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I own three. Here's the order I actually use them in.
I use this
tarte Colored Clay CC Undereye Corrector, Light-Medium Peach
The step before my concealer. Only on the darkest part.
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Read my full review
I use this
Clinique Even Better All-Over Concealer + Eraser, Alabaster CN 10
It covers the dark circles, and it treats them.
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Read my full review
I use this
tarte Shape Tape Blur Concealer Stick, Full Size, 12N
Looks like a lipstick. The diamond precision tip lifts the eye.
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Read my full reviewThree products, one problem: the shadow under my eyes. They are not three versions of the same thing, and that took me a while to understand. Two of them are concealers that compete with each other, and the third one isn't a concealer at all — it goes underneath. Here is what each one does on my skin, in my own words, and the order I put them on.
| tarte CC Corrector | Clinique Even Better | tarte Shape Tape Blur | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | A color corrector. It goes under a concealer, not instead of one. | A concealer that also treats the skin underneath. | A concealer built for maximum coverage, right now. |
| Coverage | Very good, and that is why it goes on first. | High and complete, and it still looks like skin. | Higher. This is the one that covers everything. |
| Finish | Creamy, and then my concealer goes over it. | Natural and light. | More matte, more perfected. |
| Lines under the eye | Fine if I go lightly. Too much and it looks overloaded. | The line stays flexible. It moves when my face moves. | It can settle into the lines if I use too much product. |
| When I use it | Every day, as step one. | Every day, as step two. | A party, a special event, or a photo. |
Every line above is my own observation on my own skin, except where I say the brand claims it.
| tarte CC Corrector | Clinique Even Better | tarte Shape Tape Blur | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texture | Creamy, and it blends without dragging the skin. | Lighter and hydrating. | A little denser, and that density is where the instant perfection comes from. |
| What the brand highlights | tarte lists vegan squalane and caffeine, and describes it as waterproof. | Clinique highlights vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and caffeine. | tarte describes a formula built around coverage and long wear. |
| In my purse | A tiny square. It fits anywhere, and it disappears in there. | Practical to carry. It comes with me. | Practical too, and it looks like a lipstick in the bag. |
| Where I put it | Only on the darkest spots, never the whole under-eye. | The whole under-eye, on top of the corrector. | The whole under-eye, on its own. |
My everyday routine is two steps, not one. The tarte CC corrector goes on first, only where the shadow is deepest. Then the Clinique goes over the whole under-eye. That order matters: the corrector kills the shadow so the concealer only has to even out skin, and I end up using less concealer than I would otherwise. Less product under the eye is always better.
The Clinique is the one I would not give up. It is the more beneficial of the two concealers on my skin, it looks the most natural, and it has gotten better the longer I have used it — my dark circles have actually improved with daily use, not just been covered. That is the difference between a concealer that hides something and one that also does something for the skin underneath.
The Shape Tape Blur is for the camera. Full coverage, instantly, more matte and more perfected. But it is a tool for an occasion, not a habit.
If you buy one thing, buy the Clinique. A concealer you can wear every morning beats one that is perfect twice a month. If you buy two, add the tarte CC corrector — not another concealer. Two concealers solve the same problem twice. A corrector plus a concealer solves it properly.
Every warning here is mine, not the brand's. tarte promises crease-proof wear on the Shape Tape Blur, and on me it will settle into the lines under my eyes if I apply too much — use less than you think you need. The CC corrector has the same rule for a different reason: too much and the under-eye looks dense and overloaded rather than covered. And the Clinique will not give you a flat, photo-ready cover on its own. That is exactly why it looks like skin, but if full cover is what you came for, it is not that.
Updated: September 21, 2026