This article was last updated on April 16, 2022
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If you’ve ever suffered from breakouts, acne scars, hyperpigmentation, fine lines, or dark circles, then you know what a lifesaver a good concealer can be. If you’ve never had to deal with any of these issues, well then la-di-dah for you. But, for those of us who struggle with less-than-perfect complexions, a concealer is what can give us the confidence we need to face the world, even when we’re not feeling so stellar about our skin.
Our editors have all done battle with the dreaded monster zit, or had (many) sleepless nights that showed up on their faces the next day, but you wouldn’t know it because they all have mastered the art of cosmetics camouflage. So, we did an office-wide poll to learn their secrets and find out which concealers have earned a spot in the R29 Hall of Fame.
Here, you’ll find the 9 concealers they deemed worthy, based on their powers to cover up all manner of pesky spots, circles, redness, dullness, and general blahness. Scroll through to see our perfecting picks, then tell us in the comments what concealer you turn to when your skin is in crisis.
What’s in a name? If you’re Laura Mercier’s Secret Camouflage, the gospel truth — that ish can cover up anything. We like it because it stays put without looking cakey, and it also gets bonus points for containing two complementary shades, all but guaranteeing a perfect match for your unique coloring. In a retail culture where skin tone variety can appear to mean pale, paler, and moderately less pale, it’s nice to see not only a wide range of shades, but also the ability to customize in an effort to better match each individual skin hue.
Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage, $30, available at Sephora.
It may have just launched a few weeks ago, but this new cover-up earned an automatic induction into the Hall of Fame after we watched it at work backstage at Fashion Week. It’s super-creamy, brightening, infused with skin-nourishing benefits, and able to cover up everything from an angry red zit to “Wow, that all-night drinking marathon was definitely not a good idea” dark circles.
NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, $28, available at NARS.
One of our editors summed up the perks of this drugstore staple pretty succinctly: “It’s cheap, available everywhere, comes in a million colors, and covers any and everything.”
L’Oréal True Match Super-Blendable Concealer, $9.49, available at Drugstore.com.
Our super-fair staffers can have a hard time finding a concealer that matches their exact shade and unique undertones. This one got the pale girl stamp of approval because it comes in one of the largest varieties of light shades we’ve ever seen, is great for covering both blemishes and undereye circles, has a lightweight texture, and it seriously will not budge.
Lancôme Effacernes Waterproof Protective Undereye Concealer, $30, available at Nordstrom.
We know, we know — you’ve heard everyone under the sun recommend this “magic wand” what feels like a billion times. Well, that’s because it just works so darn well. Our team uses it to blur everything from acne scars to undereye circles, but we’ve also used it to add life to a tired face, highlight our cheekbones, and even make our lips look fuller. Just don’t try using it to cover up a pimple — it doesn’t work so well on anything that’s textured.
Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Radiant Touch, $40, available at Sephora.
So while it’s not technically a concealer, we found this powder foundation to be pretty effective in hiding pimples. Instead of smothering them with a super-thick concealer that will only make things worse, this lets blemishes breathe so that they go away quickly.
Bare Escentuals BareMinerals Matte SPF15 Foundation, $27, available at Bare Escentuals.
We’ve sung the praises of this innovative concealer before, but we think it bears repeating — yes, it’s that nifty. Like a BB cream for your eyes, this little wonder combines makeup with skin care benefits. It’s formulated with three neuropeptides and vitamin C ester that work together to minimize fine lines and brighten up fatigued eyes. It instantly covers shadows and redness, and also works as a primer to help your eye makeup stay in place. Overachiever, much?
Perricone MD No Concealer Concealer, $45, available at Beauty.com.
There’s a fine line for undereye concealers between too greasy and too dry — you want it to be smooth enough that it glides easily over your delicate skin, but thick enough that it stays in place without creasing or sliding off. According to our testers, this luxe cover-up fits the bill, covering up dark circles easy-peasy, but with a non-drying, flake-free finish.
Chanel Correcteur Perfection Long Lasting Concealer, $40, available at Chanel.
Pigmented without being too heavy, if you’ve got a monster zit taking up residence on your face, this budget buy is where it’s at. Our staffers attributed this budge-proof concealer as their pimple quick fix because it really will cover up every trace of redness without getting cakey.
Maybelline SuperStay 24 Hour Concealer, $7.99, available at Ulta.
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