These Are My Top Picks for Coverage and Brightening

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Having dealt with acne since my college years and still facing regular breakouts at 35, I am very familiar with the process of “concealing.” Much of my 20s was spent hunting for makeup that could mask blemishes and the resulting hyperpigmentation. Once I hit my early 30s, I needed those same products to also tackle the dark circles appearing under my eyes.

I view a reliable concealer as a form of beauty armor, shielding me from insecurities like uneven skin tone and helping me face the day with confidence. Because of this, I am very selective about which formulas I purchase. I also hate discovering a concealer doesn’t suit me the hard way—usually halfway through the day when I catch a glimpse of a cakey, crusty complexion in the mirror. To help you avoid that experience, I spent several weeks testing nine different concealers and evaluating their performance.

Best overall
Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Concealer
$39.00
Amazon
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Most long-lasting formula
Patrick Ta Major Skin Soft Blur Brightening Hydrating Concealer
$34.00
Sephora
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For brightening
L’Oreal Paris True Match Radiant Serum Concealer
$13.97
$16.99
Amazon
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Smoothest application
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Concealer
$9.98
$12.99
Amazon
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Creamiest formula
Tarte Shape Tape Blur Concealer Stick
$32.00
Ulta
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How to apply concealer, according to makeup artists

Concealer is a versatile product that can serve various purposes depending on your specific goals, your shade match, and your application technique. According to celebrity makeup and hair artist Sage Adi, it is the most effective tool in your beauty kit if you want to correct imperfections and even out your skin tone.

To mask dark under-eye circles, Adi recommends a seemingly foolproof application technique: “I like to dot [the product] in the inner and outer corner of the eye, followed by three dots underneath the eye. Then, blend with a brush with very light strokes, followed by foundation.” If you aren’t a fan of brushes, Adi notes that using your fingers is also an excellent way to blend your concealer.

If your goal is to brighten your face, makeup artist Caitlyn Dominic has previously suggested applying a bit of concealer down the bridge of the nose, under the nostrils, and on the chin. “Then press and blend into your skin using gentle pushing motions and an angled concealer brush,” she shared.

Best overall concealer, tested by an editor

Brightening: 5/5 | Concealing: 5/5 | Layering: 4.8/5 | Longwear: 4.9/5 | Overall average score: 4.92/5

After the testing period for this article concluded, this is the concealer I continued to reach for every day. This formula is essentially what smooth skin dreams are made of.

This is the only product I’ve tested that allowed me to spot conceal without needing constant touch-ups. I applied it to my blemishes and redness, set it with a touch of powder, and moved on with my routine. Usually, applying foundation over concealer causes the product to shift, forcing me to add even more coverage. By some miracle, this formula stayed exactly where I put it.

After a 12-hour day, this product truly stood the test of time. It kept my under-eyes looking bright with only minimal creasing. On one occasion, I noticed a tiny dry patch, but I had to inspect my reflection very closely to find any flaws. It is incredibly smooth and blends into the skin effortlessly. Plus, a little bit goes a long way.

Other concealers to try, tested by the author

Patrick Ta Major Skin Soft Blur Brightening Hydrating Concealer

Brightening: 4.75/5 | Concealing: 5/5 | Layering: 4.75/5 | Longwear: 5/5 | Overall average score: 4.87/5

At $34, I’ll admit I expected near-perfection, and Patrick Ta delivered. My face looked blurred for hours. I could almost feel the vitamin-infused formula working, which the brand claims helps with moisture retention and creates a silky texture.

I’m not sure how to fully describe how great this feels on the skin. It applied seamlessly and blended with ease. After hours of wear, the formula refused to settle into my under-eye creases. My only issue arose when I layered the product under my eyes—using the dark shade to conceal and the lighter one to brighten—which caused the inner corners to look a bit crusty, as if the formulas were separating into dry patches. It wasn’t very noticeable, but it occurred on both sides. However, when I used only the brighter shade on a different day, there was zero patchiness. It covered about 90% of my dark circles for the entire workday and beyond.

The strangest issue I encountered was the scent. The brand labels the concealer as fragrance-free, so I assume the odor comes naturally from the ingredients. It isn’t overpowering, but it was strong enough to make me hesitate before application. I wondered if I had a faulty batch, but both shades I received had the same smell.

While there are 25 shades, I believe the darker range could be more extensive.

Brightening: 5/5 | Concealing: 4.5/5 | Layering: 4.75/5 | Longwear: 4.5/5 | Overall average score: 4.68/5

This product has been available for years, and I am only just now trying it. I’ve known many friends and family members who swear by it, but I never thought it would work for me, especially since the packaging hasn’t been updated in a long time. To be honest, I expected to dislike it before I even applied it, but I was quickly humbled.

From the moment I put it on, my skin looked incredibly dewy, and it stayed that way all day. It brightened my under-eyes surprisingly well and showed minimal creasing after hours of wear. (I even sweated through a full workout with it on, and it barely budged.)

The unconventional applicator always made me skeptical; the idea of a sponge-tip pad holding all that product made me worry it would be difficult to transfer or result in streaks. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case; if anything, it prevented me from over-applying. Do I still prefer a standard doe-foot applicator? Yes. But I didn’t have a bad experience with the built-in sponge and would happily use it again.

Brightening: 5/5 | Concealing: 4.5/5 | Layering: 4.4/5 | Longwear: 4.5/5 | Overall average score: 4.6/5

I nailed the under-eye shade match with this one. Although I worried I had gone too light, I received several compliments on my makeup that day, specifically regarding how bright my face looked. It masked the clear signs of my lack of sleep like a pro, performing exactly as I would expect a premium formula to do.

After 10 to 11 hours, the formula held up well. It did settle slightly in certain areas around the perimeter of my face, and my pores were a bit more visible on my inner cheeks, but overall, it was impressive. I tried the non-brightening shade as an all-over cover-up and enjoyed how buildable the pigment was. It blended well, requiring only a little effort to achieve a smooth finish. It worked nicely with my setting powder, though it became slightly patchy when paired with my powder bronzer. Still, once I stopped nitpicking and looked at my face from a normal distance, my base looked much better than I anticipated from a drugstore product.

One detail to note: The doe-foot applicator could be improved. It barely picks up any product, forcing me to dip back into the tube repeatedly while spot concealing.

Brightening: 4.75/5 | Concealing: 4/5 | Layering: 4/5 | Longwear: 4.2/5 | Overall average score: 4.23/5

I’m not sure how a stick concealer outperformed most of the liquid options in this test, but it did. The moment it touched my skin, it glided across my under-eyes.

If you dislike the feeling of heavy makeup, this is the formula you should try. I cannot emphasize enough how lightweight it feels. I’m a big fan of the satin finish it leaves behind. (Just be careful not to overdo the setting powder; it doesn’t need much and will look cakey if you try to bake.) It looks beautiful under the eyes and doesn’t settle into fine lines. It is also very buildable—at one point, I applied three layers to fix a mistake with my eyeshadow, and it never showed signs of patchiness or creasing.

Normally, I dislike gliding products directly onto my face for fear of tugging the skin, but the creamy consistency eliminates those concerns. However, the diamond-shaped tip feels a bit awkward, and the sharp points can make precise application difficult.

Brightening: 4.2/5 | Concealing: 4.25/5 | Layering: 4/5 | Longwear: 4/5 | Overall average score: 4.11/5

For a $7 concealer, I am very impressed with the performance. It covered my dark circles and provided a solid brightening effect.

I particularly liked how this formula helped balance my skin tone. It did a great job of reducing redness from breakouts and only shifted slightly by the end of the day. This is a great choice if you prefer a thicker consistency, so a little goes a long way. Even though it is thick, it doesn’t feel heavy. It has a slightly slick feel, so if you want to improve its longevity, I highly recommend using a setting powder and spray.

My only issue was how it layered over other products. I tried applying it over a first coat of foundation, which resulted in a bit of patchiness. It performs better on its own, laying much smoother under the eyes. However, it meshed well with other products, including my blush and setting powder.

We compiled a list of concealers recommended by experts, previous Shop TODAY Award winners, editor favorites, and new releases. I tested nine options for both concealing and brightening over approximately six weeks.

During that time, I rated each concealer on a scale of 1 to 5 based on the following criteria:

Brightening: For each concealer, I obtained a shade about two tones lighter than my natural skin for under-eye use. I evaluated how well the formula brightened, hid dark circles, avoided settling into fine lines, and applied to delicate skin.

Concealing: For the second shade, I chose a hue closest to my skin tone for spot-concealing and all-over coverage. I looked at how well the formula interacted with other products and how long the coverage lasted.

Layering: Was the concealer easy to blend? Did it settle into fine lines or create dry patches? Did it react poorly to products underneath or on top? Could I build the formula without creating patchiness?

Longwear: Did the formula last through my 10-plus hour workday? Did blemishes or dark circles start to show through? Did it require re-application?

You should pay close attention to your concealer’s consistency and finish. “If you wear foundation alternatives like skin tints or BB creams, you want to put the concealer first,” makeup artist Tyler Fields previously told us, noting that this can help achieve a more airbrushed look. However, if you want your concealer to be more prominent, Fields recommended applying it after your foundation. This is also the preferred order if your product is on the heavier side and prone to caking.

If you prefer to apply foundation first, Adi says using concealer on top is fine for minor color correcting.

When choosing a shade, Adi suggests selecting a color that matches your foundation for basic spot coverage and balancing skin tone.

For brightening, choose a slightly lighter color—I aimed for two shades lighter than my natural tone.

According to celebrity makeup artist Beck Wainner, using a hydrating concealer is one of the best ways to improve your makeup routine. “Not only does it keep the under-eye area from looking cakey, but it helps with creasing and lasts longer.”

If you prefer a matte finish, you might want to reserve those products for spot concealing or adding coverage elsewhere on the face. Using matte formulas under the eyes can cause issues: “Mattifying products will strip any glow and moisture from the under-eye area and can even make the skin appear older than it actually is,” professional makeup artist Chanel Temple previously told us. You also risk the product settling into fine lines.

Crease prevention begins with skin care prep. The key is hydration. Temple recommended that adding a lightweight eye cream or serum to the under-eye area before concealer can help the product lay better on the skin and prevent it from settling into fine lines.

Adi recommends a “less is more” approach, noting that she prefers to apply a liquid concealer in “light layers” for a more natural look. She suggests following that with a light dusting of powder—start with a small amount and build as needed.

Danielle Murphy is the audience development writer for Shop TODAY. She joined the team in 2021 and has covered everything from beauty trends to the hottest sales. She has tested several other beauty-related products for Shop TODAY’s Ranked series, including foundations, sunscreens, and blow-dry brushes.

Sage Adi is a celebrity print and advertising makeup artist based in New York City.

Caitlyn Dominic is a Charlotte, North Carolina-based makeup artist.

Tyler Fields is a New York City-based makeup artist who also specializes in hairstyles.

Chanel Temple is a professional makeup artist and is the brand events and education manager for Huda Beauty.

Beck Wainner is a Nashville-based makeup and hair artist with over a decade of experience in the beauty industry.

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