where you need it, and leave the rest of the face alone.

Too Faced's Born This Way Super Coverage is the multi-use option, with hyaluronic acid in the formula. NARS's Soft Matte Complete is the longwear one, a full-coverage longwear formula for a long day. Anastasia Beverly Hills' Magic Touch is medium to full coverage, and it is the one I use for a single spot on the chin. Bobbi Brown's Skin Hydrating Full Coverage Longwear Concealer is a hydrating, full-coverage longwear formula.

Yves Saint Laurent's Touche Éclat Awakening Concealer Click Pen is the one I carry in my bag, since a click pen is easy to use on the train. Merit's The Minimalist is a stick that works as a foundation and a concealer, which makes it the easiest way to go out with a bare-looking face.

If you see blue or gray shadows peeking through, a peach corrector can help. Makeup guides say peach or orange correctors cancel the bluish or gray tones, with peach suiting lighter skin and orange suiting medium to deep. Pat a tiny amount on the darkest area first, then go over it with your regular shade, and let each layer settle before you add the next.

Concealer will sit better and last longer with a powder and a good brush. The mistake most of us make is to use too much powder, which turns a smooth finish into a dry one. A little goes a long way, and it should only go where you have put the cream.

Charlotte Tilbury's Airbrush Flawless Finish is a blurring and setting powder that comes in a refillable compact, and it is the one I would try for a soft, blurred finish. Huda Beauty's Easy Bake is a matte pressed powder, the one I would choose for a longer day. Laura Mercier's Secret Brightening Powder is a color-correcting setting powder made for under the eyes, and it is the one I reach for on days I want a brighter look.

Hourglass's Vanish concealer brush is the tool. A concealer brush lets you place the product exactly where you want it, then blend the edges in a few taps. Use the tip for spots and the side for under the eyes.

What I would skip: powdering the whole under-eye area heavily, especially if your skin runs dry. That is how creases appear by lunch. Press a small amount on with a puff or the brush, only on the center of the shadow, and brush away the extra. Also skip a shade that is several tones lighter than your skin, because a bright patch looks more obvious than a shadow.

Here is how I would do tired eyes on a Monday. Moisturizer first, then a little peach corrector if I need it, then a creamy concealer in a triangle shape, and a tap of powder at the very center.

Blend with a brush or a finger, wait a minute, and look in daylight. If the color looks even, stop. Adding more usually makes it look heavier, and thin layers that you build slowly always look more natural than one thick one.

The right formula depends on your skin, so try one thing at a time. If dark circles are persistent or new, it is worth mentioning to a doctor rather than trying to cover them forever. And keep your brush clean, because a dirty one drags product around and never blends it well.