We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Shopping Beauty Products Makeup The 9 Best Drugstore Concealers of 2024, Tested by Real People NYX Professional Makeup Bare With Me Concealer Serum was the best of the best By Melanie Rud Melanie Rud Melanie Rud is a freelance beauty writer, editor, and expert living in Chicago. People Editorial Guidelines Updated on October 3, 2024 03:15AM EDT In This Article View All In This Article Our Top Picks Reviews Add to Cart What to Know Behind the Scenes Why Trust PEOPLE? What Is PEOPLE Tested? Photo: People / Jhett Thompson Concealer is an incredibly versatile makeup product. It’s perfect for covering under-eye circles, concealing pimples, or boosting radiance. Fortunately, you don't need to spend a lot for a great formula — fantastic drugstore concealers are on offer at a fraction of the price of fancier choices. The Best Right Now Skip the scroll and shop deals on our favorite drugstore concealers at Amazon now: Rimmel London Stay Matte Concealer starts at just $4 NYX Professional Makeup Bare with Me Concealer Serum is up to 54% off Covergirl TruBlend Undercover Concealer is 35% off Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Concealer is 20% off Higher-end options may sometimes have “nicer” components or packaging, but when it comes to coverage, staying power, and shade ranges, drugstore finds are totally on par with the more expensive picks, according to celebrity makeup artist Todd Harris. Finding the right concealer for you can be tough, which is why we set out to find the best of the best. Our testers tried 27 different drugstore concealers — all costing less than $20 — to hide dark circles and skin discoloration. Everything from texture to coverage to creasing to staying power was evaluated for each product.Below, the best drugstore concealers that PEOPLE tested. Our Top Picks Best Overall: NYX Professional Makeup Bare with Me Concealer Serum at Amazon $12 Jump to Review Best for Mature Skin: SALE Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Eraser Concealer at Amazon $11 $9 Jump to Review Best for Mature Skin (Cheaper): e.l.f. Hydrating Camo Concealer at Amazon $7 Jump to Review Best for Acne: Maybelline New York Fit Me Concealer Jump to Review Best Buildable: Rimmel London Stay Matte Concealer at Amazon $6 Jump to Review Best Longwear: SALE CoverGirl TruBlend Undercover Concealer at Amazon $12 $9 Jump to Review Best Full-Coverage: Milani Conceal + Perfect Concealer at Amazon $10 Jump to Review Best Under-Eye: The Lip Bar Quick Conceal Caffeine Concealer at Target $15 Jump to Review Best Lightweight: Colourpop Pretty Fresh Concealer at Amazon $9 Jump to Review Best CC Cream: PÜR 4-in-1Tinted Moisturizer at Amazon $36 Jump to Review Best Overall NYX Professional Makeup Bare with Me Concealer Serum PHOTO: Amazon $12 $11 at Amazon $12 at Target $12 at Walmart Star Qualities Natural-looking, lightweight feel No under-eye creasing Long-lasting coverage Red Flags Limited number of shades for medium to dark complexions This aptly named pick is somewhat of a skincare and makeup hybrid. In the skincare department, it’s infused with soothing ingredients such as cica and green tea and offers 24-hour hydration. And despite its lightweight serum formula, this concealer offers full yet natural-looking coverage. It earned perfect scores in every category, from application to coverage, wear, and overall look, and gets bonus points for not creasing or settling into fine lines — easily earning its spot as the best overall pick in this roundup. If there were any downsides to this concealer, it’s the shade range. While not super limiting, we wish there were more choices for darker complexions than the 17 shades offered. Type: Liquid | Coverage: Full, buildable | Size: 0.32 oz. | Shades: 17 People / Jhett Thompson Best for Mature Skin Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Eraser Concealer PHOTO: Amazon $11 $9 at Amazon $9 at Target $9 at Walmart Star Qualities Goes on easily with sponge-tip applicator Creamy formula doesn’t settle into fine lines Reduced appearance of dark circles and redness Red Flags No way to clean the built-in applicator Having a concealer that’s just going to settle into your fine lines and wrinkles essentially defeats the purpose of even wearing a concealer. While many concealers do this, that certainly wasn’t the case here; we gave this Maybelline product a 4.5 out of 5 when it came to crease resistance and realized that its creamy consistency would work beautifully on those with dry or mature skin. It earned a perfect score for its easily blendable, non-sticky texture, and we also lauded the built-in sponge applicator. (However, we did note that it would be nice if it was removable, so there was a way to clean it.) Per the name, it did perform best at concealing dark circles; we found the medium coverage not ideal for camouflaging blemishes. Type: Liquid | Coverage: Medium | Size: 0.20 oz. | Shades: 18 PHOTO: People / Jhett Thompson PHOTO: People / Jhett Thompson PHOTO: People / Jhett Thompson The Best Concealers for Mature Skin, According to Experts, Testers, and Our Loved Ones Best for Mature Skin (Cheaper) e.l.f. Hydrating Camo Concealer PHOTO: Ulta $7 at Amazon $7 at Target $13 $7 at Walmart Star Qualities Full coverage without needing much product Doesn’t oxidize Non-greasy Red Flags Not as hydrating as we wished Everyone knows and loves e.l.f. for its cheaper, imitable alternatives to high-priced products, and the Hydrating Camo Concealer is one of the brand’s most popular items thus far. We were immediately impressed with its potent pigmentation and nearly full-coverage finish, which was attainable with only a few small dots on the skin. It effectively covered dark spots and camouflaged blemishes well. However, for being a “hydrating” concealer, we felt like this formula could stand to be a bit more moisturizing than it was. While it did leave skin feeling slightly dry, we found that moisturizing well beforehand made the finish look and feel a bit better, plus the color didn’t oxidize as the day went on. We think this could be a great option for those with mature, acne-prone, and oily skin because of its lightweight, non-comedogenic, and brightening formula. Type: Liquid | Size: 0.20 oz. | Coverage: Full, buildable | Shades: 20 PHOTO: People / Jhett Thompson PHOTO: People / Joy Kim PHOTO: People / Joy Kim PHOTO: People / Joy Kim The 14 Best Foundations for Mature Skin, Tested by Real People Best for Acne Maybelline New York Fit Me Concealer PHOTO: Amazon View On Target $9 $7 at Amazon $8 at Target Star Qualities Oil-free formula Dermatologist- and ophthalmologist-tested Easy to blend Red Flags Looked slightly cakey As anyone who is trying to cover up blemishes will tell you, it’s a delicate balancing act between hiding them without further clogging pores and exacerbating the issue. This Maybelline pick is oil-free and non-comedogenic, so there’s no need to stress about that, and our tester found the coverage to be great for covering up red blemishes (although less so when it came to dark under-eye circles). It earned perfect scores for staying power and not creasing, and our tester also loved how easy it was to blend. The biggest downside? We wish there was a more inclusive shade range, especially for darker skin tones (and a bit less cakiness, but we recommend just going a little lighter on the application to solve this problem). Type: Liquid | Coverage: Light/medium | Size: 0.23 oz. | Shades: 13 PHOTO: People / Jhett Thompson PHOTO: People / Jhett Thompson PHOTO: People / Jhett Thompson PHOTO: People / Jhett Thompson The 11 Best Foundations for Acne Prone Skin of 2024, Tested and Reviewed Best Buildable Rimmel London Stay Matte Concealer PHOTO: Amazon $6 at Amazon $4 at Walmart View on Kroger.com Star Qualities Healthy-looking finish Easily covered pimples and red spots Impressive staying power Red Flags Shades are not listed on the packaging Some days, you need just a little bit of concealer. Some days, you need a whole lot of concealer. This super-buildable formula is fitting for every occasion. The layering potential of this concealer was a prime attribute that we noted when it comes to camouflaging texture, and we also loved the matte coverage in general. It covered dark under-eyes and blemishes with ease, eradicating that tired look and leaving behind a fresh, clean complexion. The staying power is top-notch, too. The drawback? It has a rather limited shade range of eight colors, and the color isn’t listed on the container, so it’s hard to know which one you’re using. Type: Liquid | Coverage: Full | Size: 0.23 oz. | Shades: 8 PHOTO: People / Jhett Thompson PHOTO: People / Jhett Thompson Best Longwear CoverGirl TruBlend Undercover Concealer PHOTO: Amazon $12 $9 at Amazon $9 at Target $9 at Walmart Star Qualities Extensive shade range Doesn’t need powder to last Requires little product for a lot of impact Red Flags Felt a bit heavy on the skin Drugstore makeup doesn't mean low quality, just low price — and that's what we loved about this CoverGirl concealer. With just a few taps on the skin, we were impressed with how this cream concealer made dark circles instantly disappear. We even used it to even out some redness on the cheeks and chin, putting its color-correcting abilities to the test. We were further impressed by its staying power; we wore it for a day without it creasing or moving around on the skin, even without being topped with setting powder. It also has an extensive shade range, with over 30 colors to choose from. The only category where it scored a tad bit lower was texture, where we noted that we could feel the thick and creamy consistency on the under-eye areas. Type: Cream | Coverage: Full | Size: 0.33 oz. | Shades: 30 PHOTO: People / Jhett Thompson PHOTO: People / Jhett Thompson The 10 Best Dark Spot Correctors of 2024, Tested by Real People Best Full-Coverage Milani Conceal + Perfect Concealer PHOTO: Amazon $10 at Amazon $11 at Target $11 at Ulta Star Qualities Very pigmented formula Non-drying matte finish Didn’t look cakey Red Flags Prone to creasing For those in search of a concealer that packs a real punch of coverage, this is it. Everything from dark spots to redness and blemishes was covered with just a dot of product, which means that a little definitely goes a long way when it comes to this concealer. To that point, it is rather thick as well, which made blending a bit more challenging, and it did show some signs of creasing after 30 minutes. We anticipated that it would easily be alleviated with a setting powder or a little bit of blending with a damp makeup sponge, and luckily, it was — resulting in a smooth look that didn’t appear cakey. And while it has a matte finish, it’s not drying, thanks to the formula’s infusion of shea butter and olive oil. Type: Liquid | Coverage: Full | Size: 0.17 oz. | Shades: 18 PHOTO: People / Jhett Thompson PHOTO: Byrdie / Jhett Thompson PHOTO: People / Jhett Thompson The 12 Best Full-Coverage Foundations for a Flawless Base Best Under-Eye The Lip Bar Quick Conceal Caffeine Concealer PHOTO: Target $15 at Target $15 at Walmart View on Thelipbar.com Star Qualities Doesn’t crease Hydrating formula reduced the appearance of dark circles Looks fresh after prolonged wear Red Flags Thick texture made it challenging to blend One thing is for sure — we can't stop raving about how well this formula worked to cover up dark circles. Even after a night of bad sleep, this concealer rejuvenated the under-eyes and kept delicate skin hydrated with its moisturizing caffeine formula. (However, we will note that it did cake a bit when dotted onto the cheeks and chin.) It was longwearing and crease-free, never settling into the fine lines around the eyes and looking fresh even after 30 minutes of wear (with zero setting powder!). We gave it a lower score when it came to texture, lamenting that it was a bit tacky and hard to blend — particularly given that it seemed to dry quickly mid-application — but liked that it came with a wand applicator. Type: Cream | Coverage: Medium | Size: 0.35 oz. | Shades: 6 PHOTO: People / Jhett Thompson PHOTO: People / Jhett Thompson The More You Know The best concealers for dark circles should have the active ingredient caffeine, which helps to constrict the blood vessels that make the skin under your eyes look dark. Best Lightweight Colourpop Pretty Fresh Concealer PHOTO: Colourpop $9 at Amazon $9 at Target View on Colourpop.com Star Qualities Natural finish No product transfer Great for lightening and brightening Red Flags Not very long-lasting This formula was featherweight in every sense of the word — light, bright, and the most natural-looking we’ve tried in a while. So much so that it teetered on the edge of being a little too sheer (we’d call this medium-buildable coverage rather than full, which is what the brand claims), but our tester thought it was perfect for no-makeup makeup looks or for highlighting areas where they wanted to brighten the skin. We liked that the product was transfer-proof and blended out beautifully, but it’s worth mentioning that we got the best results when using a sponge rather than a brush or fingers. However, you’ll want to start blending quickly after the product is swiped onto your skin; it dries down very quickly and stays put if you don’t work at it right away. Type: Liquid | Coverage: Medium, buildable | Size: 0.30 oz. | Shades: 25 People / Jhett Thompson Add to Cart Shopping for a great drugstore concealer? You might also be interested in these other PEOPLE Tested beauty products that impressed both our editors and independent testers with their stellar performance through rigorous testing in our NYC beauty lab and at home. PÜR 4-in-1Tinted Moisturizer $36 at Amazon $36 at Ulta $36 at QVC Hyper Skin Hyper Even Vitamin C Serum $64 at Amazon $36 at Sephora $58 at Revolve Beauty Bakerie Flour Setting Powder $26 at Amazon $14 at Target $22 at Nordstrom Quiet Hours Facial Ice Roller View on Quiethours.com $48 at Bluemercury.com View on Ssense.com What to Know About Drugstore Concealers Where You’ll Be Using It Where you’ll be applying your concealer will largely dictate what shade you go with, says Harris. For example, under the eyes, you’ll want a shade that’s about one shade lighter than your foundation in order to boost the darker areas. But if you’re using it mostly to conceal spots or discoloration on the face, your concealer and foundation should match exactly, he says. Shade selection aside, if you’re going to be applying it mostly to cover blemishes, make sure to choose an oil-free formula, like the Maybelline New York Fit Me Concealer featured on this list. Skin Type Your skin type will play a large role in the type of concealer formula that will ultimately work best for you. If you’re oilier and your concealer is always creasing and smudging, consider a matte, longwear formula, says celebrity makeup artist Neil Scibelli. If your skin is on the drier side, look for one that has hydrating ingredients and/or is labeled as having a radiant finish, he suggests. Coverage Whether you prefer sheer, medium, or full coverage is up to you and how you want to use a concealer. But when in doubt, opt for formulas that are buildable so that you can easily layer on more when and if you need it without having to worry about caking and creasing. Our winning best buildable concealer was the Rimmel London Stay Matte Concealer. Ingredients Just like you would with any beauty product, if you’re dealing with specific skin concerns, you should keep an eye on the ingredients in your concealer. If you have acne-prone skin and are using it to cover blemishes, make sure the ingredients are non-comedogenic or won’t clog your pores, like our top pick, the Maybelline New York Fit Me Concealer. If you have dry skin, look for formulas with hydrating ingredients to plump up your skin. For dark under-eye circles, concealer with caffeine, like the Lip Bar Quick Conceal Caffeine Concealer, ensures you look awake and refreshed throughout the day. How To Pick Your Shade Since most drugstore concealers don’t have samples that you can swipe on, Harris suggests bringing your go-to foundation and using that as a reference point.To boost radiance, go one shade lighter than your foundationTo conceal discoloration and blemishes, choose the same shade as your foundation People / Jhett Thompson Behind the Scenes Our testers, a varied group of people ranging in age, skin tone, and texture, came into our PEOPLE Tested lab and cleansed their faces to prepare their skin to test 27 different concealers. After cleansing, they all hydrated their skin with the same moisturizer to ensure each concealer got the same treatment and prep work. Texture: Each tester started by applying a set amount of concealer to the right side of their faces, leaving the left bare to easily compare the before and after appearances. They dotted their selected concealer in the under-eye area and then on their faces to cover up dark spots, blemishes, or discoloration, following detailed and standardized application instructions. (The concealers were grouped into three categories: applicator wand, pot, or dispenser, each of which required slightly different processes — think sponges for wands and finger pats for pot concealers.)Coverage: If desired, they added a second layer of coverage, all the while taking note of how the product looked and felt.Staying Power: After 30 minutes, they reassessed if the concealer had creased, faded, or transferred. They then ranked the product on a scale of one to five in the following categories: texture, coverage, creasing, and staying power. Why Trust PEOPLE? Melanie Rud is a freelance beauty writer, editor, and contributor to PEOPLE and Byrdie. She has previously held editorial positions at Shape, Good Housekeeping, and Health, covering topics from skincare to makeup in the shopping space. In our testing, we considered factors critical when selecting a concealer, including price, coverage, ingredients, texture, shade range, staying power, hydration, and ease of application and removal. This story was later updated by Alyssa Brascia, a staff commerce writer at PEOPLE, who covers and specializes in beauty. Our Expert Panel Todd Harris is a celebrity makeup artist who has worked with Lorde and Katie Holmes. Neil Scibelli is an independent celebrity makeup artist and recurring beauty expert on Today With Hoda & Jenna and Good Morning America. What Is PEOPLE Tested? We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs. But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square. In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.