When you wake up in the middle of the night with an unexpected zit or undereye and panic, that's when the right concealer comes in handy.
“Buying concealer is a very personal choice,” says celebrity makeup artist Vincent Oquendo. “Some people like full coverage; some like a lighter, more sheer concealer; and others like extra benefits like acne medication.” .When deciding on your perfect concealer shade, Oquendo recommends applying a few different shades on your jawline, then picking the one that disappears.
BEST FOR TRAVEL : Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Treatment
BEST LONGWEAR : e.l.f. Cosmetics 16HR Camo Concealer
BEST FOR DARK CIRCLES : TLB Honey Caffeine Concealer
BEST MATTE CONCEALER : L'Oréal Paris Infallible Full Wear Concealer Waterproof
BEST FULL-COVERAGE : Catrice True Skin High Cover Concealer
BEST FOR NO CREASING : CoverGirl TruBlend Undercover Concealer
BEST ALL-IN-ONE : Revlon ColorStay Skin Awaken Concealer
BEST FOR COLOR CORRECTING : Milani Supercharged Brightening Undereye Tint
BEST LIGHTWEIGHT : NYX Professional Makeup Bare with Me Concealer Serum
BEST ON A BUDGET : Wet n Wild Mega Last Incognito All-Day Full Coverage Concealer
BEST FOR TRAVEL
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Treatment
$10 AT ULTA BEAUTY
One of the top drugstore concealers, this Maybelline Instant Age Rewind has a smooth formula that leaves a radiant finish. Oquendo typically buffs out concealer with a damp sponge, but the built-in application makes this perfect for on the go.
This concealer receives high praise from everyone from TikTok influencers to celeb makeup artists, and for good reason: It’s full coverage, won’t cake or settle into fine lines and creases, and lasts all day.
Like a cup of coffee for your under-eyes, this hydrating concealer instantly rids bags and dark circles, and gives the skin a natural, radiant finish.
BEST MATTE CONCEALER
L'Oréal Paris Infallible Full Wear Concealer Waterproof
$14 AT L'OREAL
If you gravitate toward matte formulas, this waterproof one is a top pick. Pro tip: Go a few shades lighter to use as a highlighter or a few shades darker to use as a contour.
This high-coverage formula stays put (without creasing) for 18 hours while hydrating with hyaluronic acid. For a more sheer look, blend it out with your fingers. To keep the coverage full, Tilbury recommends layering on with a brush.
The pointed doe-foot applicator on the CoverGirl TruBlend Undercover Concealer makes it easy to precisely apply product. Oquendo suggests placing concealer on the inner corner of your eye and right underneath your brow bone to fake a wide-awake look.
When it comes to drugstore concealers, this multipurpose one is hard to beat. Infused with caffeine and vitamin C, it hydrates, refreshes, and brightens in one step.
"To color-correct under the eye, I use a concealer that has a peachy undertone," Tilbury says. This Milani concealer corrects with peach and brightens with micro-fine pearls.
This TikTok-viral formula combines good-for-your-skin ingredients like vitamin E, green tea, and hydrating snow mushroom with illuminating coverage. For light makeup days, skip foundation and try this concealer as an all-over base product.
For as much as (or even less than) your daily iced coffee, you can get this concealer, which provides mega coverage and hydrates with shea butter, licorice root extract, and mango seed butter.