The Best Concealers

New York Times

31-01-2025

Concealer can make you feel like a brighter, bolder, more flawless version of yourself. That is, if you find the right one.
While the category has come a long way since inventor Lydia O'Leary—inspired by her own quest to obscure a port-wine stain—first debuted Covermark with just eight shades in 1928, it can still be a challenge to find a concealer that matches your skin tone and texture.
We tested more than 40 highly rated concealers and sent 14 finalists to a diverse panel to test over six weeks. In the end, four top performers won out, including an excellent all-arounder, a long-wearing formula, a brightening budget concealer, and a radiant favorite that is easier to shade match online. To extrapolate why they tested well, we talked through their ingredient lists with cosmetic chemist Kelly Dobos.
Whatever your shade, skin type, or level of makeup application, we think you'll find a concealer that works for you.
Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter
With an easy-to-use brush applicator, this lightweight, long-lasting formula blends effortlessly, camouflages effectively, and has a light-reflecting finish. It also has a good shade range.
Dior Backstage Flash Perfector Concealer boasts a seeming contradiction: It's a lightweight formulation that both conceals extraordinarily well and finishes smooth without creasing, caking, or looking heavily made up. The product deftly covers and brightens under-eye circles and dark spots in a single swipe. And it just finishes beautifully.
Its under-eye and dark-spot coverage is excellent. Belying its seemingly thin consistency, the Dior Backstage concealer offers 'near perfect' coverage in a single layer. The lightweight formula effectively obscures targeted areas, particularly under-eye circles and dark spots. It also camouflages redness well, albeit not quite as well as the MAC Pro Longwear Concealer we recommend. While just a dab is typically needed for everyday coverage, Dior's concealer also layers seamlessly when more buildable coverage is in order. Left: Model 1 with a bare face. Right: Model 1 wearing Dior Backstage Flash Perfector Concealer in 1W. Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter Left: Model 2 with a bare face. Right: Model 2 wearing Dior Backstage Flash Perfector Concealer in 6W. Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter Left: Model 3 with a bare face. Right: Model 3 wearing Dior Backstage Flash Perfector Concealer in 2W. Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter Left: Model 1 with a bare face. Right: Model 1 wearing Dior Backstage Flash Perfector Concealer in 1W. Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter
While concealment is often achieved in thicker formulas that have a higher concentration of pigment, Dobos said that the effectiveness of Dior's thinner formula may be due to the inclusion of an amino-acid-type surfactant that reduces oil absorption, making it easier to evenly disperse pigments in a thinner formula.
Blending is a dream, right down to the silky, skin-like finish. It practically melts into the skin for a lovely finish somewhere between matte and dewy. Comparatively, many other concealers started creasing, caking, or getting patchy as the day went on and required extra moisturizer. The Dior Backstage concealer blends into the skin more quickly and fluidly than others, blurring pores and skin texture. Some testers detected a slight shimmer—whether that was a pro or con depended on personal preference. The brush applicator was easy and fun to use, and it allowed for precise, targeted application. Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter
The brush applicator is a joy to use. Unlike the pumps of our other picks, MAC Pro Longwear Concealer and Nyx Bare With Me Concealer Serum, or larger applicator tips, the small paintbrush-like wand makes it simple to deposit just the right amount of concealer. Most testers found the brush easy to use—and even fun. 'I felt like an artist,' said one panelist.
It has good longevity. For most panelists, the only product that beat out this Dior concealer in staying power was our pick from MAC. Notably, it also stays put without settling into fine lines or separating. Flaws but not dealbreakers Shade-matching on the Dior website can be frustrating. It doesn't offer a digital matching tool like Nars and MAC. And one of our testers found that the shades appeared darker on her screen than in real life, making it difficult to determine an accurate match without visiting a store. Key specs
Coverage: medium to full
Shades: 22
Price: 0.37-ounce tube for $32 ($22 per 0.25 ounce) Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter
This buildable, blendable full-coverage formula, which comes in 16 great shades, stays put and is a champ at tamping down redness. Its pump dispenser, however, is wasteful and difficult to control.
True to its name, the MAC Pro Longwear Concealer lasts and lasts. The fully opaque concealer has stellar redness cover-up and good camouflaging of under-eye circles and dark spots. Best suited to full makeup looks, the creamy formula blends well into foundation.
Its staying power is impressive. When it comes to longevity, Pro Longwear Concealer stands head and shoulders above every other option we tested. That's because the formula, Dobos told us, includes a notably high concentration of two complementary ingredients: a film-forming silicone resin with longwear properties and a silicone-based solvent that helps the formula dry down solidly. Left: Model 1 with a bare face. Right: Model 1 wearing MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NC25. Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter Left: Model 2 with a bare face. Right: Model 2 wearing MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NC45. Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter Left: Model 3 with a bare face. Right: Model 3 wearing MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NC30. Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter Left: Model 1 with a bare face. Right: Model 1 wearing MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NC25. Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter
Redness cover-up is exceptional. Testers noted that this MAC concealer deftly toned down ruddiness. One panelist with a birthmark on her jawline was also wowed by its coverage. 'With one layer, my birthmark was basically just a slight shadow,' she said. But it also works wonders on dark spots and circles, albeit with an extra coat or two.
The formula is full coverage, but it's also blendable, buildable, and brightening. While it goes on thick and creamy, this MAC concealer blends readily into the skin and dries down smoothly. One panelist noted, 'There was no loss of pigment or strength of coverage after buffing in and spreading.' Some testers observed a brightening effect and pleasing, slightly shiny finish. Flaws but not dealbreakers The dispenser is frustrating and wasteful. Testers unanimously disliked the difficult-to-control pump. Some were able to control its finicky flow with careful pressure, but most found that it typically releases a lot more product than wanted. Key specs
Coverage: full
Shades: 16
Price: 0.30-ounce tube for $31 ($26 per 0.25 ounce)
Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter
The dewy finish and seamless blendability of the Nyx Bare With Me Concealer Serum is in the same league as department store options. Despite its liquid-like consistency, it gamely covered redness and did a decent job on under-eye circles, too. While it doesn't have great longevity, its formula is still a steal for people seeking more sheer and natural coverage.
Even though the formula is thin, it has good redness coverage. When it came to camouflaging redness, Nyx Bare With Me concealer was comparable to the Dior Backstage Flash Perfector Concealer, which is almost three times the price. And it outperformed many more expensive options, such as Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Hydrating & Brightening Concealer and Givenchy Prisme Libre Skin-Caring Concealer. Left: Model 1 with a bare face. Right: Model 1 wearing Nyx Bare With Me Concealer Serum in 3 Vanilla. Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter Left: Model 2 with a bare face. Right: Model 2 wearing Nyx Bare With Me Concealer Serum in 9 Deep Golden. Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter Left: Model 3 with a bare face. Right: Model 3 wearing Nyx Bare With Me Concealer Serum in 5 Golden. Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter Left: Model 1 with a bare face. Right: Model 1 wearing Nyx Bare With Me Concealer Serum in 3 Vanilla. Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter
It blends readily with your bare complexion. Testers who prefer a more natural, sheer finish and were looking to diminish—rather than completely eliminate—imperfections favored Nyx Bare With Me concealer to thicker, full-coverage options. It has a fluid, easy-to-spread texture that blurs and brightens skin and isn't so opaque that it looks heavily made-up. Although the formula is versatile, it works well on its own and is best for minimalist makeup looks.
For a drugstore concealer, it offers a good range of shades. Many budget concealers offer a narrow shade range. Take Covergirl Clean Invisible Concealer, which has only 12 colors, eight of which are cream-toned. Others have an irregular range with big jumps between some shades: Eight of Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Multi-Use Concealer's 16 shades are variations on ivory, with only two deep hues. This Nyx concealer offers a relatively well-balanced 17 choices, so it was easy for panelists to find options that matched their skin tone. One tester noted, 'It's less of a financial burden to get different shades for different parts of the face.' Flaws but not dealbreakers When it came to under-eye circles, testers found that they needed several layers to fully cover up purple hues. And though it lightened smaller dark spots, coverage is on the sheerer side, which didn't work as well for larger patches of hyperpigmentation.
It typically fades more than expensive options. Most testers had to reapply Nyx Bare With Me concealer more often than MAC Pro Longwear Concealer. Though its formula also includes longwear ingredients, they aren't as high up on the label, according to Dobos, and it shows.
The pump dispenser is annoying to use. While testers found that it was easier to dispense smaller amounts than the more expensive MAC concealer, they still found it tedious and messy, and much preferred brushes or wands for more precise and efficient application. Key specs
Coverage: medium
Shades: 17
Price: 0.32-ounce tube for $12 ($9 per 0.25 ounce) Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter
A classic for good reason, this smooth-finish concealer has great coverage. And it has an evenly gradient range of 30 shades and a simple digital tool that makes finding a match easier.
Even if you're using the best concealer on the planet, it won't do much good if it doesn't match your skin—and will likely look a bit weird (say, ghostly, ashy, or orange). Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer makes finding a match relatively easy with a smartly composed, wide range of shades and a powerful online matching tool. The well-formulated, iconic favorite beat out other concealers with expansive shade ranges for its strong coverage and fluid finish.
Coverage is smooth and effective. The creamy, buildable formula has a natural-looking, slightly dewy finish, and it's easy to control. As one panelist put it, this Nars concealer has 'great coverage overall with a single layer of product' and 'lasted very well throughout a full workday.' Left: Model 1 with a bare face. Right: Model 1 wearing Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Café Con Leche L2.6. Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter Left: Model 2 with a bare face. Right: Model 2 wearing Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Walnut MD2.6. Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter Left: Model 3 with a bare face. Right: Model 3 wearing Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Macadamia M1.5. Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter Left: Model 1 with a bare face. Right: Model 1 wearing Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Café Con Leche L2.6. Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter
Shade-matching is a priority for the brand. The Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer comes in 30 shades. That isn't the highest number in the category—Fenty Beauty We're Even Hydrating Longwear Concealer boasts 50—but the colors are thoughtfully constructed. It doesn't include a bunch of redundant shades and has a steady gradation, a contrast to, say, the 24-shade range of It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer, which has big jumps between some hues. 'Nars offers an excellent variety of shades for darker complexions and takes into account the various undertones,' said one panelist.
If you've already found a match elsewhere, it's easy to find your shade, too. Nars's digital matching tool—powered by the database Findation, which works with 1,577 global brands—asks for the brand, product, and shade of your current concealer and then recommends the Nars equivalent. While MAC Pro Longwear Concealer has a similar online tool that also runs on Findation, it has about half as many shades. The doe foot applicator precisely places concealer right where you want it to be. Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter
Precise application is a breeze, thanks to the tiny doe-foot applicator. While some applicators are angular and bendy (like that of Fenty Beauty's concealer) or oversized sponges (like that of Maybelline Instant Age Rewind concealer), the applicator on Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer is simple. Slender, stiff, and straight, the wand is easy to wield no matter your level of expertise in makeup application, and it comes to a pointed tip ideal for tiny dots and dabs. Flaws but not dealbreakers It creased for some testers. The majority of our panelists, across different skin types, found that this Nars concealer finished smoothly. But one panelist in her 20s with combination skin reported that as her face got oilier, the formula started to get cakey, and she preferred the Nars Soft Matte Complete Concealer. Another panelist in her 50s was not a fan of the texture.
The price is a little deceptive, and the full-sized tube is small compared with other major brands. While the Nars and Dior concealers cost the same, the latter, at 0.37 ounce, is 68% larger than Nars, at 0.22 ounce. Key specs
Coverage: medium
Shades: 30
Price: 0.05-ounce mini tube for $15 ($75 per 0.25 ounce); 0.22-ounce tube for $32 ($36 per 0.25 ounce)
I've been a lifestyle journalist since 2010, reporting for a variety of publications, including Harper's Bazaar, GQ, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and Racked. I've also edited in-depth investigative features, and I bring that rigor and skepticism to beauty journalism. Since my acne-ridden teens, I've relied on concealer for coverage, and now in adulthood, I use it daily for camouflaging and brightening splotchy redness, hyperpigmentation, and under-eye circles.
For this guide, I consulted with cosmetic chemists Perry Romanowski and Kelly Dobos and makeup artists Renée Loiz and Gregory Arlt to ensure that our reporting reflects up-to-date industry expertise in formulation and broad experiences in using concealers at a professional level. I had my shade-matched by a makeup artist at Nars in the winter many years ago and at MAC in the summer for this guide, and I visited multiple Sephora and Ulta locations to test shade-matching in store conditions.
In our initial round of research, we polled makeup artists and beauty-obsessed Wirecutter staffers on their favorite concealers; collated products from best-of lists, beauty-award winners, and Reddit threads; and pulled best sellers at Sephora, Ulta, and Target. That resulted in a list of 85 options that we further whittled down to the 41 most cross-referenced concealers. We did not include color correctors, which are a different product category, and we did not consider concealers for highlighting purposes.
Over the course of six weeks, I tested those concealers side-by-side on the left and right halves of my face multiple times to account for variances in the weather and the condition of my skin. The 14 top-scoring concealers were then sent to a panel of testers.
To ensure that we could address a wide range of shades and undertones, targeted areas, and skin types, we assembled a panel of eight diverse testers. This included people in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s, ranging across light, medium, and deep skin tones. The panel included people with normal, dry, oily, and combination skin types, and those who identified under-eye circles, dark spots or hyperpigmentation, acne, redness, eczema, and a birthmark among their concerns.
For another six weeks, each tester reviewed the 14 finalists using the following criteria on a scale of one to five. Coverage: Panelists assessed how well a concealer covered up their individual targeted areas separately, including under-eye circles; redness, acne, or birthmarks; and dark spots or hyperpigmentation. They assessed if they needed to apply multiple layers and if the concealer was buildable.
Panelists assessed how well a concealer covered up their individual targeted areas separately, including under-eye circles; redness, acne, or birthmarks; and dark spots or hyperpigmentation. They assessed if they needed to apply multiple layers and if the concealer was buildable. Finish: We favored concealers that were easy to blend into the skin well and had a smooth finish. We docked points for products that creased, caked, or settled into fine lines or pores.
We favored concealers that were easy to blend into the skin well and had a smooth finish. We docked points for products that creased, caked, or settled into fine lines or pores. Application: We assessed how easy it was to dispense, distribute, and apply the concealer.
We assessed how easy it was to dispense, distribute, and apply the concealer. Longevity: We noted how quickly a product started fading or separating during the day.
We noted how quickly a product started fading or separating during the day. Value: To evaluate how budget concealers compared with prestige brands, we tried options ranging in cost from $6 to $75. To more accurately assess this metric, we also calculated the price per 0.25 ounce. Some luxury brands (such as Armani Beauty) were actually much better value than they seemed, while others (like Hourglass) were more expensive than their sticker price suggested. We also asked panelists whether they would buy each concealer with their own money.
To evaluate how budget concealers compared with prestige brands, we tried options ranging in cost from $6 to $75. To more accurately assess this metric, we also calculated the price per 0.25 ounce. Some luxury brands (such as Armani Beauty) were actually much better value than they seemed, while others (like Hourglass) were more expensive than their sticker price suggested. We also asked panelists whether they would buy each concealer with their own money. Shade range and matching: We only considered concealers with a shade range of at least 15, the minimum experts suggested. We also asked our diverse panel how easy it was to find a shade that matched their skin.
If you don't know your shade and undertone (cool, neutral, warm), the easiest way to find it is to go to a department or beauty store and get matched by a professional at least once. You could also test a range of shades on your face until you find one that blends in well and get a sense of your undertone. (With variability in lighting, shadows, and the accuracy of colors on monitors, we didn't have much luck trying to use brands' online tools that took photos of our face and then colored them with shades.)
Once you've found an accurate match and know your undertone, it's much easier to find an equivalent for another brand using Findation or to go up or down a shade if your skin gets darker in the summer and lighter in the winter.
Covergirl Clean Invisible Concealer had decent coverup, but only offered 12 shades.
While E.L.F. 16HR Camo Concealer came in 24 hues, its oversized wand was unwieldy, and it had a powdery, dull finish.
Makeup Revolution IRL Filter Finish Concealer had weak coverage, a streaky finish, and a narrow shade range.
We were let down by a drugstore-favorite, Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Multi-Use Concealer, which provided so-so coverage, dried cakey, and settled into fine lines. Its twisting sponge applicator was also a pain to use. And its shade range had big jumps, particularly frustrating our panelists with deeper skin tones. $16 to $34
The dry, very matte Benefit Boi-ing Cakeless Concealer was hard to move around and looked patchy on the skin.
Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Radiant Concealer had a glimmering, light-reflecting finish, but also deposited teeny, glitter-like particulates across the skin.
Known for its inclusive shade range, Fenty Beauty We're Even Hydrating Longwear Concealer looked simultaneously dry and patchy under the eyes and shiny in the T-zone. Its white plastic top and tippy, angled bottom also looked cheap, given the price.
Slick Glossier Stretch Balm Concealer seemed to highlight tiny under-eye bumps.
The too-big wand for Haus Labs Triclone Skin Tech Hydrating + De-puffing Concealer had to be tugged out and jammed back in the tube, and the formula caked.
Even though Ilia True Skin Serum Concealer slid on easily, it dried with creasing.
Ironically, It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer did a much better job at covering redness than under-eye circles. Distinctively thick and tacky, it was more challenging to blend, and its finish tended to be a bit shiny. While its shade range included 24 hues, it didn't increase gradually for deeper skin tones, and neither of our panelists on that end of the spectrum could find shades that matched them.
Beloved for lighter skin tones, Laura Mercier Real Flawless Weightless Perfecting Concealer has smooth matte coverage, but its price per weight was high compared with similarly performing products.
Many testers found that the lightweight Lancôme Teint Idole Concealer required multiple layers for effective coverage, its applicator head was the 'bulkiest,' and it didn't have much staying power.
Natural-looking Make Up For Ever HD Concealer had solid, buildable coverage, but it was not exceptional enough to justify its high price versus other concealers that we advanced to panel testing.
Milk Makeup Future Fluid Concealer had a tacky, difficult-to-spread consistency and a powdery, drying finish.
The thick consistency of Nars Soft Matte Complete Concealer required more-expert makeup application, and most panelists found the mattifying effects emphasized creases. But it was the favorite of a 20-something with combo skin who loved the texture and found that it 'toned down oiliness."
Pat McGrath Labs Sublime Perfection Concealer had a thick formula that covered redness quite well, but it was also slightly drying and quite pricey for its weight.
Even though Tarte Shape Tape Full-Coverage Concealer was the most full coverage in its line, which also includes medium-coverage and creamy variants, panelists found it didn't cover under-eye circles particularly well. And its sticky consistency tended to cake for most testers. It did, however, effectively cover a birthmark in one layer.
Creamy Tower 28 Swipe Serum Concealer provided solid under-eye coverage, and most testers appreciated the doe-foot applicator's flexibility and tiny head, but it didn't perform well in obscuring redness. $35 and up
The glamorous Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Hydrating & Brightening Concealer had a glimmering finish that just looked expensive, but its longevity was 'mediocre.' And one of our testers was very frustrated that Armani didn't offer deeper shades in more undertone options.
A cult-favorite and go-to for supervising beauty editor Hannah Morrill, Clé de Peau Concealer SPF 27 provides excellent matte coverage in a single swipe. But its sky-high price and limited shade range kept it from advancing to panel testing.
Though Givenchy Prisme Libre Skin-Caring Concealer and pricier-by-weight Estée Lauder Futurist Soft Touch Brightening Skincealer both blended smoothly and provided good coverage, they also creased or settled into fine lines for half of our panelists as the day progressed. Many also found the Givenchy concealer's larger applicator head to be clunky.
Encased in a 'sexy' frosted, tapered bottle, Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Concealer knocked it out of the park in longevity and coverage for all targeted areas. But panelists balked when asked if they'd buy it themselves.
For no-makeup makeup girlies, dewy RMS Beauty UnCoverup Concealer did indeed leave a glowy finish, but the price per weight was quite high.
Too Faced Born This Way Super Coverage Multi-Use Concealer had a tacky, difficult-to-spread consistency and also slightly emphasized skin texture.
More of a highlighter, exorbitantly priced Yves St Laurent Touche Éclat Awakening Concealer Click Pen doesn't offer much coverage, and its click-pen applicator took a lot of clicking to get going and then released too much product all at once.
This article was edited by Hannah Morrill and Jennifer Hunter.
Gregory Arlt, makeup artist, email interview, March 27, 2024
Renée Loiz, makeup artist, email interview, April 5, 2024
Perry Romanowski, cosmetic chemist and product development expert, phone interview, May 15, 2024
Kelly Dobos, cosmetic chemist and product development expert, phone interview, October 25, 2024
What I Cover
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