The Best Concealers: Have you ever noticed the naming conventions of concealers? Secrete this, cover up that… It’s the kind of stuff worthy of a mediocre spy novel. But you know better than to judge a product by its name: It’s what’s inside that counts. So today, we’re going over the best concealers, from pots to sticks. Adorable! And useful. Let’s break it all down:
Best Concealer That Stays Put: Benefit Boi-ing Industrial Concealer
Some people say a good concealer shouldn’t budge. But these people don’t know Benefit Boi-ing. The stickier formula moves just right and then bounces back, just like your face. Great for hard-to-conceal spots (you know the kind).
Best Concealer for Dry Skin: Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer
An OG concealer if there ever was one. It’s actually silky and sheer, but offers incredible coverage. The wand makes for easy finger-free application under the eyes, around the nose, and in targeted areas. Blend with a sponge and it’s like nothing ever happened.
Best Concealer for Acne: MAC Studio Finish Concealer
Days of coverage and color, plus a totally dewy finish. It’s a rare concealer that’s suitable for blemishes AND under the eyes without drying. ITG reader Kaitlyn says it “stays on much longer than any tube concealer.” It also doesn’t make my acne worse, and as a bonus, it contains SPF 35 (which prevents healing acne from turning into dark spots and keeps my current dark spots from getting even darker). »
Best Concealer in a Tube: Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Concealer
High coverage in a sturdy plastic tube. This is the one you want if you really want to go full coverage. Plus, HD means it’s a good choice if you’re taking a photo for a special occasion. Instagram-safe and more.
Best Concealer for Blurring: Sensual Skin Enhancer by Kevyn Aucoin
Looking like a whipped soufflé in a little pot, this one is perfect for people who want to use concealer instead of foundation. It’s a little stressful if you’ve never worked with anything so loose, but it fades like a dream. Not even a hint of creasing.
Best Matte Concealer: Laura Mercier Secret Concealer
As she proved with Secret Camouflage, Laura knows which aspects of your skin you want to keep under wraps. Unlike Camo, which comes in a small palette and encourages the use of a brush (not to mention a superior knowledge of how to blend colors), Concealer requires no brushes or artistic skills. It’s also creamy, rather than sticky, and blends well, but dries matte.
Best Concealer Kit: Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit
For when you want to fix what you’re doing without dropping the paddle. This concealer comes with a pressed powder to 1. offset the pink tones of the concealer with a hint of yellow and 2. minimize overall shine and movement throughout the day.
Best Concealer for a Glowing Complexion: Diorskin Star Concealer
This product is closer in consistency to a foundation or the famous Touche Éclat, but a bit stickier. It dries to a glossy finish, rather than chalky or pasty, though this means it doesn’t last very long. That’s fine, it’s sleek enough to take off twice a day.
Best Concealer That’s Secretly Very Effective: Benefit Erase Paste
Take Boi-ing and pair it with Secret Concealer… aka Erase Paste. It’s creamy, but very effective. Despite its name, this product is no joke. It’s nice to know you have this guy on your side, but maybe not every day.
Best All-Natural Concealer: RMS “Un’ Cover-Up”
Okay, here’s a name that suits us. It’s not a concealer—why would you want to cover it up? It’s genius, right? Another amazing thing: What Erin Wasson has to say about the product itself: “I think this is the most amazing beauty product ever created. It’s like skin. Foundation grosses me out, but it’s like a natural foundation. All of [Rose-Marie Swift’s] products are natural—we could eat her products.”
How to apply concealer?
No matter which concealer you use, the application technique you use will be more or less the same. Here are the key takeaways:
- Do you have dry skin, especially around your eyes? Apply a thin layer of cream first and let it sit for a while before applying concealer.
- Don’t apply concealer over powder foundation. This could leave streaks or cause the powder to clump. Always apply your concealer first when using powder foundation.
- A concealer one or two shades lighter than your skin color is enough to neutralize dark areas of skin without drawing attention to it.
- Use your fingertip, a brush, or a clean sponge to apply concealer over any imperfections and blend until you can no longer see the transition between the concealer and your skin or foundation.
- Apply a thin layer of loose or pressed powder over concealer to make it last longer.
- Don’t use powder over a concealer with a matte finish as the result may appear dry or the concealer may start to look dry. Experiment to see what works best for you: with or without powder.
- Do you use concealer under your eyes? Then try a concealer with a satin finish or apply a little luminescent highlighter. This will reflect the light and hide shadow areas even better. Keep in mind that a luminescent highlighter is not always a good choice for wrinkles, as it can accentuate skin folds.
Cream concealer
Available in satin or cream finish, in a small pot or palette. For medium to full coverage. Offers better coverage than liquid concealer due to its thicker texture and opaque pigments.
- Ideal for normal, dry or sensitive skin.
- Choose your own coverage, from medium to full.
- Perfect for under the eyes.
- A great option to conceal discolorations such as melasma (also known as pregnancy mask) or birthmarks.
Liquid concealer
Liquid concealers are available in satin, shimmer or matte finish. A matte finish will last longer than a satin finish. However, satin can look more natural, especially on drier skin areas.
A shimmery, glossy finish is the best choice for under the eyes as it will highlight them.
- For normal, combination, oily or sensitive and blemish-prone skin.
- Versatile because you can decide how much coverage you want.
- Great for covering pimples because it doesn’t clump. Very little risk of making blemishes worse, unlike creamier concealers.
Conclusion
Concealers hide skin discolorations and imperfections. They brighten dark and shadowy areas and create a smooth, even skin tone when combined with foundation. Find out how to choose and use the best concealer for your skin type and skin concern.
