Concealer is the can’t-live-without sidekick to foundation - that little extra bit of insurance for our skin. Whether you like to team it with your base to create an all-over even finish, or just want to hide the odd blemish in a hurry, concealer saves the day in one quick dab, slick and blend.
But not everyone is content with their concealer. If the formula’s too dry, your skin can look caked and crusty. Too oily a formula wipes off within minutes. And let’s not even talk about the ones that gather in the lines of the face. Here’s our list of the only concealers you need to know about – taking in each one’s special qualities, and catering for all skin types and preferences. If you’re in the market for a new concealer, read on for the best of the best.
How to buy the best concealer for you
What factors should I think about when buying my concealer?
The first thing to consider is formula. If you have oily skin, the best formula to go for is oil-free, which will help to flatten the look of blemishes instead of accentuating them. If you have dry skin, opt for a creamy formula that will help to hydrate at the same time as concealing the problem. Aside from that, think about what you want to use your concealer for. A denser texture, for example, will work harder at hiding pigmentation, while a more fluid texture is ideal for thinner skin under the eyes.
How much should I spend?
The experts say you shouldn’t spend more on your concealer than you do on your foundation. A concealer is a supporting act, meant to either enhance your base or cover up and contour only selected areas of the face. While it’s important to buy the right one for your needs, this shouldn’t be where the majority of your budget goes.
What other things do I need to think about?
Think about application method: how do you prefer to apply your concealer, and in what circumstances will you be using it? If you like to get stuck in, you might choose a pot that you can dab your finger into. But an on-the-go girl may prefer a different approach, to keep mess (and bacteria transmission) to a minimum. If you’re a fan of precision, choose a concealer with a doe-foot applicator for hard-to-reach areas, which you can then blend with a brush.
The best concealers you can buy
1. YSL Touche Éclat: The best for hiding dark circles
Price when reviewed:£25.50 – Buy Now from Amazon
This iconic illuminating formula has been a favourite of top makeup artists worldwide since its launch 25 years ago, and it’s particularly great for concealing under-eye circles and achieving a radiant finish. The light texture enables it to blend easily and quickly, and it can also be used as a highlighter when applied along the tops of the cheekbones thanks to clever brightening properties.
Apart from the impressive formula, the stand-out feature of this product is the click-pen applicator: simply press down on the top to release however much liquid you need into the built-in brush. It ensures there’s no wastage, and the sturdy lid that shuts with a loud, click to won’t come off in your handbag. It’s a neat, mess-free way to transport your concealer that many brands have since mimicked.
Key details: Available in nine shades
2. Revlon Photoready Concealer: The best concealer for under £10
Price when reviewed:£7 – Buy Now from Amazon
Revlon’s PhotoReady foundation has been championed many a time, but its concealing partner is just as brilliant. Not only is it more than capable of hiding redness, acne and dark circles, it adds a luminosity to your skin thanks to clever light-diffusing Photochromatic pigments.
Its oil-free, cream formula is perfect for acne prone skin, gliding over it easily without the pulling or clogging that you might expect from a cream concealer costing under £10. It comes in a convenient twist-up stick, and can be applied either directly with your finger or a brush. With five shades to choose from, you might just find your perfect match.
Key details: Available in five shades
3. Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer: The best concealer for coverage
Price when reviewed:£24 – Buy Now from Amazon
Nars’ brightening, skin-enhancing, smoothing liquid formula is so good that you could skip the foundation, and just apply it directly to the bits that need covering up. The doe-foot applicator makes it easy to pinpoint these areas, and every time you pull it out of the container there’s a generous amount of product to play with.
On that note, be warned that a little goes a long way - but once you’ve mastered how much you need for each application, the product blends beautifully into the skin and instantly brightens and levels out your complexion. A must for those wanting high coverage, a flawless finish and lots of shade options.
Key details: Available in 15 shades
4. Rimmel London Wake Me Up Concealer: Best on the High Street
Price when reviewed:£6.49 – Buy Now from Amazon
If Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer is outside of your budget, here’s its high-street counterpart. It offers the same handy doe-foot applicator for precision, and it makes skin look radiant while expertly concealing problem areas. Just note that the liquid formula might be slightly too wet for some consumers’ taste: this can cause messy application or product wastage, so it takes some blending if you overload the brush. The clinical smell can be somewhat off-putting too, but skin-awakening vitamin C and radiance pearls make up for it. Plus, it stays put for up to ten hours - which is just as well, as its thickness can make it tricky to touch up over existing powders or liquid foundation. Overall, for the price it’s a great, hard-working concealer.
Key specs: Available in four shades
5. Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage: The best high-end concealer
Price when reviewed:£27.50 – Buy Now from Amazon
This clever concealer comes in a two-shade compact - one to match your skin’s depth of colour and the other to match the undertone. Choose the combination that’s closest to your skin tone, then blend the two colours together to create your perfect concealer finish. The idea might sound gimmicky, but it really works - just allow a little extra time to blend and apply. The formula itself is creamy – perfect for drier skins – and being non-comedogenic, it stays put. It’s high in coverage too, thanks to strong pigments.
It’s a shame that the recommended applicator brush is sold separately – for this price, you’d expect a mini version to be included – but any small, synthetic makeup concealer brush should be fine for applying this sophisticated, upmarket concealer.
Key details: Available in six shade combinations