Tarte Shape Tape, at about $32, is the pick for heavy coverage, and Maybelline Instant Age Rewind, at about $10, is kinder to dry or lined under-eyes. If you already own the drugstore one and like it, you may not need to switch.
The short version is that they’re built for different under-eyes. Tarte Shape Tape covers a lot, dries matte and lasts through long days. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind covers less, feels creamier and is easier on dry or lined skin. Neither one fixes what causes dark circles, since concealer works by covering. Below we go through each formula, how they compare on coverage, creasing, shades and price, and two in-between options if neither feels quite right.
Small details that make concealer look better
Under-eye concealer is tricky because the skin there is thin and constantly moving every time you smile, squint or blink. Dark circles can come from visible blood vessels, extra pigment, shadows from puffiness or hollows, tiredness, genes, allergies, rubbing your eyes or sun exposure. That’s why more coverage isn’t always the cleanest fix. Sometimes a thin, well-placed layer looks smoother than trying to erase everything.
For blending, a damp sponge is a good move if your concealer tends to grab or look heavy. Press it in instead of wiping it around, then set only the spots that usually crease. If the product still settles into lines, reach for less concealer before you reach for more powder. Powder on top of a crease can lock that crease in place instead of smoothing it.
Shade also changes depending on where you’re using it. Under the eyes, your exact shade or a touch lighter can brighten without going gray. On blemishes, match your skin exactly because a lighter dot can make the spot more obvious. If you’re checking a shade at home, look at it in daylight by a window and give it a few minutes to settle before deciding.
One non-makeup note: concealer is great for everyday darkness, but it isn’t meant to diagnose what’s going on. If under-eye darkness shows up suddenly, appears under only one eye, or comes with swelling, itching or redness that won’t go away, it’s smart to check in with a doctor.
The full-coverage favorite
Tarte Shape Tape Concealer is the one a lot of other concealers get measured against. It’s a full-coverage formula with a natural matte finish, made for dark circles, blemishes and redness, and it does best on normal, combination and oily skin. It’s rated for 16 hours of wear and 12 hours without creasing, and it’s waterproof, so it holds up on hot days and long nights out.
Under all that coverage is a softening mix of shea butter, mango seed butter and olive oil, plus licorice root. It’s vegan and cruelty free. It does contain fragrance, which is worth knowing if your skin reacts to scented products.
The shade range is where it shines. There are 48 shades, from 8B porcelain beige to 64W espresso warm, and each one is marked with an undertone. If you’ve never found a drugstore match, that alone can make it worth the price. Our full Shape Tape review goes deeper on who it suits.
The drugstore tube with the sponge
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser is the twist-up tube with the round sponge on top, and it’s been a drugstore staple for years for good reason. It gives medium coverage that still looks like skin, and the formula is moisturizing, so it feels comfortable under the eyes all day. It’s rated for up to 12 hours of crease-resistant wear. It isn’t waterproof.
Its standout ingredient is Haloxyl, which can help soften the look of dark circles, along with goji fruit extract. It’s vegan, won’t clog pores, and has no parabens, talc, mineral oil or added fragrance. With 18 shades sorted into cool, neutral and warm, it also works as a quick contour and highlight if you grab one shade lighter and one darker than your skin.
The numbers next to each other
Here are the facts that are easiest to compare at a glance. Prices change often, so treat these as a rough guide.
| Fact | Shape Tape | Age Rewind |
| Price and size | About $32 for 0.33 fl oz | About $10 for 0.2 fl oz |
| Price per ounce | About $97 | About $50 |
| Coverage | Full | Medium |
| Finish | Natural matte | Natural, moisturizing |
| Wear time | 16 hours, waterproof | Up to 12 hours, not waterproof |
| Shades | 48 | 18 |
| Fragrance | Yes | None added |
Shape Tape costs about twice as much per ounce and about three times as much per tube. A tube of either lasts months, so how it looks on your skin matters more than the math.
How much coverage you need
Shape Tape hides deep blue or purple circles, a red blemish or a dark spot in one thin layer. It’s also easy to overdo, so start with about a third of what you think you need, especially under the eyes, and add more only where it’s still showing.
Age Rewind is plenty for mild or moderate circles, and it looks more like bare skin. Very dark circles may need a second thin layer or a corrector underneath. If your circles look blue, purple or gray, a peach or orange corrector does more than piling on concealer. Our color correcting guide explains which shade cancels what, and how to get rid of dark circles covers the causes makeup can’t reach, like thin skin, genetics and allergies.
Creasing on dry or lined skin
Both formulas are made to resist creasing, but your under-eyes have the final say. Shape Tape’s matte finish holds up best on smooth, oily or combination skin. On dry, bumpy or lined skin, any heavy matte formula is more likely to sit in lines, so prep makes a big difference. Moisturize first, give it a minute to sink in, use very little, and set it lightly.
Age Rewind is creamier and lighter, so there’s less product to collect in fine lines, and it’s more forgiving on dry skin. Because it isn’t waterproof, a light press of loose powder helps it last. Go easy, though, since heavy powder under the eyes makes lines stand out. If you’re fighting creases with either one, our concealer creasing fix walks through prep, amount and setting.
Wand or sponge
Age Rewind pushes product into its sponge when you twist, and you dab it straight on. It’s quick, and it’s hard to use too much if you twist one click at a time. Don’t wet the sponge. Since it touches your face every time, wipe it clean now and then and keep it to yourself.
Shape Tape uses a doe-foot wand. You dot it where you want it, then blend with a finger, sponge or brush, which gives you more control on blemishes. The wand picks up a lot of product, so wipe it on the rim of the tube first. With either one, tap to blend instead of rubbing, because rubbing slides concealer right off the spot you’re covering.
Finding your shade
If you’re very fair, very deep or olive, Shape Tape’s 48 undertone-coded shades give you better odds. If you’re in the middle of the range, both lines probably have your match. Under the eyes, choose your exact shade or one shade lighter. Much lighter than that can look gray or ashy over dark circles, especially on medium and deep skin. If your circles are dark, correct first and keep the concealer close to your own shade.
Both can go on blemishes too. Shape Tape’s wand and fuller coverage make a red bump easier to hide, and Age Rewind won’t clog pores, which helps if you break out. Use a clean brush or fingertip, and skip pressing either one onto an open spot.
Two options in between
If you’re curious about Shape Tape but not ready to spend $32, or neither formula sounds exactly right, these two are worth a look.
The Tarte Shape Tape Concealer, travel size is the same full-coverage formula in a smaller tube for about $15. It’s a smart way to check your shade and see how matte feels on your under-eyes before you commit, and it fits in a small purse for touch-ups.
e.l.f. Hydrating Camo Concealer lands right between the two. It gives crease-resistant full coverage with a satin finish, comes in 25 shades, and costs about $8. If Age Rewind doesn’t cover enough but Shape Tape looks too flat on you, this is the one to try.
Picking your tube
Go with Shape Tape if your circles are deep or bluish, your skin runs oily, you need your makeup to last through a long, sweaty day, or no drugstore shade has ever matched you. Reach for Age Rewind if your under-eyes are dry or have fine lines, your circles are on the lighter side, fragrance bothers your skin, or you want something you can twist, dab and tap on your way out the door. And whichever you pick, use less than you think you need.
For more, see our makeup archive and our side-by-side product comparisons.
