Best Drugstore Concealer: Top Picks for Everything From Dark Circles to Acne

Concealer for Dark Circles:

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Multi-Use Concealer ($8)

A full-coverage formula that miraculously makes you look like you got eight-plus hours of sleep, this concealer also helps take down puffiness under the eyes and blurs fine lines. (I’m not surprised it’s been crowned “America’s Best-Selling Concealer.”) However, though the sponge-tip applicator feels nice and gentle on delicate under-eyes (it also makes it easy to apply on-the-go), I prefer to blend it out with a concealer brush for a more seamless finish.

Concealer for Acne:

Almay Clear Complexion Concealer ($10)

Though it only comes in six shades, this drugstore concealer is meant to target acne blemishes, not be used all over your face. Therefore, it’s more likely that you’ll find one that covers while also blending in with your skin tone or foundation. The mix of 2-percent salicylic acid, prebiotics and aloe vera is the perfect mix for squashing stubborn spots as you conceal them.

Concealer for Covering Redness and Blemishes + Longwear:

Milani Conceal + Perfect Longwear Concealer ($8.50)

Incredibly creamy—a very little goes a long way—this concealer makes blemishes disappear without drying them out thanks to vitamin E, which lends a bit of moisture. The shade range includes 18 colors, which is on the higher end for best drugstore concealers. It’s also water-resistant up to 12 hours, so it will keep red spots hidden throughout a workout class and then some.

Concealer for Aging Skin:

L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Radiant Concealer with Hydrating Serum ($15)

Though this concealer, and everything from the brand’s Age Perfect line, was created for mature skin, it also suits dry skin very well. (One of the top complaints we hear from our readers with aging skin is moisture loss.) The addition of glycerin allows the serum-like texture to blend in easily, without settling into fine lines and drawing attention to them. We also love that this concealer comes in 16 shades and offers a full-coverage, hydrating finish.

Concealer for Dry Skin:

e.l.f. Hydrating Camo Concealer ($7)

When you want to hide everything and anything without making your skin look like a cakey mess, this drugstore concealer is your go-to. It’s highly pigmented, comes in 25 shades and lasts all day with a lightweight, satin finish that doesn’t feel heavy. It also doesn’t dry as quickly as the brand’s 16-Hour Camo Concealer, so you can take your time covering all the spots you want to. And the price point makes it a total bargain!

Concealer for Brightening:

No7 Lift & Luminate Triple Action Serum Concealer ($14)

For those with hyperpigmentation (aka dark spots, sunspots, etc), this super pigmented, serum-based concealer delivers skin-care ingredients for a more even tone as it covers. When it comes to drugstore concealers, finding one that contains Matrixyl 3000 Plus—a potent, wrinkle-fighting peptide—is rare. This is in addition to vitamins A and C, hibiscus extract and light-reflecting particles that help brighten skin for a more even tone.

Concealer for All-Day Wear:

CoverGirl Outlast Extreme Wear Concealer ($10)

If you’re looking for a concealer at the drugstore that will take you all the way from your breakfast meeting to after-dinner drinks without needing to reapply or worrying that your imperfections are on full display, this is it. It’s full coverage, transfer-proof, crease-proof, and waterproof for up to 24 hours—that’s major staying power. However, somehow it doesn’t clog pores and it was dermatologist-tested to prove that.

Concealer for a Glowy Finish:

Physicians Formula Butter Glow Concealer ($12.50)

Infused with Brazilian murmuru, cupuaçu and tucuma butters, this radiance-boosting concealer is super smooth and creamy. I love that the applicator is a doe foot, but there’s also a built-in sponge so you can blend on the go. It’s safe for sensitive skin too. There are just six shades right now, and we’d love to see more added in the future, especially with a greater diversity of undertones.

Multitasking Concealer:

Revlon ColorStay Skin Awaken 5-in-1 Concealer ($8)

Whether you’re on a budget or just want one product that does it all, this caffeine- and vitamin C–infused concealer offers five benefits: it camouflages trouble spots, perfects unevenness and brightens dark circles, as well as hydrates and refreshes skin. And, somehow it manages to do all this while lasting for up to 24 hours, and it doesn’t get cakey or patchy, either. It comes in 19 shades and has a natural finish that looks like skin. (If you’re oily, you might want to go with something more matte.)

Concealer for Contouring:

NYX Professional Can’t Stop Won’t Stop Contour Concealer ($9.50)

To steal a trick from professional makeup artists, get this concealer in your normal shade, as well as one that is two shades darker—there are 24 options—so you can contour your cheekbones, jawline and nose (and anywhere else) to your heart’s content. It’s a blendable, matte liquid that gives your room to play, but once it’s in place, it will last 24 hours.

Concealer for Skin-Care Benefits:

FLOWER Beauty Get Real Serum Concealer ($12)

For those who want their concealer to simultaneously act like skin care, this is a good option to try. New from the brand, it comes in 12 shades and contains a blend of vitamins, shea butter and sunflower seed oil to nourish, smooth, brighten, and energize skin. The coverage is medium, but also buildable if you need more. When it comes to the best drugstore concealers, this one feels very hydrating, comfortable and flexible on the skin.

Concealer for Redness:

Neutrogena Clear Coverage Correcting Green Concealer ($14.50)

Green is located directly opposite from red on the color wheel, which is why it helps neutralize redness in the skin. Though normally I would apply foundation before concealer, this color-corrector should be used as the first step on areas of redness. (You can also apply it directly to blemishes—it’s oil-free and won’t irritate acne-prone skin.) Plus, this concealer contains niacinamide for extra brightening to reduce blotchiness.

Concealer for Under the Eyes:

JOAH Perfect Complexion Eye Serum Concealer ($12)

Combine an eye serum with a concealer and you’ve got this hybrid that’s a total drugstore steal at just $12. It not only helps diminish the appearance of dark circles, but also puffiness and fine lines. This is thanks to the addition of peptides and ceramides that firm and nourish the skin with continued use over time. In a consumer study, 100 people tested this product and 92 percent of them saw the appearance of dark circles disappear and said the concealer hid imperfections.

The cushion tip feels good on tired under-eyes—I love this design element for undereye concealers—and it also does a good job of hiding acne marks, too.