As someone who experienced acne for the first time in college and still experiences regular breakouts at 35 years old, I am well acquainted with the term and act of “concealing.” It seems like the majority of my 20s was spent finding the right makeup products that could hide blemishes and the hyperpigmentation they left behind. Then in my early 30s, I needed them to start pulling double duty to hide the dark circles that were suddenly forming under my eyes.
I consider a good concealer the beauty equivalent of a trusted piece of armor, fighting off insecurities (thanks, uneven skin tone) and helping me take on the day looking and feeling my best — so I take great care in deciding which formulas I spend my money on. I also thoroughly dislike finding out a concealer doesn’t work for me the hard way — halfway through the day when I finally look in a mirror only to find a cakey and crusty complexion staring back at me. To help you avoid the same fate, I spent the last few weeks testing nine different concealers and rating their performance.
Most long-lasting formula$undefined$34.00
How to apply concealer, according to makeup artists
A concealer is one of those products that can have more than one use depending on your beauty goals, shade match and how you apply it to your face. According to celebrity makeup and hair artist Sage Adi, it’s the most effective product in your beauty arsenal if your goal is to correct imperfections and even your complexion.
To mask dark under-eye circles, Adi recommends a seemingly foolproof application technique: “I like to dot [the product] in the inner and outer corner of the eye, followed by three dots underneath the eye. Then, blend with a brush with very light strokes, followed by foundation.” Not a fan of brushes? Adi says using her fingers is also a great way to blend your concealer.
If you want to truly brighten up your face, makeup artist Caitlyn Dominic has previously suggested applying a touch of concealer down the bridge of the nose, under the nostrils and the chin. “Then press and blend into your skin using gentle pushing motions and an angled concealer brush,” she shared.
Best overall concealer, tested by an editor
Brightening: 5/5 | Concealing: 5/5 | Layering: 4.8/5 | Longwear: 4.9/5 | Overall average score: 4.92/5
After the testing period ended for this article, this is the concealer I continued to use day after day. This formula is what smooth skin dreams are made of.
This is the only formula I’ve tried that I used to spot conceal where I didn’t have to touch it up a million times. I dotted it onto my blemishes and redness, set it with a little powder and then continued with the rest of my beauty routine. Normally, tapping my foundation onto my face would cause the concealer to move, causing me to apply even more foundation on top. However, by the grace of the complexion gods, this one actually stayed in place.
After a 12-hour day, this formula stood the literal test of time. It kept my under-eyes bright, with only the tiniest bit of creasing. On one instance, I noted a small dry patch, but I had to take a very close look in the mirror to find any cons for this formula. It’s oh-so smooth and easily blends into my skin. And a little goes a long way!
Other concealers to try, tested by the author
Most long-lasting:
Brightening: 4.75/5 | Concealing: 5/5 | Layering: 4.75/5 | Longwear: 5/5 | Overall average score: 4.87/5
For a whopping $34, I won’t lie — I expected as close to perfection as possible. And yeah, Patrick Ta delivered. My face looked blurred for hours. I practically felt the vitamin-infused formula working its magic, too, which the brand says helps with moisture retention and creating a silky texture.
Speaking of — I’m not sure how I can accurately put into words how great this feels on my skin. First, it applied seamlessly and blended with ease. After hours of wear, the formula refused to sink into the creases of my under eyes. The only issue I had was when I doubled up the product under my eyes (using the dark shade to conceal and the lighter one to brighten); I noticed that the area near the inner corner of my eyes looked a little crusty, like the formulas were breaking apart in tiny dry patches. It wasn’t too noticeable but it happened on both sides. However, when I only used the brighter shade on a different testing day, there was zero patchiness. It covered about 90% of my dark circles for my entire workday and beyond.
The strangest issue I have with this formula is its scent. The brand says the concealer is fragrance free, so I’ll just have to assume that whatever it is I’m smelling is naturally coming from the combination of ingredients. It’s not super strong, but it’s enough that it made me pause before I put any product on my face. I thought I received a faulty batch, but both shades I received had the same odor.
While there are 25 shades, I think the darker ranges could be more extensive.
The smoothest application:
Brightening: 5/5 | Concealing: 4.5/5 | Layering: 4.75/5 | Longwear: 4.5/5 | Overall average score: 4.68/5
This product has been on the market for years, and I’m finally coming around to trying it now. I’ve known many friends and family members who have used and love it, but I never thought it was a formula that would work well on me, especially since it doesn’t look like it’s been updated in a long time. If I’m being honest, I already pictured myself not liking this before even putting it on my face — and can happily report that I was humbled very quickly.
From the moment I applied this formula, my skin looked incredibly dewy and it remained that way throughout the day. It brightened my under eyes shockingly well and I saw minimal creasing after hours of wear. (Seriously, I sweated through a complete workout with this fully applied and it hardly moved.)
The untraditional applicator was always something that made me pause; something about a sponge-like pad holding all that concealer made me think it would be hard to transfer product and become streaky when applied. Luckily, that wasn’t the case; in fact, I think it actually kept me from over-applying. Do I still prefer a normal doe-foot applicator? Yes. But I didn’t have a terrible experience with the twisting built-in sponge by any means and would not hesitate to use it again.
For brightening:
Brightening: 5/5 | Concealing: 4.5/5 | Layering: 4.4/5 | Longwear: 4.5/5 | Overall average score: 4.6/5
I nailed the under-eye shade match on this one. While I thought I went a little too light, I received multiple compliments on my makeup the day I wore this, specifically regarding how bright my face looked. It covered up the clear evidence of the lack of sleep I got the night prior like a pro, doing the heavy lifting I’d expect a $25+ formula to do! Bravo!
After 10-11 hours of wear, the formula held up nicely. It picked up in certain areas around the perimeter of my face, and my pores were a little more noticeable in the inner cheek area, but overall, it did an impressive job. I tried the non-brightening shade as an all-over cover-up and liked how I was able to build the pigment. The blend was good, only needing some light finessing to get the finish perfectly smooth. I think it worked well with my setting powder as well but got the tiniest bit patchy with my powder bronzer. Still, after ending the nitpicking and zooming out from the mirror, my makeup base looked much better than I was expecting from a drugstore find.
One thing to note: This item’s doe-foot could use some work. It barely picks up any product, and forced me to dip back into the tube several times while trying to spot conceal.
Creamiest consistency:
Brightening: 4.75/5 | Concealing: 4/5 | Layering: 4/5 | Longwear: 4.2/5 | Overall average score: 4.23/5
How did a stick concealer beat most of the liquid products included in this test? Not sure, but it did. The moment the product touched my skin, it literally glided across my under eyes.
If you’re the type of person who can’t stand the feel of makeup, this is the formula you’re going to want to try next. I can’t stress enough how lightweight this feels, especially under the eyes. I’m a big fan of the satin finish it leaves behind. (Just make sure you don’t overdo the setting powder; this doesn’t need much and will get cakey if you attempt anything close to a bake.) This looks so good under the eyes and doesn’t settle into my fine lines. It’s also buildable — like, really buildable. At one point, I added three layers — I had to clean up my edges from a rogue eyeshadow blend — and it never showed any signs of patchiness or creasing.
Normally, I don’t like the idea of having to glide anything directly onto the face at the risk of tugging my skin, but its creamy consistency negates those worries. However, the diamond-shape tip feels a little awkward and the sharp points in its design can make for a less precise application.
Best drugstore formula:
Brightening: 4.2/5 | Concealing: 4.25/5 | Layering: 4/5 | Longwear: 4/5 | Overall average score: 4.11/5
For a $7 concealer, I’m very impressed with its overall performance. It covered my dark circles and provided a decent brightening effect.
I especially liked how this formula helped to balance my skin tone. It did a great job of reducing breakout-induced redness and only moved around a little bit by the end of the day. This is a good concealer to go with if you prefer a thicker consistency, so a little goes a long way in terms of coverage. And although it’s thick, it doesn’t feel heavy on the skin. It just feels a little slick, so if you want to improve its longevity, I highly recommend using setting powder and spray.
The only issue I had with this one was how it layered on top of other products. I tried applying the product on top of a first coat of foundation (which I used as a color-corrector of sorts), which resulted in a little bit of patchiness. It does better on its own, laying much smoother under the eyes. However, it meshed well with products on top, including my blush and setting powder.
How I tested concealers
We compiled a list of concealers that were previously recommended by experts, previous Shop TODAY Award winners, editor-loved picks and even some new launches. From there, I tested nine options for both concealing and brightening over the course of about six weeks.
During that time, I rated each of the concealers on a scale of 1-5 (1 being the worst, 5 being the best) based on the following criteria below:
Brightening: For each concealer, I acquired a color about two shades lighter than my natural skin tone for placing under the eye. I watched for how well the formula succeeded in overall brightening, hiding dark circles, not settling into creases and fine lines and applying to thinner skin.
Concealing: For the second shade, I chose a hue closest to my skin tone and used this one to both spot-conceal and as an overall cover-up. I looked for how well the formula played with other products and noted how long coverage lasted on the skin.
Layering: Was the concealer easy to blend? Did it settle into fine lines or create dry patches? Did it react negatively to other products layered beneath or over top? Could I easily build the formula, or would it create patchiness?
Longwear: Did the formula last through my 10+-hour workday? Did blemishes or under-eye circles start to peek through? Did the formula need re-applying?
Frequently asked questions
You first want to be careful attention to your concealer's consistency and finish. “If you wear foundation alternatives like skin tints or BB creams, you want to put the concealer first," makeup artist Tyler Fields previously told us, adding that this can help you achieve a more airbrushed look. However, if you want your concealer to stand out more, Fields recommended adding concealer after your foundation. This is also a recommended order if your product leans on the heavier side and can cake easily.
If you prefer to add your foundation first, Adi says adding concealer on top isn't a bad idea for minor color correcting.
When it comes to choosing your shade, Adi says you should choose a color that matches your foundation for basic spot coverage and balancing skin tone.
For brightening purposes, go with a slightly lighter color — I aimed for two shades lighter than my natural tone.
According to celebrity makeup artist Beck Wainner, using a hydrating concealer is one of the best ways to step up your makeup routine. "Not only does it keep the under-eye area from looking cakey, but it helps with creasing and lasts longer.”
If you prefer the look of a matte finish, you may want to only use them when spot concealing or adding extra coverage around the face. Adding matte formulas under the eyes can lead to a handful of problems: “Mattifying products will strip any glow and moisture from the under-eye area and can even make the skin appear older than it actually is,” professional makeup artist Chanel Temple previously told us. You also run the risk of the product settling into fine lines.
Crease prevention really starts with your skin care prep. The key? Hydration! Temple recommended adding a lightweight eye cream or serum to the under eye before concealer can help product lay down on the skin better and not immediately skin into fine lines.
Adi recommends a “less is more” approach, noting that she likes to apply a liquid concealer (her preferred formula for a more natural look) and apply in "light layers." She says you can follow that up with a light coating of powder — start with a smaller dusting and then slowly build as you see fit.
Why trust Shop TODAY
Danielle Murphy is the audience development writer for Shop TODAY. She joined the team in 2021 and has covered everything from beauty trends to the hottest sales to shop. She has tested several other beauty-related products for Shop TODAY’s Ranked series, including foundations, sunscreens and blow-dry brushes.
Meet the experts
- Sage Adi is a celebrity print and advertising makeup artist based in New York City
- Caitlyn Dominic is a Charlotte, North Carolina-based makeup artist.
- Tyler Fields is a New York City-based makeup artist who also specializes in hairstyles.
- Chanel Temple is a professional makeup artist and is the brand events and education manager for Huda Beauty.
- Beck Wainner is a Nashville-based makeup and hair artist with over a decade of experience in the beauty industry.
