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Concealer quick picks

Whether you’re in need of some brightening after a subpar night’s sleep, you want to look extra flawless for a special occasion or you just constantly battle dark circles, finding the best under-eye concealer is a must. No matter what type of makeup look you’re going for, finding the right product and nailing your application technique is the secret to bidding your eye bags farewell for good. But what makes a great under-eye concealer? It’s “a pretty simple formula,” says celebrity makeup artist Jeanine Lobell, who’s also the founder of Neen and Stila Cosmetics. You have to consider shade, texture and application style, she shares.

“First, focus on finding the right color,” Lobell says, “which can depend on your primary issue.” If you have dark circles, you may want a concealer that has brightening properties, or perhaps one that also acts as a color corrector. To eliminate dark circles, it may be necessary to use a separate color corrector underneath your concealer too.

Then you have to look at the concealer’s texture. “The opaque concealer you use to cover a tattoo may not be the best choice to use for the under-eye,” says Lancôme national makeup artist Alex Sanchez. “Most of us have under-eyes that tend to be dry and textured, so hydrating, creamy and blendable formulas are the most forgiving in this area.”

How to apply concealer

When it comes to application techniques, celebrity makeup artist Carolina Dali recommends starting with a well-primed base. “First make sure the under-eye area is moisturized. The concealer will blend and wear best on skin that’s hydrated,” she says. She adds that you should “choose an eye cream that’s hydrating but not oily — too oily can be disastrous and create creasing.” After the eye cream, Dali suggests “using a concealer brush to apply concealer on the inner corner of the eyes and the under-eye area,” then “blend well using the concealer brush and your fingers, and set with a small powder brush and sheer loose powder.”

For the most natural finish, makeup artist and founder of her eponymous eco-friendly beauty tool brand Jenny Patinkin says to use a stippling motion to blend in the concealer and color corrector (if using). “This gets the concealer smooth without diffusing or erasing the color corrector underneath,” she says.

Best all-around concealers

Carolina Gonzalez, celebrity makeup artist and Armani Beauty Collective member, looks specifically for an under-eye concealer that is “creaseless, hydrating and buildable without looking heavy” — and this product is her holy grail. “Across the board it works for every skin type, age and also has a wide range of skin tones,” she says. The concealer is also a favorite of celebrity makeup artist Valeria Ferreira, who notes that it works particularly well for drier skin types: “It is moisturizing and blends beautifully.”

“I personally prefer a highly pigmented cream that can be sheer in areas that require less coverage to avoid a cake vibe,” says Lobell, who calls this concealer her all-time favorite option. “I look for a flexible formula that I can layer as needed.” When it comes to application tips, she suggests a brush, even if the product comes with a wand. “I have always been known for making my clients look like they have perfect skin — not packed on makeup — so this is something I have perfected,” she says. “I find a tapered brush is more precise ... a very flat brush that is not huge helps me lay down the exact amount of product.”

This is Sanchez’s all-time favorite concealer. “It's a foundation and concealer hybrid that checks all the boxes for me,” he says. It's a high-performance product with an inclusive shade range and a flexible built-in application wand, and Sanchez describes the application as “crease-free and fabulous.”

Editor Favorite

“The best thing about this concealer is that the formula is creamy enough for under-eyes but also works on your full face,” says celebrity makeup artist Jenna Kristina, who calls this affordable option her “hands down” all-time favorite under-eye concealer. “It works perfectly on every age skin, including mature,” Kristina adds and “doesn’t get crepey or sit in any lines.”

When it comes to a top-tier concealer formula, “the texture and the longevity of the product is super important,” Ferreira says. “I always look for good coverage but an ultra-smooth finish that stays on all day. “These characteristics are quite hard to find simultaneously, but they do exist!” One of her top picks is this luxe option — also a favorite of celebrity makeup artists Katie Mellinger and Katrina Klein.

When it comes to what you should be looking for in a concealer, Dali recommends steering clear of concealers that are too thick or heavy, which “can actually have the opposite effect and attract more negative attention to the area, not to mention that it will crease rather quickly.” Instead, opt for a more lightweight option that can be built up. Her top pick is this lightweight concealer with a creamy, whipped texture. “It covers beautifully, wears for hours without needing a touch up, looks natural and doesn’t cake,” she raves.

Editor-favorite concealers

As a beauty editor, I've tested a bunch of concealers and have a few favorites. My everyday go-to is this liquid formula. It's infused with a number of skin care ingredients, like hydrating hyaluronic acid and sensitive skin-friendly centella asiatica, and provides light, luminous coverage.

On days when I have deeper dark circles, I reach for this color-correcting pencil. Another editor says it helps camouflage her eye bags too. I draw it directly onto the darkest parts and blend it into my skin halfway, before applying a brightening concealer on top and then blending it all out. I find that this method gives me a more cohesive, natural finish.

Underscored health, fitness and food editor Tobey Grumet Segal also loves this creamy concealer. She says it hides her tired eyes and doesn't settle in creases. I've also use this product and love that it combines the color correcting and concealing step. Each shade has specific undertones to cancel out dark circles for a range of skin tones.

This is an expert-loved formula that I also rely on for a seamless look. It has a whipped, creamy texture that gives buildable, medium coverage and truly feels weightless on the skin. I find it best to apply a few dots of product to the under-eye area with the wand and then blend by using the tip of my ring finger to tap it out. This is also a great option for hiding blemishes too.

It's in the name, but this Saie concealer truly does have a radiant finish. I reach for this one for glowy, "dolphin skin" makeup looks. Because it has a serum-like consistency, I prefer using a small fluffy brush and the "priming" concealer technique to get a natural effect. As Patinkin explains, this involves putting a dash of concealer on the back of your hand and then going in with the makeup brush, working the product into the bristles, before lightly stippling or sweeping it onto the under-eye. "This controls the amount you use as well as the placement," she says.

Best concealers for dry skin

“It's all about the skin prep for the under-eye, and this is even more a priority with dry skin types,” explains Sanchez. “I always massage the eye contour generously with eye serum and then add eye cream before applying concealer,” he shares. “The massage gestures are not only pampering, but they are also great for deflating eye bags.” This brightening option is one of his favorites for those with dry skin. Another pro tip? “Allow the layer of eye cream to marinate and sink in,” Sanchez explains. “This plumps up, smooths and perfects the skin canvas for concealer.”  

Mellinger and Sanchez recommend this full coverage concealer for those with dry skin, and it’s also a favorite of Klein's, who describes this option as “very pigmented and buildable.” It simultaneously “looks like nothing under the eye and hides everything,” she explains. 

When it comes to finding the right concealer for you, Klein recommends first looking at what you’re trying to fix or improve when it comes to your skin. So it only makes sense that for those with dry skin, a nourishing and skin care-rich formulation would make sense. This hydrating concealer, which she recommends, is brightening, smoothing and packed with 10% active skin care ingredients. 

Patinkin says this formula is full coverage but very creamy, which makes it easy to blend it in for a natural finish. The makeup artist also highlights its "astonishingly extensive shade range" that includes 50 colors and multiple undertones, so you can even choose accordingly for color correction.

Dali describes this concealer as having “excellent coverage that’s buildable.” At the same time, the formulation works to keep your “skin hydrated and fresh throughout the day,” she says.

Whereas you might use a concealer that’s heavier or thicker for covering up a pimple, Klein prefers “to use a thinner, lightweight concealer under the eyes.” This creamy, buildable formula is packed with skin care ingredients like hyaluronic acid and peptides that work to keep your under-eye area hydrated, smooth and radiant throughout the day.

Best concealers for dark circles

A favorite of both Dali and Ferreira, this full-coverage concealer really does give your skin an airbrushed look. The waterproof formula stays put all day, so you don’t have to worry about creasing, smudging or moving around. The custom applicator is perfect for the under-eye area and also for spot correction, which makes this a really versatile option if you’re hoping to find an effective all-in-on concealer.

“For high-contrast dark circles, you will need to color-correct the area first or else the color will bleed through the makeup,” says Sanchez, who uses the analogy of wearing striped undergarments as compared to a nude-colored undergarment under white pants. No matter what, “that contrast will be seen,” he adds. “Apply these correctors strategically to that discoloration under your concealer and your concealer brightening payoff will be off the charts.”

“There’s nothing this concealer won’t cover,” says Dali, who describes this versatile, multiuse product as having “hands down the best coverage.” It's waterproof and sweat-resistant — just be sure to apply conservatively. “A little bit goes a long way,” she adds.

This vegan concealer from LYS Beauty is brightening, a breeze to blend and provides oh-so-full coverage. Mellinger recommends it specifically for those looking to target dark circles, though the doe-foot applicator and versatile formulation makes it a great option for spot concealing as well. 

Patinkin admits this concealer is a splurge, but she loves its brightening effects. "The thin click-pen consistency blends so beautifully and has the most subtle, lovely sheen," she says. "I've used nothing but this concealer to contour and highlight the face, and it photographs really nicely."

Ferreira loves this concealer/color corrector hybrid from Chanel, which is available in four different shades. To cancel out dark circles, the light pink shade is best for those with light to medium skin, while the orangey apricot shade is best for those with medium to dark skin.

 Best concealers for mature skin

Dali is a fan of this concealer’s buildable coverage, and the fact that it “provides added hydration, which is very important for mature skin.” Once applied, “the final result looks natural, and the under-eye area looks brightened and refreshed,” she says.  

"Maxine's Revenge French Face Concealer is a very light serum consistency that somehow also has great medium coverage because it's made for aging skin," Patinkin says. She says you only need a touch of the product to give coverage. Plus, "I find that it creases far less than other concealers do," she adds.

This hydrating concealer, recommended by Klein, is buildable and nourishing, and it boasts a noncomedogenic formula that’s great for those with sensitive or delicate skin. The radiant finish and skin care ingredients (like squalane and vitamin E) help to provide mature skin with a brightening, plumping effect.

This new collection of creamy concealers from the French luxury brand boasts an easy-to-use pen packaging. “They are so moisturizing, velvety and have great coverage,” Ferreira says. “I find the texture of these very good on mature skin.”

Klein recommends this lightweight concealer, which boasts a gel-based formula that’s hydrating, comfortable and long-lasting. The light to medium finish is perfect for avoiding a cakey look or creasing, since you can start with a little bit of product and simply build it up as you need.

Best drugstore concealers

Whether you’re looking for a "true to your skin tone" concealer, a highlighting concealer or a color corrector that will blend seamlessly with your concealer of choice, Klein recommends this versatile product, which has been one of the most popular drugstore concealer options for years. The lightweight product is comfortable and buildable, and the brush-tip applicator is super convenient.

Sanchez calls this full-coverage, waterproof concealer one of his top drugstore picks. Not only is the coverage as great as it claims to be, he says, but it’s an easy-to-use, intuitive product for all types of makeup wearers.

If your under-eye area is in need of a caffeine boost, Klein recommends this 5-in-1 concealer. The formulation has a natural, buildable coverage that’s infused with caffeine and vitamin C for brightening and extra radiance. The antibacterial sponge is great for applying just the amount you need, even on the go.

Dali recommends this serum/concealer hybrid, the natural finish, medium-coverage sister to the brand’s HD Photogenic Liquid Concealer — which is more matte and full coverage. Its skin care-makeup formulation makes it a great option for those with drier under-eyes or sensitive, stressed skin.

Mellinger recommends this brightening concealer, which has been formulated specifically for darker skin tones in mind. The coverage is blendable and buildable, and it won’t look ashy or cakey. The addition of ingredients like turmeric, cucumber extract and vitamins C and E are great for turning even the most tired of under-eyes into bright and radiant-looking skin.

Klein recommends this oil-free, noncomedogenic and nongreasy stick concealer. The unique core is packed with hydrating ingredients, which work alongside the outer ring of concealer for a smooth, natural-looking coverage that glides across your skin when applied.

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