The makeup industry has become extremely saturated with options, and it feels like there’s a new product going viral on social media all the time — which can make shopping for a go-to everyday item like concealer that much harder. Sometimes, you need the opinion of real people who use makeup in their daily lives to help inform a purchase, rather than the beauty gurus or influencers who may be promoting makeup they got for free or are being paid to endorse.
As someone who’s cycled through many, many concealers in an effort to find one that would serve my sensitive and acne-prone skin well, I was curious to find out what concealers other people in the HuffPost office swear by. Below, myself and other HuffPosters of different ages and skin types weigh in on the concealers that they would keep repurchasing — no viral gimmicks here. Who knows? Your new holy grail makeup product may be somewhere on this list.
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Senior director Greta Geiselman says she's "a big fan of using a peach concealer first for the dark circles." Geiselman, 48, has combination skin and says her favorite concealer is the e.l.f. Camo Color Corrector in the shade Peach.
Because peach is in the orange family, directly opposite blue and purple on the color wheel, it can correct the darkness of under-eye circles when used underneath another concealer or foundation, according to e.l.f.
The Camo Color Corrector has a satin finish, is full coverage and contains hydrating hyaluronic acid. Best of all, it's a total steal at under $5.
Senior life editor Lindsay Holmes calls Tarte's Shape Tape concealer her "holy grail." Holmes is 34 and has dry skin with some rosacea — though Shape Tape isn't listed as being hydrating, it does smooth and brighten, and is dermatologist-tested. It's waterproof, crease-proof for up to 12 hours and has a full-coverage formula. And if you'd rather save a bit of money on a full-size tube, Holmes says, "I get the travel size and it honestly lasts me a long time."
Shape Tape is available in 37 shades. The shades pictured here are 12B (Fair Beige) and 61H (Espresso).
I cannot overstate how relieved I was to have found the Benefit Boi-ing Cakeless Full Coverage Waterproof Liquid Concealer a few years ago. At 24 with sensitive, acne-prone skin, I had been on what felt like an endless search for a concealer that met all my requirements. I wanted something that wouldn't budge on hot, sweaty summer days and an actually full-coverage formula that still felt lightweight and wouldn't break me out.
I thought I had struck gold with the Benefit Boi-ing Industrial Strength Cream Concealer, but the Cakeless version is even better, because it has more shade options and is less messy to apply thanks to the tube container. It covers everything I want it to, still looks like my real skin and though $27 is more than I typically want to spend on makeup, one tube lasts me a long time.
The Boi-ing Cakeless Concealer is available in 26 shades. The photos shown here are of shades 1 (Amaze 'Em), which is the one I use, and 17 (Your Way).
Head of audience Abigail Williams calls herself a "loyalist" to the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer. Even after trying a different option, she quickly decided on "going back to NARS immediately."
Williams is 32 and has normal to sensitive skin — though the concealer is suitable for all skin types, according to the brand. Case in point: copy editor Shonitria Anthony, 35 with oily skin, also swears by this product.
"I have been using that concealer since I was about 26 years old," Anthony says. "I must say that over time as I've gotten older, had kids, and moved from the East Coast to the West Coast then back to the East Coast, that concealer has been nothing short of a consistent staple in my makeup routine."
The concealer has buildable, medium coverage and a radiant finish. It's also meant to be long-lasting; the brand claims it can last 16 hours on the skin. You can grab a tube in 30 shades, in both the full-size and mini versions. The photos shown here are of shades Chantilly and Dark Coffee.
"Ever since I discovered the Tower 28 concealer, I actually stopped using foundation," says BuzzFeed editorial VP Peggy Wang. Wang, who is in her early 40s, has normal to dry skin and says the concealer "blends so nicely and gives great coverage, and it saves me time in the morning. I just dab some on my forehead, under the eyes, around the nose, and around my chin, and buff it in using a foundation brush. It actually stays put and I don't get the greasiness or heaviness that comes with using an all over foundation."
I can also vouch for this one: I bought it when my local Sephora didn't have my Benefit Boi-ing Cakeless Concealer in stock, and I've found that the Tower 28 is light and isn't cakey — it barely even feels like I'm wearing makeup when I have it on. It's available in 20 shades and has a natural finish and medium coverage. The photos shown here are of shades 1.0 BH (the shade I use) and 20.0 WLA.
Operations associate Alexandra Niforos likes the Fenty Beauty Bright Fix Under Eye Brightener "for under eyes specifically." Niforos is in her mid-20s and has normal to oily skin. This undereye brightener has a serum-like texture and sheer, buildable coverage that's great for layering with your skin care or under another concealer — or even under a second Bright Fix shade. (According to the brand, Fenty Beauty owner Rihanna likes to layer the shades Peach and Honey.) If full-coverage makeup isn't for you and you want more of a "no-makeup makeup" look, this might be the product for you.
The Bright Fix Under Eye Brightener is available in 16 shades. The shades pictured here are Rose Quartz and Coffee.
Another HuffPost editor recommends the Rare Beauty Positive Light Under Eye Brightener. You can use this alone or over a more full-coverage concealer — while it only offers lighter coverage on its own, it has a brightening radiant finish, is hydrating and makes skin appear smoother without creases or caking.
The shade range on this product is limited, with six shades available. The ones pictured here are Light and Deep.
Looking for even more concealer options? See what makeup artists previously recommended to HuffPost:
Celebrity makeup artist Tomy Rivero recommended this affordable concealer for people of all different skin types. It's available in a wide range of shades and can help to expertly cover up everything from dark circles to blemishes, discoloration and more. It can also be used for contouring and sculpting areas like the chin and cheekbones!
Makeup artist Kierra Lanice points to this concealer's "gorgeous, radiant finish" as a reason why people with sensitive and dry skin types should give it a try. Available in 38 shades, it is also recommended highly by Rivero for those with very dry skin. It harnesses the power of nourishing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, peptides, caffeine, pink algae extract, arnica and panthenol to help diminish dark circles, puffiness, blemishes and redness.
