Best Concealers to Handle Any Situation

One of the most popular beauty products in the world is a versatile little product known as a concealer. Concealers come in many different types, shades, and formulas that can serve a variety of cosmetic purposes.

Whether you need flawless coverage for those engagement photos or desire to have radiant skin on your wedding day, the right concealer can do the trick.

Read on for some of the most common applications for concealer and the most popular products to try for each one!

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Best Concealers for Dusky Skin

Women with “dusky” skin often complain that they have trouble finding the right shades of makeup for their skin tone. Dusky skin is the opposite of fair skin and is common in India, Asia, and Africa.

For those with darker skin tones, selecting a product with SPF coverage or anti-aging ingredients is not as important for those with fair skin. Instead, the priority is finding the right color match for beautiful coverage. Check out these options below!

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer

mac pro longwear concealer

MAC has made it part of their company’s mission always to include shades for all skin tones. This concealer is a very popular choice for those with darker skin and comes in many different shades.

Available at MAC stores in many shopping malls across the world, it is easy to try the product before purchasing it.

Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup Foundation Shade

Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup Foundation Shade

This popular product offers 24-hour coverage in 9 different shades and several different undertones. With so many color combinations to choose from, 1 of the 25 shades should work for you. It’s even vegan & cruelty-free!

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer

As one of the top-selling concealers in the United States, NARS radiant creamy concealer comes in 30 different shades guaranteed to enhance your natural beauty. This makeup staple offers medium to full coverage that won’t look cakey.

Best Concealers for Hickeys

When attempting to cover up a hickey, you will need to use a good quality concealer with extra coverage and a redness reducer. You will also most likely need to apply a thick foundation and some sort of finishing powder.

Products that contain green or peach undertones will balance out the red and purple tones of most hickeys. Here are some of the best color-correcting formulas:

Maybelline New York Cover Stick Concealer, Green

Maybelline New York Cover Stick Concealer, Green

This basic product offers effective green correction at an affordable price. If you’re going to need this type of concealer regularly, the Maybelline cover stick is a great product to keep on hand that won’t break the bank.

Tarte Color Your World Color-Correcting Palette

Tarte Color Your World Color-Correcting Palette

This handy all-inclusive palette from Tarte cosmetics offers several different types of color correction, which comes in handy as the tones of your hickey can change as the color begins to fade.

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Multi-Use Concealer

The peach undertones of this heavy-duty concealer that help cover up dark under-eye circles also make it an effective product for hickey coverage.

Best Concealers for Scabs on Face

When you have facial scabs you need to cover, you will want to look for a product that is natural and medicinal. Putting any thick or cakey products on your scab will only make them stand out more and prevent healing.

If you do try one of the products below, you will want to use a makeup sponge and apply the product from a variety of angles to achieve full coverage.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof 12-Hour Concealer

Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof 12-Hour Concealer

This thick and creamy clay-based concealer will fill in the imperfections around your scar while also coating your skin with ingredients that heal it.

Specially formulated with vitamin A, E and Amazonian clay, this product is oil-free, fragrance-free, and all-natural.

Mighty Patch

Mighty Patch Original - Hydrocolloid Acne Pimple Patch Spot Treatment (36 count) for Face, Vegan, Cruelty-Free

Instead of opting for traditional concealers, consider using an “acne patch” like the popular ones made by Mighty Patch.

While it may be obvious that you are wearing something on your face, it is a much better option than walking around with a huge bleeding scab. Not to mention, your skin will be healing under there.

This product is vegan, cruelty-free and comes in a pack of 36 dots for effective spot treatment.

Alba Botanica Fast Fix For A Pimple

Alba Botanica Fast Fix for a Pimple Acne Treatment, 0.25 oz.

This tinted spot treatment is perfect for those pesky scabs and cystic acne flare-ups that don’t respond well to traditional concealers.

This medicated product can be used under foundation to help your skin heal even while wearing makeup. Look for lasting improvements after just one use.

Best Concealers for Hereditary Dark Circles

Some women need to wear concealers daily for their hereditary dark circles, birthmarks, or other skin abnormalities. For a full coverage daily-wear concealer that won’t look caked on or flaky, try these popular products!

It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye

It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye

This tiny little pot is full of under-eye concealing magic! Apply with a makeup brush or sponge for best results. Anti-aging ingredients help minimize fine lines and beautify your skin.

MAC Studio Finish Concealer

MAC Studio Finish Concealer

This wildly popular concealer from MAC even includes SPF! Its natural-looking creamy formula is long-lasting and provides full coverage – perfect for concealing and brightening those under-eye dark spots.

Best Concealers for Melasma

Melasma is a pigmentation disorder common during pregnancy or while taking birth control. When you are suffering from melasma, it can be difficult to find a cover-up or concealer that works for you.

Depending on your skin, a concealer with a color corrector may be helpful. Some women have had success with the following products:

Urban Decay Naked Skin Color Correcting Fluid

Urban Decay Naked Skin Color Correcting Fluid

This Urban Decay concealer (in peach) masks color imperfections like those caused by melasma. Vitamin C and E help to nourish and hydrate your skin.

Nars Soft Matte Complete Concealer

Nars Soft Matte Complete Concealer

This matte concealer covers up all types of skin discolorations, spots of redness and hyperpigmentation.

Clé de Peau Beauté Concealer

Cle de Peau BEAUTE Concealer Radiant Correcteur Natural Ochre

While it is pricey, many women swear by this concealer to cover up their embarrassing melasma. Its creamy formula is fortified with natural ingredients and blends smoothly to expertly cover uneven skin tone, dark spots, and hyperpigmentation.

Best Concealers for Bruises

Some of the best concealers to cover up bruises are those created for other purposes, such as to cover up under-eye circles or tattoos.

Kat Von D Lock-It Concealer

Kat Von D Lock-It Concealer Creme Color Light 3 Warm

Created in part to cover tattoos, Kat Von D concealer is very popular for successfully concealing those hard-to-cover problem areas. Bruise coverage is a breeze with this award-winning formula which earns bonus points for being vegan & cruelty-free.

Hard Candy Glamoflauge Heavy Duty Concealer

Hard Candy Glamoflauge HEAVY DUTY CONCEALER with pencil

This budget-friendly concealer offers full coverage that can easily cover bruises.

Dermacol Make-up Cover

Dermacol Make-up Cover Full Coverage Foundation

Need a heavy-duty product? This concealer has a reputation for being able to cover up anything and is popular with TV and film makeup artists for covering tattoos, bruises, and other skin issues. It offers full coverage with a long-lasting formula.

Best Concealers For Creases and Wrinkles On Face

When selecting a concealer to hide creases and wrinkles, you’ll want to look for a specially-formulated product that doesn’t crack or pool on the skin.

Tarte Shape Tape Concealer

Tarte Shape Tape Contour Concealer in Light Medium

This product is one of the #1 concealers in the world for a reason! Its special formula won’t crease or flake as you wear it and blurs the appearance of skin imperfections like creases, wrinkles, and fine lines.

Shea butter, mango seed butter, and licorice root extract help nourish the skin – protecting it from further damage.

Tarte Creaseless Undereye Concealer

Tarte Creaseless Undereye Concealer

Looking for a product to conceal those under-eye wrinkles? This formula is chock full of vitamins and is specially formulated to not settle into creases, wrinkles, or fine lines.

Glossier Stretch Concealer

Glossier Stretch Concealer

This popular concealer expertly smooths wrinkles and fine lines for a long-lasting and natural-looking coverage!

Best Concealers For Acne Scars & Blemishes

When searching for a cosmetic cover-up for acne-prone skin, it is important to remember that putting any cosmetic product on your skin will most likely lead to more acne, which will, in turn, lead to a need for more makeup. This can begin a vicious cycle.

Many women find that their facial acne disappears entirely when they stop using concealers. But if you absolutely must use them, here are some products that may help. Also, be sure to take breaks from wearing makeup and wash your face nightly.

PHYSICIANS FORMULA Conceal Rx Physicians Strength Concealer (Green)

Physicians Formula Conceal RX Physicians Strength Concealer, Soft Green

Blemishes, scars, and acne spots are easily covered up with this extra-strength color-correcting concealer. The hypoallergenic formula also helps to prevent further breakouts caused by other less “clean” cosmetics.

All of the shades consistently get rave reviews, but the green option is especially useful for color correction.

IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Breakout Full-Coverage Treatment Concealer

It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Illumination Deep

When you’re looking for a product that can heal as well as cover, you need a concealer with natural healing ingredients. This concealer by IT Cosmetics was formulated by dermatologists and has included several healing ingredients such as zinc oxide, witch hazel, tea tree oil, and sulfur.

NOTE: If you no longer suffer from acne, but wish to cover up the remaining scars, here are some specially-formulated products that can make a difference:

NYX Concealer Jar

NYX Cosmetics Color Correcting Concealer 3CP04

This affordable “drugstore brand” concealer is very popular for everyday use. A little bit of this product goes a long way. It comes in many shades to counter different types of skin issues.

Dermaflage Acne Scar Filler

Dermaflage Single Applicator-Light

For those long-lasting acne scars and pockmarks, go a step beyond concealer and try an acne filler like this one by Dermaflage. This waterproof concealer will last all day and is specially formulated not to cause breakouts.

Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage

Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage

The two tones that come in this little concealer palette help you retouch flaws such as acne scars individually. In addition, its antibacterial properties help prevent future breakouts.

Our Winners

These concealers are popular for any kind of usage!

Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit

Bobbi Brown New Creamy Concealer Kit - Warm Natural Creamy Concealer

Applying your makeup on the go? This convenient little compact comes with a creamy concealer PLUS, a pressed finishing powder for full coverage that lasts all day.

Urban Decay All Nighter Concealer

urban decay all nighter concealer

This waterproof full coverage concealer is very popular and should have no trouble covering up various kinds of skin imperfections and discolorations. Results should last up to 24 hours, and the brand is 100% cruelty-free.

NYX Concealer Color Correcting Palette

NYX Conceal Correct Contour Palette

The different color tones in this specially-formulated palette serve to cover up all types of skin imperfections including acne scars, blemishes, dark circles, red spots, and more!

Wrapping it Up

When you need to restore your skin to its youthful and clear appearance quickly, concealer is a great product to have on hand.

Whether you’re suffering from acne, melasma or under-eye circles, this cosmetic powerhouse can help get your skin back on track. The product guide above should get you off to a great start on becoming a concealer aficionado.

Happy shopping!