What does concealer do?

A better question is, what doesn't concealer do? The main purpose of this makeup mainstay is to cover blemishes, such as pimples, scars, and dark under-eye circles. Additionally, you can use concealer to color-correct for things like hyperpigmentation and general redness. People also use it for highlighting and contouring. "I love using concealers to spot-cover, color-correct, as a base for eyeshadow, and sometimes to highlight and contour the features," Lujan tells Byrdie.

How do you apply concealer?

The proper way to apply concealer depends on the formulation and what you're trying to achieve. Having said that, it should generally be applied after foundation. Using the included applicator, your fingers, or a makeup brush, apply the cream or liquid anywhere you want to conceal or highlight. "If you feel it's a bit dry under the eyes, I would mix it with an eye cream," says Nawabi. Next, get to work blending. Sesnek recommends tapping it out with your fingers first and then using a sponge for a seamless finish. Lastly, Lujan says, "You can always set it with a little loose setting powder to adjust the level of radiance."

Where can you use concealer?

You can use concealer nearly anywhere. In addition to the more obvious blemishes and under-eye circles, you can apply it to your eyelids as a shadow primer, around the nose as a color-corrector, or around the eyebrows to achieve a clean line. People also often use lighter shades for highlighting the nose, chin, cupid's bow, and brow bone and deeper tones for contouring the cheekbones, upper forehead, and neck.

The 16 Best Concealers of 2022

We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

When it comes to applying a full face of makeup, concealer is essential. Going on after foundation and before setting powder, its number one job is to cover under-eye circles, pimples, dark spots, and scars. But masking blemishes is far from the only thing concealer does.

It can also be used as a cream highlighter, whether on the bridge of your nose, lower forehead, brow bone, cupid's bow, upper cheekbones, or chin. With multiple uses in mind, celebrity makeup artist Erika La' Pearl explains, "You want a concealer to give the skin a bit of brightness while eliminating any dark circles, concealing redness, and covering up any dullness on the face."

"I aim for a product that I can manipulate in many ways," says makeup artist Nick Lujan, Director of Artistry and Education at Kevyn Aucoin Beauty. When shopping around, you'll want to consider the shade, of course, as well as the application, coverage, and finish.

So, which one should you add to your makeup bag? We gathered tips and recommendations from makeup pros and reviewed our stashes to bring you the crème de la crème of modern concealers.

Ahead, the best concealers for every skin type and tone.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer at Sephora

Best Budget:

NYX Professional Makeup HD Photogenic Concealer Wand at Amazon

Best Drugstore:

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer at Amazon

Best Splurge:

Clé de Peau Beauté Concealer SPF 25 at Amazon

Best Crease-Free:

Tarte Shape Tape Concealer at QVC

Best Long-Wear:

L'Oréal Paris Infallible Full Wear Concealer at Amazon

Best Waterproof:

Kevyn Aucoin The Sensual Skin Enhancer at Amazon

Best Matte:

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Concealer at Sephora

Best Buildable:

Glossier Stretch Concealer at Glossier.com

Best for Dry Skin:

Catrice Cosmetics True Skin High Cover Concealer at Amazon

In This Article

Our Picks
Final Verdict
What to Look For
Why Trust Byrdie?

4.9

Courtesy of Ulta

View On Sephora View On Ulta

What We Like

Diffuses light
Long-wear formula
Mini size available

What We Don’t Like

Expensive

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer Review

While there are many stellar options on the market, Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer is a reigning champion. Dubbed the best by makeup artists and beauty fanatics alike, the award-winning formula does everything from contouring and highlighting to color-correcting.

"Not only does it give your skin a natural and soft finish," says Former Byrdie Editorial Director Faith Xue, "but it's also the easiest product to use with any beauty tool of your choice—fingertips included."

Thanks to skin-loving botanicals, a tone-balancing mineral powder, and tiny light diffusers, this all-star concealer does an amazing job covering dark circles, correcting redness, and hiding blemishes for up to 16 hours. We also like that it comes in a mini size.

Key Ingredients: Botanical blend, mineral powder | Shades: 30 shades | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: No

What Our Testers Say

"Everything I wanted to be covered was covered. I noticed my skin looked glowier, which is a nod to the radiant aspect of the formula. The concealer held up all day and didn’t crease on me." — Ashley Rebecca, Product Tester

NYX Professional Makeup Hi Definition Photo Concealer Wand

Courtesy of Ulta

View On Amazon View On Ulta View On Walmart

What We Like

Budget-friendly
Emollient-rich
Color-correcting shades

What We Don’t Like

May sting eyes

Some people say NYX HD Studio is a budget-friendly dupe for Nars, and we're here for it. The medium-coverage, emollient-rich formula comes in 22 shades, including a few color-correctors, like neutralizing pastel green and skin-boosting shimmery lavender.

Key Ingredients: Glycerin, silica, aloe | Shades: 22 shades | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Concealer

Courtesy of Maybelline

View On Amazon View On Ulta View On Walmart

What We Like

Budget-friendly
Multi-use product
Fragrance-free

What We Don’t Like

Cap can get messy

Since its 2010 launch, Maybelline's Instant Age Rewind Eraser has been a shining star in the drugstore aisle. A favorite of Byrdie Senior Editor Holly Rhue, the clickable pen, pillow-soft applicator sponge, and reliable formula make for an all-around winning concealer.

Key Ingredients: Glycerin, goji berry | Shades: 17 shades | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: No

4.5

Courtesy of Nordstrom

View On Amazon View On Nordstrom View On Cledepeaubeaute.com

What We Like

Long-wear formula
Hydrating
Contains SPF

What We Don’t Like

Expensive
Contains fragrance

Clé de Peau Beauté Radiant Corrector for Eyes Review

From the high-end beauty counter, we're big fans of Clé de Peau Beauté's concealer stick. The multi-tasking, long-wear formula boosts radiance and conceals while hydrating the skin and preventing photoaging with SPF 25.

Key Ingredients: Titanium dioxide, green tea extract, chestnut extract | Shades: 12 shades | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: No

4.5

Courtesy of Ulta

View On QVC View On Ulta View On Tartecosmetics.com

What We Like

Waterproof
Hydrating
Long-wear formula

What We Don’t Like

Contains fragrance

Tarte Shape Tape Concealer Review

It can be tough to achieve a crease-free finish, especially under the eyes, but Tarte Shape Tape is up for the task. Available in 25 shades, makeup artist Sophia Nawabi says she'd recommend this moisturizing waterproof concealer to people of all skin tones. Plus, she adds, "A little bit goes a long way."

Key Ingredients: Shea butter, mango butter, licorice root | Shades: 35 colors | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: No

What Our Testers Say

“The biggest takeaway from wearing shape tape is how my skin looked lifted immediately after applying, and the fact I was able to use it to highlight my features, too, was a big win in my opinion.” — Ashley Rebecca, Product Tester

L'Oréal Infallible Full Wear Waterproof Concealer

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Ulta View On Walmart

What We Like

Budget-friendly
Long-wear formula
Waterproof

What We Don’t Like

Contains fragrance
Dries very quickly

When it comes to affordable long-wear makeup, L'Oréal's Infallible line is tough to beat. This waterproof concealer covers blemishes with ease and lasts for up to 24 hours. Just a heads up—it dries super fast, so make sure to blend it immediately.

Key Ingredients: Glycerin, silica, copolymers | Shades: 25 shades | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: No

4.7

Courtesy

View On Amazon View On Nordstrom

What We Like

Waterproof
Hydrating
Long-wear formula

What We Don’t Like

Expensive
Can get cakey without primer

Kevyn Aucoin The Sensual Skin Enhancer Review

"Sensual Skin Enhancer is a smoothing, hydrating, and nourishing cream complexion perfector," Lujan tells Byrdie. "I can apply it full-coverage or adjust the coverage by blending it with Sensual Skin Primer to make it sheer."

Key Ingredients: Mineral oil, jojoba oil, honey | Shades: 16 shades | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: No

Sephora

View On Sephora View On Fentybeauty.com

What We Like

Soft matte finish
Sweat-resistant
Long-wear formula

What We Don’t Like

Contains alcohol

We stand behind Fenty Pro Filt'r for those who prefer a shine-free finish. This brilliant concealer flaunts a sweat-resistant, full-coverage formula that glides on smooth and leaves a soft matte finish in its wake.

Key Ingredients: Glycerin, centella asiatica (cica) | Shades: 50 shades | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Courtesy of Glossier

View On Glossier.com

What We Like

Hydrating
Dewy finish
Not dry or cakey

What We Don’t Like

Unhygienic container

From the brand known for its no-makeup makeup, Glossier's Stretch Concealer was designed for those averse to dry, creasy, cakey formulas. It contains beeswax, cocoa butter, and jojoba oil for better-looking skin, and it goes above and beyond to deliver natural-looking coverage.

Key Ingredients: Beeswax, jojoba oil, cocoa butter | Shades: 12 shades | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Catrice

View On Amazon View On Catricecosmetics.com

What We Like

Budget-friendly
Hydrating
Long-wear formula

What We Don’t Like

Contains fragrance
Limited shade range

Folks with dry complexions should reach for Catrice's True Skin Concealer. "It is very high coverage with real skin-like texture," offers celebrity makeup artist Robert Sesnek. More to the point, he adds, "It contains hyaluronic acid to maintain its moisture levels."

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid | Shades: 15 shades | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Courtesy of Amazon

View On Amazon View On Walgreens

What We Like

Budget-friendly
Helps clear pimples

What We Don’t Like

Limited shade range

Almay Clear Complexion has your back in the battle against breakouts. Not only does this clever concealer cover zits, but thanks to salicylic acid and aloe, it also helps clear them while soothing irritation.

Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, aloe, talc | Shades: 6 shades | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Walmart

View On Amazon View On Misshaus.com View On Walmart

What We Like

Affordable
Hydrating
Contains SPF

What We Don’t Like

Limited shade range
Contains fragrance

Korean cosmetics companies are known for a skincare-first approach to makeup. With this in mind, Missha's Magic Cushion not only covers and conceals but also hydrates and smooths while enhancing your complexion and protecting it with SPF 50.

Key Ingredients: Bamboo water, witch hazel, niacinamide | Shades: 4 shades | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: No

Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish Sublime Perfection Concealer

Net-A-Porter

View On Sephora View On Net-a-Porter View On Patmcgrath.com

What We Like

Diverse shade range
Hydrating
Diffuses light

What We Don’t Like

Expensive

The best range of shades isn't necessarily the most shades. What we appreciate about Pat McGrath's Sublime Perfection is that the colors reflect a diverse range of skin tones. Recommended by La' Pearl, this ultra-smooth concealer covers, boosts radiance, blurs, and diffuses light with a radiant matte finish.

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, ceramides | Shades: 36 shades | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes

View On Ulta View On Beautybakerie.com

What We Like

Diverse shade range
Hydrating
Blurring effect

What We Don’t Like

Small amount

If you're looking for a multi-use product that works for covering and sculpting, look no further than Beauty Bakerie. Available in shades for every skin tone, contour color, and highlight hue, the brand's texture-blurring Instabake Concealer makes it easy to create the dimension you desire.

Key Ingredients: Silica, talc, cassava extract | Shades: 18 shades | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes

4.2

YSL

View On Amazon View On Sephora View On Nordstrom

What We Like

Hydrating
Sheer finish
Light-reflecting pigments

What We Don’t Like

Expensive

YSL Touche Éclat All-Over Brightening Concealer Pen Review

Launching in 1992 as one of the first color-correcting products with light-reflecting pigments, YSL Touche Éclat has been a fan favorite for nearly three decades. A couple of clicks from this sheer hydrating concealer pen is all you need to cover and enhance your complexion. And let's be honest—Touche Éclat is just fun to say.

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin E | Shades: 14 shades | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: No

Courtesy of Ulta

View On Amazon View On Dermstore View On Ulta

What We Like

Easy to blend
Natural finish
Long-wear formula

What We Don’t Like

Limited shade range
Not ideal for highlighting

Partial to sticks? Go with Dermablend Quick Fix. Containing high-performance pigments, skin-loving allantoin, and beeswax for blendability, this portable concealer works hard to cover everything from pimples and birthmarks to dark circles and age spots.

Key Ingredients: Beeswax, kaolin, allantoin | Shades: 8 shades | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Final Verdict

If we could use only one concealer until the end of time, we'd go with Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer. Available in 30 shades, the beloved award-winning formula covers, corrects, conceals, and contours while diffusing light and leaving a soft, natural finish that lasts up to 16 hours. For something a little easier on your wallet, your best bet is NYX HD Studio Photogenic Concealer, a medium-coverage formula that does an impressive job covering and color-correcting.

What to Look for When Buying Concealer

Shade

The most important consideration is the shade, so be sure to view the colors on an untinted screen when shopping online. In most cases, you should opt for a concealer that's one to two shades lighter than your foundation. However, Sesnek says, "If you're using concealer for blemishes, I recommend matching it to your foundation."

Celebrity makeup artist Erika La' Pearl states, "With the right shade of concealer—undertones are also super important when picking the right shade—along with your perfect foundation match, you can really achieve that seamless look."

Depending on what you're trying to achieve, the undertone for your concealer might be different than your foundation. For instance, if you have olive skin, your foundation might have neutral undertones, while your concealer may have peach undertones to correct for dark circles.

Coverage/Finish

Like foundation, concealers offer different finishes, including matte, radiant, natural, and soft, as well as varying levels of coverage (sheer, medium, and full). "I personally like a moisturizing fuller-coverage concealer, as it can be sheered down or built up depending on your concerns," says Sesnek.

Container/Application

Most concealers come in lip gloss-style tubes with doe-foot applicators. This makes it easy to apply with precision while keeping things relatively sanitary. Concealer sticks, on the other hand, twist up and swipe on like lipstick.

Then there are little pots, along with clickable pens that deposit liquid through a sponge or a small brush. This is mostly a matter of preference, and in any case, you can always use a concealer brush or a makeup sponge to apply and blend the product.

FAQ

What does concealer do?

A better question is, what doesn't concealer do? The main purpose of this makeup mainstay is to cover blemishes, such as pimples, scars, and dark under-eye circles. Additionally, you can use concealer to color-correct for things like hyperpigmentation and general redness. People also use it for highlighting and contouring.
"I love using concealers to spot-cover, color-correct, as a base for eyeshadow, and sometimes to highlight and contour the features," Lujan tells Byrdie.
How do you apply concealer?

The proper way to apply concealer depends on the formulation and what you're trying to achieve. Having said that, it should generally be applied after foundation. Using the included applicator, your fingers, or a makeup brush, apply the cream or liquid anywhere you want to conceal or highlight. "If you feel it's a bit dry under the eyes, I would mix it with an eye cream," says Nawabi.
Next, get to work blending. Sesnek recommends tapping it out with your fingers first and then using a sponge for a seamless finish. Lastly, Lujan says, "You can always set it with a little loose setting powder to adjust the level of radiance."
Where can you use concealer?

You can use concealer nearly anywhere. In addition to the more obvious blemishes and under-eye circles, you can apply it to your eyelids as a shadow primer, around the nose as a color-corrector, or around the eyebrows to achieve a clean line. People also often use lighter shades for highlighting the nose, chin, cupid's bow, and brow bone and deeper tones for contouring the cheekbones, upper forehead, and neck.

Why Trust Byrdie?

Theresa Holland is a freelance copywriter specializing in cosmetics. For this story, she interviewed four makeup artists for product recommendations and insight into formulations and proper application. Before making her final selections, she looked at the reviews, key specs, and ingredients lists of a wide variety of concealers. From the above list, she has personally tried Nars, NYX, Maybelline, L'Oréal, Glossier, Missha, Fenty, and Yves Saint Laurent. Theresa has been writing for Byrdie since 2020, where she covers makeup, skincare, and wellness products.

Meet the Expert

Celebrity makeup artist Erika La' Pearl, who works closely with Cardi B.

Nick Lujan, Makeup artist and Director of Artistry and Education at Kevyn Aucoin Beauty.

Makeup artist Sophia Nawabi with experience in bridal makeup.

Celebrity makeup artist Robert Sesnek, who has worked with talent such as Vanessa Hudgens.

We Tested 23 of the Best Under-Eye Concealers—These 8 Were Our Favorites

Article Sources

Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.

Lu J, Cong T, Wen X, et al. Salicylic acid treats acne vulgaris by suppressing AMPK/SREBP1 pathway in sebocytes. Exp Dermatol. 2019;28(7):786-794. doi:10.1111/exd.13934

Best Overall: Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer

Best Budget: NYX Professional Makeup HD Photogenic Concealer Wand

Best Drugstore: Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Concealer

Best Splurge: Clé de Peau Beauté Concealer SPF 25

Best Crease-Free: Tarte Shape Tape Concealer

Best Long-Wear: L'Oréal Paris Infallible Full Wear Waterproof Concealer

Best Waterproof: Kevyn Aucoin The Sensual Skin Enhancer

Best Matte: Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Instant Retouch Concealer

Best Buildable: Glossier Stretch Concealer

Best for Dry Skin: Catrice Cosmetics True Skin High Cover Concealer

Best for Blemishes: Almay Clear Complexion Concealer

Best K-Beauty: MISSHA M Magic Cushion SPF50+/PA+++

Best Shade Range: Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish Sublime Perfection Concealer

Best for Highlighting/Contouring: Beauty Bakerie Instabake 3 in 1 Concealer

Best Pen: YSL Touche Éclat All-Over Brightening Concealer Pen

Best Stick: Dermablend Quick Fix Concealer Stick

Related Stories

These 16 Best Concealers Go Beyond Hiding Dark Circles

Best Overall: Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer

Best Budget: NYX Professional Makeup HD Photogenic Concealer Wand

Best Drugstore: Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Concealer

Best Splurge: Clé de Peau Beauté Concealer SPF 25

Best Crease-Free: Tarte Shape Tape Concealer

Best Long-Wear: L'Oréal Paris Infallible Full Wear Waterproof Concealer

Best Waterproof: Kevyn Aucoin The Sensual Skin Enhancer

Best Matte: Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Instant Retouch Concealer

Best Buildable: Glossier Stretch Concealer

Best for Dry Skin: Catrice Cosmetics True Skin High Cover Concealer

Best for Blemishes: Almay Clear Complexion Concealer

Best K-Beauty: MISSHA M Magic Cushion SPF50+/PA+++

Best Shade Range: Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish Sublime Perfection Concealer

Best for Highlighting/Contouring: Beauty Bakerie Instabake 3 in 1 Concealer

Best Pen: YSL Touche Éclat All-Over Brightening Concealer Pen

Best Stick: Dermablend Quick Fix Concealer Stick

Final Verdict

What to Look for When Buying Concealer

Shade

Coverage/Finish

Container/Application

Why Trust Byrdie?

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