Buying guide for Best bareMinerals concealers

Finding the right concealer can make all the difference in your makeup routine. Concealer can cover under-eye circles, hide acne breakouts, and camouflage dark spots, all so you don’t need to wear as much foundation to even out your skin tone. bareMinerals makes some of the best clean beauty concealers on the market.

All bareMinerals concealers feature natural minerals and botanical extracts that are good for the skin. The brand offers a powder concealer that pairs well with its classic loose mineral foundation. However, in recent years they’ve also introduced liquid, cream, and stick concealer options to their range. No matter your skin type or concern, you’re sure to find a bareMinerals concealer that works for you.

Sorting through all the options can be overwhelming, though. Our buying guide has the tips you need to choose the best bareMinerals concealer. For the quickest shopping, take a look at our top picks for the best concealers from the brand.

bareMinerals cream concealers also work well for highlighting and contouring the face. Choose a concealer a few shades lighter for highlighting and one a few shades darker for contouring.

Key considerations

Formula

bareMinerals offers concealers in several formulas to suit a variety of skin types and concealing needs.

• Powder: bareMinerals is probably best known for their loose mineral foundation, but they also make a mineral powder concealer that pairs well with it. It is gentle enough for sensitive skin, and it’s more concentrated than the loose foundation, so it covers extremely well. Powder formulas are ideal for oily skin but may not be the best match for dry skin.
• Liquid: Liquid concealers usually come in a tube with a doe-foot applicator for easy application. They’re highly versatile and can work for nearly any skin type. Liquid formulas offer buildable coverage and work well for concealing both under the eyes and on the face.
• Cream: Cream concealers have a thicker consistency and tend to feature emollient ingredients to hydrate the skin. They are best suited for dry, normal, or combination skin and usually have a satin or dewy finish. Oily and acne-prone skin types tend to find cream concealers too heavy.
• Stick: Stick concealers have a creamy texture but come in a convenient stick form that allows you to apply the product directly to the skin. They are ideal for covering blemishes and hyperpigmentation on the face, but they may be too thick for under the eyes.

Application area

Many bareMinerals concealers are multipurpose, so you can apply them under the eyes or on the face with excellent results. Other formulas work better for one area more than the other, however.

Under-eye concealers typically have a brightening effect to counteract darkness under the eyes. They also tend to have a thin, lightweight consistency that won’t crease and a dewy finish to reflect the light.

Concealers that work well for the face, on the other hand, are usually thicker and more opaque for covering acne, redness, sun spots, and birthmarks with ease. They typically have a matte or natural finish to avoid reflecting the light and bringing more attention to spots that you want to conceal.

Like all bareMinerals products, the brand’s concealers are never tested on animals.

Features

Shade

For concealer to look natural, the shade has to be the right match for your skin tone. The more shade options that a concealer offers, the easier it is to find the right match for your skin. Some bareMinerals concealers are only available in five to six shades, while other formulas offer up to 15 shades to make finding a good shade match a little easier.

Keep in mind that you may want to use a concealer that’s a shade lighter than your skin tone beneath your eyes. That can help brighten any darkness in that area. For acne, dark spots, and other imperfections on your face, though, you should match your concealer to your skin exactly.

Don’t just choose a concealer that matches the color of your skin, however. It’s also important to consider your undertone. bareMinerals offers concealers with warm, cool, and neutral undertones. Not sure which undertone you are? If the veins in your arm are green, you have warm-toned skin. If your veins are blue, you have cool-toned skin. If your veins are neither particularly green or blue, you have neutral-toned skin. Using a concealer with the wrong undertone can make you look ill or washed out.

SPF

Some bareMinerals concealers contain SPF to provide protection from UV rays. Most bareMinerals formulas with sunscreen feature SPF 20, so if you’re concerned about sun damage, opt for one of these concealers.

Blemish-fighting ingredients

While concealer is meant to cover breakouts, some bareMinerals concealers actually help fight acne, too. They contain ingredients like salicylic acid, zinc, sulfur, and kaolin clay that aid in clearing the pores and fighting bacteria to treat existing blemishes and prevent future breakouts.

Wear time

Like foundation, concealers vary in terms of how long they last on the skin. If you need your concealer to last all day, opt for a long-wearing bareMinerals concealer. These formulas can last up to 16 hours without creasing, smudging, or transferring.

Waterproof

If you lead an active lifestyle or live in a humid climate, you may want to choose a waterproof bareMinerals concealer. These formulas are designed to resist moisture, so they won’t crease or smudge if you sweat or even get splashed in the pool.

bareMinerals concealer prices

bareMinerals concealers vary in price based on the formula and whether they come with additional products. Most bareMinerals concealers cost between $22 and $45.

The most affordable bareMinerals concealers are stick and powder concealers. They may contain SPF, but they typically don’t feature any other skincare ingredients. These concealers cost between $22 and $25.

Mid-range bareMinerals concealers are mostly cream and liquid concealers. They may contain SPF and ingredients that are good for your skin, and they typically offer a long wear time. These concealers cost between $25 and $32.

The most expensive bareMinerals concealers tend to be concealers that come with other products. Some include a brush to apply the concealer, while others come with an eye cream. These concealers generally cost between $32 and $45.

Many bareMinerals concealers feature vegan formulas, but some contain animal products, so check the ingredient list if you want a vegan product.

Tips

• It’s usually best to apply your concealer after you’ve applied your foundation. Foundation evens out your skin tone so you only have to apply concealer where you need it.
• When you’re applying concealer under your eyes, it’s essential to prep the area with a good eye cream. This helps prevent the concealer from settling in fine lines and wrinkles.
• If you’re applying concealer under your eyes with your finger, blend with your ring finger. That’s your weakest finger, so it’s less likely to pull and tug on your skin and cause fine lines and wrinkles.
• Less is definitely more when it comes to concealer. Apply a small amount and blend it in. If the blemish or dark spot is still visible, you can add a little more.
• You should set liquid, cream, and stick concealers with setting powder to help them stay in place all day.

If you use a powder foundation, apply a liquid, cream, or stick concealer before your foundation for the best results.

FAQ

Q. What’s the best bareMinerals concealer for dry skin?

A. If you have dry skin, it’s best to choose a bareMinerals concealer with a liquid or cream formula. These concealers typically have more moisturizing or emollient ingredients that help hydrate the skin and prevent makeup from clinging to dry patches. They usually have a satin or dewy finish, too, so your skin doesn’t look dull or dehydrated.

Q. What’s the best tool for applying concealer?

A. It depends on the formula. Concealers with a doe-foot applicator or in stick form can be applied directly to the skin. You can then use a brush, sponge, or clean fingers to blend the concealer into the skin. Powder and cream concealers, though, require a brush to apply the makeup to your skin. You can then use the same brush to blend in the concealer.

Q. Does concealer expire?

A. Like all makeup products, concealers have a shelf life. Most concealers expire within 12 to 18 months after opening, but you should always check the packaging that a product comes in for the specific expiration. If your concealer starts to separate or its color or scent changes, it’s probably time to toss it.