I have pretty deep and dark under-eye circles, almost purplish, and no concealer I've tried has been able to cover them well. It runs during the day and on top of that you can see the product building up. What brands or types do you recommend that actually work?
Don't make the mistake of buying a super thick concealer or full-coverage one thinking that's gonna solve it, because that's actually what causes buildup and looks worse 😅. What actually works is going with thin layers: first a primer or a light base on the area, then a concealer with good pigmentation but fluid texture (there are plenty in the mid-range that work great), and set everything with a really light translucent powder. Dark circles sometimes need a concealer shade that's slightly warmer or peachy than your skin tone to neutralize that purple before you apply concealer in your actual skin color, so that's another trick worth trying first before spending money on expensive new products.
What works best with really dark circles is going in thin layers: first a primer or light base, then a concealer with good coverage (the creamier textures tend to last longer), and seal everything with translucent powder so it doesn't shift. If it still builds up on you, you're probably using too much product at once; less is more in this case, even if you need to do two or three light passes instead of one thick one.
What I'd recommend is first use a color corrector (the ones in peachy or salmon tones neutralize purple under-eye circles), then apply a dense but creamy concealer on top so it doesn't look grainy, and seal it all with translucent powder applied really lightly. The buildup usually happens because people use too much concealer; with a small amount, blended out well, it works way better and lasts all day. Brands that hold up well are the pricey ones like Estée Lauder or MAC, but there are also more affordable ones that work if you apply the technique right, so before spending a bunch try perfecting how you're putting it on.
Purple under-eye circles really do need a corrector with color-correcting pigment first and foremost, so that step is key, but I think you're going to the opposite extreme with the layers. The thing is, if you apply primer + corrector + powder, you end up with so much product that it looks worse, especially in such a delicate and mobile area like that. Better to look for a creamy corrector with good coverage but apply it in ultra-thin layers (almost transparent) and seal it only with pure translucent powder, without overdoing it. Some correctors already have the color-correcting pigment in the formula, so you save a step and the result is more natural.
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