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Whether you're looking to make under-eye circles disappear or you're targeting bright-red blemishes, a good concealer is key. But can drugstore makeup perform as well as pricier prestige brands? The Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab set out to find the answer.
Our Beauty Lab is comprised of beauty experts and chemists who regularly test thousands of beauty, skincare and hair products to find the only ones worth your money. When we tested concealers, we rounded up over 150 products and then narrowed down the field to the best 26 to put to the test. We obscured the labels on these picks before sending them to professional makeup artists who scored each concealer's performance from blendability to coverage to texture. We weighed testers' responses and measured data from over 540 questions to find the best concealers to hide everything from dark circles to acne scarring to facial redness.
Below are the top-rated concealers according Good Housekeeping Institute tests as well as beauty editor picks and cult favorites according to shoppers and product reviewers. At last, the inexpensive answer to your discoloration drama.
At a price that can't be beat, NYX topped Beauty Lab tests with sheer to medium coverage in an impressive range of 23 shades. Thebudget-friendly pick wowedmakeup artists in BeautyLab tests who loved howeasy it was apply and were impressed by how itblended easily on skin. Our pros recommend it for as an everyday concealer for under-eyes, redness, and everything in between, though they warn that the formula may accentuate lines and wrinkles under the eyes if applied too heavily — so be sure to blend well!
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BEST ANTI-AGING DRUGSTORE CONCEALER
Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment Concealer
Now 20% Off
This cult favorite concealer has nabbedGood HousekeepingBeauty Awards,toppedBeauty Lab testsand won the praise of consumers across retailersforfull, smoothcoveragethat won't settle into fine lines around the eyes.In fact, it scored tops in concealer tests forblurring the look of dark circles while also reducing the appearancewrinkles and fine lines. The sponge tip applicatorcan be used on under-eyes, blemishes and more.
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Second only toInstant Age Rewind, this concealer is beloved by Amazon reviewers with over 8,000 reviews and an average 4.4 rating. When we tested it in the Lab, our pros found the lightweight sheer- to medium-coverage formula ideal for under-eyes and mild discoloration. "It doesn't look super makeup-y," said one tester. "It's good if you want something lightweight." It comes in a nice range of12 shades that Amazon reviewers say doesn't crease, budge, or irritate skin and "lasts a really long time."
If you're looking for a concealer thatdoes double duty — covering both under-eye circles and blemishes — this is a perfect pick. "It didn't cake or settle into fine lines," said one tester in a Beauty Lab test. Its shape offers precision around tight corners near the nose and eyes and aroundacne:"Thepointed tip is great forcoveringspotsor blemishes," another noted. Just be sure to layer it with an acne spot treatmentto treat the issue while you cover it.
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Great for dry or flaky skin, this stick concealer is made with hyaluronic acid at its core to bring hydration to the under-eye area all day long. It's available in five shades thatBeauty Lab testes found offered sheer to medium coverage, which is ideal for light makeup days but not best for major discoloration.
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BEST DRUGSTORE CONCEALER WITH SPF
Neutrogena Healthy Skin Brightening Eye Perfector SPF 25
Now 11% Off
It's been proven that UV damage is responsible for up to 80% of visible skin aging, and since the skin around the eyes is far more delicate than the rest of your skin,protecting this often-missed area with SPFis extremely important. Plus, Beauty Lab tests found this formula to be non-irritating withgreat dark circle coverage,as well as the ability to cover spots and redness. Testers said theclick-up brush applicator was easy to use and that the product blended easily.
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BEST DRUGSTORE CONCEALER FOR ROSACEA
FLOWER Beauty Lighten Up! Brightening Concealer Click Pen
Now 18% Off
Our testers lovedthis click-up brush concealer for camouflaging everything from dark spots to dark circles, but especially loved it for covering redness and blemishes. The formula is made with brightening micropigments to reflect and illuminate the under-eye area, and the buildable medium- to full-coverageformuladidn't irritate skin and was easy to remove, making it ideal for those with sensitive skin or rosacea.
This creamy formula offers sheer to medium coverage ideal for hyperpigmentation and light spot coverage,as well asunder eyes and redness. It scored well for its ability to spread and blend well on the skin and cover blemishes. The cruelty- and fragrance-free formula isavailablein 14 shades from ebony to light ivory.
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A drugstore favorite that one of our beauty editors has called a dupe forMake Up For Ever's Full CoverConcealer, this squeezable tube offers serious coverage at a reasonable price. Amazon reviewers are obsessed (it's amassed over 1,800 reviews) and one raves,"It really isexcellent at coveringand it does not require a lot at a time or reapplication." A couple downfalls: Its shade range is limited to mostly fair tones, and some reviewers say it can lookcakey on dry skin.
Jessica Teich
Director, Editorial Commerce & Product Reviews
Jessica (she/her) is the director of editorial commerce and product reviews with over a decade of experience as a product tester, reviewer, writer and editor of beauty and lifestyle content. Previously she was the beauty editor at USA Today's Reviewed where she launched the Beauty vertical and tested hundreds of products and has covered trends for publications like The Boston Globe and The New York Times. You can usually find her sorting through piles of beauty products — and testing the best ones on camera.