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When it comes to looking well-rested, even-toned and generally effortlessly flawless, a little concealer goes a long way. Concealer is designed to spot-treat and disguise discoloration and darkness, so applying the right concealer (alone or paired with a top-rated foundation) can seamlessly cover acne spots and scars, brighten dark under-eye circles and mask sun spots or hyperpigmentation.
The best concealers won't settle into fine lines or slide off after a few hours of wear, which is why the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab rounded up over 150 concealer products and whittled down the field to a final 26 products to test based on claims, price and availability. After tallying up and ranking data from over 540 questions, we were able to find the absolute best concealers for undereye circles, acne, redness and more on every type of skin.
Whether you want barely-there, your-skin-but-better results, or powerful and long-lasting full coverage that will last all day, the shade, formula and coverage of a concealer will influence the look of your makeup. You'll find more on how to choose the right concealer at the bottom of this article but no matter what skin issue you're trying to blend away, these are the best concealers you can buy for every skin type and concern.
Pros
- Perfect coverage scores
- Highest ratings for performance and satisfaction
Cons
- Tube can be difficult to squeeze
In a previous concealer test, this earned a perfect score for coverage and beat out the competition to snag the highest ratings for performance, satisfaction and smoothest coverage. Our testers raved that it's "great for dark spots, blemishes and severe undereye discoloration," and with a massive shade range, there's a perfect match for every skin tone. The only con is that the product can be difficult to squeeze out of the tube.
Shades | 48 |
---|---|
Coverage | Full |
Finish | Natural |
2
BEST VALUE
Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Eraser Concealer
Pros
- Great coverage; blends easily and won't cake
- Works on under-eyes and blemishes
Cons
- None we could find
This drugstore concealer astounded the GH Beauty Lab with excellent coverage and superb blendability at a great price point. This concealer won't cake or settle into fine lines and the easy-to-use "sponge tip is perfect for blending evenly," raved one tester. While it can be used for all areas of the face, our testers favored it for blemishes.
Shades | 18 |
---|---|
Coverage | Sheer to medium |
Finish | Natural |
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Pros
- Texture won't settle into fine lines
- Non-drying, lightweight formula
Cons
- Not as long-lasting
A drugstore must-have, this pick got a perfect texture score and the best marks for not settling into lines, making it ideal for mature or aging skin. "This concealer really does have an 'invisible' quality like the package says," said one tester. It has a non-irritating formula and ranked second-best for having an easy-to-use applicator, being non-drying and resisting any signs of caking. "This lightweight concealer sinks in quickly, leaving a smooth satin finish," said another tester, although our tests showed that the wear isn't long-lasting and the light coverage may not be adequate to cover darker hyperpigmetation like sun spots.
Shades | 12 |
---|---|
Coverage | Light |
Finish | Natural |
Pros
- Affordable
- Thick formula is easy to apply and blend
Cons
- May be too heavy for mature skin
Among the most affordable concealers out there, this drugstore formula impressed testers with its coverage. They rated it easy to use and easy to dispense, apply and spread. The thicker formula is great for disguising redness and discoloration, but heads up that it may be too heavy for the undereye area or mature skin.
Shades | 23 |
---|---|
Coverage | Medium to full |
Finish | Natural |
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Pros
- Top scores for easy, even application
- Blurs and perfects undereyes
Cons
- Didn't cover blemishes well in testing
With perfect scores for easy, even application in our latest tests, Makeup Revolution's "creamy, softening texture" wowed testers, especially for disappearing dark circles. "It brightened up my undereyes and kept them feeling smooth," said one. "This concealer has a really nice blurring formula, said another. "My undereyes always look smooth when I apply it." The uniquely-shaped applicator fits perfectly in undereyes, and the formula scored highly for having a nice texture that blended well and looked natural, not cakey or patchy. One caveat: It's not well-suited for covering blemishes.
Shades | 30 |
---|---|
Coverage | Medium to full |
Finish | Soft matte |
Pros
- Non-drying and long-lasting
- Hydrating formula
Cons
- Tricky applicator
If you're prone to dryness, reach for this pick that's infused with skincare superhero hydrators hyaluronic acid and vitamin E. It lived up to its name in Lab tests, earning the best score for being non-drying and long-lasting, with even application and an easy-to-blend formula that's not patchy and doesn't settle into fine lines. "This medium coverage concealer is easy to apply, blending and smoothing effortlessly into skin," said one tester. "It is very versatile, concealing undereye darkness and blemishes well." Our testers did wish, though, that the applicator was easier to use. Several complained about the large lag time between turning the dispenser at the base before the concealer comes out, which results in too much product on the brush.
Shades | 26 |
---|---|
Coverage | Medium |
Finish | Satin |
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7
BEST FOR DARK CIRCLES
Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Flawless Wear Concealer
Pros
- Perfect score for texture
- Peachy undertones cancel discoloration
Cons
- Not ideal for dark spots
In our tests, this silky-textured formula earned top scores for ease of use and spreadability and got a perfect score for texture. Our Beauty Lab says it's a "magic wand" for evening your skin tone, and while the "touch of peachiness [does] well to cancel darkness under eyes," our testers say the formula is best-suited for undereye use and doesn't quite stand up to darker discoloration on age spots.
Shades | 22 |
---|---|
Coverage | Medium buildable |
Finish | Luminous |
Pros
- Formulated with skin-friendly ingredients
- Great for mature skin
Cons
- May not offer enough coverage for some
A GH Seal-holder, it is formulated with hydrating serum and glycerin, both proven hydrators that will help combat signs of aging and crepey undereye skin while effectively camouflaging undereye darkness and spots on the face. The illuminating formula has over 3,700 reviews on Amazon from customers who say it's an "EXCELLENT concealer for mature skin," though some wished the coverage was more buildable.
Shades | 16 |
---|---|
Coverage | Medium to full |
Finish | Illuminating |
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9
BEST FOR ACNE BLEMISHES
NARS Mini Radiant Creamy Concealer
Pros
- Works for all areas of the face, especially blemishes
- Long-lasting, non-cakey wear
Cons
- Some reviewers found it settled into fine lines
This NARS coverup can do it all: It applies and blends well to even out redness and conceal blemishes, undereye circles and dark spots alike. Beauty Lab tests found that it offers excellent coverage for any need, especially blemishes, and that the long-lasting formula won’t settle into fine lines or cake. One tester called it "the best one" she had ever used, and it's a reviewer favorite, too. One of more than 4,900 Sephora reviewers says, "It blends well into the skin, does not crease and is still fully intact after at least 12 hours of regular wear," though some reviewers say it settles into fine lines after extended wear.
The Mini Radiant Creamy Concealer comes at half the cost than the regular sized NARS concealer (priced at $32), which is a great option for those who want to try a bit first, need to mix shades or their skin tone changes throughout the seasons.
Shades | 30 |
---|---|
Coverage | Medium to full |
Finish | Radiant |
Pros
- Hyaluronic acid core hydrates dry, flaky skin
- Stick formula is easy to apply
Cons
- Limited shade range
Formulated with thirst-quenching hyaluronic acid and a hydrating core, this affordable concealer is great for those who have skin that skews dry. The foolproof design of this stick concealer is great for beginners, and the hydrating formula goes on light for a your-skin-but-better finish. Since this formula is sheer to medium coverage, if you have major discoloration, you may need to layer it with a higher coverage formula. We wish this pick came in a wider range of shades — five is too limited, and the selection lacks adequate deep tones.
Shades | 5 |
---|---|
Coverage | Sheer to medium |
Finish | Natural |
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Pros
- Works on oily T-zones, undereyes and more
- Whipped texture blurs pores on application
Cons
- May not cover dark spots
While we haven't Lab-tested this pick, it's a Lab expert favorite for gliding seamlessly across both oily and dry complexions. "It has an almost whipped-like texture that is extremely easy to blend and feels super lightweight on skin," says Danusia Wnek, a chemist in the Beauty Lab who has combination skin with an oily T-zone. "It is a multi-use concealer great for brightening the undereye area with its soft focus pigments and blurs pores and texture," though some reviewers say it's not opaque enough to disguise dark spots.
Shades | 30 |
---|---|
Coverage | Full |
Finish | Matte |
12
MOST DEWY
RMS Beauty Un Cover-Up Concealer
Pros
- Hydrating, dewy finish
- Natural look that melts into skin
Cons
- Thick texture may be off-putting to some
This concealer is perfect for those who prefer fresh-faced coverage without caking (think no-makeup makeup). "I prefer a subtle, nondrying, dewy coverage," says one Beauty Lab pro, and "this one fits my needs perfectly. It is super easy to apply; I usually gently dab it on my face and wait a little bit for it to melt into my skin before I pat it over with my finger, and I'm good to go. I like that it makes me look natural and well-rested." Keep in mind that some reviewers didn't love the texture, calling it "thick" and "tacky" at times.
Shades | 16 |
---|---|
Coverage | Medium |
Finish | Natural |
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Pros
- Smooth coverage
- Self-setting formula is great on oily skin
Cons
- Some say the wand dispenses too much product
Boasting a medium to full buildable coverage that wowed our testers, this creamy liquid concealer landed high scores for both performance and satisfaction. Testers said it offered great, smooth coverage, saying "a little goes a long way." Its consistency and coverage makes it great for undereyes, redness and dark spots, though it had below average scores for ease of use since some testers thought the wand dispensed too much product. Still, the self-setting nature and matte finish of this formula is perfect for those with oilier skin.
Shades | 26 |
---|---|
Coverage | Medium |
Finish | Natural |
Pros
- Waterproof formula lasts all day
- Heavy-duty and long-wearing
Cons
- May be too heavy for mature or dry skin
If you're looking for serious coverage, this stuff is meant to conceal everything, even tattoos. One Sephora reviewer says it "covers just about anything, the color is pretty blendable and it is COMPLETELY waterproof." Another reviewer swears by it to mask "severe acne scars," saying, "I couldn't believe the flawless results. My jaw dropped ... by the end of a few seconds, I had a completely flawless face." By its nature, this full-coverage concealer is heavy-duty, so it's not suited for anyone looking for a lighter look or those with dry or mature skin because it may settle into fine lines or cling to dry patches.
Shades | 11 |
---|---|
Coverage | Full |
Finish | Matte |
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15
BEST FOR REDNESS
Benefit Cosmetics Boi-ing Airbrush Concealer
Pros
- High scores for blending into the skin for smooth coverage
- High pigmentation for color correcting
Cons
- Limited shade range
If you have a problem with redness, look no further than this concealer. It earned high marks for blending into the skin and having smooth coverage, and testers said this concealer pot has "pigmentation [that's] good for color correcting ... basically anything" from undereyes to redness. Pro makeup artist testers also loved this pick for acne: "it's thick, so if you cover acne, it's going to stick to it," said one. The pot format can be polarizing, though, and we wish this product had a wider shade range.
Shades | 6 |
---|---|
Coverage | Full |
Finish | Matte |
Pros
- Full-coverage, highly-pigmented formula
- Easy to blend
Cons
- Some testers thought the formula could be smoother
Tarte claims that a tube of Shape Tape is sold every 12 seconds, and with over 13,000 reviews and an average 4.5 star rating, it doesn't seem unlikely. Reviewers say the full coverage liquid formula won't crease into fine lines, even on dry skin. In Beauty Lab tests, Shape Tape scored in the middle of the pack: Our testers thought it excelled in pigmentation coverage and spreadability, but didn't offer the smoothest coverage, which is why this formula is best for "problem areas [like] scars, blemishes, rosacea," but not ideal for anyone with dry skin who may find this concealer patchy or drying.
Shades | 35 |
---|---|
Coverage | Full |
Finish | Matte |
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Pros
- Waterproof formula withstands heat and humidity
- Blendable formula
Cons
- May not offer a natural-looking finish
If you're sick of concealer fading, this could be your new go-to. Beauty Lab testers said this waterproof picks "didn't run or melt in the heat of day," and it was rated least likely to settle into fine lines of the ones they tried. Reviewers agree, swearing that it's "crease-free," and that the blendable formula "simply disappears into your makeup and leaves you looking fresh faced, well rested." Keep in mind that a full coverage concealer with a matte finish may not give the most natural-looking results, especially in bright daylight.
Shades | 15 |
---|---|
Coverage | Full |
Finish | Matte |
Pros
- Broad spectrum SPF 35 protection
- Long-lasting coverage
Cons
- May be too thick for some
A fave among Beauty Lab's testers for its formula and wide shade range, this highly pigmented concealer is water-resistant, fragrance-free and noncomodogenic and offers a good amount of SPF to help prevent sun damage. Its excellent, long-lasting coverage is great for disguising dark circles and dark spots, and the thick formula blends down nicely thanks to an antioxidant-rich formula, although some reviewers say the dense cream can feel too thick on skin.
Shades | 23 |
---|---|
Coverage | Medium to full |
Finish | Natural |
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How we test the best concealers
To find the best concealer, the GH Beauty Lab began with a pool of 150 concealers and prescreened the products to settle on the 26 best candidates. Our pros then teamed with three makeup artists to evaluate these concealers; Beauty Lab pros masked each concealers' labeling to prevent brand bias, and makeup artists rated each product's coverage, texture, spreadability, blendability, ability to make skin look smooth and overall satisfaction of each product on a five-point scale. Our scientists crunched all the data points gathered from 546 questions and ranked all the products to find the definitive list above.
How to find the best concealer for you
Concealers come in a myriad consistencies, forms and finishes, from liquid to cream to stick and beyond. The key is to find the right formula and tone for whatever issue you're trying to hide. A quick cheat sheet:
✔️ Shade: For undereye circles, opt for a color that's a shade or two lighter than your natural skin tone, which "will brighten up the undereye area and disguise the dark circles," says makeup artist Erica Whelan. For dark spots, look for peach undertones to neutralize the dark brown cast. To cover acne, try and match your skin tone exactly or grab a green- or yellow-tinted formula to help neutralize the redness of the spot.
✔️ Finish: For dark circles and undereye discoloration, "look for concealers that have radiant or luminizing formulas," says Whelan. For acne and dark spots, look for long-lasting matte finish that will stay in place all day. For mature skin, steer away from anything shimmery or too heavy, which "will look unnatural," cautions Whelan. Instead, choose a medium coverage liquid concealer and apply sparingly.
✔️ Formula and coverage: For concealing around the eyes, our pros prefer liquid formulas since creams can settle into fine lines and wrinkles on this thinner skin. For blemishes and acne as well as sun spots, dark spots, hyperpigmentation or age spots, "choose a heavier cream formula like a stick concealer," advises Whelan, since they're designed to stay put.
Jessica Teich
Director, Editorial Commerce & Product Reviews
Jessica (she/her) is the director of editorial commerce and product reviews with over a decade of experience as a product tester, reviewer, writer and editor of beauty and lifestyle content. Previously she was the beauty editor at USA Today's Reviewed where she launched the Beauty vertical and tested hundreds of products and has covered trends for publications like The Boston Globe and The New York Times. You can usually find her sorting through piles of beauty products — and testing the best ones on camera.
Tested byNikolas Greenwald
Data Engineer
As a data engineer in the Good Housekeeping Institute, Nik (he/him) works with all of our Labs to develop testing protocols and manage data collection and analysis. Before joining Good Housekeeping in 2022, Nik worked in the labs of MIT and Regeneron, working on projects ranging from chemical inventory and reporting to the development of bioassays. He holds a degree in chemical engineering from Northeastern University.