The best concealers in the UK for camouflaging blemishes and dark circles – tested
When life gets stressful, your face can often be the first place to show the telltale signs. Eye bags can get darker after sleepless nights, and breakouts can appear in protest. Whatever the cause, the best concealers can help to even out imperfections, so you look flawless regardless of what is going on behind the scenes.
It might seem obvious, but not all concealers are the same. Some leave a cakey finish on the skin, while others settle quickly into fine lines or blend out and leave barely any coverage at all. Many modern concealers also include active skincare ingredients to combine the benefits of both products.
I tested a huge variety of concealers for consideration here, including cult-favourite viral products and new formulas arriving to shake up the makeup game. Below, you’ll find the very best concealers from my testing, with options to suit every skin type, coverage preference and budget.
Scroll further to find advice from professional makeup artists on how and when to apply concealer, as well as how to prolong its wear.
At a glance
Best concealer overall
£27 at Cult Beauty
Nars Radiant creamy concealerBest budget concealer
£4.99 at Amazon
Collection Lasting Perfection concealerBest concealer for dark circles
£28 at John Lewis
Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Radiant concealerBest concealer for dry skin
£39 at John Lewis
By Terry Hyaluronic serum concealerBest lightweight concealer
£9.96 at Amazon
NYX Bare With Me serum concealerBest concealer for comfortable coverage
£26 at Asos
Milk Makeup Hydro Grip gel concealer
Why you should trust me
I’ve spent the past five years testing and writing about beauty products, makeup included. In that time, I’ve come across bestsellers that fully deserve the hype, but also a fair share of concealers that crease immediately or cling to every dry patch on my face.
I’m not a professional makeup artist, but I’ve been wearing makeup since my early teenage years. Because I don’t use fancy blending techniques, my tests show exactly how user-friendly each product is. If I ended up with a creasy, cakey mess under my eyes, chances are you might too.
How I tested
There are three main areas to consider when testing concealer: coverage, creasing and the range of shades available. Before I sourced any concealers, I checked the available shade ranges and wouldn’t touch a formulation if it didn’t cater to a wide range of skin tones. Considering this has been a widely publicised issue for a decade or more, I was amazed by how many brands still hadn’t caught up.
The next thing I tested was coverage. Rather than guess how well each of the 17 concealers I tested covered up my ever-changing spots and dark circles, I judged this by using a red Sharpie to make small spots on my forearm. Once the spots had dried, I covered each with a small amount of concealer and lightly blended them with a small fluffy brush. This showed me how well each concealer could cover imperfections.
The last and perhaps most important step was a wear test. This involved wearing each concealer for a full day and monitoring how well it covered spots and dark circles. Whenever a concealer settled into fine lines, it was marked down as being unsuitable for the eye area. I assessed how easy each product was to blend too, and noted any dryness, irritation or patchiness as the day went on.
The best concealers for 2026
Best concealer overall:
Nars Radiant creamy concealer
Nars
Radiant creamy concealer
from £27
What we love
Large shade range; long-wearing; comfy coverage
What we don’t love
It’s not hydrating and is expensive per ml
This is one of the most revered concealers on the market – and for good reason. It’s creamy, buildable and lasts all day without budging or settling into fine lines. It’s my top recommendation for anyone looking for a foolproof formula.
Why we love it
It’s fairly pricey, but a little goes a long way with this formula. In my experience, a light layer worked hard to conceal dark circles and angry-looking spots alike. Applied in light layers, it’s also buildable, meaning you can get high coverage if you need it.
Once blended into the skin, the concealer is almost imperceptible, especially if you find a perfect shade match from its 30-strong shade range. I also found it to be long-wearing and resistant to creasing.
In my experience, the formula didn’t feel as hydrating as other creamy concealers, which means it’s better at keeping excess oiliness at bay. I didn’t find it remotely drying either, so it’s great if you’re looking for something to use on oilier skin without adding shine.
It’s a shame that … it’s expensive, but you need only a tiny amount of product for a big impact. If you have very dry skin, though, other formulations provide better hydration.
Size: 6ml
Price/ml: from £4.50
Coverage: medium
Applicator type: doe-foot
Shades available: 30 (find your shade)
Vegan: yes
Certified cruelty-free: no
Nars
Radiant creamy concealer
from £27
What we love
Large shade range; long-wearing; comfy coverage
What we don’t love
It’s not hydrating and is expensive per ml
Best budget concealer:
Collection Lasting Perfection concealer
Collection
Lasting Perfection concealer
from £4.99
What we love
Buildable; long-wearing coverage; sensible price
What we don’t love
It needs to be blended quickly
As an affordable-makeup fanatic, I’ve had this concealer in my collection for as long as I can remember. It’s super cheap, has a great shade range, and is a brilliant all-rounder for disguising all kinds of imperfections.
Why we love it
This concealer gives a smooth, matt finish, which is perfect for brightening up the area under the eyes. If you’re concealing spots, the formulation lasts really well on oily and combination skin, and I found it offered buildable coverage when gently blended.
Since it’s so affordable, you can easily justify buying two different shades – one for a perfect skin match and a brighter shade for use under your eyes. Although the packaging has changed in recent years, it’s still the same hard-working formula. The latest version arrives with a beauty blender for easier application on the go. I’m not convinced it’s a huge improvement – the blender is a little too firm to comfortably blend concealer under the eyes. Still, it costs the same, so I can’t complain too much.
It’s a shame that … it needs to be blended out quickly, or it’ll settle in the place you applied it – a lesson I learned when I got distracted from my makeup one morning and ended up with stubborn splodges under my eyes.
Size: 3.5ml
Price/ml: £1.43
Coverage: medium
Applicator type: doe-foot
Shades available: 20 (find your shade)
Vegan: yes
Certified cruelty-free: no
Collection
Lasting Perfection concealer
from £4.99
What we love
Buildable; long-wearing coverage; sensible price
What we don’t love
It needs to be blended quickly
Best concealer for dark circles:
Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Radiant concealer
Charlotte Tilbury
Beautiful Skin Radiant concealer
from £28
What we love
Its brightening performance and hydrating feel
What we don’t love
It’s pricey per ml
Tackling dark circles requires you to look after your skin, not just bury it beneath concealer. The Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Radiant concealer succeeds on both these fronts, combining comfortable coverage with hydrating, plumping and brightening skincare ingredients.
Why we love it
If you’re wearing makeup anyway, why not invest in a multitasker? Packed into this concealer, you’ll find hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and vitamin C. These ingredients work to hydrate, soothe, plump and brighten the skin under the eyes in a product that offers medium coverage.
In my tests, I found the concealer both buildable and easy to blend around the eye area. It didn’t settle into any of my fine lines, even when I really challenged it by squinting immediately after application. Better still, it left my skin with a natural-looking glow, without any dry, cakey-looking patches. Thanks to its large doe-foot applicator and blendable consistency, it’s perfect for busy mornings when you’re hoping to quickly achieve a lasting, radiant finish.
It’s a shame that … it’s quite expensive, and those with very sensitive, acne-prone skin may find the vitamin C causes breakouts when used to conceal spots.
Size: 7.2ml
Price/ml: from about £3.89
Coverage: medium
Applicator type: doe-foot
Shades available: 30 (find your shade)
Vegan: yes
Certified cruelty-free: no
Charlotte Tilbury
Beautiful Skin Radiant concealer
from £28
What we love
Its brightening performance and hydrating feel
What we don’t love
It’s pricey per ml
Best concealer for dry skin:
By Terry hyaluronic serum concealer
By Terry
Hyaluronic serum concealer
from £39
What we love
Hydrating formula with a flawless natural finish
What we don’t love
It’s incredibly expensive; smaller shade range
If you’re tired of drying concealers that cling to patches of skin, the By Terry hyaluronic serum concealer will be transformative. Its hydrating ingredients and lightweight, buildable texture make it a great option for dry, mature skin and for use under the eyes.
Why we love it
By Terry has packed eight different types of hyaluronic acid – a humectant that draws moisture into the skin – into this formulation. It uses three molecular weights to help plump and moisturise different layers of the skin, meaning the product won’t dry out or go patchy in a day’s wear.
This rang true in my tests, with a light amount of concealer effectively minimising blemishes and brightening dark circles to create a natural-looking finish. You’ll also find caffeine and magnolia flower to help brighten and soothe the skin, making this great for stimulating healing in dry and irritated skin.
It’s a shame that … it’s the most expensive concealer I’ve ever used – I’m almost annoyed at how nice it is to use for that reason. That said, the shade range isn’t as extensive as others, and if you want high coverage, this isn’t the concealer for you.
Size: 5.2ml
Price/ml: £7.50
Coverage: light to medium
Applicator type: doe-foot
Shades available: 16 (find your shade)
Vegan: yes
Certified cruelty-free: no
By Terry
Hyaluronic serum concealer
from £39
What we love
Hydrating formula with a flawless natural finish
What we don’t love
It’s incredibly expensive; smaller shade range
Best lightweight concealer:
NYX Bare With Me serum concealer
NYX
Bare With Me serum concealer
from £9.96
What we love
Lightweight consistency in a clean pump bottle
What we don’t love
Its slightly dewy finish isn’t for everyone
Confession time: I’ve worked my way through at least three tubes of this stuff. I first tried it when I was struggling with a nightmare combination of dry but spot-ridden skin, and pretty much stuck with it as a daily concealer from then onwards. It’s super lightweight and leaves the skin looking fresh, healthy and dewy.
Why we love it
When you have redness and uneven skin texture, it can be tempting to reach for heavier, full-coverage formulations. However, something with a serum-like consistency, like this product, can gently blur rough texture and disguise redness without exaggerating it or looking cakey. In my years of using this concealer, it’s never settled into any fine lines.
Better still, it dispenses from a small pump, which helps minimise contamination, unlike concealers with a doe-foot that comes in contact with the skin. I have acne-prone skin, so I much prefer this design.
It’s a shame that … with a full press, the pump dispenses far more product than I typically use. This is easily rectified by only using a half press, though. It also has a slightly dewy finish, which isn’t for everyone.
Size: 9.6ml
Price/ml: from about £1.04
Coverage: light
Applicator type: pump
Shades available: 13 (find your shade)
Vegan: yes
Certified cruelty-free: yes
NYX
Bare With Me serum concealer
from £9.96
What we love
Lightweight consistency in a clean pump bottle
What we don’t love
Its slightly dewy finish isn’t for everyone
Best concealer for comfortable coverage:
Milk Makeup Hydro Grip gel concealer
Milk Makeup
Hydro Grip gel concealer
from £26
What we love
Quick application with comfortable coverage
What we don’t love
Its packaging doesn’t wind down
This is the first stick concealer I’ve tried that hasn’t dragged across my skin during application or felt heavy and cakey. Its gel-to-cream formula glides on effortlessly, blending into a hydrated, blurred, skin-like finish.
Why we love it
Like Milk’s most popular hydro-grip primer, this concealer really does stay put, offering all-day coverage without any creasing or caking. The formula contains hyaluronic acid, aloe leaf extract, moisturising squalane and protective antioxidant vitamin E, which help hydrate and protect the skin while covering any flaws.
Admittedly, coverage isn’t opaque, but I found the stick format made it easy to apply just the right amount of product, whether I wanted to conceal a spot precisely, or sweep more product over larger areas of redness or discoloration. The natural finish makes it a great option for those who prefer a minimal makeup look.
It’s a shame that … it isn’t immediately obvious that the formula sits in a non-retractable stick. One or two clicks up should be enough for a day’s application. It’s also quite expensive per gram, but a little goes further than many standard liquid concealers.
Size: 3g
Price/g: about £8.67
Coverage: medium
Applicator type: stick
Shades available: 25 (find your shade)
Vegan: yes
Certified cruelty-free: yes
Milk Makeup
Hydro Grip gel concealer
from £26
What we love
Quick application with comfortable coverage
What we don’t love
Its packaging doesn’t wind down
The best of the rest
Mac Studio Fix concealer
Mac
Studio Fix concealer
£25
What we love
Fast full coverage without settling
What we don’t love
Its paint-like smell
Best for: full coverage
The Mac Studio Fix range is best known for its long-wearing soft matt foundation. This concealer is the foundation’s sister product, and it performed very well in my tests. It lasted all day without budging or smudging, even during a heatwave.
Of all the concealers here, this one offers the fullest coverage, making it perfect for covering stubborn blemishes and dark spots. Still, despite its thicker formulation, it didn’t settle into any of my fine lines. Used with a light touch, it’s a good option for those who prefer a little extra coverage.
It didn’t make the final cut because … it has an odd paint-like smell – the same smell as the Studio Fix foundation I used to wear in my late teens. I welcomed the nostalgia hit, but anyone hoping to avoid strong chemical scents may feel differently.
Size: 7ml; price/ml: £3.57; coverage: high; applicator type: doe-foot; shades available: 34 (find your shade); vegan: yes; certified cruelty-free: no
Mac
Studio Fix concealer
£25
What we love
Fast full coverage without settling
What we don’t love
Its paint-like smell
Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Complexion Perfector
Laura Mercier
Secret Camouflage Complexion Perfector
from £29
What we love
Clever camouflaging; flawless wear; easy to apply
What we don’t love
Stingy product size; small shade range
Best for: colour correcting
Colour-correcting concealers typically come in a rainbow of shades that can look odd if applied incorrectly. Laura Mercier’s Secret Camouflage Complexion Perfector takes a less colourful approach, pairing neutral, warm and cool shades in a single compact. You can mix and layer them to build coverage where you need it – without fear of ending up with an unnatural finish.
The creamy consistency here was particularly easy to apply. I simply tapped it over blemishes and dark circles and blended it out to create a near-imperceptible finish. Unlike most concealers, which come as a single fixed shade, I liked that I could customise the colour to suit my skin each day. I found the warm-toned colour particularly effective after a sleepless night, quickly neutralising the blue undereye circles, and staying put all day without settling into fine lines.
It didn’t make the final cut because … of the small amount of product you actually get. The warm and cool shades are tiny and could run out quickly. I was using the warm shade far more often, so I could end up with a lot of cool-toned concealer left over. The overall shade range could also be more inclusive.
Size: 3.2g; price/g: about £9.06; coverage: buildable; applicator type: compact; shades available: 8 (find your shade); vegan: yes; certified cruelty-free: no
Laura Mercier
Secret Camouflage Complexion Perfector
from £29
What we love
Clever camouflaging; flawless wear; easy to apply
What we don’t love
Stingy product size; small shade range
Milani Conceal + Perfect concealer
Milani
Conceal + Perfect concealer
from £11.80
What we love
High-end performance at an affordable price
What we don’t love
Hard applicator and paint-like smell
Best for: a multi-use concealer at a mid-range price
This mid-range concealer offers many of the benefits associated with high-end concealers at a much more palatable price. It has a lightweight, buildable formula that lasts well on the skin without creasing, caking or settling into fine lines.
It’s marketed as a long-wear concealer, and I can confirm it didn’t budge during a long, hot summer day running errands. Like many of its competitors, it’s also infused with hydrating hyaluronic acid and antioxidant vitamin E to soothe the skin. That means it doesn’t become drying, despite being long-lasting.
It didn’t make the final cut because … it has a paint-like, chemical smell, and its doe-foot applicator is less fluffy than other concealers, making it less comfortable to apply. You also need to blend out this concealer quickly, or it will settle in place.
Size: 5ml; price/ml: from £2.36; coverage: medium; applicator type: doe-foot; shades available: 18 (find your shade); vegan: yes; certified cruelty-free: yes
Milani
Conceal + Perfect concealer
from £11.80
What we love
High-end performance at an affordable price
What we don’t love
Hard applicator and paint-like smell
What you need to know
How much should I spend on a concealer?
“Concealer sits closely on your skin, often covering spots or sensitive areas, so quality really does matter,” says Jamie Genevieve, makeup artist and founder of Vieve. “It’s worth investing in a formula that performs well, wears comfortably and treats your skin kindly. But ultimately, choose one that fits your budget and meets your needs.”
As you can see in the recommendations above, you can buy a great basic concealer for less than £10. However, if you want to invest in something that uses hydrating skincare ingredients, more innovative applicators or cruelty-free formulations, you may need to spend more.
How do I know my concealer shade?
This was far simpler in bygone days before online shopping, when pharmacies would stock testers of every concealer to help find your perfect shade. Sadly, in-store product testers have become a dying breed since the pandemic.
However, many makeup brands now have their own shade finders online, which use either a phone camera or webcam to give the best guess for your perfect shade. Others will offer a short questionnaire that asks you for details about your skin undertone, texture and shade. Both work well in my experience.
It helps to know your skin tone to help choose the right shade – if you have warm-toned skin and the shade finder recommends a cool-toned shade, think twice. For each concealer on this page, I’ve included a link to the shade finder.
That said, concealer isn’t a one-trick pony. “Use a shade lighter than your foundation for brightening the undereye area, or a shade that matches your skin tone for seamless coverage elsewhere,” recommends Suzie O’Neill, founder of AYU Cosmetics.
How and when do I apply concealer?
“Think of it as layering strategically based on the coverage you want,” says Genevieve. “I usually apply concealer after foundation to brighten and perfect specific areas. But if you’re covering dark spots or pigmentation, you can start with concealer as a base, then follow with foundation to even out everything.”
Unlike Genevieve, I apply concealer after my eye makeup to clean up any fallout from the eye shadow I use. Most days, I prefer a lighter makeup look and don’t see the need to use foundation after applying concealer. This is an approach recommended by Karen MacDonald, founder of Blomma Beauty, “for a barefaced, no-makeup look to let your natural skin shine through”.
For more, read our guide to the best foundations
How do you keep concealer from creasing on older skin?
“Prep is everything,” says O’Neill. “Hydrate the undereye area well, apply a nourishing eye cream and use a light hand – less is more.”
I recommend giving any hydrating, anti-ageing skincare and eye creams 15 minutes or so to settle into the skin before applying makeup. This should ensure the skincare products don’t mess with the formulation of the concealer, causing it to pill or settle into fine lines.
When applying concealer, O’Neill recommends you “tap the concealer in gently and, if needed, set lightly with a touch of translucent powder to stop it from moving”.
For more:
The best eye creams for banishing bags, puffiness and fine lines
The best mascaras for longer, fuller and fluttery lashes
The best anti-ageing creams, serums and treatments, picked by Sali Hughes
Shark FacialPro Glow + DePuffi review
Sarah Matthews is a consumer journalist who specialises in giving health and beauty recommendations. She’s tested her way through more makeup, skincare and hair care than you can shake a stick at. Thanks to her stubborn hormonal acne, concealer is always a staple in her makeup bag
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