Best Concealers, Tried and Tested

Coverage: Medium to full | Available shades: 30 | Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, vitamin C

Of all the concealers I’ve tested, this is the one I’ve been reaching for over and over again. Charlotte Tilbury’s Beautiful Skin is magic for under eyes, thanks to the radiant mica in the formulation, which adds a lit-from-within, luminous brightness. This creamy, ultra-hydrating formula is applied with an applicator that literally works like a magic wand to deliver gorgeous results. Coverage is medium (but buildable), and the combination of hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, vitamin C, and peptides makes this a ‘secret sauce’ for all-over brightening and spot treatments alike. It delivers a sort of blur-filter effect while also treating the skin with rich, potent ingredients.

Coverage: Medium | Available shades: 17 | Key ingredients: Tremella mushroom, cica, green tea

This “serum” is exceptional and its brightening capabilities are second only to the sorcery of Charlotte Tilbury’s. I love the way this disappears into the skin, leaving nothing but a bright, even finish in its wake.

Coverage: Full | Available shades: 12 | Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, argan oil, zingiber aromaticus extract, chestnut rosa fruit extract

Yes, it’s $75 for concealer. Please don’t shoot the messenger. If this is within your budget, the solid stick delivery of Clé de Peau’s concealer acts like an eraser for blemishes. I keep this one in my handbag because it’s easy to apply on the go and there’s no chance of an accidental spill. It’s better for oilier skin types and blemish coverage versus under-eye concealing, IMO. I also love that it’s formulated with sunscreen—a huge bonus.

Coverage: Full | Available shades: 30 | Key ingredients: Iris extract, wild pansy extract, nasturtium extract

Whether it’s a dark circle, scar, hyperpigmentation, or blemish, Dior’s Forever Skin is a versatile, creamy formulation that can cover it all. Using a soft wand applicator, you’ll get long-wear full coverage with an I-forgot-I-was-wearing-makeup feel. As any makeup artist will tell you, this concealer is super high-quality. A variety of undertones including neutral, warm, cool, rosy, peach, and olive across 30 shades provide a plethora of options when it comes to shade matching.

Coverage: Medium | Available shades: 22 | Key ingredients: Caffeine, fermented marine microorganisms

When your skin needs a radiant boost, reach for Makeup By Mario’s SurrealSkin Awakening Concealer. This brightening formula is beloved by makeup artists and was called out twice by the ones we spoke to for this story. “I love this concealer—it is a perfectly smooth, buttery consistency and blends beautifully,” says Giglio. “It doesn’t cake or move around, and the dewy finish looks so beautiful on the skin,” adds Adler. I personally love the way this concealer depuffs and tightens the under eyes, thanks to the caffeine in its creamy formula. It’s my go-to when I wake up with allergy-related puffiness or haven’t gotten a full 8 hours.

Coverage: Medium to full | Available shades: 8 | Key ingredients: Safflower seed oil, aloe barbadensis leaf extract

I bought this concealer for my boyfriend at the recommendation of a fellow beauty editor. He and his bandmates were making a music video at the time and needed some light blemish touch-ups before their shoot. Laura Mercier’s Secret Camouflage was the best possible pick for all four bandmates, thanks to its creamy, customizable palette, which suited their range of skin tones and left them looking naturally blemish-free. I’ve since nabbed this concealer for myself, and it’s a must-have when I need full coverage with a natural finish. My only call-out: make sure you fully close the compact! I’ve accidentally left it open before and the product went a bit dry.

Coverage: Full | Available shades: 40 | Key ingredients: Vitamin E, rose flower extract, panthenol (pro-vitamin B5)

Sometimes celebrities do know best, and Kylie Jenner certainly knows her makeup. Her Power Plush Longwear concealer is an excellent choice for days when sun, sweat, and water are factors that may derail your glam. The lightweight formula manages to be both hydrating and waterproof (a true feat in our book!) and blends beautifully with makeup to boot. “I use this long-wear concealer to cover blemishes and boost radiance before my clients step onto the red carpet,” says Adler. “It looks gorgeous on the skin and the shade range is amazing for all skin tones.”

Coverage: Full | Available shades: 36 | Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, prickly pear, ginseng, vegan squalane

The original Tarte Shape Tape is a crowd favorite, but lemme tell ya… the new hydrating one is better. The texture feels akin to a moisturizer, and thanks to the addition of prickly pear to the formula, you’ll get not just long wear, but long-lasting hydration. The new Ultra Creamy Shape Tape provides serious full coverage. Be mindful of this when applying, because you don’t need as much as you think. Despite being great for dry skin, it completely conceals acne as well. I found it to be helpful after using drying treatments like Differin or Avène Cleanance spot treatment—the hydrating element helped balance things out.

Coverage: Light to medium | Available shades: 7 | Key ingredients: Titanium dioxide (SPF)

This is a beautiful paintbrush, and your face is the canvas waiting to be decorated. This formula provides a your-skin-but-better finish and easily blends into skin with or without foundation. You can truly wear this on its own, thanks to its flawless blend and light but buildable coverage. What I especially love about Chantecaille—and what makes the price a bit more digestible—is the brand’s ethics and commitment to creating environmentally friendly products.

Coverage: Full | Available shades: 22 | Key ingredients: Camellia leaf extract, matricaria flower extract, licorice root extract, rosemary leaf extract, squalane

It was so tough to decide between Armani and Hourglass for the best “cloud skin-finish” concealer, but Hourglass came out on top thanks to the fact that its velvety, matte formula is super creamy and hydrating, despite leaving you with a more subdued (read: not dewy) result. A hydrating matte makeup product? It exists! I’ve used this concealer for years and can attest to its many virtues. Giglio agrees, sharing that it provides great coverage and easily glides onto skin. “Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Concealer is one of the most-used options in my makeup kit,” adds Adler. “It wears beautifully and comes in 22 shades inclusive of undertones such as neutral, pink, yellow, neutral pink, golden, peach, and red.”

Coverage: Medium | Available shades: 48 | Key ingredients: Caffeine, pink algae extract, hyaluronic acid, peptides

I initially borrowed this from a friend at a party when I needed an emergency blemish touch-up, and it was so good, I ran to Sephora the next day to pick one up for myself. It’s got medium coverage and is lush and hydrating, thanks to the hyaluronic acid and peptides, but it still works for covering a breakout. The versatility, again, comes down to ingredients. Caffeine and pink algae extract help revive your under eyes, while arnica and panthenol calm blemishes and redness.

Coverage: Full | Available shades: 20 | Key ingredients: Damask rose water, titanium dioxide

E.l.f. is truly in a category of its own. Whether you’re looking for hydration or full coverage, this stuff delivers, and at only $7 it is an A+++ budget buy. The Hydrating Camo Concealer costs less than what I spend on a single Starbucks coffee, is available in 25 shades, and is 100 percent cruelty-free and vegan. Sweat-proof, immovable, and impressively long-wear, this concealer works hard for the money. Also of note: the applicator is beefy—it’s large, plush, and dispenses a lot of product at a time.

Coverage: Medium | Available shades: 14 | Key ingredients: Caffeine, sunflower seed oil, titanium dioxide

If your concealer is always settling into the tiny lines around your eyes, consider L’Oréal’s Age Perfect formula. Using glycerin and a “hydrating serum,” this one won’t get caught up in those teensy skin folds when you squint or laugh—meaning it won’t leave you with a crepey or cakey appearance. It has a very small applicator that allows for a very precise application and creates a luminous finish.

Coverage: Light to medium | Available shades: 22 | Key ingredients: Caffeine, sunflower seed oil, titanium dioxide

A creamy, medium-coverage formula with glycerin, caffeine, and vitamin E leaves you with a “cloud skin,” satin finish (not dewy or glass skin!). For those with oilier complexions, this concealer is a must. And, despite having dryer skin myself, Armani’s Luminous Silk concealer didn’t feel cakey or flakey at any point during my several test wears (though I do topically hydrate quite a bit before applying makeup). “Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Concealer is very natural looking and gives that beautiful dewy, glowing skin,” says Adler. “I also love that the 22 shades are made with a variety of undertones in mind.”

Coverage: Medium | Available shades: 30 | Key ingredients: Magnolia bark extract, grape seed extract, vitamin E

This product needs no introduction. It’s been a long-time best seller, and I still love this stuff, even after all these years. Its creamy formula will give you excellent medium coverage and is available in 30 shades. I have found that the neutral shades lean yellow and warm-toned, and are a little more obvious on my decidedly neutral skin (to be fair, I haven’t tried the cool tones). That said, it’s sweat- and water-resistant, blendable and buildable, and all-around an excellent choice if you find the right color match! Giglio adds that she loves the easy application of this concealer, though she notes that it doesn’t provide the most coverage compared to the other options on this list.

Coverage: Medium | Available shades: 30 | Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, Defensil, Revivyl, caffeine, aloe vera

Future Fluid is another no-makeup-makeup girl’s concealer of choice (think: Hailey Bieber dabbing a nano-drop onto a nonexistent blemish). But despite its reputation on TikTok as being a lightweight formula, it’s still a powerful product with medium coverage. With an extensive shade range and skin barrier-supporting ingredients (think hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, caffeine, aloe, and arnica), this one concealer is my favorite product from Milk’s portfolio.

Coverage: Light | Available shades: 18 | Key ingredients: Goji berry, haloxyl

W+G contributor Zoë Weiner and I both love this brightening Maybelline concealer with a unique sponge applicator that allows for easy blending (we stan a saved step in the beauty routine). A little goes a long way, so this is truly a phenomenal value. With 18 shades and slightly warmer undertones, this is an ideal choice for warming up (and brightening) the bluish hues under your eyes. It’s not just a concealer, either—try out multiple shades to achieve an effortless contoured or highlighted look.