If there was one base product that’s a non-negotiable must-have in my makeup kit, it’s a concealer. It’s impressive how a humble tube of this creamy base corrector has come to my rescue in multiple ways. Most times, though, I’m standing in front of the mirror, meticulously spreading it under my eyes to cover proof of sleeplessness, night outs, and general fatigue. Raise your hand if you hard relate.
While under-eye skin prep with a great eye cream is crucial, I must admit that a concealer is a sure-fire way to instantly cover tired, fatigued under-eyes for a few hours. So, here are 12 best concealers for dark circles ranging from sheer to full coverage to make you look well-rested even though you're thrust into the throes of sleep deprivation.
Light Coverage
Whom will it suit:
- If dark circles are a rare occurrence
- Want a little brightening effect on dull or sick days
1. e.l.f. Cosmetics Flawless Brightening Concealer
As is generally the case with pen concealers, the e.l.f Flawless Brightening Concealer may take a few clicks to warm up the product but when it finally lays on your skin, its creamy, buildable formula blends effortlessly to give a fresh-faced appearance. It has hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin and vitamin C to remove oxidative stress and give a natural glow. You also won’t have to worry about layering it as it won’t bunch up nor will it look patchy.
2. Blue Heaven Flawless Liquid Concealer
While the minimal yet brown-skin friendly shade range generates a lukewarm response from me, I couldn’t help but reach for it when I had this in my kitty. It has a thin, water-like consistency so blending is not a chore. Though it looks like a squeezy-tube, it comes with a doe-foot applicator to make application easy and quick. If you’re not a fan of cakey under-eyes and prefer a lightweight formula, this has my thumbs up.
3. Smashbox Halo Healthy Glow 4-In-1 Perfecting Pen
Somedays, we’re just too tired to apply eye cream, and it’s ok. The Smashbox Halo Healthy Glow Perfecting Pen, however, makes up for our lax skincare routine as this concealer feels like you’re applying an under-eye serum, and rightfully so. This light-coverage correcting pen is infused with ginseng and green tea that are rich in antioxidants, hyaluronic acid to impart hydration and vitamin E to give a moisturising yet non-greasy base to give minimal coverage on the under-eye area. Also, this one has 26 shades!
4. Huda Beauty Bright Light Sheer Concealer
If sustainable beauty is your jam, this concealer would sound like music to the ears. From Huda Beauty, GloWish is a sustainable beauty extension that has doled out this creamy, lightweight concealer to instantly give the under-eyes a skin-like finish and a natural glow. No makeup-makeup girlies, take notes, too.
Medium Coverage
Whom will it suit:
- If you have minimal dark circles
- Natural pigmentation around the eye area
5. Maybelline New York Fit Me Concealer
Though this concealer falls in the natural, medium-coverage category, with proper product building technique, this best-seller can also come in handy for lowkey glam moments. It has a creamy, easy-blending formula to cover dark circles without enhancing skin texture.
6. Lakme Absolute Instant Airbrush Concealer Pen
A fellow Nykaa Army member, who is also a senior executive for content, has deeper skin tones and vouches for this concealer. ‘I struggle to find concealers for my skin tone, and this one covers my dark circles easily. Plus, it’s also lightweight’. So, if you’re looking for a great concealer for dark circles that gives an air-brushed finish, this Lakme concealer has Nykaa Army’s stamp of approval.
7. Nykaa SKINgenius Foundation Stick Conceal Contour & Corrector
This multitasking stick is creamy, buildable and good for multiple uses. I personally like the shades warm honey as a one-and-done concealing shade. Owing to its creaminess, it blends out easily to give a skin-like medium coverage. Perfect for those ‘concealer, blush, mascara, done’ days when you’re in a hurry. Plus, it’s travel-friendly for when you want quick touch-ups on the go.
8. Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Radiant Concealer
Dry, dehydrated under-eyes can be uncomfortable and can even enhance fine lines and creases. Aside from eye cream, if you want extra radiance, the Charlotte Tilbury Skin Radiant Concealer is worth the splurge. It has vegan collagen to reduce fine lines, niacinamide to refine pores, and vitamin C to brighten. Moreover, this concealer gives a subtle illuminated glow to give the under-eyes a healthy appearance.
Full Coverage
Whom will it suit:
- Prominent dark circles
- If you struggle with brown, purple or blue under-eye discolouration
9. Daily Life Forever52 Complete Coverage Concealer
What I like about this concealer range is that the darker shades act as great colour correctors to combat the blue/purple discolouration under the eyes. Since it’s full-coverage, you only need a few dots from its slim doe-foot applicator. Follow this up with a concealer that is two shades lighter for a brightening effect to get a pro-like finish.
10. L'Oreal Paris Infallible Full Wear Concealer
This is a great concealer for dark circles that has garnered quite the fan following from the social media realm. Its chubby doe-foot applicator dispenses just the right amount of product to fully cover dark circles. It’s creamy, blendable and gives a natural finish.
11. Swiss Beauty Liquid Concealer
While discussing this article with my team member, we both immediately agreed on the dark circle-covering prowess of this affordable gem. This concealer is under INR 250 yet gives such high-end concealer coverage. This range even has three colour correcting shades like green, yellow and orange to provide full coverage for dark circles and other pigmentation-prone areas.
12. Too Faced Born This Way Super Coverage Multi Use Sculpting Concealer
I have two different shades of this international best-selling concealer and sometimes, I wear one of them as a foundation or will mix some with a moisturiser to use it as a sheer skin tint. That’s how brilliant the coverage is. The best part is that this is a 15ml tube which makes splurging on this a worthwhile affair. If you’re looking for a high-end makeup essential, this is easily Nykaa Army’s recommended concealer for dark circles.
Whether it’s faking eight hours of beauty sleep or combating the natural woes of hyperpigmentation under the eyes, this is the perfect curation of the best concealers for dark circles. Make sure to bookmark this article if you want help to narrow down your choices.
