For many of us, concealer is the backbone of our makeup bag. Despite what TikTok would currently have you believe, when creating a seamless base, concealer (not to be confused with equally helpful under-eye correctors) is an integral part of the prep process, especially for anyone with dark under-eyes.
Finding, buying and perfecting the art of concealer application, however, is a far more extensive process thanks to the range of skincare-infused formulas, colour correctors and cooling gels available, not to mention the myriad finishes and shades now on offer. So, in the name of research, I’ve tried and tested hundreds of different concealers in a bid to find the best ones that look natural, don’t budge and refuse to settle into fine lines.
Considering the amount of time and energy I’ve invested in my quest to find the very best dark-circle-disguising concealers out there, I thought it would only be fair to share my findings. So without further ado, this is absolutely everything I’ve learned about getting rid of dark circles, including the 35 best concealers on the market.
Why Do We Get Dark Circles?
Unfortunately, dark circles are often a genetic trait, mostly thanks to thinner skin around the eyes and higher levels of pigmentation in the area. This means that for us dark-circle sufferers who are likely sick of constantly being told we look exhausted, very little can be done about it.
However, this isn’t to say that the appearance of dark circles can’t be affected. by other factors. In fact, peolple who don’t have a genetic predisposition to dark circles may still suffer from them from time to time as a result of certain lifestyle choices. Elizabeth Hawkes, a consultant oculoplastic surgeon at Cadogan Clinic, says, “To help avoid dark circles, I advise [people to] get enough sleep, stay hydrated, don’t smoke, use UV protection to improve the quality of [the] skin, reduce [their] salt intake, which causes puffiness; and be very careful when removing eye makeup, as the skin around the eyes is very delicate.”
UKLASH
Hydra-Gel Eye Patches
These caffeine-infused eye patches help to improve the appearance of dark circles whilst plumping the skin around the eyes. They also hydrate the skin for better makeup application on top.
Why Isn’t My Under-Eye Concealer Working?
Even though concealers are often specifically formulated to cover dark circles, redness or spots, a huge reason so many of us struggle to cover what we want to cover effectively is that we simply don’t know exactly what we should be looking for in a concealer.
Amy Conway, senior pro artist at Bobbi Brown, says, “I find the biggest mistake people make when it comes to under-eye concealer is going for a shade that’s way too light. Brightness is key, but if you go too light it will look ashy and dry, meaning it won’t reduce darkness at all. Opt for just one shade brighter than your skin tone, and if necessary, add a colour corrector underneath to banish any blueness.”
How Do You Apply Concealer on Dark Under-Eye Circles?
Besides choosing the right shade, Conway warns that application is key to making sure your under-eye concealer blends seamlessly with the rest of your makeup. It turns out that simply slathering concealer on top of your dark circles isn’t the best way to go.
“Firstly, apply a hydrating eye cream to prep the under-eye. Then [pat on] a correcting shade in the darkest area. Peachy tones instantly banish the blue/brown shadows we get under the eyes. Next, layer your concealer on top, blending down from the lower lash line to the top of the cheekbone for a flawless finish,” advises Conway.
Shop the Best Under-Eye Concealers:
1. Beauty Pie Superluminous Under-Eye Genius
Beauty Pie
Superluminous Under-Eye Genius
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When you have under-eye circles, it can be helpful to use a colour corrector before going in with concealer. They basically work to counteract dark undertones with peachy or pink tones, helping to disguise pigmentation, which often means you can get away with not having to use quite so much concealer. Beauty Pie’s comes in three shades, and the silky formula helps to hydrate and prep the eye area if you’re applying concealer on top.
2. Templespa Glint Hydrating Eye Concealer
Templespa
Glint Hydrating Eye Concealer
This multi-tasking formula combines the skincare ingredients of a serum with the disguising power of a concealer. The lightweight texture blends into the skin effortlessly, delivering a dewy finish that hides dark circles, shadows, imperfections and fine lines. It’s also packed with antioxidants and squalene to revitalise the eye area. It’s like eight hours of sleep in a tube.
3. Lumene Serum in Concealer
Lumene
Serum in Concealer
The beauty of Lumene’s offering is that it has a hydrating serum texture that melts into the skin without settling into fine lines or turning cakey throughout the day. But perhaps our favourite part is the metal applicator, which feels cooling on the eye area as you apply it, helping to massage away puffiness and boost circulation for brighter-looking eyes. You’ll also find Nordic algae, willowherb, vitamin E and cloudberry, which work in tandem to hydrate and nourish the delicate skin around the eyes.
4. Kosas Revealer Concealer
Kosas
Revealer Super Creamy + Brightening Concealer
Both ultra creamy and hydrating, this concealer lends itself well to the skin around the eye area, helping to leave under-eyes looking radiant and dewy. The formula is also enriched with arnica and caffeine, which can help directly address the appearance of dark circles as you wear it. It’s one of the Who What Wear UK team’s favourite concealers—read our Kosas Revealer Concealer review for more thoughts.
5. It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer
It Cosmetics
Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer
On days when your dark circles really need a helping hand, reach for this. Full coverage yet blendable and seriously heavy-duty, the smallest amount will have your dark circles covered all day long.
6. Nars Soft Matte Concealer
Nars
Soft Matte Concealer
Easily my most-used concealer ever, this tiny pot is pure magic. I simply dab it over my under-eyes with my ring finger, and in a matter of seconds, any trace of a dark circle has disappeared.
7. Bobbi Brown Creamy Corrector
Bobbi Brown
Creamy Corrector
If you like your under-eye concealer with real staying power, this could be the one for you. Although technically a corrector, unlike others, this stuff can hold up on its own as a concealer. Work it into the skin with your ring finger for seriously full coverage.
8. L’Oréal Paris Infallible More Than Concealer
L’Oréal Paris
Infallible More Than Concealer
When I’m feeling a little shinier than I’d like, I reach for this matte-finish liquid concealer. A little goes a long way, so one or two dots under each eye is usually sufficient. It’s full coverage and matte but also remarkably natural-looking.
9. Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer
Collection
Lasting Perfection Concealer
This is commonly regarded as one of the best under-eye concealers on the market, and yes, you read that price correctly. It’s creamy, easy to blend and relatively long-lasting, so I urge you to give it a go. For £5, what do you have to lose?
10. Iconic London Seamless Concealer
Iconic London
Seamless Concealer
For a concealer that packs a punch, look no further. Perfect for nights out or days when you might need your coverage to stick around for a little longer, this liquid concealer really stays put. It has a slightly silky, powder-like finish that refuses to settle into fine lines.
11. Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Concealer
Laura Mercier
Secret Camouflage Concealer
Concealer fans should know all about this one. This duo has a devoted following of beauty editors and makeup artists who rave about its dark-circle-erasing abilities. Housing two shades for unique colour matching and correction, this compact holds the secret to seamless coverage that sticks around all day and night.
12. Flawless Fusion Ultra-Longwear Concealer
Laura Mercier
Flawless Fusion Ultra-Longwear Concealer
Whilst Laura Mercier’s Secret Camouflage Concealer might be the most highly praised in the brand’s product line, that’s not to say that its other creations aren’t wonderful in their own right. On days you fancy applying a little less makeup, this liquid formula is a winner. It sticks around, sure, but the coverage leans towards the medium side of full, making it the ultimate no-makeup makeup concealer.
13. Touche Éclat High Cover Concealer
Yves Saint Laurent
Touche Éclat High Cover Concealer
If you’ve been using YSL’s famous Touche Éclat as an under-eye concealer for the last however many years, you’ve got it all wrong. When the brand discovered that the majority of Touche Éclat fans were incorrectly using the lightweight brightener as an under-eye concealer, it knew something had to be done. Ever as illuminating but with more coverage, this concealer was the answer.
14. Maybelline Eraser Eye Concealer
Maybelline
Eraser Eye Concealer
For those of us who suffer from dry under-eyes, finding a concealer that doesn’t worsen the situation can be difficult. This formula, however, contains a super-hydrating combination of goji berry and haloxyl to help your dark circles on a deeper level. If you ask me, it’s one of the best under-eye products out there, and it’s super friendly on the bank account, too.
15. Glossier Stretch Concealer
Glossier
Stretch Concealer
Again, if you like a slightly more natural finish to your makeup, you’ll want to know about Glossier Stretch Concealer. I love this stuff on no-foundation days when I only want a little bit of coverage where I need it. (Usually, this is just in my under-eye area and over the odd spot.) It’s glowy, easy to blend and really buildable.
16. Charlotte Tilbury Magic Away Liquid Concealer
Charlotte Tilbury
Magic Away Liquid Concealer
I like to think of this Charlotte Tilbury concealer as the luxury version of Maybelline’s Eraser Eye. Besides the fact it uses a very similar sponge applicator (I like it, but I’m not mad about the hygiene aspect), the formula is also similar. It’s lightweight, glowy and mega hydrating, but it’s the wonderful sheeny finish you won’t find elsewhere that I love so much.
17. Dcypher My Custom Concealer
Dcypher
My Custom Concealer
Dcypher custom-mixes the perfect concealer to your skin tone by utilising three easy-to-take images of your skin. There is an option to choose an under-eye concealer (which will be one shade brighter to illuminate your under-eyes) or you can opt for an exact match to your skin tone if you want to use it all over. It’s seriously clever and delivers an accurate colour match each time.
18. Benefit Boi-ing Cakeless Concealer
Benefit
Boi-ing Cakeless Concealer
Perfect for those looking for a formula that works to improve skin texture, this liquid take on Benefit’s classic Boi-ing leaves skin looking almost impossibly smooth. Plus, it does a really good job at sorting out any discolouration, too.
19. Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Concealer
Fenty Beauty
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Concealer
Besides the fact that this concealer gives an amazing full-coverage yet brightening finish, what’s most impressive is its overwhelming shade offering. With 50 to choose from, you’re guaranteed to find the one for you.
20. Huda Beauty #FauxFilter Luminous Matte Liquid Concealer
Huda Beauty
#FauxFilter Luminous Matte Liquid Concealer
Don’t be fooled into thinking that this concealer isn’t heavy-duty just because it comes as a liquid. One tiny drop goes an impressively long way. It’s thick and needs a bit of elbow grease to blend, but as soon as you get there, it’s quite magical.
21. RMS Beauty “Un” Cover Up
This easy-to-use, natural-looking concealer has an array of celebrity super fans from Miranda Kerr to Emma Watson. Its creamy texture and skin-like finish make it the perfect dark-circle disguise.
22. Giorgio Armani Power Fabric Liquid Concealer
Giorgio Armani
Power Fabric Liquid Concealer
When I can’t be bothered with foundation, this concealer is my go-to. It leaves such a perfect second-skin finish that I pretty much end up applying it all over. But the reason it shines brightest? It makes covering up dark circles a total breeze.
23. Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Brightening Concealer
Rare Beauty
Liquid Touch Brightening Concealer
With a botanical blend, this is creamy and hydrating yet long-lasting and sweat-resistant. It provides full enough coverage to disguise dark circles but is sheeny enough to leave skin looking natural.
24. KVD Beauty Good Apple Concealer
KVD Beauty
Good Apple Lightweight Full Coverage Concealer
With a super-precise doe-foot applicator and a seriously full-coverage formula, this concealer is potentially one of the best at actually concealing that I have ever tried. I challenge anyone to use it and not fall in love.
25. Trinny London BFF Eye
An amalgamation of an eye serum and a concealer, this stuff from Trinny London is impressively hydrating. It leaves under-eye skin plump and radiant, and dark circles suitably disguised.
26. Vieve Modern Radiance Concealer
Vieve
Modern Radiance Concealer
At this point, I don’t think Vieve can put a foot wrong in the beauty game. Available in 20 shades that’ll all banish dark circles and hyperpigmentation, this hydrating liquid formula is here to help you cheat a full night’s sleep.
27. Givenchy Prisme Libre Skin Caring Concealer
Givenchy
Prisme Libre Skin Caring Concealer
This one is perfect for those looking for a breathable formula that conceals whilst working to improve skin texture. I love recommending this to anyone who fancies a concealer over a foundation, especially as it’s a pretty sizeable tube and a little goes a long way.
28. Sculpted by Aimee Brighten Up Concealer
Sculpted by Aimee
Brighten Up Concealer
Since it’s specifically designed to be applied under the eyes, this concealer has a light, creamy texture that never feels heavy, nor does it settle into fine lines.
29. Makeup By Mario Surrealskin Awakening Concealer
Makeup By Mario
Surrealskin Awakening Concealer
Dew without the sheen, staying power without the telltale creases of all-day wear—this is basically everything you could ever want in an under-eye concealer. This gem, created by revered celebrity make-up artist Mario Dedivanovic, is a staple in my routine, regardless of where I’m going or what I’m doing. It brightens and hydrates (the formula has tiny powder particles to help with longevity) without looking slick or shiny. Swipe on with the applicator and gently pat out with a ring finger or small brush. It’ll look as if you bank eight hours a night, every night.
30. Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Concealer
Hourglass
Vanish Airbrush Concealer
A concealer that blew up on TikTok (and for good reason), the Hourglass concealer does everything it says on the tin—makes dark circles vanish and airbrushes the skin. I’ve never received more compliments on how awake and vibrant I look than when I wear this. It’s somehow mattifying and radiant, and will genuinely take you from day to night. The smaller tube size is ideal for even the tiniest of tiny handbags, too.
31. Too Faced Born This Way Super Coverage Multi-Use Concealer
Too Faced
Born This Way Super Coverage Multi-Use Concealer
This multitasker has been a long-time favourite for anyone looking to craft a night-out-proof base. Its long-wearing formula and sizeable doe -foot applicator make it equally useful on mornings when you only have time for a five-minute routine.
32. Refy Concealer
Refy has become synonymous with brilliant brow and lash products, but I would argue that its complexion offerings—namely the brand’s concealer—is equally deserving of accolades. The light-medium formula leaves under-eyes softly blurred and free from creases.
33. Saie Slip Tint Radiant All-Over Concealer
Saie
Saie Slip Tint Radiant All-Over Concealer
Formulated with moisturising glycerin and plumping hyaluronic acid to nourish and smooth the under-eyes, Saie’s All-Over Concealer does what it says on the tin. I tend to recommend this concealer to anyone who wants to conceal their dark circles and minimise pigmentation with one product.
34. Erborian Super BB Concealer
erborian
Super BB Concealer
This skincare-infused concealer—it contains SPF 25, niacinamide and fermented ginseng flower—is a lightweight but mighty option for all-over coverage. If you need even more, try applying this to spots over the brand’s ingeniousCentella SOS Patch.
35. Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Concealer
Armani
Luminous Silk Concealer
This concealer has become a mainstay in my makeup bag thanks to its illuminating formula and tapered applicator that gets right into the eye contours for a creaseless finish.
This post was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
