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Byrdie / Chloe Jeong
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.
Byrdie Researched & Approved
The Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer offers impressive coverage, versatility, and a healthy glow, making it our favorite product. For a budget-friendly option, consider the NYX Professional Makeup HD Photogenic Concealer Wand, which offers color correctors in addition to a wide array of shades.
Concealer 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."
We conducted hours of research on the best concealers, gathering tips and recommendations from makeup pros, and beauty editors. For this roundup, we considered dozens of concealers evaluating each on coverage, finish, range of shades, color-correction, and ease of application.
Ahead, the best concealers for every skin type and tone.
Best Overall
NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer
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Sephora
Diffuses light
Long-wear formula doesn't crease
Easy application
Mini size available
Expensive
Who else recommends it? Self, Good Housekeeping, and Today all picked the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer.
What do buyers say? 12,500+ Sephora reviewers rated this product 4.3 stars or above.
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.
Price at time of publish: $29
Key Ingredients: Botanical blend, mineral powder | Shades: 30 shades | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: No
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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
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Ulta
Budget-friendly
Emollient-rich
Color-correcting shades
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.
Price at time of publish: $6
Key Ingredients: Glycerin, silica, aloe | Shades: 22 shades | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Drugstore
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Concealer
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Maybelline
Budget-friendly
Goji berry has youth-boosting properties
Fragrance-free
Cap can get messy
Since its 2010 launch, Maybelline's Instant Age Rewind Eraser has been a shining star in the drugstore aisle. Byrdie Senior Editor Holly Rhue loves its clickable pen, pillow-soft applicator sponge. Reviews note this reliable formula makes for an all-around winning concealer.
Price at time of publish: $11
Key Ingredients: Glycerin, goji berry | Shades: 17 shades | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: No
Best Splurge
Clé de Peau Beauté Concealer SPF 25
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Courtesy of Nordstrom
Long-wear formula
Hydrating botanicals leave a cushiony finish
Anti-crease and caking formula
Contains SPF
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.
Price at time of publish: $75
Key Ingredients: Titanium dioxide, green tea extract, chestnut extract | Shades: 12 shades | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: No
Best Crease-Free
Tarte Shape Tape Concealer
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Ulta
Long-wear formula contains licorice root to prevent creasing
Shea and mango butter add hydration
Waterproof
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.
Price at time of publish: $31
Key Ingredients: Shea butter, mango butter, licorice root | Shades: 35 colors | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: No
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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
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Amazon
Budget-friendly
Long-wear formula contains silica and glycerin for a smooth finish
Waterproof
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.
Price at time of publish: $16
Key Ingredients: Glycerin, silica, copolymers | Shades: 25 shades | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: No
Best Waterproof
Kevyn Aucoin The Sensual Skin Enhancer
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Kevyn Aucoin
Waterproof
Jojoba oil provides hydration
Long-wear formula
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."
Price at time of publish: $34
Key Ingredients: Mineral oil, jojoba oil, honey | Shades: 16 shades | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: No
Best Matte
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Instant Retouch Concealer
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Sephora
Formula diffuses light for a soft matte finish
Glycerin attracts moisture to skin providing shine-free hydration
Sweat-resistant
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 skin without a heavy, oily texture. In addition, the formula is sweat-resistant, offers full-coverage, and glides on smooth with a soft-focus matte finish.
Price at time of publish: $36
Key Ingredients: Glycerin, centella asiatica (cica) | Shades: 50 shades | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Buildable
Glossier Stretch Concealer
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Courtesy of Glossier
Cocoa butter, beeswax, and jojoba add hydration
Dewy finish
Not dry or cakey
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.
Price at time of publish: $20
Key Ingredients: Beeswax, jojoba oil, cocoa butter | Shades: 12 shades | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Dry Skin
Catrice Cosmetics True Skin High Cover Concealer
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Catrice
Hyaluronic acid adds hydration to formula
Long-wear coverage
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."
Price at time of publish: $7
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid | Shades: 15 shades | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Blemishes
Almay Clear Complexion Concealer
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Courtesy of Amazon
Salicylic acid helps clear pimples
Aloe helps reduce redness
Budget-friendly
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.
Price at time of publish: $9
Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, aloe, talc | Shades: 6 shades | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best K-Beauty
MISSHA M Magic Cushion SPF50+/PA+++
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Walmart
Witch hazel and niacinamide offer excellent hydrating benefits
Contains SPF 50
Affordable
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.
Price at time of publish: $19
Key Ingredients: Bamboo water, witch hazel, niacinamide | Shades: 4 shades | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: No
Best Shade Range
Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish Sublime Perfection Concealer
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Net-A-Porter
Diverse shade range
Hyaluronic acid and ceramides add hydration
Formula diffuses light
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.
Price at time of publish: $34
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, ceramides | Shades: 36 shades | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Highlighting/Contouring
Beauty Bakerie Instabake 3 in 1 Concealer
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Silica creates a blurring effect
Botanical extracts add hydration
Diverse shade range
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.
Price at time of publish: $20
Key Ingredients: Silica, talc, cassava extract | Shades: 18 shades | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Pen
YSL Touche Éclat All-Over Brightening Concealer Pen
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YSL
Light-reflecting pigments
Hyaluronic acid and vitamin E add hydration
Sheer finish
Expensive
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.
Price at time of publish: $38
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin E | Shades: 14 shades | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: No
Best Stick
Dermablend Quick Fix Concealer Stick
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Courtesy of Ulta
Easy to blend
Natural finish
Long-wear formula
Limited shade range
Not ideal for highlighting
Containing high-performance pigments, Dermablend Quick Fix is a portable concealer designed to cover pimples, birthmarks, dark circles, and sun spots. The formula is packed with hydrating ingredients including allantoin and beeswax for easy blendability,
Price at time of publish: $28
Key Ingredients: Beeswax, kaolin, allantoin | Shades: 8 shades | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best No-Makeup Coverage
Merit The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick
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Courtesy of MERIT
Sea daffodil extract helps diminish the appearance of dark spots
Fatty acids help condition skin
Sheer coverage provides a natural look
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.
Price at time of publish: $38
Key Ingredients: Sea daffodil extract, fatty acids | Shades: 20 shades | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Melanin Rich Skin
Ami Colé Skin-Enhancing Concealer
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Ami Cole
Baobab seed extract and pumpkin seed extract nourish and hydrate skin
Formula designed to cover hyper pigmentation
Satin finish
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.
Price at time of publish: $24
Key Ingredients: Baobab seed extract, pumpkin seed extract | Shades: 12 shades | Byrdie Clean: Yes | 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.
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.
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.
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