On especially bleary mornings, the stroke of a concealer wand is nothing short of magical. The right formula can quickly and seamlessly cover up whatever you want covered, whether that's acne, dark circles, or uneven patches. It can also offer even, radiant, and healthy-looking skin.
Of course, the key is to find the right formula for your needs. Do you want to hide dark circles? Do you need something that won't settle into fine lines and wrinkles? Maybe you prefer a concealer packed with skincare that helps reduce puffiness. Whatever you're looking for, we have the best options out there.
The Oprah Daily beauty team tested a ton of concealers to see which ones perform the best. We have a diverse staff of all ranges, skin tones, and concerns, so each of us swiped, dipped, and stress-tested classic and new formulas on the market to see which concealed everything from dark circles to fine lines and redness while offering a flawless finish. We also tapped pro makeup artists for their go-to recommendations. Ahead, shop expert-approved under-eye concealers that get the job done.
Best Under-Eye Concealers for Dark Circles
This full-coverage corrector comes in pink and peach-based shades made specifically to counteract dark circles. If you're fair and your under-eyes look blue, then go for one of the pale pink shades, says makeup artist Suzy Gerstein. If you have a medium skin tone with grey or blue circles, then choose a peach shade. Deep skin tones that have brown or dark green circles should try the dark orange shade.
Best Splurge
Clé de Peau Beauté Radiant Corrector Concealer
Gerstein says she keeps this formula in heavy rotation thanks to its ability to brighten the under-eye area while protecting skin against environmental aggressors. It has a beautiful built-in brush.
Makeup artist Jonet Williamson recommends concealers with brightening properties to counteract darkness. This one is wonderfully creamy, making it easy to blend. It also contains botanicals (grape seed extract, magnolia bark extract, and vitamin E) to hydrate and strengthen the skin barrier.
This formula has microscopic powders that blur and brighten the skin to help make discoloration and uneven texture disappear. Williamson notes that it's a full-coverage formula; it's what she reaches for when she sees serious dark circles.
Another of Williamson's favorites for dark circles, this formula has an instant brightening effect that helps conceal darkness and makes eyes pop. It's medium-coverage, so a little goes a long way, and it's waterproof, crease-proof, and has caffeine to depuff.
Best Brightening
Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Radiant Concealer
This medium-to-full coverage formula is creamy, blendable, and infused with hydrating hyaluronic acid, brightening vitamin C, and soothing niacinamide so you can cover and treat dark circles simultaneously. (It can also "lift" your face.)
Oprah Daily beauty director, Kate Sandoval Box, wearing the Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Radiant Concealer on the right side of her face.
Do note: If a neutralizing concealer isn't enough to hide the darkness on its own, apply a color corrector underneath it. Remember: color correctors come in pink, peach, or orange tones to cancel out circles that look blue or violet, says Gerstein. Tap on a thin layer (emphasis on thin so it doesn't crease!) of the corrector and then a skin-matching concealer.
Best Under-Eye Concealers for Mature or Dry Skin
Best Shade Range
FENTY BEAUTY by Rihanna We're Even Hydrating Longwear Concealer
Mature skin tends to be quite dry—which can cause makeup to look patchy or cake-y—so a super hydrating concealer is key. This long-wearing formula has sodium hyaluronate and prickly pear cactus extract, and comes in 50 shades.
You might find that you can "feel" this working; the formula's fermented marine microorganisms offer a tightening effect that helps smooth skin. It's also self-setting so you don't need to apply powder on top. “This is ideal for fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes,” says Williamson. The coverage is medium-to-full and has a natural skin-like finish that looks flawless.
Best Skincare Infused
IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Anti-Aging Waterproof Concealer
Think of this as makeup and skincare in one: Not only will the full coverage formula hide dark spots, age spots, and broken capillaries, but it also supports skin elasticity and promotes smoother and firmer skin with collagen, peptides, and hyaluronic acid.
Ideal for sensitive skin thanks to the calming centella asiatica extract, this has buildable coverage that's creamy, lightweight, and easy to blend. It also hydrates with hyaluronic acid and promotes collagen production with lysine.
Best Protection
Laura Mercier Real Flawless Weightless Perfecting Serum Concealer
This feels-like-nothing formula provides incredibly natural-looking coverage. It also protects against environmental aggressors with antioxidants, delivers moisture with lipids, and helps smooth skin with paracress extract.
Best Matte Finish
Yves Saint Laurent All Hours Creaseless Precise Angles Concealer
Williamson likes this particular formula for fine lines; it's lightweight and doesn't crease throughout the day. It has caffeine extracts and jasmine petals to combat dullness and puffiness.
Oprah Daily beauty editor, Genesis Rivas, who has dry skin, wearing the Makeup by Mario Surreal Awakening Concealer in the shade 240 on the right side of her face.
Do note: If you have mature skin or struggle with fine lines, you want to apply concealer as thinly as you possibly can. “Generally, I like to sweep it on in a half-moon shape that starts at the inner corner of the eye and ends below the center of the eye because that area doesn't move or crinkle when you smile,” Gerstein says. Then, you can blend the product up and out using your finger, a soft synthetic brush, or a damp beauty sponge. This creates a whisper-thin layer that's less likely to crease, she explains.
Best Concealers for Under-Eye Bags
Williamson says any formula with caffeine is a gold standard because it constricts blood vessels and helps with puffiness. You can brighten, hydrate, and de-puff with this budget-friendly option. The formula glides and effortlessly melts into the skin thanks to sunflower seed oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, and argan oil.
Best for Redness
Haus Labs by Lady Gaga Triclone Skin Tech Hydrating + De-puffing Concealer
This vegan, non-comedogenic formula is one of Gerstein's favorites. (The Oprah Daily staff tried it and we're equally obsessed). It's chock-full of skincare, including niacinamide, which helps reduce inflammation and even out skin tone, fermented arnica to reduce redness, caffeine to reduce puffiness, and hyaluronic acid to hydrate.
"I recommend lightweight textures. Heavy formulas may emphasize bags even more," says Jaleesa Jaikaran, makeup artist and Ulta Beauty Pro-Team Member. This weightless yet creamy option contains caffeine and pink algae extracts that fight dark circles, puffiness, and dullness. Hyaluronic acid and peptides hydrate and firm skin.
Under-eye bags are just one of the many concerns this formula covers nicely. It contains licorice root to brighten, prickly pear to moisturize, ginseng to calm, and hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, squalane, and nourishing seed oils to moisturize.
Oprah Daily lifestyle contributing editor, Holly Carter, wearing the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in the shade Amande.
Do note: A key step in reducing the look of under-eye bags and puffiness is to prep the skin before you apply concealer. A cold compress, facial massage, and depuffing eye cream will help reduce the appearance of eye bags and make makeup glide on smoothly and evenly.
The Best Under-Eye Drugstore Concealers
Best Vegan
NYX Professional Makeup Bare With Me Concealer Serum
This formula contains tremella mushroom to hydrate skin and green tea to soothe. It's lightweight and offers medium coverage.
Best Depuffing
REVLON ColorStay Skin Awaken 5-in-1 Concealer
Now 40% Off
Williamson swears by this caffeine-infused formula for its ability to help with dark circles, redness, and puffiness. It also contains vitamin C to brighten.
Best for Sensitive Skin
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Treatment Concealer
Get rid of dark circles with one swipe thanks to this concealer, which has a built-in sponge applicator. It's a moisturizing and crease-proof formula that's oil- and fragrance-free, making it good for sensitive and oily skin.
Sodium hyaluronate helps hydrate the skin while rosewater helps with puffiness and redness. It's a full-coverage formula that's creamy and lightweight.
Do note: There are many more wallet-friendly options out there for under-eyes as well as acne, texture, and uneven tone. For more expert-approved drugstore concealers click here.
Genesis Rivas
Genesis Rivas is the Beauty Editor at Oprah Daily, where she covers hair, makeup, skin, nails, and more. Before joining the Oprah Daily team, she wrote for several publications, including InStyle, Real Simple, and Shape. When she’s not testing, researching, and writing fun and educational beauty content, you can find her dancing and eating her way through New York City. Follow her on Instagram or TikTok
