We all love the idea of clear, and spotless skin and it’s always a bonus when the makeup feels as natural as your second skin. To make sure that our dark circles, freckles, and other natural spots are camouflaged perfectly, it is important to get our hands on the best waterproof concealers. 

Waterproof concealers have an edge over regular ones as we can apply them before going to the gym, while traveling or hiking, or in similar places where our makeup is likely to wear off. They have special adhesive properties that stick to the skin even when it is exposed to water or excess moisture. Our contributor Maya Adivi, a certified makeup artist shares, “Waterproof concealers usually contain silicones and polymers that are quick to evaporate, helping the makeup form a film, along with water-repellent ingredients like oils or waxes.”  Including waterproof concealers in the makeup routine will ensure that the makeup does not crack or crease. However, it can be a challenge to find a good waterproof formula that provides all the benefits you’d expect of a regular concealer. So to help you get your hands on the right concealer that not only resists water but also provides other skin-perfecting benefits, we have tried and tested the best ones in the market and curated a list of our favorites. Keep reading and you’ll find the perfect match for yourself, we assure you.

• 1
  Best Overall

  Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Concealer

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Nothing beats the nourishing properties of this waterproof concealer by Tarte as it is formulated with invigorating ingredients such as squalene, hyaluronic acid, and vitamins A and E that intensely moisturize the skin and prevent stripping off its natural water content. At the same time, the Amazonian clay infused in the formula absorbs excess oil from your skin and gives a natural, slightly matte finish. The stick applicator of the product makes it easy to use and a small quantity shows marvelous results.

2

Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Concealer

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Infused with advanced micro spherical powders, this waterproof concealer by Hourglass reflects light and beautifully illuminates your skin for a dewy finish. This attribute of the product makes it a good choice to apply under your eyes for a fresh, energized look. The product has a crease-resistant formula that gives a smooth, even surface to your skin without bringing wrinkles and fine lines into focus. Also, it has a weightless formula that gives an airbrushed finish to your look. 

 

3

Best for Under Eyes

LANCÔME EFFACERNES Long Lasting Undereye Concealer

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This waterproof undereye concealer by Lancôme is the perfect go-to product to use on days when you’ve been under stress or have slept poorly. It contains humectants such as urea and hyaluronic acid which prevent your skin from drying up due to the mattifying formula. The High Resist complex in the product ensures that it stays put after application and lasts for a long time. Besides, it not only conceals imperfections such as blemishes and dark spots but also enhances your natural features by smoothing the skin's surface.

 

4

Most Longlasting

stila Stay All Day Foundation & Concealer

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Stay confident and look perfect all through the day with Stila's All Day Long Foundation & Concealer – it delivers a gorgeous matte finish that's specifically designed for oily skin and is meant to give you the most natural look that lasts for 12 hours. The water-resistant formula feels weightless on the skin, making it comfortable to be worn for long hours. Apply it on your forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin, and blend it outwards with a brush to get a seamless and well-blended finish.

5

Best for Versatile Use

Judith August Killer Cover Full Coverage Concealer

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As this full-coverage waterproof concealer comes in five different shades, you can use it for several reasons — to cover imperfections, contour your face, and highlight the high points on it. This three-in-one makeup product is perfect for people who prefer having a lean makeup regime, and not scouring through different items in their kit. The concealer has an easy-to-blend, creamy formula that adequately covers dark circles, acne scars, and age spots for a flawless look. 

 

6

Best Hypoallergenic Formula

Dermaflage Waterproof Concealer Cream

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You can stay assured about the smudge resistance of this waterproof concealer cream by Dermaflage as it stays put without cracking or caking. What we love about this product is that you don’t necessarily need a setting powder or finishing spray to top it off, especially not if you’re aiming for a dewy look.  And, the formula absorbs excess oil from your skin, so the end results look not too shiny or too matte. To top off its benefits, the product doesn’t contain too many ingredients unlike other makeup products, and goes easy on your skin.

7

Best Non-greasy

MAKE UP FOR EVER Full Cover Camouflage Cream

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This drugstore waterproof concealer has a formula like that of a BB/CC cream, so it is low-maintenance and easy to apply for makeup beginners. Hence, you can apply it by simply dotting your face. Formulated with humectants such as glycerin and allantoin, the product nourishes your skin, prevents overdrying it, and gives you a natural, dewy finish. Owing to its creamy formula, the concealer blends really well over your skin and a little quantity goes a long way. 

 

8

Best Vegan

DERMABLEND PROFESSIONAL Cover Care Concealer

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For folks with oily, and acne-prone skin, this full-coverage waterproof concealer by Dermablend is a great choice as it doesn’t clog your pores or aggravate any comedones. The product has a creamy formula that goes over your skin smoothly and gives an airbrushed look. Its efficient applicator brush allows you to cover imperfections in the folds and contours of your face quite effortlessly. What sets it apart is that it is free from phthalates, fragrances, and harsh ingredients that may trigger irritation on your skin. 

9

Best Weightless

AMAZING COSMETICS Amazing Concealer

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As amazing as it sounds, this waterproof concealer contains cucumber extracts that soothe your skin, which feels great if you have blemishes or puffy under-eyes. A feature that we absolutely adore is that it has a unique, sponge applicator at the opening of the tube that prevents dispensing excess product and helps blend it onto your skin. The formula contains highly concentrated pigments that conceal blemishes, dark circles, and acne scars seamlessly.

 

10

Best Anti-aging Product

IT Cosmetics BYE BYE UNDER EYE Full Coverage Anti-aging Waterproof Concealer

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To conceal or diffuse wrinkles and fine lines on your skin, get your hands on this waterproof under-eye concealer by It cosmetics. What contributes to the anti-aging benefits of this product is that it contains peptide complexes and hydrolyzed collagen that boost your skin’s elasticity and make it more youthful. The hyaluronic acid and vitamin E infused in the concealer replenish the protective barrier of your skin, making it soft and supple. Of course, alongside these skincare benefits, the product does an incredible job of covering skin imperfections.

11

Best Compact

Glossiva Full Cover Skin Concealer

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This concealer by Glossiva is formulated with alcohol and other harsh chemicals, so it not only covers your tattoos, bruises, and other imperfections but also refrains from irritating your skin or aggravating the condition. It comes in two jars — one with the concentrated pigment and the other with neutralizing creme, which you mix and adjust the shade before applying. The product is specially formulated to conceal bruises, birthmarks, melasma, etc. that most drugstore concealers fail to do.

12

Plazala COVER-UP TATTOO Concealer

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Owing to its blendable application and advanced formula, this concealer is not only convenient to use but also comfortable on the skin. Whether it’s a hickey you want to cover or wedding makeup that needs to be perfected, this concealer does not damage the skin’s epidermal tissue. It provides maximum coverage for long hours of wear. The product absorbs excess sebum and reduces the oily sheen on your skin, to give a natural-looking matte finish. It is among the best waterproof concealers to use on the go, as all you need to do is mix the two colors according to get your exact shade and swipe it on your skin and dab it with your fingers.

13

ONLYOILY PRO DUAL CONTROBING STICK

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With this pocket-friendly makeup stick, you can not only save some precious bucks but also have a lean makeup regime. You can use different shades of this multi-purpose product to conceal imperfections, contour your face or highlight its high points, such as the brim of the nose. The creamy formula comes with a stick applicator so you can quickly fix your makeup on the go. Also, its pigments are quite concentrated, which means that a small quantity will go a long way in perfecting your makeup base.

14

SACE LADY Full Cover Concealer

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This waterproof liquid concealer by Sace Lady is perfect to give your skin a beautiful, radiant finish. The formula glides smoothly on your skin and makes it easy for you to blend and even it out. Also, a small quantity of the product is sufficient to conceal dark circles and blemishes and give a flawless appearance to your face. In addition, the formula is buildable so you can layer up to hide evident imperfections. Also, it is a great waterproof concealer for swimming, in case you wish to keep your makeup on while you splash!

15

TATTOO CONCEALER COVER

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Oftentimes, the difficult spots to hide are those caused by scars, skin conditions, birthmarks, or other permanent skin imperfections. Our findings show that this tattoo concealer is best to mask those pesky and persistent problems. The kit includes a light and dark shade in different jars and an empty jar in which the two can be mixed to achieve a shade that is your exact match. Be careful to not use this on delicate skin or open wounds, as it may cause inflammation. It has extremely long-lasting coverage that can stay put even when you take a dip in the pool.

16

COVERGIRL Outlast Extreme Wear Concealer

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Covergirl’s Outlast Extreme Wear Concealer in the shade Soft Sable 875 is a creamy formula that glides on the skin effortlessly. “I have hyperpigmentation on one side of my face, and this covers it completely and stays on until I take it off,” a user said. In addition to fading the appearance of wrinkles, it gives maximum coverage, that too without any white cast. The concealer comes in a tube that is easy to squeeze and use. Our findings show that it works well on mature skin too.

Now that you’ve seen our product recommendations for the best waterproof concealers, allow us to educate you about its advantages.

If we have not made it obvious yet, here are three primary benefits of using waterproof concealers.

• Masks pimples
  Covering pimples and blemishes with layers of foundation and concealer to only find them peeking out hours later is frustrating. Enter waterproof concealers. These concealers have superior formulations that promise longer staying power. A good concealer that can resist sweat, water, and the strain of a long day is a must-have!
   
• Weatherproof
  Even if the weather forecasts predict a sunny day ahead, no one can help you if your makeup becomes the victim of unexpected showers. Waterproof concealers hide fine lines, dark circles, sun spots, and other facial imperfections, even when it’s humid or raining. So, you won’t have to bother about your makeup running down or caking!
   
• No retouches

It’s blissful when you don’t need to make frequent visits to the powder room to check if your dark circles and blemishes are well disguised. Whether it’s your wedding day or a night out with the girls, you can be carefree!

Even though they are so effective, from makeup artists to beginners, everyone finds themselves in a fix when choosing a makeup product. So check out the following buying guide and steps to use to make the best of the product.

Here are a few factors to consider before investing in a waterproof concealer:

Coverage:

When investing in a concealer, it is pointless to get your hands on a formulation that provides sheer coverage. Always look for highly-pigmented formulations that provide medium to full coverage to effectively erase your dark circles, acne scars, melasma, discoloration, age spots, etc. If you’re looking for a product to conceal your tattoos, birthmarks, leukoderma, etc. then you’d require a formulation that is not only very pigmented but also highly buildable, so you can layer up to get the best results. 

Finish And Blendability:

The next thing you need to look for is whether your concealer blends easily on your skin or not. Blendable formulations are best to diffuse the imperfections on your face and get an airbrushed finish, which does not look too cakey or artificial. Also, the product needs to have a weightless formulation so that it does not feel too heavy or uncomfortable on your face. Ensure that the concealer you're investing in is not likely to get collected in the folds on the wrinkles or contours of your face and smoothes out easily. 

Skin-friendly Formulation:

Ensure that the formula of your concealer is non-comedogenic, which means that it does not clog your pores or aggravate zits or whiteheads. While this is difficult to find in makeup products, try to see if you find something with fewer ingredients and little to no fragrance so that it does not trigger any allergies. 

Try to avoid harsh ingredients such as phthalates, denatured alcohol, mica, BHT, petrolatum, etc. as they can irritate your skin. On the other hand, nourishing ingredients such as squalene, glycerin, urea, Centella asiatica, green tea extracts, allantoin, etc. are great to moisturize your skin and soothe inflammation.

Skin Type
Choose the concealer based on the skin type. For oily skin, concealers infused with absorbent clays (such as kaolin or bentonite) are a great choice as they control excess sebum production and give a matte finish to your face. For dry skin, hydrating and cream-based concealers are a great choice. 

Shade Range
Finding a true match is a herculean task but it is essential to find a shade range that resembles your skin color the most. Applying the wrong shade of concealer would be a fashion faux pas.

Fragrance

A breathable formula that is gentle on the skin has to be fragrance-free. Always look for concealers that are free from any artificial fragrances as they can irritate the skin. 

Staying Power:

There’s no surprise in the fact that it is inconvenient (and expensive) to re-apply and blend a concealer every two hours. Hence, it is best to invest in a product that lasts for at least 12 hours at a stretch and stays put without getting smudged. And when you’re using a waterproof concealer, you can rest assured about its power of resisting sweat, tears, humidity, rain, and other similar factors.

 

Here are a few simple steps to apply a concealer:

Step 1: Prep your face with a mildly emollient moisturizer and primer. Let the products settle on your skin for 5-10 minutes. 

Step 2: You can start by applying a thin layer of your favorite BB cream on your face if you’re skipping the foundation. Don’t apply any BB/CC cream over your concealer. 

Step 3: Take your favorite concealer and apply it directly on the areas of imperfections that you want to cover — under the eyes, acne scars, melasma, discoloration, etc. Or, you can simply dot your face evenly with the product. 

Step 4: Dampen your beauty blender and squeeze out the excess water. Our contributor Maya Adivi recommends using waterproof concealer with a damp sponge. She adds, “I prefer dotting on a very small amount of concealer and then using a damp sponge to blend it out.” 

Step 5: Take the fine tip of your beauty blender/makeup sponge and start diffusing the product in your under-eye region. Use the same end to blend over acne scars, dark spots, or similar spots to cover them. 

Step 6: With the lower/flatter end of your sponge, diffuse the product on large areas on your skin where you’re not targeting any specific imperfection. 

Step 7: This step is optional but you can follow up your concealer base with your favorite foundation. 

Step 8: Set your makeup with a setting powder and spray. 

Waterproof makeup is in trend. While it’s a life savior, it can get messy to remove. So, here are a few steps of easy makeup removal that we have discovered through trial and error.

Whether it is your waterproof mascara, foundation, blush, lipstick, or concealer that you want to take off, there are a few basic rules you need to remember:

• Use a makeup remover
  Soak a cotton pad or cotton ball in micellar water or makeup remover. Gently wipe the areas of the face with makeup on it. You may have to do this a couple of times till you see negligible makeup remains on the cotton pad.
   
• Wash your face
  Single cleanse or double cleanse, whatever your mantra is— remember to wash your face well with a cleanser.  This will remove any grime, makeup residue, and other pollutants from your skin. Tip: You can also use coconut oil before cleansing to remove stubborn makeup.
   
• Exfoliate with a scrub
  Once you have washed away all the dirt, take a mild scrub like oatmeal colloidal face wash and remove the dead skin and cleanse the pores.
   
• Moisturize well
  The final step is to pat dry and moisturize well so that your skin is hydrated. Depriving the skin of any moisture may make it prone to itchiness and excess sebum production.
  Voila, your waterproof makeup is safely cleansed and your skin is ready for another day of looking flawless.

Conclusion:

With the best waterproof concealers, you can prevent any external factors from washing you out! The above list includes a range of concealers for different purposes — under eye correction, full coverage, skin nourishment, ease of use, versatility, etc. to suit your specific needs. In addition, they come with different formulas and application methods to fit different makeup regimes. Ensure you go through our buying guide before making a purchase. Happy shopping!

Contributor: Maya Adivi, Certified Makeup artist, Click here for blog