Buying guide for Best concealers
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Concealer is the quiet workhorse of makeup. The best concealers hide blemishes and discoloration and brighten dark under-eye circles. However, concealer is more pigmented and thicker than foundation, so the wrong formula can look cakey and actually highlight imperfections you’d rather hide.
With so many concealers available, finding the right formula for your skin type and concerns on your own can be overwhelming. You have to decide between liquid, cream, and stick concealers and find the right shade for your skin tone.
Editors' picks
RMS Beauty Un Cover-Up Concealer
Editors' Favorite
Number of Colors: 16 | Skin Type: Normal to dry | Noncomedogenic: Yes
The RMS Beauty Un Cover-Up Concealer is a multitasking concealer with buildable coverage, making it one of the most versatile formulas you can add to your makeup bag. It contains ingredients that are good for your skin, including organic jojoba oil and organic cocoa seed butter, which nourish and hydrate while providing coverage.
Its coverage is customizable, too, so it can conceal blemishes, redness and dark circles. You can sheer it out for no-makeup days or build it up for days when you need extra concealing. It doesn’t settle in fine lines or pores, though, so it never looks cakey or heavy.
The Un Cover-Up Concealer comes in 16 shades, ranging from alabaster to ebony. It has an extremely natural, skin-like finish, making it ideal for those who prefer more subtle makeup. The formula can be applied with clean fingers, a brush or a sponge. You can even mix it with a face oil and apply it all over like a tinted moisturizer.
Physicians Formula Gentle Cover Concealer Stick
Great Value
Number of Colors: 3 | Skin Type: All | Noncomedogenic: Yes
If you need to conceal blemishes, dark circles or other minor skin imperfections, the Physicians Formula Gentle Cover Concealer Stick can get the job done. It comes in a convenient stick formula, so it’s perfect for touch-ups on the go. It has a smooth, creamy formula that glides on easily and never dries out the skin.
This concealer is only available in three shades: green, yellow and light. The green and yellow shades work as color corrections, so the green effectively counteracts redness and red marks, while the yellow neutralizes purple and blue under-eye circles and bruises. The light skin-tone shade works well to hide minor blemishes on light to medium skin tones.
The Gentle Cover Concealer Stick is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin. It's hypoallergenic, fragrance-free and noncomedogenic, so the formula is recommended by dermatologists, ophthalmologists and plastic surgeons.
Elroel Blanc Cover Cream Stick V White
Natural Coverage
Number of Colors: 4 | Skin Type: Normal, dry and mature | Noncomedogenic: Yes
The Elroel Blanc Cover Cream Stick V is one of the most unique concealer formulas on our list. It's a moisturizing balm stick that initially appears white on the skin, then adjusts to your skin tone for a perfect match. It's available in just four shades, but this technology allows it to work for a wide range of skin tones and undertones.
The formula is lightweight and hydrating, featuring skin-loving ingredients like French collagen, desert rose leaf and evening primrose oil. It provides up to 50 hours of moisture, so it never flakes or dries out the skin. It also contains volufiline, an ingredient that helps plump the skin and improve elasticity, making it ideal for mature skin.
You don’t need a separate brush or sponge to apply this concealer, either. It comes with a detachable brush with 32,000 super-fine bristles that blend the concealer flawlessly over the skin and allows for convenient touch-ups on the go.
Concealer formulas
Liquid
Liquid concealers have a thin, liquid consistency and usually come in a tube with a doe-foot applicator or in a clickable pen. They are often the best choice for oily skin because they are lightweight and the least likely to clog pores. Liquid concealers are also best for those with mature skin because they settle less into fine lines.
Cream
Cream concealers, also called pot concealers, come in a small pot and can be applied with a sponge, brush, or fingers. They are richer and creamier than liquid concealers, which means they have better coverage and work well with dry skin. However, cream concealers tend to sit heavier on the skin than liquid concealers.
Stick
Stick concealers are cream concealers in stick form. Like cream concealers, they provide full coverage and tend to be more moisturizing, so they’re popular among those with dry skin. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, however, you’ll want to stay away because stick concealers can clog pores. The heavier consistency of stick concealers can also emphasize fine lines.
Concealer uses
Some concealers work best under the eyes, while others are better for concealing blemishes. Many concealers can multitask, or you can buy two different concealers to target each area.
Under-eye concealers
The area beneath your eyes is delicate and prone to dryness, so if you’re trying to hide those dark circles, you’ll want to choose a lightweight concealer that will also hydrate and nourish your skin. Liquid concealers tend to work the best for concealing under the eyes. Cream and stick formulas are often too heavy. Illuminating pen concealers are ideal for those with mature under eyes.
Spot concealers
If you’re trying to cover up a pimple or redness, you’ll want a pigment-rich formula that will cover the spot. Heavier cream and stick concealers are the best for spot concealing, though many liquid concealers can do the job as well. Illuminating pen concealers are not pigmented enough to conceal blemishes.
"To highlight under your eyes, use a concealer that is a shade or two lighter than your skin tone. Apply the concealer in an inverted triangle under your eye, hugging the side of your nose. Blend well and set with powder."
STAFF
BestReviews
Concealer features to consider
Shade
You might think that you need to purchase a concealer that matches your skin tone exactly, but it’s not quite that simple.
If you’re using your concealer to cover up blemishes and discoloration, you do want a concealer that matches your skin tone as closely as possible so that it will look natural when blended. A concealer with yellow tones will help counteract redness.
When searching for a concealer to cover under-eye circles, however, it’s better to go with a product that is a shade or two lighter than your natural skin tone. This will brighten up the area. Go with an under-eye concealer that has peach or pink tones as this will help counteract the bluish tones of dark circles.
If you contour, you can also use a lighter concealer to highlight. Apply the lighter concealer to the center of your forehead, down the bridge of your nose, your cupid’s bow, and the center of your chin.
Finish
The right finish for a concealer depends on your skin type.
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Oily: Those with oily skin should go with concealers with a matte finish so as not to add shine.
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Dry or mature: If you have dry or mature skin, a radiant concealer is best. Matte products tend to be drying on the skin, and a bit of shine will give you a healthy glow.
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Combination: Combination skin is trickier. You may need two concealers: a matte concealer for oily areas like your T-zone and a radiant concealer for drier areas like under the eyes.
Wear
You don’t want to have to reapply your concealer throughout the day. The best formulas will provide longwear coverage. To prevent fading or creasing, always set your concealer with powder. If you have dry skin, try only setting the areas where you concealed and leaving the rest of your face powder-free.
Extras
Waterproof concealers are a good option for hot weather or enjoying a day by the water. There are also concealers that contain a small amount of sunscreen, usually SPF 15 to 30. This is a good way to protect blemishes and hyperpigmentation from the damaging effects of the sun.
Concealer prices
Concealers range in price from under $5 to over $50, depending on the quality of the ingredients and the brand.
Drugstore
Drugstore concealers usually cost $15 or less, but with their lower-quality ingredients, they may be more prone to fading, creasing, and clogging pores.
Mid-range
Mid-range concealers cost about $20 to $35. They have high-quality ingredients, wide shade ranges, and offer long wear.
Luxury
Luxury concealers cost $35 or more. They have the same high-quality ingredients as mid-range concealers but come from designer brands.
Tips
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Moisturize before you apply concealer. That way the concealer won’t cling to any dry patches, especially under the eyes.
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Apply concealer after foundation for the most natural finish. Foundation should be used to even out skin tone and concealer to spot conceal and correct discoloration under the eyes.
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For the best coverage, pat on concealer with a brush, sponge, or fingers. Don’t swipe.
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Always set your concealer with powder to prevent creasing and fading. You can use loose powder, pressed powder, or under-eye brightening powder.
- Use concealer to clean up makeup mistakes. Concealer is ideal for sharpening eyeliner and cleaning up the lip line after applying lipstick.
FAQ
Q. My skin tone changes throughout the year. How do I know which shade of concealer to buy?
A. It’s not a bad idea to have two different shades: one for summer and one for winter. You can also blend them together to create a custom shade. But if you only want to purchase a single concealer, it’s always better to go lighter. Lighter concealers have a highlighting effect, and you can always add color back into your face with bronzer.
Q. Should I blend concealer with a brush or my fingers?
A. Either, though a brush usually provides a smoother, lighter finish. Whether using a brush or your fingers, use a patting motion when blending concealer so you don’t disturb the makeup underneath. Also, the delicate skin under your eyes should never be rubbed. You can use a damp makeup sponge to blend concealer as well. This is especially effective if you have dry skin or under the eyes.
Q. Can I use concealer on my eyelids?
A. Yes. Many people use concealer as an eyeshadow primer. Just remember to set your eyelids with powder so they don’t crease. You can do this with setting powder or eyeshadow.
