The 21 Best Concealers of 2023 for Dark Circles and More

Cover acne scars, blemishes, and dark circles with these hard-working concealers.

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Concealers for Dark Circles

Byrdie / Kristin Kempa

When it comes to creating a fresh, wide-awake look, concealer is essential. Designed to be applied 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.

Concealer can also be used as a cream highlighter on the bridge of your nose, lower forehead, brow bone, cupid's bow, upper cheekbones, or chin. 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."

So, to put together a shortlist of the best concealers available, we conducted hours of research. This was partly conducted in our beauty lab where we tested a selection of our favorites on their coverage, staying power, and texture in addition to how much (or little) they creased throughout the day. We also considered their finish, range of shades, color correction, and ease of application. You’ll also find top picks and recommendations from makeup pros and beauty editors, alongside products that have received hundreds and hundreds of five-star online reviews. 

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

Best Overall

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer

4.9
NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer

Sephora

What We Like
  • Diffuses light

  • Long-wear formula doesn't crease

  • Easy application

  • Mini size available

What We Don’t Like
  • Can be a little drying on more mature skin

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. Some testers do note, however, that it can be a little too drying on more mature skin.

Price at time of publish: $30

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

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer

Byrdie / Ashley Rebecca

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

Best Budget

NYX Professional Makeup HD Photogenic Concealer Wand

4.6
NYX Professional Makeup HD Photogenic Concealer Wand

 Amazon

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.

During testing in our lab, we found that the texture was super lightweight (with the consistency of water) which made it good for applying in light layers. It also covered dark marks well and didn’t look cakey or crease – even when coverage was built up. We found that the color correctors within this range also worked best with a concealer on top rather than applied on their own. 

Price at time of publish: $5

Key Ingredients: Glycerin, silica, aloe | Shades: 22 shades | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Drugstore

Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment Concealer

4.8
Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment Concealer

Amazon

What We Like
  • Budget-friendly

  • Goji berry has youth-boosting properties

  • 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. We love its clickable pen and pillow-soft applicator sponge. Reviews note this reliable formula makes for an all-around winning concealer.

When conducting our own testing, we found this concealer creased very minimally. You should be able to eradicate this completely by applying it with a beauty blender or adding a fixing powder. Its creamy texture also lends itself well to drier skin types. Our only bugbear was the applicator sponge which we worry may get a little unhygienic over time. Ideally, we’d like it to be removable so it can be cleaned. 

Price at time of publish: $9

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

Best Splurge

Clé de Peau Beauté Concealer SPF 25

4.5
Clé de Peau Beauté, Concealer SPF 27

Amazon

What We Like
  • Long-wear formula

  • Hydrating botanicals leave a cushiony finish

  • Anti-crease and caking formula

  • Contains SPF

What We Don’t Like
  • Expensive

  • Contains fragrance

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. The texture is beyond soft for a cushiony finish that doesn't crack or dry out.

While it helps to cover up imperfections, it has skin-boosting benefits too. For instance, it helps the skin restore and protect itself against pollution, stress and dehydration while retaining all the benefits of sleep and hydration. Clever, right? The texture is beyond soft for a cushiony finish that doesn't crack or dry out. We don't love that it contains fragrance but if that doesn't bother you this is definitely a worthy contender.

Price at time of publish: $75

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

Best Crease-Free

Tarte Shape Tape Concealer

4.8
Tarte Shape Tape Concealer

Ulta

What We Like
  • Long-wear formula contains licorice root to prevent creasing

  • Shea and mango butter add hydration

  • Waterproof

What We Don’t Like
  • Contains fragrance

It can be tough to achieve a totally 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," as the product is easy to manipulate with fingers for a smooth application.

It also contains shea and mango butter which gives it a hydrating finish on the skin. Best of all, it’s vegan, cruelty free and dermatologist tested. If you are sensitive to fragrance though, we’d advise doing a patch test before use. 

Price at time of publish: $31

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

Tarte Shape Tape Concealer

Byrdie / Ashley Rebecca

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

Best Long-Wear

L'Oréal Paris Infallible Full Wear Waterproof Concealer

L'Oréal Paris Infallible Full Wear Waterproof Concealer

 Amazon

What We Like
  • Budget-friendly

  • Long-wear formula contains silica and glycerin for a smooth finish

  • 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.

During testing, we found its texture was super creamy and on the thicker side, but it dries super fast, so you need to blend it immediately. Once it’s applied though, we found it left our skin feeling very moisturized without creasing. It's another formula that contains fragrance which was one of our only gripes

Price at time of publish: $12

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

Best Waterproof

Kevyn Aucoin The Sensual Skin Enhancer

4.7
Kevyn Aucoin The Sensual Skin Enhancer

 Amazon

What We Like
  • Waterproof

  • Jojoba oil provides hydration

  • Long-wear formula

What We Don’t Like
  • Expensive

  • Can get cakey without primer

With a formula that contains jojoba oil for hydration and honey to help calm inflamed skin, this Kevyn Aucoin concealer also boasts a blend of mineral oils to make it reliably waterproof. Nick Lujan, Education Director for Kevyn Aucoin Beauty explains this concealer is easy to manipulate and use in various ways. "I can apply it full-coverage or adjust the coverage by blending it with primer to make it sheer."

It can get a little cakey, so we recommend applying a primer first for best results.

Price at time of publish: $44

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

Best Matte

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Instant Retouch Concealer

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Longwear Liquid Concealer

Sephora

What We Like
  • Formula diffuses light for a soft matte finish

  • Glycerin attracts moisture to skin providing shine-free hydration

  • Sweat-resistant

What We Don’t Like
  • Contains alcohol

We stand behind Fenty Pro Filt'r for those who prefer a shine-free finish. We love how this formula uses glycerin to attract hydration in the skin without leaving behind a heavy, oily texture. In addition, the formula is sweat-resistant, offers full-coverage, and glides on smooth with a soft-focus matte finish. This concealer also comes in 50 different shades to suit all skin tones and undertones.

Price at time of publish: $36

Key Ingredients: Glycerin, centella asiatica (cica) | Shades: 50 shades | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Buildable

Glossier Stretch Concealer

Glossier Stretch Concealer

Glossier

What We Like
  • Cocoa butter, beeswax, and jojoba add hydration

  • 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 which make it easy to layer. The dewy finish adds dimension so you can build on coverage as needed. Our only complaint is that you have to put your finger inside the small tub to remove the product. We’d prefer a more hygienic application tool, or we’d advise using a Q-tip.

Price at time of publish: $20

Key Ingredients: Beeswax, jojoba oil, cocoa butter | Shades: 12 shades | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for Dry Skin

Catrice Cosmetics True Skin High Cover Concealer

Catrice Cosmetics True Skin High Cover Concealer

 Amazon

What We Like
  • Hyaluronic acid adds hydration to formula

  • Long-wear coverage

What We Don’t Like
  • Contains fragrance

  • Limited shade range

Folks with dry complexions should reach for Catrice's True Skin Concealer, which contains hyaluronic acid. Celebrity makeup artist Robert Sesnek explains hyaluronic acid "helps the formula maintain its moisture levels, making the concealer feel like a second skin." It contains a touch of fragrance so be careful if your skin is particularly sensitive. We’d also like a wider shade range.

Price at time of publish: $7

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid | Shades: 15 shades | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for Blemishes

Almay Clear Complexion Concealer

Almay Clear Complexion Concealer

Amazon

What We Like
  • Salicylic acid helps clear pimples

  • Aloe helps reduce redness

  • Budget-friendly

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 blemishes, but thanks to salicylic acid and aloe, it also helps clear them while soothing irritation. It gets extra points for being budget friendly but it has a limited shade range that could be improved.

Price at time of publish: $9

Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, aloe, talc | Shades: 6 shades | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best K-Beauty

MISSHA M Magic Cushion SPF50+/PA+++

MISSHA M Magic Cushion SPF50+/PA+++

 Amazon

What We Like
  • Witch hazel and niacinamide offer excellent hydrating benefits

  • Contains SPF 50

  • Affordable

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. The inclusion of niacinamide in the formula dials up the hydration, while also protecting the skin barrier and providing a soft, cushiony finish. If we were to be picky, we’d prefer that it didn’t contain fragrance and came in a wider shade range.

Price at time of publish: $12

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

Best Shade Range

Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish Sublime Perfection Concealer

4.8
PAT McGRATH LABS Sublime Perfection Concealer

Sephora

What We Like
  • Diverse shade range

  • Hyaluronic acid and ceramides add hydration

  • Formula 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. A mainstay of celebrity makeup artists, this ultra-smooth concealer covers, boosts radiance, blurs, and diffuses light with a radiant matte finish. It is an expensive purchase but if you can find your true shade, we think it’s worthy of the investment.

Price at time of publish: $34

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, ceramides | Shades: 36 shades | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for Highlighting/Contouring

Beauty Bakerie Instabake 3 in 1 Concealer

Beauty Bakerie Instabake 3 in 1 Concealer

Ulta

What We Like
  • Silica creates a blurring effect

  • Botanical extracts add hydration

  • Diverse shade range

What We Don’t Like
  • Small amount

Beauty Bakerie offers incredible products for shaping and contouring in shades for every skin tone. Their concealer matches a range of contour colors and highlight hues, while its texture-blurring formula makes it easy to add dimension. The bottle is a little on the small side, but testers say that you only need a small amount of product – a little goes a long way.

Price at time of publish: $20

Key Ingredients: Silica, talc, cassava extract | Shades: 18 shades | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Pen

YSL Touche Éclat All-Over Brightening Concealer Pen

4.2
YSL Touche Éclat All-Over Brightening Concealer Pen

 Amazon

What We Like
  • Light-reflecting pigments

  • Hyaluronic acid and vitamin E add hydration

  • Sheer finish

What We Don’t Like
  • You can’t tell when the product is about to run out.

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 allows for precise and easy application. Hyaluronic acid, vitamin E add hydration to the formula which makes blending a cinch. One frustration with this product is that it’s hard to tell when the product is about to run out, so it’s a good idea to have a spare on standby.

Price at time of publish: $40

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

Best Stick

Dermablend Quick Fix Concealer Stick

Dermablend Quick Fix Concealer Stick

 Amazon

What We Like
  • Easy to blend

  • Natural finish

  • Long-wear formula

What We Don’t Like
  • Limited shade range

  • Not ideal for highlighting

Containing high-performance pigments, Dermablend Quick Fix is a portable, full-coverage concealer designed to cover pimples, birthmarks, dark circles, and sun spots in one swipe. The formula is packed with hydrating ingredients including allantoin and beeswax for easy blendability and it’s also dermatologist approved. It’s worth noting that this has quite a matte finish so it’s not ideal for highlighting areas of the face.

Price at time of publish: $28

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

Best No-Makeup Coverage

Merit The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick

4.3
Merit The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick

Sephora

What We Like
  • Sea daffodil extract helps diminish the appearance of dark spots


  • Fatty acids help condition skin

  • Sheer coverage provides a natural look

What We Don't Like
  • Coverage isn't as long lasting as other formulas

The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick is an ideal light to medium coverage option, providing breathable coverage for a no-makeup look. The formula is made with a blend of fatty acids to lock in skin moisture without triggering acne. Sea daffodil extract helps diminish the appearance of dark spots and pigmentation to heal skin while providing coverage. This isn’t as long-lasting as other concealers in our round-up and provides more of a natural, sheer look.

Price at time of publish: $38

Key Ingredients: Sea daffodil extract, fatty acids | Shades: 20 shades | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for Melanin Rich Skin

Ami Colé Skin-Enhancing Concealer

4.9
SKIN ENHANCING CONCEALER

Thirteen Lune

What We Like
  • Baobab seed extract and pumpkin seed extract nourish and hydrate skin

  • Formula designed to cover hyper pigmentation

  • Satin finish

What We Don't Like
  • Some reviewers note product may cling to dry patches

A cult botanical favorite, Ami Colé is a brand to obsess over. The concealer, designed as an evolution of the brand's beloved Skin-Enhancing Tint, offers medium, buildable coverage in 12 shades designed specifically to match undertones in melanin-rich skin. Active naturals like baobab seed extract, pumpkin seed extract, and hibiscus extract add hydration to the formula for a buttery-smooth application and satin finish. Just be mindful if you have patchy, dry skin as some testers found it did cling to those areas.

Price at time of publish: $24

Key Ingredients: Baobab seed extract, pumpkin seed extract | Shades: 12 shades | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Longwear

Rimmel London Stay Matte Concealer

4.8
Rimmel London Stay Matte Concealer

Amazon

What We Like
  • No creasing

  • Covers dark circles and blemishes easily

  • Fresh, clean finish on the skin

What We Don't Like
  • Color/ shade not visible on the packaging

Rimmel London’s Stay Matte concealer offers plenty of bang for its very affordable buck. When testing in our lab, we found that it covers dark under eyes and blemishes flawlessly while refreshing the eye area and leaving a fresh, clean finish. It also stays in place throughout the day, leaving very little creasing. Our only complaint is that the packaging doesn’t clearly display the shade of the concealer, and no one likes to play a guessing game in the drugstore. 

Price at time of publish: $9.80

Key Ingredients: N/A| Shades:  9 shades | Cruelty-Free: No

Best Full Coverage

Covergirl TruBlend Undercover Full Coverage Concealer

4.8
Covergirl TruBlend Undercover Full Coverage Concealer

Amazon

What We Like
  • Makes dark circles instantly disappear

  • Evens out redness

  • Doesn’t crease even without setting powder

What We Don't Like
  • The packaging is a bit gaudy

When testing, we chose COVERGIRL’s TruBlend matte concealer as our best full-coverage option as it stayed put all day, even without setting powder. We were so impressed by how it made our dark circles instantly disappear with just a couple of dots of product, while still looking natural and light on the skin. It’s equally brilliant at creating a more even skin tone if you have redness on your cheeks and chin. If we were to quibble, the packaging is a bit gaudy but if you ignore that, it’s a total no brainer.

Price at time of publish: $9

Key Ingredients: N/A| Shades:  30 shades | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for Dark Skin Tones

Black Opal Brightening Concealer

4.8
Black Opal Brightening Concealer

Walmart

What We Like
  • It has a peach undertone that’s great at covering discoloration

  • No creasing, transfer, and lasts well throughout the day

What We Don't Like
  • We’d like a better selection of medium shades

This brightening concealer was our top choice for darker skin tones and during testing we found that it did an excellent job at covering discoloration, due to its peach undertone. Our tester also found that it was great at concealing hyperpigmentation and spots, lasting throughout the day without creasing or transferring onto clothes. It has a slightly chalky texture, however, so a touch of lightweight eye cream would have helped to create a more dewy finish. We’d also like a wider selection of medium shades. 

Price at time of publish: $10

Key Ingredients: N/A| Shades:  12 shades | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Final Verdict

Our best overall pick is Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer, which is 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 a more affordable option, consider NYX HD Studio Photogenic Concealer, a medium-coverage formula that does an impressive job covering and color-correcting.

How We Tested

A number of the products in our roundup were tested by Byrdie editors (with varied skin types and tones) within our beauty lab. Here we scored each formula on its texture, coverage, staying power and level of creasing during the day. Others concealers were chosen by our experts and based on hundreds of honest online reviews. 

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.

What to Look For

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, celebrity makeup artist Robert Sesnek says, "If you're using concealer for blemishes, I recommend matching it to your foundation."

Celebrity makeup artist Erika La' Pearl adds, "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. These recommendations, in concert with our own testing insights determined the top-rated products included in this roundup.

Updated by Jill Di Donato
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.
  1. 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

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