A concealer is a must-have in your makeup arsenal. It can do just about anything — from concealing acne scars, camouflaging redness to brightening up your under eyes. However, the key to perfecting a flawless complexion is to pick a concealer that best tackles your skin concern and suits your skin type. If you’re looking to cover up your dark under circles, choose a concealer formula that is silky and smooth so that it blends easily and evenly. To cover up redness, acne scars, pick a creamy textured concealer that offers plenty of coverage and is non-comedogenic, meaning you don’t have to worry about your pores getting clogged. So, to ensure that you find the right concealer that ticks all the boxes, we’ve curated a list of the best concealers in the business. They’re top-rated, expert-recommended and have garnered 100+ reviews.
3 Different Types Of Concealers
Liquid concealers: They're the number one choice for most people.
Best for: All skin types including dry, oily and combination skin.
Super power: It’s lighter in consistency making it an extremely versatile choice. It can either take on a sheer appearance or be built up to deliver a high coverage finish.
Perfect for: Under eye circles, acne scars and blemishes
Stick concealers: They’re the perfect travel and touch-up companion
Best for: Oily, acne-prone skin
Super power:They are highly pigmented, making them a great choice for covering up blemishes and imperfections.
Perfect for: Acne spots, discoloration and dark circles
Cream concealers: They fall in between liquid and stick concealers.
Best for: Dry skin
Super power:Since they have a thicker consistency they are a good choice for hiding discolouration and spot concealing
Perfect for: Acne spots and scars
Best Way To Apply A Concealer
While picking the right formula is vital for a flawless finish, the magic lies in the technique.
Pro tip: Before you go in with your concealer, always make sure to generously apply your moisturiser and under eye cream to ensure a smooth application.
To hide acne
You need: A high coverage concealer + beauty blender
The spot method never fails. Just dab each blemish or scar with a high-coverage concealer. Next, use a sponge to gently blend the concealer until completely blended. And, you’re done!
To brighten up under eyes
You need: Creamy concealer + concealer brush + light setting powder
Apply your concealer in a patting motion under your eyes and in the inner corners, then press it in with a concealer brush or beauty blender. Sweep on a light setting powder to set your concealer in place so that it lasts all day long.
To cover up redness around the nose
You need: Oil-free concealer + loose setting powder + beauty sponge
We all know the struggle of keeping your makeup intact around your nose. The best way to apply the concealer is to use your ring finger to pat and blend it into the crease around the nose. Then, take a damp sponge, dip it in loose powder and blend.
Best Concealers For Every Budget
Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Concealer
On Nykaa, this concealer has garnered over 30,000 reviews with an average of 4.3 stars. It’s loved by Bollywood’s top makeup artists and is made with a blend of skin-loving ingredients like Goji Berry and Haloxyl that work to brighten and erase under eye circles with ease. Pick from the 13 shades that blend easily and play well with foundation.
What we love: It’s multi-functional, pocket-friendly and easy to use
Price point: INR 729
California based brand LA Girl became popular because of this holy grail concealer. Beloved by bloggers and Youtubers, this creamy, ultra-buildable and lightweight formula works like a dream to even out your skin tone, cover imperfections and hide redness. Plus, its crease resistant formula will leave you with a natural looking finish for over 10 hours. Not to mention it won’t break the bank.
What we love: It’s can be used to highlight and contour
Price point: INR 695
Can’t get your hands on the Tarte Shape Tape concealer? The e.l.f. Cosmetics 16HR Camo Concealer is the straight up dupe. Available in 15 shades, this internet-wining concealer is extremely lightweight and leaves behind a matte finish that won’t budge or smudge for over 16 hours. It’s designed with a unique doe-foot applicator that allows for easy and precise application, no skill needed.
What we love: Its dark circle banishing prowess and long-lasting effects
Price point: INR 600
Made by one of the most popular makeup brands in the world, this non-drying, crease-proof formula will keep you looking flawless for 24 hours. It comes in a whopping 33+ shades to suit just about any skin tone. Suitable for all skin types especially oily, it reduces the appearance of pores, evens out your skin tone and is easy to build, so that you can add as much as you please.
What we love: It is lightweight yet powerful
Price point: 2700
Conceal, contour, and highlight, all with one product. This makeup range by Bollywood queen Katrina Kaif offers formulas that are lightweight, longwearing and nourishing. Whether you’re covering dark circles or blemishes, this blendable and buildable concealer will get the job done with its seamless, creaseless matte finish. What’s more? It is available in 13 different shades, each of which are created to specially match the Indian skin tone.
What we love: It’s vegan and cruelty free
Price point: ₹825
Dark circles, blemishes, and fine lines be gone! This mattifying concealer does more than just give you a seamless finish. Infused with the smoothing properties of a primer, this concealer blends like a dream offering crease-free coverage. Easy to apply and blend, use a darker shade of concealer as contour and blend it into your skin with your fingertips or using a damp beauty blender.
What we love: Seamless matte finish
Price point: ₹425
Trusted by professionals, this lightweight creamy liquid concealer offers unmatched coverage for dark circles, acne-spots and blemishes. Rated 4.4 stars with over 200 reviews, this concealer has a lightweight formula that is easy on the skin, and offers a natural finish. So no more cakey-looking makeup! The doe foot applicator adds to its ease of use.
What we love: The formula helps keep skin healthy, avoiding premature ageing
Price point: ₹599
Known to last through the sweatiest of gym sessions, this full-coverage concealer is known for its high-impact output. It is clinically tested to boost hydration by a whooping 52%, and its jumbo doe-foot application not only allows for easy application but aids in effective contouring for the most chiselled cheekbones in the biz. Word has it, it yields an almost FaceTune-esque finish, minus a million edits.
What we love: Premium results, contouring abilities and quantity for days!
Price point: INR 2350
Made with a butter-like consistency, The Swiss Beauty Liquid Concealer is touted as an all-time favourite concealer by YouTubers like Shreya Jain. Its high-coverage formula blends into the skin for a seamless finish and adds a touch of radiance to your base. Not to mention, it doesn't cake up for up to 7 hours on application - all this in under INR 250!
What we love: Under-eye brightening, longevity and easy on the pockets
Price point: INR 229
Tips & Tricks
- Always prep your skin before using a concealer
- Pick a shade that’s lighter than your foundation if you want to brighten up your undereyes
- Pick a shade that exactly matches your skin tone if you want to hide a blemish or acne
- Use a concealer to prime your lids before you apply an eyeshadow
FAQs
1. Can you apply a concealer using your fingers?
Some consider using their fingers as the ideal way to apply a cream or liquid products like concealers and foundations. The warmth of your fingers can help blend your concealer easily and give you a more seamless finish. Also, using fingers under the delicate eye area is easier to be able to reach the corners.
2. Can you use concealer as contour?
Yes! Your concealer can double up as an easy to blend cream contour formulation too. All you have to do is, choose a shade that is darker than your skin tone to contour your face and get a more chiselled look.
3. Can concealer be used on the eyelids?
Save yourself the extra cost of buying an eyeshadow primer by using your concealer for the same. A light, liquid formulation will work best for this. Make sure the concealer you use for this isn’t a heavy or extremely creamy one, or else it could cause creases over time.
