Of the numerous many magnificence matters individuals ask me about, I get extra questions on methods to discover one of the best under-eye concealers than every other. In reality, most make-up shoppers appear extraordinarily confused about which under-eye concealer to purchase and it is easy to see why: there are lots of available on the market, in an array of supply techniques, textures, colours, protection ranges and even finishes. So many in truth that it may be powerful, if not downright intimidating, to search out the precise possibility on your pores and skin, your make-up model — and your price range.
However a change in seasons is an efficient time to overtake one’s magnificence routine, together with re-evaluating your concealer selections, or, if you have not but, attempting one out for the primary time. When completed proper, an excellent concealer can disguise myriad facial blemishes, darkish spots and circles; it could possibly make our faces seem brighter and much more awake, notably as we age. When completed fallacious, nevertheless, a foul under-eye concealer could make us appear like Bette Davis in No matter Occurred to Child Jane?
To assist mitigate the confusion, over the previous yr, I attempted greater than 40 totally different concealer manufacturers. I examined all of them on my 50-year-old under-eye space and rated them in keeping with protection, end (did they settle into tremendous strains? did they make the realm look dry?) and worth. Lastly, I requested skilled make-up artists for tips about methods to truly apply this legendary make-up workhorse, how to decide on one’s right shade, plus the concealer errors we’re all making and methods to cease — beginning at this time.
The Greatest Undereye Concealers of 2024
For the uninitiated, listed below are a couple of concealer fundamentals. There are primarily 5 essential classes of concealer: gel, liquid, stick, cream and cream to powder. Of those, one of the best for the under-eye space are typically gel, liquid, stick and, to a lesser extent, cream.
Every class has its dark-circle/under-eye coverup benefits and, relying in your age and pores and skin kind, main disadvantages. Make-up artists I spoke with differed wildly on the “finest” system, however most all agreed that the realm must be hydrated for any of those merchandise to work successfully. That is very true if you happen to’re looking for one of the best under-eye concealer for mature pores and skin.
Given this, and the truth that I am lazy, there was one clear on a regular basis concealer winner for me and my pores and skin kind (mixture) and make-up desire (not a lot):
I like every little thing about this award-winning serum/gel concealer from Trinny London which, in keeping with the model, sells one tube each 15 seconds. I like that it is a extremely hydrating skin-care/make-up hybrid, which suggests I do not want a watch cream once I use it. I like the applicator which is tilted and formed to completely match within the nook of my under-eye hollows. I like the protection — gentle however buildable. I like that it brightens the orbital space with out wanting like make-up and I like that there are 12 shades to select from and a intelligent “coloration match” quiz system that will help you resolve. I didn’t love how lengthy it took to reach (10 days) and that the delivery was $13, however actually, when you have older pores and skin and desire a gentle protection, pure “no make-up” look (my fave), that is for you.
- Zero creasing or settling into tremendous strains
- Straightforward color-match system
- 12 shade choices
- Moisturizing
- Light-weight
- Good for on a regular basis put on
- Accommodates hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and peptides
- Transport is pricey
- Protection is extra sheer than liquid or stick formulation
Greatest Gel Concealers
“I like to recommend a concealer that won’t solely even out pores and skin tone and blur imperfections but additionally assist enhance the pores and skin,” says superstar make-up artist Rebecca Restrepo (her purchasers embody Debra Messing, Lucy Liu and Jessica Williams). In our interview, Restrepo steered me towards the brand new (to me) class of gel concealers: “I like gel formulation as a result of they have a tendency to glide over the pores and skin simply with out pulling pores and skin that is probably not as taut. In addition they are likely to not settle into tremendous strains, which is a priority as we age.”
This gel system serum + concealer goes on sheer and pure wanting and the end is satiny-smooth. It is buildable — layer extra on days if you want heavier protection. It is compact, is available in a dozen totally different shades and is — maybe better of all — inexpensive (proper now, below $10!). Full disclosure: the system did settle into at the very least one or two of my tremendous strains, however I might simply blur it again out with a sponge or a brush.
- Moisturizing
- Light-weight
- Reasonably priced
- 12 shade selections
This light-weight gel concealer is just not solely Vanessa Williams’s favorite, it is also the primary one talked about by make-up artist Rebecca Restrepo, who named it one of the best concealer available on the market: “It’s a crease-free and buildable concealer in a gel type that applies easily over tremendous strains and wrinkles,” she says. “It’s by no means cakey. The system has skin-care elements like alpha lipoic acid, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and caffeine so as to add moisture and scale back the looks of darkish circles and puffy pores and skin.”
Once I tried it, I discovered the formulation to glide on simply as Restrepo mentioned, giving ample protection and leaving a silky end I appreciated. My solely difficulty with this product is, whereas the shade I picked (“Luminous”) labored for my pores and skin and the model says they use an unique “sensible tint know-how” that matches your pores and skin tone by utilizing the pores and skin’s pure pH, there are nonetheless solely 4 choices to select from, which — maybe even with this know-how — could also be limiting for a lot of pores and skin tones.
- Gel system glides on {smooth} over wrinkles
- Would not cake or crease
- Buildable for sheer or heavier protection
- Accommodates below eye pores and skin boosters like vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and caffeine
- Make-up artist favourite
Greatest Stick Concealers
After gel, one of the best class of under-eye concealer (and, actually, concealer interval) I examined by myself pores and skin is the stick. Concealer sticks are versatile, tremendous simple to use (no mess!) and mix. Plus, not like matte cream variations, they will not spotlight your below eye wrinkles or soak into tremendous strains.
Make-up artist Jillian Dempsey additionally favors the stick concealer, explaining that the important thing to profitable utility is utilizing it in tandem with a moisturizer. Dempsey, whose A-list purchasers embody Jennifer Lawrence and Kate Winslet (alongside together with her husband, McDreamy/Patrick Dempsey), makes use of her personal line to attain the specified end result. “Everybody’s desire is totally different however I like so as to add a skinny layer of Mixturizer below my eyes and permit it to soak in a few minutes. Then I heat up my Spot Stick Concealer, which has a matte end, and I faucet and mix it out. I exploit [the shade] #05 and generally combine it with #03 for one of the best outcomes. I’ll add extra as wanted however I wish to solely cowl my darkish circles below my eyes and on the interior nook space of my eyes.”
I attempted Jillian Dempsey’s concealer stick after making use of an ample layer of Tatcha’s Eye Brightener Serum. The mix made my darkish circles all however disappear. The end of the JD concealer is {smooth} and matte which balanced the extra greasy serum. What I particularly appreciated about this product was the way it stayed on a lot of the day and, once I wished a little bit further protection later, was tremendous simple to use on the go. One caveat: On one other day, when my under-eye space was dryer/with out serum, the stick was a bit crumbly and tougher to use and mix.
- Straightforward to use and mix
- 13 shade choices
- Easy coloration match
- Medium protection
- Mild product, good for delicate pores and skin
- Works finest with a moisturizing product
- Texture generally is a bit crumbly
This cleverly designed face pencil is a part of make-up artist extraordinaire Bobbi Brown’s line Jones Highway. It is a surprisingly wonderful alternative for conventional liquid concealers — ideally suited for zeroing in on anyplace you need protection (below eyes, redness across the nostril) and blends superbly with none form of caking or settling into tremendous strains. I like utilizing it to paint in my under-eye space nearly in the identical approach you’ll a lip liner for lips. The pencil blends simply and the impact is tremendous pure — that is an modern product and a stellar concealer for all areas of the face. The one draw back I discovered via testing is it melts off pretty rapidly on mixture pores and skin, requiring that you just reapply.
- Supple, non-drying texture
- Extremely-precise utility
- Goes on {smooth}
- Medium protection
- 25 shades, simple matching
- Not as long-lasting as others
Benefit’s Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Basis and Concealer Stick supplied all of the under-eye/blemish/age-spot camouflaging I used to be in search of whereas additionally gliding on super-smooth and including moisture again into my pores and skin. The protection is gentle for positive, but when that is what you are in search of, this simple, creamy jumbo stick might be utilized throughout, blends nicely, feels pure and is actually aces. I just like the protection, however if you happen to’re in search of medium to full protection, this is not your choose.
- Straightforward to make use of
- 20 shade choices
- Moisturizing
- Dewy end
- Gentle, pure protection
- Feels good on the pores and skin
- The sunshine protection is probably not sufficient for some customers
- Dear
Greatest Liquid Concealers
Liquid concealers are the commonest of all concealer varieties — if you happen to’ve used this make-up staple earlier than, that is most certainly the model you’ve got tried. They go on moist (clearly), however as soon as dried, vary in texture from dewy to matte. They work particularly nicely if you’re in your 20s, 30s and even 40s to disguise blemishes and darkish spots however I discovered them much less spectacular in my 50s, as many emphasised wrinkles and crepey-ness and it was tougher to discover a coloration match.
Should you’re utilizing such a concealer for the under-eye space, it is essential to notice that whereas the product itself could also be creamy, the ultimate impact can look dry, so, if you happen to’re older — as with concealer sticks — it is essential to moisturize the realm first.
This e.l.f model is make-up artist Restrepo’s second favourite concealer and it is easy to see why: It is weirdly non-creasy whereas additionally being full protection and it has long-wearing energy — mine stayed put for the entire workday. It incorporates hyaluronic acid and caffeine to nourish the under-eye space and scale back the looks of darkish circles when you put on it. Final, you possibly can’t beat the worth: $7.
To not be the concealer Eeyore, however… even with all these fantastic qualities, this system was a bit thick for my style, extra paste than liquid. Nonetheless, with 26 shades to select from and 33,000 5-star evaluations, it is completely value a attempt.
- Lengthy-wearing
- Full protection
- Reasonably priced
- Non-creasy
- Accommodates pores and skin boosters hyaluronic acid and caffeine
- Thick consistency
- Could be drying on mature pores and skin
I first heard about Kosas’s cult-favorite concealer from TikTok make-up queen Hailey Bieber: “I simply love that it’s creamy and hydrating and leaves this dewy end on the pores and skin,” she mentioned on this Vogue “Beauty Secrets” video from final yr. Once I tried it I discovered it to be these issues, sure (particularly when utilized over eye cream) but additionally only a wee bit gloopy for my (admittedly heavy-makeup hostile) preferences. Nonetheless, this can be a high quality, full-coverage concealer; beloved by make-up artists, TikTok and celebrities alike. Should you’re in search of a basic liquid concealer in a high-quality formulation (together with skin-health-boosting elements hyaluronic acid and caffeine) and with 28 (!) shade choices, this can be a good wager.
- 28 shade choices
- Excessive-quality elements together with caffeine and hyaluronic acid
- Lengthy-lasting
- Blendable
- Product separates and will must be blended
- Gloopy consistency
OK, so at first you are going to assume the sponge applicator on this concealer is a little bit bizarre. It’s. Nevertheless it’s additionally form of excellent for swooshing on the under-eye space, although, surprisingly not nice for mixing (it was tremendous, I used my fingers). The product itself is moisturizing and non-creasy, which is actually a feat at this value level. It provides {smooth}, medium protection that is ideally suited for darkish circles. Take note the end is matte, which I REPEAT Just isn’t all the time flattering for mature pores and skin, so you might wish to generously hydrate the realm earlier than you apply.
- Tremendous inexpensive
- Works for many pores and skin varieties
- Clean, medium protection
- Non-creasy
- Could be drying for mature pores and skin
Although not a skin-care/make-up hybrid per se, Ami Colé’s concealer incorporates a great deal of skin-nourishing elements like baobab seed, hibiscus flower and vitamin E extracts which soothe delicate undereye pores and skin and assist it retain moisture. It is a lighter protection liquid concealer (perhaps extra like a gel?) that leaves behind a dewy end — which I occur to love, although different customers I spoke with felt they wanted powder after making use of to thwart the shine.
- Mild, all-natural system
- Accessible in 12 shades
- Creamy, however not too thick protection
- Full of antioxidant elements
- Is shinier than most concealers
Greatest Cream Below Eye Concealer
How to decide on the precise concealer shade
“To search out your finest shade, step out into the daylight with a mirror,” advises Jillian Dempsey. “This can inform you every little thing you have to know.” When it comes to undertones, Dempsey says selecting heat tones (peach hues for lighter pores and skin and orange tones for darker pores and skin) work finest for the under-eye space as they cancel out the blue in darkish circles. “Orange covers blue,” she explains.
And, whereas most consultants recommend utilizing a tone one to 2 shades lighter than the remainder of your face to brighten the under-eye space, Dempsey cautions: “The most important mistake I see individuals make is utilizing a concealer with an excessive amount of white pigment that bounces the sunshine. A make-up artist’s worst nightmare is the white bounce again!” As a substitute of cool whites, go for heat, impartial tones nearer to your pure pores and skin coloration. Everybody’s pores and skin is totally different however two methods have labored for me: matching my concealer to the within of my wrist and to the pores and skin on my neck.
Below eye concealer FAQ
How do I apply under-eye concealer?
This is Rebecca Restrepo’s professional method for making use of under-eye concealer: “Flippantly dab a couple of dots of the concealer below the eyes. Pat and {smooth} together with your fingertips. The heat out of your fingers will assist mix the concealer into your pores and skin so it seems to be pure. I like utilizing fingers to mix on mature pores and skin versus a brush so that you just don’t pull on the pores and skin. I like to begin on the inside the attention first as that’s the place the darkish circles begin on the hollowing, then shifting in the direction of the skin of the attention. The surface of the attention doesn’t want as a lot concealing and must be sheer as doable so it’s a veil and no assortment of product within the tremendous strains. This manner there may be actual placement of product and quantity for what is required.”
What are the highest under-eye concealer errors?
Mistake #1: Utilizing an excessive amount of. “You need to all the time begin with a small quantity and add extra product if vital,” says Restrepo.
Mistake #2: Making use of concealer in a room with low gentle — or an excessive amount of gentle. Restrepo says pure gentle is finest for making use of concealer, so you understand how your pores and skin will appear like in most conditions all through the day. “Making use of within the fallacious gentle tends to imply you apply an excessive amount of, or too little product, and never in the precise areas the place you really want protection,” she says.
Mistake #3: Making use of to the fallacious elements of the face “Mature ladies ought to put on much less concealer and solely within the areas in want of protection, or else you make the wrinkles look too apparent,” says Dempsey. “I recommend sticking to masking simply the darkish circle areas and never the ‘smile strains’ for a younger look. Moisturize first too and let it soak in for a hydrated feel and look.”
Meet the consultants
Jillian Dempsey, Hollywood make-up artist
Rebecca Restrepo, Hollywood make-up artist