Concealer has always struck me as one of the trickier cosmetics to buy. It’s doing its job if you don’t notice it’s there at all, which means getting just the right texture and color for the particular job are of paramount importance. I’ve tried out a fair number of concealers in the past couple years, and based on my findings, I’m prepared to make a couple recommendations for those of you looking to cover up for winter.
Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Concealer
$42 via Sephora
This stuff is expensive, but if you need serious coverage for dark circles or hyperpigmentation that shows through other normal cosmetics, it’s the first place I’d send you. When I was dealing with some bad dark spots a few years ago, it was the one thing that made me feel like I looked like myself. Plus, it comes in 20 shades, so even the fairest or darkest skin tones out there can find a match, as well as those with tricky undertones.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Pro Pencil
$18 via Sephora
This pencil only comes in three shades, but it’s worth looking at because it’s formulated for a very specific task: giving you the sharp, defined, perfect brows of a YouTube beauty vlogger. Makeup artists often finish a bold brow look with a swipe of a neutral pencil to keep everything crisp, and this concealer is designed for exactly that. It’s also handy for under-eye circles and all eye-area brightening needs
Becca Ultimate Coverage Concealing Creme
$32 via Sephora
This is the product I’m using right now, and I’m really impressed with it. I have dry skin and most concealers suck any remaining moisture straight out of it, but this formula is ultra-creamy and doesn’t dry down to the caky texture most full-coverage concealers (which this one is) have. It also comes in a little pot about the size of a lip balm, which I like because I always squeeze too much out of tube packaging. The product looks small, but a little goes a very long way, and with a dozen shades, it’s a great winter choice for a variety of skin tones.
Lancôme Effacernes Waterproof Protective Eye Concealer
$31 via Sephora
If you need long-wear coverage of under-eye circles, this concealer has a very important, all-too-rare feature: it’s waterproof.
NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer
$29 via Sephora
If you need an effective, do-it-all, normal-coverage, everyday concealer, this one from NARS is easily one of the best, if not the best, on the market right now. It comes in ten shades, running the gamut from pale to dark.
