The ultimate formulas for hydration, dark circles and puffy eyes
Whether you’re looking to brighten dark circles, blur fine lines or reduce redness, for light or full coverage, your dream concealer is out there. To find your perfect match, first think about your needs and then read on for 10 of the best skin-caring concealers worthy of your time and money.
Best concealer for dark circles: NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer
Available in a whopping 30 shades, this NARS concealer provides high coverage and leaves skin feeling cared for. That’s all thanks to a formula packed with actives including peptides and hyaluronic acid, plus vitamins A, C and E to nourish the delicate under-eye area.
Best concealer for puffy eyes: Clarins Instant Concealer
For refreshed, rested eyes look no further than this hydrating corrector that masks the colour of dark circles while restoring the skin’s natural tone. Clarins’ fluid, velvety texture blends into your complexion while hydrating to help erase signs of exhaustion.
Best long-lasting concealer: Hourglass Vanish™ Airbrush Concealer
A five-star-rated, award-winning, feels-like-cashmere concealer that will stay put all day (and all night). Crease-resistant, waterproof, light-reflecting, highly pigmented yet weightless – it’s available in 22 shades and promises maximum results with minimal product.
Best concealer for mature skin: Trinny London BFF Eye Serum Concealer
The holy grail of ‘skin-caring’ concealers, Trinny London’s BFF Eye Serum combines the hydrating power of serum with a concealer that delivers featherweight coverage. With zero creasing it won’t make wrinkles more visible; instead, it lends a natural, grown-up glow.
Best weightless concealer: YSL Touche Éclat Illuminating Pen
Anyone who knows brightening formulas seeks out this YSL classic: the OG illuminating wand. Available in 16 shades, the Touche Éclat Illuminating Pen gives a lit-from-within finish with (surprisingly) high coverage for dark circles and puffiness, and serious staying power.
Best full coverage concealer: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Blur Concealer
Available in 34 shades, CT’s Airbrush Flawless Blur Concealer fully conceals blemishes, dark circles, redness and pigmentation. Supercharged with the brand’s signature powder blur airtech™, it gives a soft-focus, celebrity finish that’s never flaky and stays vibrant all day.
Best concealer for dry skin: Bobbi Brown Skin Concealer Stick
Meet your new skincare sidekick. A super-hydrating, emollient-rich formula that’s perfect for drier skin types. Bobbi Brown’s first-of-its kind stick design blends seamlessly – using just your fingertips – for colour-true coverage. Plus, it’s ideal for on-the-go retouching.
Best colour correcting concealer: MAC Studio Fix 24HR Colour Corrector
Yes, green or ochre concealers might feel funny at first, but find the right MAC wonder-stick for your skin tone and you can instantly cover concerns such as under-eye circles or redness. Just a small dot will neutralise and disguise discolouration to refresh your face.
Best vegan concealer: bareMinerals Liquid Mineral Concealer
Made with 90% naturally derived ingredients, including white water lily extract to hydrate and plump skin, bareMinerals’ lightweight, creamy vegan concealer blends like a dream, giving you an effortlessly even complexion with zero caking or greasiness.
Best waterproof concealer: Fenty Beauty We’re Even Hydrating Longwear Concealer
For concealer that won’t budge from first thing ‘til bedtime (even poolside), Fenty Beauty’s We're Even Hydrating Longwear formula is your ultimate hack. Not only will it stay put, but this makeup-meets-skincare is also packed with skin-loving ingredients to hydrate your skin.
How to apply under-eye concealer
To achieve coverage with luminous longevity – that’s a deeply hydrated finish that stays crease-proof for 12+ hours – follow this technique. And remember: less is more when it comes to the amount of product you use.
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First apply eye cream gently with your ring finger and wait two minutes for it to absorb to avoid piling.
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Use your chosen under eye concealer in the colour closest to your skin tone (or a colour corrector such as MAC’s) to hide dark circles.
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Dab the concealer on using your fingertips, gently patting from the inner eye outwards.
Next, apply a reflective concealer (such as YSL’s )to the inner corners of the eye, the sides of your nose and under eyes to brighten.
