These 12 Drugstore Concealers Will Leave Your Skin Looking Flawless Without Draining Your Bank Account (2024)

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Coverage: Full︱Finish: Matte︱Shades: 25︱Size: 0.33 ounces︱Cruelty-Free: No

This product has everything you want in a concealer—whether it’s a drugstore or luxury brand. We were blown away by its performance—it provided full coverage that lasted all day without creasing or looking cakey. We also love that the gentle formula is thick, dries well, and doesn’t cause any irritation.

It layers beautifully with other skincare products. It also effectively covered discoloration thanks to its thick (but not heavy) formula. If we could change one thing, however, we wish the applicator was a little smaller, because its large size makes it difficult to apply a small dab of product.

Coverage: Full︱Finish: Natural︱Shades: 18︱Size: 0.17 ounces︱Cruelty Free: Yes

We reach for Milani’s Conceal + Perfect Longwear Concealer to camouflage blemishes and dark spots. It has a thick formula that provides ample coverage and needs minimal (if any) layering to fully mask discoloration on the skin. Once the concealer is dry, which happens rather quickly, it doesn’t transfer, so no setting powder is needed to keep it in place.

We were really impressed with the applicator that comes with this concealer, too—it’s the perfect size for applying product to smaller areas, like under the eyes, without distributing too much product at once. This concealer performed especially well overall with hydrated skin, but unfortunately, even though it’s made with vitamin E to help keep skin moisturized, it has a bit of a drying effect and clings to dry patches.

Coverage: Full︱Finish: Matte︱Shades: 24︱Size: 0.23 ounces︱Cruelty Free: Yes

We wore e.l.f.’s 16HR Camo Concealer all day long and were beyond impressed with its performance (no touch-ups necessary). The product provides good coverage without needing multiple layers, and it has a fantastic, thick formula that goes on smoothly without settling into pores or looking cakey.

When we say a little goes a long way with this concealer, we mean it. A single swipe of the applicator provides more than enough product for use. Even though the formula is thick, it still feels lightweight on the skin. Our only complaint is that it dries pretty quickly—so quickly that we had to rush to blend it before it was too late.

Coverage: Medium︱Finish: Natural︱Shades: 12︱Size: 0.1 ounces︱Cruelty Free: Yes

BLK/OPL’s Brightening Concealer offers a beautiful matte finish with a formula that goes on smoothly and provides ample coverage. We noticed the thick formula blends well into the skin and sets quickly, plus there is little (if any) transfer from the skin once it’s fully dry. We also love that it’s made with ingredients that help brighten the skin’s appearance, like turmeric extract, cucumber extract, and vitamins C and E.

While thick, it still feels light on the skin and we found that it stays put throughout the day even without setting powder. It’s super easy to layer on top of other products too, like moisturizer and foundation, but we wish it had more moisturizing components in its ingredients.

Coverage: Medium︱Finish: Natural︱Shades: 16︱Size: 0.23 ounces︱Cruelty Free: No

We love L’Oreal Paris’ Age Perfect Radiant Concealer With Hydrating Serum if you want that “glowing from within” look. The formula is made with glycerin and hydrating serum to keep the skin moisturized and leave an illuminating effect for a more radiant appearance. It feels featherlight on the skin and easily layers with other products. It’s also super buildable, however, it does take a few layers for this concealer to fully cover blemishes. Just be careful not to layer too much on or it’ll begin to look cakey.

Coverage: Full︱Finish: Matte︱Shades: 25︱Size: 0.11 ounces︱Cruelty Free: Yes

We love the just-right-thickness of this formula because it offers full coverage, but is still thin enough to build on itself for darker spots without getting cakey. It blends into the skin super well without settling into pores or emphasizing texture. The product is the perfect combo of thick and creamy while still feeling lightweight on the skin.

It’s not drying per se, but it also doesn’t have any noticeable moisturizing effects, either. Still, we found that it layered well on top of other products and leaves skin looking especially dewy (but not greasy) when layered on top of a moisturizer. It would crease a bit if we didn’t buff it out with our finger or a brush, but once we did that, we had no problem with creasing.

Coverage: Medium︱Finish: Natural / dewy︱Shades: 18︱Size: 0.23 ounces︱Cruelty Free: No

Finding a concealer that doesn’t cling to dry skin can be challenging, especially sans oil, but this one from Maybelline answers the call. The oil-free formula blends well into the skin without causing any drying, creasing, or looking cakey. It feels super lightweight on the skin while still providing full coverage. Our tester, Alana said it “sits beautifully on the skin” and that dries well into a matte finish that looks natural and with a brightening effect.

It also layers well over other products like moisturizers, primers, and color correctors. We were really impressed with its performance, too, especially since it stays in place even without setting powder. We just felt like the formula could use a little more pigmentation for better coverage of dark and red spots.

Read our review: A Makeup Artist Calls Maybelline’s Fit Me! Concealer ‘a drugstore Standout’

Coverage: Medium to full︱Finish: Radiant︱Shades: 18︱Size: 0.2 ounces︱Cruelty Free: No

There's a reason this Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser has been a best-seller since its 2010 launch. It's a go-to for Irwin as well. "This is a personal favorite of mine," she tells Byrdie. The colors are great, the texture glides on like butter, and the coverage is impressive."

After putting it to the test, we agree the supremely creamy consistency is easy to blend. We found it reduces dark circles in a pinch with little need for touch-ups throughout the day. This product also wins brownie points for its click-to-dispense design and sponge applicator, which feels nice on the skin and makes it more user-friendly. However, the applicator might get kinda icky over time, so consider buying a new one every few months.

Coverage: Light to medium︱Finish: Natural︱Shades: 5︱Size: 0.05 ounces︱Cruelty Free: No

When you're prone to breakouts, you want a concealer that can cover your blemishes without making them more severe—and we found Neutrogena's SkinClearing Concealer delivers on that promise. Containing salicylic acid (a beta-hydroxy acid or BHA), the formula works to clear and prevent blemishes while covering existing pimples.

We loved how the doe-foot applicator distributes just the right amount of the lightweight cream. It also blended well, didn't appear cakey, and didn't crease or fade throughout the day. In the end, we just wish it came in more shades.

Coverage: Full︱Finish: Matte︱Shades: 30︱Size: 0.33 ounces︱Cruelty Free: Yes

CoverGirl's TruBlend Concealer has a velvety texture, unlike any other we tried. Creamy but not too thick, the lightweight consistency is easy to blend and feels comfortable on the skin, even after it dries to a matte finish. But our favorite part? It comes in 30 different shades.

The full-coverage formula helps even out redness and masks imperfections beautifully. We're also big fans of the large, fluffy doe-foot applicator, making it easy to swipe on the perfect amount anywhere on your face. It does dry quickly though so you should blend it right away.

Coverage: Medium to full︱Finish: Natural︱Shades: 6︱Size: 0.8 ounces︱Cruelty Free: Yes

Although you should still apply sunscreen before doing your makeup (even on cloudy days), you can rest assured that Physician’s Formula Natural Defense Total Coverage Concealer is working overtime to keep you protected. It boasts SPF 30 protection to shield skin from the sun's damaging rays and blue light emitted by electronic devices. We also love that it was tested and approved by derms, so you know it's good for sensitive skin.

It’s easy to blend and feels very comfortable once dry. Just be aware that the applicator tip dispenses the same amount of product every time, so if you need a little less, you may end up wasting some. The shade range is pretty limited too—we hope the brand expands it soon since the formula feels so lovely.

Coverage: Medium︱Finish: Natural︱Shades: 13︱Size: 0.32 ounces︱Cruelty Free: Yes

Skincare meets makeup in NYX's Bare With Me Concealer Serum. We found that it works splendidly for illuminating and hydrating under-eyes, but you can absolutely apply it to your entire face if you want to reap all the skin benefits. It's loaded with nourishing ingredients like tremella mushroom, cica (centella asiatica), and green tea, which is great for keeping skin calm underneath makeup. Plus the hydrating formula will keep your skin moisturized all day.

We're big fans of its lightweight texture—it was easy to blend and never looked cakey. One pump is enough to blur the look of dark circles, acne, redness, and large pores. It does go on wet though, so be ready with your blending tool of choice.

FAQ

• What color concealer is best for dark circles?

  You'll want to use a peach or orange-toned concealer to camouflage dark circles. "I always recommend something with a peach undertone for lighter skin and an orange tone for darker skin," says celebrity makeup artist Katie Mellinger. She explains that orange tones cancel out blue ones—the prominent color in dark circles.

• Can concealer make dark circles appear worse?

  Concealer shouldn't make dark circles appear worse if you use the right shade. Choose a concealer with warmer hues to correct for the bluish or greenish tone of your under-eye circles (a cool-toned shade may not cover discoloration as well).

• What color concealer covers breakouts?

  Pimples typically have a reddish hue, and since red and green are opposites on the color wheel, green is an ideal shade to cover them. Byrdie writer Kaitlyn McLintock explains, "Green concealer is a great, easy way to use color theory to neutralize redness and discoloration." She suggests lightly tapping a green concealer over pimples or blemishes, then using a flesh-colored concealer on top to blend in with your skin.

Edited byAlly Hirschlag