A 101 guide to these top-rated drugstore concealers plus when to use them.
February 16, 2022
Take a stroll down the makeup aisle of any drugstore, and more than likely, you’ll become overwhelmed. With so many products to choose from, it can be hard to figure out which ones will work best for you.
Concealer, in particular, can be especially hard to pick out because you need it to match your skin tone and undertones perfectly. But we get it — no one’s got time to swatch all day long, at the drugstore nonetheless, but you also can’t just buy it blindly and waste money on shade misses (when you want shade matches).
We’re here to help, and take some of the guesswork off your plate. Here, we’re walking you through our six best drugstore concealers, including our best drugstore under-eye concealer and our best full-coverage option for people with acne-prone skin.
The Best L’Oréal Paris Concealers
Allow us to share our best ways to cover-up and camouflage. We know a good drugstore concealer for just about every skin type, skin care concern, and product feature that you can think of.
Our Best Full-Coverage Drugstore Concealer
When you’re in search of a concealer to cover acne, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and other acne scars, it’s a must that it provides full coverage and will last for the long haul. Basically, we’re describing the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Full Wear Concealer Waterproof, Full Coverage.
The full-coverage formula comes in 25 shades and will stay put all day. It’s even waterproof — making it a perfect pick for summer swim sessions. Use this concealer to disguise acne and dark spots — and anything else you want to keep hidden.
Our Best Buildable-Coverage Drugstore Concealer
Sometimes you just don’t want your blemishes to be the focal point of your face, but you’re not interested in covering them completely either. That’s where a buildable concealer, like the L’Oréal Paris True Match Concealer, comes in handy.
When you want to have the look of fresh, dewy skin but you embrace the skinimalism trend, this easy-to-blend concealer is your perfect match. Conceal and correct as much or as little as you want — the lightweight formula evens skin tone with a comfortable, natural feel.
Our Best Drugstore Concealer for Mature Skin
As your skin starts to age, you have to consider a whole new list of things when hunting down a good drugstore concealer. Will it settle into your wrinkles? Will it draw attention to dry spots? And so on and so forth.
Enter the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Makeup Radiant Concealer with Hydrating Serum. This drugstore concealer is formulated with a hydrating serum and glycerin and helps illuminate mature skin. The brightening under-eye concealer minimizes imperfections without settling into lines.
Our Best Drugstore Under-Eye Concealer
While concealer is typically used for masking imperfections, they can also do more. The L’Oréal Paris True Match Eye Cream in a Concealer, 0.5% hyaluronic acid offers instant dark circle coverage, along with the skin care benefits of an eye cream. With a dose of hyaluronic acid, the formula glides on smoothly and secures 24 hour hydration to the under-eye skin — refreshing the area and combatting puffiness in just one week. It’s a makeup-skin care hybrid that works double duty.
Our Best Drugstore Concealer for Color-Correcting
If you’re not already color-correcting, it might be time to start. Using certain colorful concealer shades can help hide skin imperfections such as dark circles, spots, and blemishes. Our best concealer to color correct with is the L’Oréal Paris True Match Color Correcting Crayon, which comes in five different shades: green to neutralize redness, yellow for age spots, and peach, bisque, and orange for dark circles, dark spots, and hyperpigmentation.
Our Best Drugstore Concealers for Contouring
In addition to hiding imperfections and brightening your under-eye area, you can also use a concealer that’s darker than your skin tone to contour and one that’s lighter to highlight. Pick up the L’Oréal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Crayon Concealer in the shades you need — then get to work!
Next:The Best Drugstore Foundations to Replace Your Luxury Go-Tos
Edited by Shalwah Evans, Photo Design: Crystal Miller