A concealer is the ultimate multitasker with the ability to cover up blemishes, neutralize redness and (my favorite) visibly reduce the appearance of dark circles. Whether you prefer a liquid, cream or stick, the right formula will do wonders for tired eyes, but finding one that works for you can be a challenge—which is where the PureWow editors and staffers come in. Over the course of a few weeks, I asked them to test and rank the best concealers for dark circles. I also tapped four professional makeup artists to share their top tricks for applying concealer to get the most out of them.
The 12 Best Concealers for Dark Circles, Tested & Ranked By Editors
Including NARS, Tarte and Maybelline
•
Published Jun 4, 2024
PureWow editors select every item that appears on this page, and the company may earn compensation through affiliate links within the story. All prices are accurate upon date of publish. You can learn more about the affiliate process here.
Dasha Burobina for PureWow
The Best Concealers for Dark Circles at a Glance
1
Best Overall
Smashbox Studio Skin Flawless Concealer
read more
2
Most Buildable Formula
Haus Labs Triclone Skin Tech Concealer
read more
3
Most Long-Lasting
IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer
read more
4
Best Color Corrector
Caliray Hideaway Concealer
read more
5
Best for Full Coverage
Tarte Shape Tape Concealer
read more
Meet the Experts
- Laura Geller is a professional makeup artist and the founder of Laura Geller Beauty. She has over 27 years of experience in the industry, previously working backstage as a makeup artist for Broadway before launching her own brand in the ‘90s. Her brand fans includes Regina King, Sherrie Shepherd and Fran Drescher.
- Jenny Patinkin is a Chicago-based makeup artist, founder of an eponymous beauty brand and the author of Lazy Perfection: The Art of Looking Great Without Really Trying. Patinkin has contributed her expertise to outlets such as Good Morning America, The Today Show, The Rachael Ray Show and Martha Stewart.
- Natalie Violette is a makeup artist and content creator known for her makeup tutorials, viral trends and product recommendations. She has over 3.1 million followers across platforms.
- Brandy Allen is a celebrity makeup artist and one of the beauty industry’s go-to experts for women of color. She has worked with MAC, Maybelline and Make Up For Ever. Her previous clients include Keke Palmer, Danielle Brooks and Yara Shahidi.
How I Chose the Best Concealers for Dark Circles
I spent several weeks researching the best concealers for dark circles through reader-favorite retailers like Sephora, Ulta and Amazon. Once I rounded up my top contenders, I asked PureWow editors and staffers to test and review the shortlist of concealers. After a few weeks of daily use, each tester provided feedback on how well the concealer masked their dark circles, how easy it was to apply and if they would recommend the product to others. Ahead, the 12 best concealers for dark circles, according to those results.
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- Value: 19/20
- Easy to Use: 20/20
- Quality: 20/20
- Aesthetics: 19/20
- Covering Dark Circles: 20/20
- Total: 98/100
This Smashbox concealer ranks high on the list for its ability to conceal dark circles. It's also designed to correct, contour and brighten any other areas of your face. For Associate Editor of News & Entertainment Nakeisha Campbell, it's been her go-to concealer for years and hasn't disappointed her yet. "I'd say it lives up to the 'studio skin' claim because it evens out my skin nicely and gives me a pleasant glow that looks great in photos. The application process is simple and very easy. A little goes a *very* long way, which I like. Yes, I spend $30 on a tube, but I feel like I'm getting my money's worth. If I try to layer it or apply too much at a time, it looks obvious that I'm wearing concealer. Another bonus is that it's long-lasting. It stays on my skin throughout the day, even when it gets oily—but I'd say that's a combo of this concealer and my NARS setting powder."
Fast Facts
- Tester's Shade: deep neutral
- Shades: 28
- Coverage: light
- Finish: satin
Nakeisha Campbell Wearing Smashbox Studio Skin Flawless Concealer
Nakeisha Campbell/PureWow
- Value: 17/20
- Easy to Use: 20/20
- Quality: 20/20
- Aesthetics: 19/20
- Covering Dark Circles: 20/20
- Total: 96/100
This viral concealer is praised for visibly blurring blemishes and dark circles. It’s formulated with niacinamide to brighten and hydrate, hyaluronic acid to plump the skin and fermented arnica to reduce redness and irritation. According to Associate SEO Editor Marrisa Wu, the concealer did a great job at concealing her shadows without looking cakey or dry. “I really liked this concealer! It wasn't as drying as other concealers I've used, and it was buildable! I thought the payoff was good with the shade providing an accurate match. It has a very thick texture (at least compared to what I was previously using) but it doesn't feel heavy. Makeup products tend to look dry/splotchy on me. I felt like this didn't happen as much with Haus Labs,” she shares.
Fast Facts
- Tester's Shade: 10 Light Golden
- Shades: 31
- Coverage: medium to full
- Finish: satin
Marissa Wu Wearing Haus Labs Triclone Skin Tech Concealer
Marissa Wu/PureWow
- Value: 19/20
- Easy to Use: 19/20
- Quality: 20/20
- Aesthetics: 18/20
- Covering Dark Circles: 19/20
- Total: 95/100
If you’re searching for a concealer that will last morning to night, look no further than this one by IT Cosmetics. It promises 24- hour wear and full coverage, so you can conceal dark circles, hyperpigmentation and blemishes from morning to night. With key ingredients like collagen, hyaluronic acid and peptides, this concealer is highly recommended by our VP of Editorial Candace Davison: “As someone who doesn't wear a ton of makeup, I was initially concerned that a thick, full coverage concealer would be hard to blend and create a stark, pale mask around my eyes. Not the case! It concealed my purplish under-eye circles—even areas where you normally see my veins—and sun spots. With a few dabs of a sponge, the edges of the concealer were smoothed away. Suddenly, I looked like a better-rested, brighter-eyed version of myself. What I liked even more was that it didn't streak or get caught in my crow's feet—even when I laughed, rubbed my eyes and went about my morning. By 1 p.m., my concealer looked as fresh as when I applied it. If you have dry skin around your eyes, I'd recommend applying a moisturizing eye cream first, just because this is thick and can feel harder to spread on its own. Otherwise, it's fantastic.”
Fast Facts
- Tester's Shade: light natural 13.0
- Shades: 24
- Coverage: full
- Finish: natural
Candace Davison Wearing IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer
Candace Davison/PureWow
- Value: 19/20
- Easy to Use: 18/20
- Quality: 19/20
- Aesthetics: 19/20
- Covering Dark Circles: 19/20
- Total: 94/100
OK, Caliray may have a limited shade range (there are only eight available at the moment), but if you're looking for a color corrector and concealer in one, you might want to give it a try. It uses color-correcting pigments to neutralize dark circles and redness, while peptides and hyaluronic acid soothe and hydrate the area. As Executive Managing Editor Catrina Yohay shares, "There is some voodoo magic in this stuff! I'll admit, I was a little skeptical with the shade range at first (it's not what you typically see in a concealer lineup) but this isn't your average concealer. It's a serum, color-corrector and hydrator in one. The formula is smooth and silky with a satin finish that is light and buildable. Not only did it cover up my purplish dark circles, but it also added lift and radiance that looks incredible in photos and even better in person."
Fast Facts
- Tester's Shade: golden hour
- Shades: 8
- Coverage: light
- Finish: radiant
Catrina Yohay Wearing Caliray Hideaway Concealer
Catrina Yohay/PureWow
- Value: 18/20
- Easy to Use: 18/20
- Quality: 20/20
- Aesthetics: 18/20
- Covering Dark Circles: 19/20
- Total: 93/100
Another standout pick that reviewers and PureWow editors can’t stop talking about is Tarte's iconic Shape Tape. The concealer promises full coverage, allowing you to mask and brighten up dark circles. Made with shea butter, mango butter and licorice root, reviewers rave that this concealer can color correct, condition and hydrate, too. According to Fashion Editor Abby Hepworth its creamy formula also doesn’t crease or settle into her oily skin: "My dark circles aren't too aggressive, but there was a noticeable difference the second I applied the Tarte concealer! It really brightened up my whole face. The skin around my eyes tends to be oily, but the concealer didn't slide off, cake or develop creases throughout the day. It blends beautifully and worked really well with my foundation. And while it's marketed as full coverage—and does indeed offer plenty of coverage with just a little bit of product—I like that it doesn't fully cover my freckles and beauty spots so I still look like me, even with a full face of makeup."
Fast Facts
- Tester's Shade: 16N
- Shades: 33
- Coverage: full
- Finish: natural matte
Abby Hepworth Wearing Tarte Shape Tape Concealer
Abby Hepworth/PureWow
- Value: 18/20
- Easy to Use: 20/20
- Quality: 18/20
- Aesthetics: 19/20
- Covering Dark Circles: 17/20
- Total: 92/100
Want a no-makeup makeup look? This dewy concealer offers light coverage and a glowy finish for an all-around natural finish. Made with beeswax, jojoba oil and avocado oil, it promises to nourish and brighten without causing any dry patches or creases. As Maddie Rizzo, social strategist at PureWow, explains, "It blends nicely with my skin; it's a good one to use for a natural makeup look and works well alongside a tinted moisturizer. It has a nourishing formula that doesn't feel cakey. If you have more pronounced dark circles, you might want a stronger, more pigmented concealer. Similarly, I would only use it as an under-eye concealer, rather than a cover up for acne or other more obvious blemishes. Overall, it's a quality, lightweight product, so I'll continue using it!"
Fast Facts
- Tester's Shade: very light 2
- Shades: 32
- Coverage: light
- Finish: radiant
Maddie Rizzo Wearing Glossier Stretch Concealer
Maddie Rizzo/PureWow
- Value: 19/20
- Easy to Use: 19/20
- Quality: 18/20
- Aesthetics: 17/20
- Covering Dark Circles: 18/20
- Total: 91/100
This best-selling concealer is known for correcting dark circles and brightening up dark shadows. It’s formulated with haloxyl, a peptide known to soothe irritation, stimulate collagen production and improve elasticity. For Senior Food Editor Katherine Gillen, who's been searching high and low for a concealer to mask her dark circles, it's a new standby. “I've been genetically blessed with dark circles, plus I have allergies and a 9-month-old so this concealer had its work cut out for it, and I was impressed by the results. I was worried the color would be too light after swatching it on my hand, but it was lightweight and blended enough that it worked perfectly for my shadowy under-eye area,” she says. “The only downside is the sponge tip applicator, which is unique, but a tad too large to get into the crease of my under eyes, and it didn't blend so much as deposit more product. But overall, I like that the formula was sheer and non-cakey. It didn't totally erase my dark circles but it made me look like I got more than four hours of sleep and that's good enough for me from a drugstore product.”
Fast Facts
- Tester's Shade: 115
- Shades: 18
- Coverage: light
- Finish: satin
Katherine Gillen Wearing Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Concealer
Katherine Gillen/PureWow
- Value: 18/20
- Easy to Use: 19/20
- Quality: 18/20
- Aesthetics: 18/20
- Covering Dark Circles: 18/20
- Total: 91/100
I was pleasantly surprised to find a new favorite in the Makeup By Mario SurrealSkin Awakening concealer. The shade visibly brightens my under eyes and I don’t have to rely on setting powder to get a blurring effect. I have dry skin, so I was afraid that it was going to cake up, but it actually leaves a soft matte finish behind. It does crease a little by the end of the day and I’m not a big fan of the applicator. However, the brand also makes a fluffy makeup brush that makes the application so much easier. Overall, it’s become my go-to for masking my dark circles.
Fast Facts
- Tester's Shade: 340 medium warm
- Shades: 22
- Coverage: medium
- Finish: natural
Chelsea Candelario Wearing Makeup By Mario SurrealSkin Awakening Concealer
Chelsea Candelario/PureWow
- Value: 17/20
- Easy to Use: 20/20
- Quality: 19/20
- Aesthetics: 17/20
- Covering Dark Circles: 17/20
- Total: 90/100
ILIA's True Skin line is a favorite at PureWow, from their skin tint to the foundation, so it’s no surprise the concealer has our attention, too. The lightweight formula includes vitamin C to brighten and even skin tone, while reducing the appearance of fine lines over time. You’ll also find plant-based ingredients like mastic and bark extract to smooth and improve skin texture. As Associate Director of Client Services Emilie Benedict shares, “It’s a nice serum-like texture that sits nicely on the skin. I wore it all day and it didn’t get cakey or crease. Though, I still felt like I needed an extra layer when I’m wearing a full face of makeup, but that’s just my personal preference.” Note: If you have severe dark blue/purple under eyes, it doesn’t provide the best coverage, but the formula still gets brownie points for being super hydrating, per Benedict.
Fast Facts
- Tester's Shade: burdock SC1.75
- Shades: 20
- Coverage: medium
- Finish: satin
Emilie Benedict Wearing ILIA True Skin Serum Concealer
Emilie Benedict/PureWow
- Value: 17/20
- Easy to Use: 18/20
- Quality: 18/20
- Aesthetics: 19/20
- Covering Dark Circles: 18/20
- Total: 90/100
Part serum, part concealer, this formula from Tower 28 offers buildable coverage and a natural finish. Its clean ingredients—hyaluronic acid, centella asiatica leaf extract and lysine—work together to soothe, smooth and hydrate skin. As for its ability to cover, Associate Director of Account Management Jazmine Clarke gives it a thumbs up. "This is a great concealer with a natural finish that's perfect for anyone who enjoys a no-makeup makeup look. It did a great job at covering my dark circles on its own without the need for a color corrector, which I typically use so that's definitely a plus. It also glides on really nicely and it's super easy to blend," she shares. "Although it doesn't have the radiant finish I'd normally go for, I really like that it has a skin-like finish and blends seamlessly into my skin; I'll opt for this on days when I want light coverage." However, Clarke notes it appears more matte, so for those with dry skin, she recommends applying a hydrating eye cream before using this concealer.
Fast Facts
- Tester's Shade: 7.0 KTOWN
- Shades: 20
- Coverage: medium
- Finish: natural
Jazmine Clarke Wearing Tower 28 Swipe All-Over Hydrating Serum Concealer
Jazmine Clarke/PureWow
Best Buildable Coverage
11. Make Up For Ever HD Skin Concealer
What We Like
What We Don't Like
Make Up For Ever
- Value: 17/20
- Easy to Use: 19/20
- Quality: 18/20
- Aesthetics: 18/20
- Covering Dark Circles: 17/20
- Total: 89/100
Formulated with skin smoothing ingredients (i.e., jojoba oil, hyaluronic acid and snow mushroom), this concealer works well to hydrate, brighten and correct dark circles—just ask Sarah Baksh, business operations manager at PureWow. "I like this concealer for a natural look. The color match was perfect and it really blended out nicely. It also played well with my under eye cream, so there was no piling. The consistency is very thin, so the first layer didn't show a huge difference. But luckily, the product melts in and dries quickly, so I was able to apply another layer to get my desired look," she says. "The end result? Redness from the inner corners of my eyes disappeared without looking unnatural. I also noticed my dark circles got a bit lighter. The color correction capabilities are definitely there. Most importantly, my skin felt hydrated and the product felt so lightweight, I forgot it was even there. I'll definitely be adding this to my repertoire of daily products."
Fast Facts
- Tester's Shade: 2.5N
- Shades: 20
- Coverage: buildable
- Finish: natural
Sara Baksh Wearing Make Up For Ever HD Skin Concealer
Sara Baksh/PureWow
- Value: 15/20
- Easy to Use: 20/20
- Quality: 17/20
- Aesthetics: 15/20
- Covering Dark Circles: 16/20
- Total: 83/100
This NARS concealer has a huge following, thanks to its supremely creamy texture. It features mineral-based powders that help correct and blur the skin, and a botanical blend of grapeseed and vitamin E to hydrate. For Isabella Mohamed, social media strategist at PureWow, it was easy to blend, but it didn't completely conceal her dark circles. "I have extremely dark circles, and this concealer didn't cover them up as much as I'd hoped. I think if someone has light to medium dark circles, this would work great for them. I do like the satin finish though—and it's very easy to blend with my fingers," she says.
Fast Facts
- Tester's Shade: canelle light 2.7, macadamia 1.5
- Shades: 30
- Coverage: medium
- Finish: radiant
Isabella Mohamed Wearing NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer
Isabella Mohamed/PureWow
What to Consider When Buying a Concealer for Dark Circles
- Formula: According to Geller, search for formulas that aren't too thin. The concealer needs to have “some viscosity, so it can stick to your skin.” She recommends searching for liquid or cream concealers (or a hybrid of the two) to tackle dark circles.
- Shade: The shade can drastically change the look of your under-eyes. Patinkin suggests a peach-toned concealer to color correct and offset the dark tones. “It’s reasonable to think that a light concealer would brighten them up, but that would be like wearing a white T-shirt over a black bra— it just calls more attention to it,” she says. “You just have to consider skin tone when choosing a specific peach tone, so think sherbet for light skin or a cantaloupe/apricot shade for deeper tones.”
- Coverage: If you have minimal dark circles stick with a light coverage concealer, whereas those with darker under-eyes should reach for a medium to full coverage concealer.
What’s the Best Concealer for Dark Circles?
Based on the ranking, Smashbox Studio Skin Flawless, It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye and Caliray Hideaway are the top three concealers for dark circles. They all do a great job at masking, brightening and hydrating the undereye area. The experts also note a few of their favorites, which include Laura Geller Ideal Fix Concealer, Maxine Revenge French Face Concealer and LYS Beauty Triple Fix Brightening Concealer .
Frequently Asked Questions
How Should You Apply Concealer to Cover Dark Circles?
According to the experts, there are two ways to apply concealer to cover dark circles. The first option is to use your ring finger and gently dab the product under the eyes. “I just find it to be faster and the warmth/oils on your fingertips warm the product, so it's more blendable,” says Geller.
Another option is to use a small concealer brush and gently buff the concealer on. “I like to use a small concealer brush that has a demi-stiff, long narrow tip, so you can be precise about where you lay the concealer down. Then, I like to use an angled blending brush to soften and diffuse the edges,” explains Patinkin.
How Much Concealer Should You Apply?
If you want to avoid getting creases or streaks, use a light hand. As Violette explains, “As long as you're using a full coverage concealer you shouldn’t need much! I like to use about three dips in total to conceal dark circles. I usually apply a couple of swipes along my inner corners and the same for the outer corners of my under eyes.”
Do You Need to Use Color Corrector Before Applying Concealer?
This boils down to preference. As Allen explains, "If your favorite concealer needs more correcting, it’s best to start with a color corrector that can range from peach, pink, lavender and green tones. However, some concealers have enough color correcting undertones that you won't need additional correcting."
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