Beauty Tips & Inspiration
The best undereye concealers
Dark circles? Puffiness? No problem – we’ve got the world’s best makeup for tired eyes (expert-approved)
Thought you’d found the best concealer? The truth is – finding your perfect match under eye concealer can feel never ending – one second you’ve found The One, then before you know it, Charlotte Tilbury rolls out a gamechanging new formula (darling) and you’ve parked The One for The Shiny New One.
But what if I told you that there’s a formulation and fix designed specifically for you, RN? A makeup match made in makeup heaven. The Rachel to your Ross. The G to your T. The sock to your, er, other sock.
Made for exhausted undereyes, for tired, puffy eyes, to colour correct, to brighten dark circles, for light-to-full coverage, to treat hormonal skin, to blur fine lines… There’s a concealer out there that you can 100% commit to.
Longing to find your No 1? Well 78 formulations later, here are my eight GREATS – aka the best undereye concealers, worthy of your time and money. But first things first…
How to pick your perfect undereye concealer
Find your solution
Dark circles? Try illuminators. Puffy, exhausted-looking undereyes? Try caffeine, peptides and hyaluronic acid.
Know your day
Thicker, putty-like formulas are your friend on those days, when you long for lasting coverage. Liquid finishes are perfect for quick perk-me-ups. Creamy blends are just right, marrying medium longwear coverage, minus the creases.
You do you
How do you usually apply makeup? Are you a ‘dip your face in and hope for the best’ type? Opt for stick concealers, in-built wands or applicator sponges to make reapplying on the go a doddle. Fancy yourself as an MUA in the making? If you have the time/talent, tap concealer in with your fingertips or a concealer brush, then set with powder for a look that lasts.
Tired eyes? Try Lancôme Teint Idole
Tired eyes? Try Lancôme Teint Idole
Often touted as the best undereye concealer for brightening dark circles, Lancôme’s lightweight, sweat-resistant undereye corrector promises 24-hour hydration with full coverage (aka no need for powder) and it suits even my sensitive skin. Available in 20 shades, so… snaps all round.
For puffy undereyes, try Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat High Cover
For puffy undereyes, try Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat High Cover
If anyone knows brightening, it’s YSL and its megawatt wand. Available in 11 shades, and yours for a luminous, lit-from-within finish, it offers (surprisingly) high coverage, minus any creases. But it’s the MUA’s magic ingredient – caffeine – that’ll have you looking more awake, fast.
On a budget? Try It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye
On a budget? Try It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye
Bye Bye reached cult status way back in 2010 when it sold out on launch, fast becoming one of the world’s most popular undereye concealers. Available in 26 shades and designed to conceal, blur and colour correct, its thicker consistency provides matt, long-lasting high coverage – ideal for oilier types (and no need for powder). It’s also packed with skin-loving peptides and antioxidants.
Want WOW results, fast? Charlotte Tilbury Magic Away Liquid
Want WOW results, fast? Charlotte Tilbury Magic Away Liquid
The best vegan undereye concealer, Charlotte Tilbury’s wonderwand reduces the appearance of blemishes, dark circles, redness and pigmentation. Available in 20 shades, and yours for medium coverage (with a flash of radiance), Tilbs calls it ‘elastic second skin’ – I call it sorcery, of the best kind. But it’s the easy-use precision applicator sponge that makes this The One for fast, fuss-free, on-the-go application.
More mature skin? Try Bobbi Brown Skin Full Cover
More mature skin? Try Bobbi Brown Skin Full Cover
With a creamy texture and nourishing hyaluronic acid, Skin Full delivers featherweight full coverage, helping to disguise dark circles and blemishes with zero creasing. Available in 23 skin-true shades, for natural, grownup glow and a smooth, seamless finish.
Conceal, don’t feel, with Laura Mercier Flawless Ultra-Longwear
Conceal, don’t feel, with Laura Mercier Flawless Ultra-Longwear
The most natural-looking undereye concealers feel weightless, blurring dark circles and diffusing light for a brightening, ‘lifted’ effect, without the ‘full face on’ feels. Available in 22 shades, Flawless promises 12 hours of high-performance wear (think: wedding day, board meeting or, in my case, 5am starts) for lightweight coverage that, sure, won’t cover scars but, thanks to the silk powder and silica, will erase exhaustion, fast.
For full coverage, try Too Faced Super Coverage Multi-Use
For full coverage, try Too Faced Super Coverage Multi-Use
Too Faced’s multi-use concealer doubles as full-face coverage that blurs blemishes too. The foam covered applicator tip (doe-foot shaped should techical terminology be your thing) is precise enough for the inner corners of the eye, while the creamy texture is non-comedogenic (won’t clog pores), blending beautifully on cheeks. Available in 35 shades and loved by MUAs, it promises zero flashback, making it the perfect plus-one for any wedding/holiday/big day photos too.
Our No 1 best all-rounder? Hourglass Vanish Airbrush
Our No 1 best all-rounder? Hourglass Vanish Airbrush
A one-of-a-kind, undeniably fancy, feels-like-cashmere concealer. The kind of ‘wake up makeup’ that’ll see you forgoing the rest of your kit, this five-star rated, award-winning, pro favourite coverup is… wait for it… longwearing, crease-resistant, waterproof, pore-diffusing, light-reflecting, highly pigmented yet weightless – and promises maximum results, with minimal product. Available in 22 shades, it conceals and brightens, for a soft-focus, celebrity finish. It’s delish.
3 expert tips that stick
How to apply concealer, from those who know
Prep skin
‘Give “bounce” back to thirsty under eyes with a [metal applicator] eye cream, keep it in the fridge for extra oompf’ Charlotte Tilbury
Double up
‘Use a concealer closest to your current skin tone to colour correct dark circles, and a lighter, more reflective one to brighten’ Caroline Barnes
Quick Fix
‘Wait 60 seconds for eye cream to absorb before applying makeup, to avoid product piling.’ Dot concealer under the eye (blending with a brush or fingertips) and set with sheer powder. Nikki_makeup