If you ask any makeup maven their top three non-negotiable makeup picks, a good concealer will always bag a spot on the list. To be applied with a foundation or tinted sunscreen or moisturizer, the best full-coverage concealer is all you need to achieve that ‘your skin, but better’ look.  Based on our observations, here’s a lowdown on the top-tier full-coverage concealers that are a favorite of makeup experts and approved by beauty gurus.

To put it in a nutshell, concealers are skin-tinted emollients, similar to foundations, but much thicker. Full-coverage concealers are primarily used for, but not limited to covering and camouflaging skin imperfections like dark circles, blemishes, pesky spots, and mild discoloration. With a buildable and natural-looking finish, a good coverage concealer also comes into play for blurring fine lines, improving the appearance of pores, contouring and highlighting, priming the lids, and defining the lips. 

Textures ranging from liquids and creams to sticks, applying these concealers after your foundation is pretty easy for all skin types. If the foundation feels rather heavy, especially for everyday wear looks, you can rely on your little concealers to do a clean job. 

To assist your hunt for the top-notch full-coverage concealer, we have rounded up the most loved products below. 

• 1
  Best on a budget

  e.l.f. Hydrating Camo Concealer

  BUY ON AMAZON

Somewhere between dewy and matte, e.l.f.’s full-coverage concealer offers a silken, satin finish. The liquid formula provides hydration with sodium hyaluronate and rose flower water. With full coverage, you can effortlessly cover blemishes and under-eye circles. This non-comedogenic and crease-proof concealer is suitable for normal, dry skin types, oily skin types, and combination skin. The smooth finish lasts for long hours and you can find your match with 25 shades available in the range.

2

Best anti-aging waterproof concealer

it Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye

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This multipurpose little tube by It Cosmetics offers a brilliantly formulated full-coverage, lightweight concealer. The highly pigmented and long-lasting formula is specially curated to camouflage the under-eyes and blur the appearance of fine lines, spots, discoloration, redness, hyperpigmentation, and any other skin imperfections. The range of 24 shades makes this concealer inclusive of maximum skin tones. Pop this in your bag for on-the-go touch-ups and instantly radiant and even complexion.

3

Best long-wear

MAYBELLINE NEW YORK Super Stay Active Wear Concealer

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It’s not a secret that Maybelline’s concealers are a chartbuster. The Super Stay Active Wear concealer is a full-coverage, matte formula that gives off a natural finish. The long-lasting application stays on for up to 30 hours without creating creases or getting cakey. While covering up dark circles and skin imperfections effectively, this concealer is also lightweight and breathable, delivering a naturally enhanced, second-skin finish. It features a flex comfort applicator that allows improved application.

4

Best multi-purpose

DERMABLEND PROFESSIONAL Cover Care

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This multipurpose concealer tube by Dermablend Professional works like a genie to mask all skin imperfections. From covering under-eyes, dark circles, and blemishes to correcting spots, contouring the face, and priming the eyelids, it can quite literally add a filter IRL. With the right shade, you only need one coat to enjoy the full coverage that lasts for up to 24 hours. It also has hydrating properties, owing to the vegetable glycerine that leaves the skin feeling soft and supple. This breathable formula has a soft matte finish that does not get cakey or pore-enhancing after it dries.

5

PHYSICIANS FORMULA Gentle Cover Concealer Stick

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Stick makeup is all the rage in the beauty space, from base formulas to blushers and SPF, including concealer. The PHYSICIANS FORMULA’s concealer stick is one of the best stick formulas available out there. It gently covers and hides blemishes, under-eye dark circles, acne spots, hyperpigmentation, and age spots. It has a smooth creamy texture that glides on the skin effortlessly and stays put for long. This fragrance-free and hypoallergenic formula is suitable for sensitive skin types.

6

Best fade-resistant

L’ORÉAL PARIS Infallible Full Wear

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The L’ORÉAL PARIS’ full coverage concealer delivers everything that one would expect from a paragon concealer. It imparts a matte finish with maximum coverage and offers multifaceted benefits. Conceal blemishes, cover dark circles, blur imperfections, highlight to brighten, and contour — this concealer can deliver wholesome results with minimal effort. The waterproof, non-greasy, and transfer-proof formula stays up to 24 hours. There are 25 shades for you to choose from.

7

Best drugstore option

REVLON COLORSTAY Full Coverage Concealer

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To upgrade your makeup routine and arsenal with a high-quality drugstore concealer, you can always rely on the good old Revlon. The full-coverage lightweight liquid is thoughtfully created to ensure a long wear application, that stays put for up to 24 hours. It efficiently covers dark circles, blemishes, redness, etc. without caking, creasing, clumping, or faking. From AM to PM, your makeup will remain fresh with a natural finish. Its coverage is seamless and has a buildable formula, so you can blend in the liquid for an immaculate and brightened base.

8

Best for depuffing and soothing

AMAZING COSMETICS Amazing Concealer

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Primarily all concealers work hard to cover the skin’s imperfections, but what if we told you there’s a concealer that also depuffs, softens, and soothes the skin? Enter Amazing Cosmetics’ tiny-tube concealer. The cream formula is airy, seamless, and with full coverage that also doubles as a color corrector. Vitamin E and cucumber extracts ensure that your skin is moisturized, depuffed, and soothed. Additionally, the long-lasting and breathable coverage gives off a natural, skin-like finish.

9

Most popular

WINKY LUX Peeper Perfect Under-Eye Concealer

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Straight from Tiktok’s beauty FYP, this trending under-eye concealer by Winky Lux is a worthy buy for your delicate peepers. The creamy texture delivers a full-coverage finish and blends exceptionally well into the skin. The little tube is packed with a punch of glycerine, vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, and collagen. These skincare ingredients take care of the delicate skin around the eyes and boost skin-care benefits. This concealer also improves skin elasticity, blurs the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and brightens the overall appearance.

10

Best stick formula

ALMAY Skin Perfecting Comfort Concealer

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Another stick product under our radar is Almay’s Skin Perfecting Comfort concealer. If you are someone who adorns an ultra-natural finish that feels weightless and comfortable, then this is the one for the job. The soft and creamy formula covers dark circles, and blemishes, and disguises all skin imperfections. Its optical blurring technology minimizes the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. The non-greasy and medium coverage concealer ensures long-lasting wear.

11

COVER FX Power Play Concealer

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With a fusion of fermented algae extracts that defend the skin from environmental pollutants and niacinamide that minimizes the appearance of fine lines, this concealer by COVER FX deserves a spot in your makeup arsenal. The formula instantly disguises the dark circles, covers blemishes, blurs fine lines, and can be used for highlighting or contouring as well. The vegan and clean recipe is easy to apply with fingertips, a brush, or a sponge. The smooth application lasts for up to 16 hours, giving your skin full coverage.

12

Best overall

LANCÔME Teint Idôle Ultra Wear All Over Concealer

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We have all had those days where our concealer cakes and creases, majorly due to a lack of hydrating agents. With Lancôme’s high-performing liquid concealer, this problem is capsized. The blend of moringa seed extract and water lily lends the concealer hydrating and moisturizing properties. Its full-coverage formula doesn’t cake or crease for up to 24 hours. This breathable liquid settles comfortably into the skin, offering a perfectly smooth and naturally matte finish.

13

Urban Decay Stay Naked Quickie

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The cult-favorite Stay Naked Quickie by Urban Decay has been touted as the girlies’ favorite product, for all the right reasons. The waterproof liquid concealer is infused with vitamin E for a hydrated and airy feel. It stays put for up to 24 hours and is specially crafted for a quick application to help you on the go. With a dual-ended applicator, one can easily apply and buff the liquid, on one swipe. This full-coverage concealer is budge-proof and covers it all without flaking or fading.

Concealers have endless potential when it comes to makeup, however, choosing the right one requires multiple swatches and ‘trust the process’ moments. To ease your process of buying the one most suited for you, here are some pro-hacks to check out.

Shade: The right shade of your concealer can be based on your skin tones, undertones, and your purpose. Determine your concealer, whether warm, neutral, or cool, and match the right shade with the foundation. If you are targeting dark circles, going a shade lighter shall suffice and brighten your under-eye. For simply camouflaging blemishes and pesky scars, you can blend in a shade matching your foundation. To achieve a naturally contoured look, go a couple of shades deeper.  It is essential to keep in mind that the shade of concealer may also change with your shifting skin tones, from tan in summer to pale in winter, and so on. 

Undertone: The undertones may vary depending on what you wish to achieve. For covering deep dark circles, you might need a rose-tinted concealer. Consider such factors before buying your freshest addition to the kit.

Our contributor Ghanima Abdullah, a certified beauty consultant, says, “To test a full coverage concealer, apply it on a blemish or under your eyes to see how good the coverage is. If you just test it on any area of your skin you might not see how well it covers.”

To seamlessly and beautifully set your concealer with your base and skin, follow these tips. 

Step 1: Prep your skin well with hydrating and moisturizing agents. 

Step 2: Start with blending in your foundation with a brush or blender, evenly covering your face and neck.

Step 3: Spot the concealer wherever required, for instance under your eyes or on your blemishes, etc.

Step 4: Remember to only place little dots, as with concealers, a little goes a long way.

Step 5: Dab in the concealer using your fingertips or a blending tool. Build the coverage if required.

Anyone who finds a foundation a little too heavy on their skin and needs a breathable, airy formula that covers all skin imperfections, can get behind a full-coverage concealer. These concealers are easy to blend and lightweight. Offering a natural finish that can be dewy, matte, or semi-matte, a full-coverage can create an ideal base to be used with or without a foundation. You disguise the dark circles, blemishes, and hyperpigmentation, and blur the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in one swipe with a full-coverage concealer.

As essential as concealers are in creating a naturally flawless makeup base, applying it in the best manner can be tricky. From the shade to texture, and finish to coverage, there are many aspects to be considered. The best full-coverage concealer is all you need to meet an immaculate makeup’s ends. Target the skin’s imperfections and blend well to sandwich your concealer between your foundation and setting powder. For regular days, you can always go for tinted SPF or a BB cream to pair with your high-coverage concealer. These concealers are the on-vial recipe for a flawless finish on the skin.

Contributor: Ghanima Abdullah, Cosmetologist, The Right Hairstyles