I receive a slew of samples, and when I find something I like, I can’t wait to tell you all about it!
Let’s face it; no one’s skin is perfect…unless we’re talking about Lupita Nyong’o because her’s is flaw-less! Whether it’s acne that pops up at the worst time, undereye circles that appear after an all-night Netflix binge, or uneven tone from scarring or a lack of sun protection, it can make us feel insecure.
Sure, there are plenty of pimple solutions on shelves, but they often take a few days to eliminate the acne and can leave some redness in its wake. And if you’re a picker like me — yes, I know — or regularly deal with hyperpigmentation, you’re often let with a dark reminder after the inflammation goes down. Not to mention, dark circles need more than just a cool set of spoons or an eye patch to disappear.
But while we wait for our skin to return to its homeostasis, many of us reach for a concealer to hide those blemishes and even out our tone. So you’re starting with a blank canvas wherever you go from there, whether it’s a couple of coats of mascara and a little lip balm or contouring and highlighting until you’ve sculpted a perfect visage. But not all concealers are created equal, as I’ve learned from testing a load of formulas. Some are amazing at eliminating the look of a zit, and others are better at brightening your undereyes.
Since concealers are a staple in every makeup maven’s kit, I’m sharing a few of the favorites that I return to when I need to hide any blemish I’m uncomfortable with or any undereye evidence of a late night. They pack enough pigment to get the job done but lie down smoothly enough to blend with the rest of my makeup seamlessly. Check them all out below!
- BareMinerals BareSkin Complete Coverage Serum Concealer, $21
BareMinerals might be known the best for its plethora of mineral powders, but the brand made waves when it not only introduced a liquid foundation in 2014 but also a corresponding concealer just a year later. I’d already become a big fan of the foundation thanks to its silky formula that felt like a second skin (but better!), but I was blown away by how well it not only hide my undereye circles but also my darkest acne scars. It got to the point that I started skipping the foundation altogether, just dotting and blending the concealer where I need it, which its high-definition optics counteract any shadows to ensure skin looks luminous. Think of it as an amazing alternative to the much-beloved NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer.
- Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Concealer, $26
This concealer was what really put Kat Von D’s line into the spotlight after the tattoo artist completely covered her body and every hint of ink with the product. Needless to say, everyone including me, lost their minds over the formula’s effectiveness and snapped up a tube. And I was pleasantly surprised to find that not only were the colors created in a relatively wide range but also included options for warm and cool tones. While the concealer’s packaging has switched up a few times, the formula still delivers the same magical ability to hide anything! I tested it by covering up the tattoo on my wrist for an interview early in my career, and though I didn’t land the job, they never noticed anything amiss on my wrist. I regularly use this to hide any serious dark spots, but’s its also fairly tacky enough to help fill in any small divots in the skin.
- Urban Deacy Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer, $29
Surprisingly, I started using the brand’s batch of Naked Skin Color Correctors long before giving the concealer a try. I loved how well the CC fluids worked to help hide any redness or dark areas on my face (the salmon one is still a go-to for me), so I was blown away by the amazing amount of coverage I got with the concealer. Seriously, a drop can go a long way without it ever looking or feeling heavy and cakey, and you can even layer it over the CC fluid for a flawless canvas. Plus it’s formulated with peptides, Japanese green tea, and Litchiderm™, which is derived from lychee fruit, all to keep skin looking hydrated, gorgeous, and glowy even after you take your makeup off.
- It Cosmetics Bye Bye Breakout Full Coverage Treatment Concealer, $28
While most concealers can cover up a zit, this concealer can actually treat it. Modeled after Mario Badescu’s iconic drying lotion, it’s blend punched up pigments with oil-absorbing zinc oxide, kaolin clay, witch hazel, tea tree, sulfur, and an AHA/BHA complex. The killer combination kills the bacteria and drains any pus so by the time you take off your face for the day, you won’t even remember it was there. Seriously, I get at least one Magic Mountain-sized zit during every moon cycle, and a dab of this before the rest of my complexion cosmetics is all it takes to get the job done.
- Clinique Beyond Perfecting Super Concealer, $26
This might be the newest addition, but it’s quickly become a favorite! It might appear thin out of the tube, but the coverage is awesome. It provides instant hydration that feels cool and refreshing on contact, making it an amazing option for the undereye area. While the shade was slightly darker than my skin tone (no worries, it’ll be perfect when my summer tan sets in even with sunscreen), it doesn’t move even when the temperature rises. I sweat at the drop of a hat, so there’s no guarantee that my makeup will be in the same place I applied by the time I get to swelter of the subway. But this one didn’t go anywhere even when I worked up a sweat running from meeting to meeting.