25 best under-eye concealers that brighten and hydrate like a dream – non-crease and all
While nothing beats a good night's sleep, under-eye concealers can make the biggest difference, whether you're after a more natural everyday look or a full glam moment. They're made to cater the delicate and thin skin around our eyes by providing just enough hydration and moisture while brightening the area to cover up under-eye bags and dark circles.
Not to mention, professional MUAs and beauty enthusiasts alike hail concealers as one of the most versatile makeup products. Although traditionally they pair well with foundation, tinted moisturisers and other complexion products, they're also great to wear on their own for the ultimate “your-skin-but-better” result.
And when it comes to concealers, strategic placement is key. After a more “lifted” look? Simply drag the product onto your cheekbones, underneath your contour and voila, you have yourself a Bella Hadid-inspired look in seconds. Need to clean up your brows, eyeliner or lip liner? Grab a flat concealer brush and cover up the messy lines in an instant. And of course, no 90's lip is complete without a little dab of concealer.
You can even customise your blush by simply mixing your concealer with a red lipstick or add a little blush to your under-eyes to create a soft blurred Kylie Jenner-inspired look (thanks, TikTok).
Feeling inspired to upgrade your makeup routine? Check out our guides on the best foundation, best highlighter and best mascaras. Plus, be sure to take a lot at our edits of the best vitamin C serums and best collagen supplements too.
Best under-eye concealers at a glance – our top picks:
- Best under-eye concealer overall: Il Makiage F*ck I'm Flawless Multi-Use Perfecting Concealer, £27, Il Makiage
- Best affordable under-eye concealer: e.l.f. Cosmetics 16HR Camo Concealer, £6, Beauty Bay
- Best buildable under-eye concealer: Glossier Stretch Concealer, £17, Glossier
- Best liquid under-eye concealer: Charlotte Tilbury Magic Away Liquid Concealer, £24, Sephora
What shade should I go for?
Many makeup artists suggest choosing an under eye concealer that is one or two shades lighter than your foundation shade, which is great for covering up dark circles and brightening. Of course, it's also a matter of preference too. If you normally opt to wear your concealer on its own, you might want to go for a shade that matches your skin tone.
How should I apply an under-eye concealer?
While it’s tempting to paint your concealer all over your under eye area, there’s a more targeted approach to application that works wonders to eliminate dark circles. All you have to do is draw an upside down triangle starting from the inner corners of eyes, down the side of the nose and then back up towards the outer corners of the eye. This is a form of contouring and helps to creating a lifting effect as well as concealing the darkest part of eye bags (the inner corners). This technique is especially effective at concealing hollow eyes.
When it comes to choosing a sponge, a makeup brush or fingers for application, the jury is still out with makeup artists divided as to the best method. Whatever you use, make sure to be gentle when applying to avoid tugging the skin.
“It's the petal-shaped wand for me…”
If you happen to be on the lookout for an under-eye concealer, you're in luck. We've put together a comprehensive selection of the best options the beauty market has to offer – from premium and affordable products to new releases and cult-favourites. Plus, our beauty team is always busy trialling the best of the bunch, so rest assured, our list has the GLAMOUR seal of approval. We've also taken the time to answer all of your concealer-related FAQs, so if you're curious to find out more about the application techniques, shade-matching and more, scroll away…
Skip to: What makes a good under-eye concealer? | Why do we get under-eye bags and dark circles? | I have oily skin - what under-eye concealer is best for me? | How do I apply under-eye concealer on fine lines?
What are the best under-eye concealers? Keep scrolling...
Why we love it: Thanks to ingredients such as sweet almond oil and vitamin E, this under-eye concealer is both effortless in hiding blemishes and dark circles as it is nourishing for your skin. The best part? It gives a soft matte finish, it's vegan-friendly, fragrance-free and alcohol-free, and it's also available in 29 different shades to suit all skin tones and undertones.
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Why we love it: This under-eye corrector is a long-wear, lightweight concealer with medium-to-full coverage that instantly takes care of under-eye circles, blemishes, dark spots and hyperpigmentation. Its formula is vegan, cruelty-free, oil-free and paraben-free too, making it perfect for all skin types. And it's available in 30 diverse shades to suit all skin tones too.
Why we love it: Covering up imperfections and under-eye circles has never felt more affordable. This full-coverage liquid concealer from e.l.f. Cosmetics gives your skin a moisturising boost while also helping control excess oil, thanks to ingredients such as avocado oil and kaolin clay. The lightweight, highly pigmented formula corrects and perfects without settling into creases too. Also available on Amazon.
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Why we love it: Need a concealer than flexes to fit your needs? Look no further, this concealer is just the thing if you're looking for buildable coverage. Its formula features adaptable mineral pigments that give a brightening effect and blend seamlessly into skin for natural-looking coverage, helping it move with your skin instead of just caking on top of it. It also leaves a nice dewy finish.
Why we love it: This handy concealer-on-a-stick can cover up dark circles, pigmentation, redness, blemishes, puffiness and other imperfections in just one quick swipe. This concealer is delivered through Charlotte Tilbury's Magic Miracle Precision beauty blender applicator, making it the perfect solution for getting rid of dark circles on-the-go.
Customers are saying: Conceals without feeling too thick. The spongey brush enables a smooth application by dabbing or sweeping over lines or under eyes.
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Why we love it: Water-resistant? Check. Highly pigmented? Check. Long-lasting coverage and nourishing ingredients? Check aaand check. Infused with antioxidants and other skin-loving ingredients, this waterproof concealer improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, helping you conceal the look of imperfections such as dark circles and discolouration.
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Why we love it: This high coverage under-eye concealer is… well, the best dark circle concealer you can find. It's easy to use too – just apply to areas where skin-tone lacks uniformity or where you want to cover imperfections including blemishes, dark spots and scars. It also includes calendula extract, vitamin E and caffeine.
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Why we love it: This trending multi-use and waterproof concealer combines high coverage and a natural glow finish, blending seamlessly into the skin for a flawless and weightless result. It effortless in the way it conceals redness, dark spots and blemishes. It comes in six different tints, all of which blend nicely and adapt to your skin tone.
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Why we love it: This product is perfect if you're looking for something with multi-tasking potential. Use as much or as little as you want, depending on whether you want to conceal, correct, highlight and brighten, and contour and carve. There's also a whopping 60 different shades to choose from. Yes, we're serious.
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Why we love it: Looking for a crease-free formula with a natural finish? You've found it. This under-eye concealer helps to cover dark circles and imperfections with ease. The best part is that it's transfer-proof, water-resistant and able to provide medium coverage or full coverage for up to 12 hours at a time, all while feeling weightless on your skin to boot.
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Why we love it: This long-wear liquid formula will never appear either dry or cakey but will instead remain totally transfer-proof and reliable with a comfortable matte finish. Plus, with such an extensive range of shades and many different undertones, you're almost guaranteed to find your match.
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Why we love it: This light-reflecting concealer has been dermatologically tested on sensitive skin and is oil-free, silicon-free and free from synthetic fragrances. Infused with mineral pigments and soothing botanical ingredients, it glides on effortlessly to help minimise dark circles, imperfections and uneven tone for a smoother, brighter visage.
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Why we love it: Super blendable and creamy yet full-coverage, you can trust that this concealer won't let you down when it comes to covering up under eye bags. Did we mention that it's fragrance-free, parabens-free and also has a diverse shade range to suit all skin tones? Well, now we did.
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Why we love it: Don't let the price tag intimidate you – this under-eye makeup product has a caffeine-infused formula that can brighten even the most tired-looking under-eyes. And with the moisturising effects of vitamin E and glycerin, your skin will stay well-hydrated while looking both plumper and smoother than ever. Ideal for mature skin.
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Why we love it: This full-coverage under-eye brightener is unmatched in its ability to even out your skin tone, promoting a flawless-looking finish. Offering up to 24 hours of comfortable wear, its creamy, lightweight and ultra-blendable formula works to reduce the appearance of discolouration and imperfections.
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Why we love it: A firm favourite among beauty experts, this under-eye concealer has reached cult status for its multi-action skincare benefits and fail-safe coverage. Ultra blendable, light-diffusing and buildable, the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer is a welcome addition to any makeup bag. And yes, that includes yours too.
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Why we love it: Kosas use only the kindest and best possible ingredients available, and this under-eye concealer is no different. With ingredients such as caffeine, algae, hyaluronic acid and peptides, this product works hard to improve the look of bare skin and making your skin look more radiant with every use.
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Why we love it: This best-selling concealer contains shea butter, mango butter and licorice root to help retain skin's elasticity while brightening the appearance of dark circles. Its full-coverage formula has a tidy, natural matte finish and a crease-less formula that will make eyes appear lifted
for up to 16 hours.
Why we love it: With 25 shades to choose from, there's no doubt that you can find the perfect one to brighten, correct, contour and highlight your skin. This affordable concealer has a high-pigment formula that gives you the ultimate full coverage finish with a totally lightweight feel. What more could you ask for?
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Why we love it: Rihanna's gone and amazed us again. This creamy, long-wear, crease-proof liquid under-eye concealer is light as air, offering medium-to-full coverage that brightens your under-eyes and conceals any and all unwanted blemishes and redness. It'll last you a while too since a little tends to go a long way with this product.
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Why we love it: This featherweight, full-coverage concealer gives you a full 16 hours of skin-perfecting power that resists creasing and settling. Formulated with hyaluronic acid to keep your under-eyes hydrated while disguising dark circles, blemishes, and other imperfections. We recently even put this concealer to the test and loved the results.
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Why we love it: Enriched with goji berry, this under-eye concealer from Maybelline comes in a handy packaging that you can pop in your handbag as use anywhere on-the-go when the mood to brighten up your complexion strikes. A cult favourite, and an affordable one at that.
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Why we love it: Available in a wide range of shades, this liquid concealer from bareMinerals provides buildable medium coverage with a natural-looking finish. It also visibly smooths your skin, reduces the appearance of fine lines and instantly adds luminosity to your complexion. 10/10 would recommend.
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Why we love it: Loving the ‘no-makeup look’ and looking for something that provides a skin-like finish? Say no more. This light coverage concealer from Huda Beauty is filled to the brim with skin-loving ingredients including blueberry seed oil, caffeine, and vitamin E, prickly pear cactus extract and sodium hyaluronate, all of which hydrate and rejuvenate your under-eye area with ease.
Why we love it: Lightweight, non-flaking and vegan formula? Yes please. This under-eye concealer also comes with a handy double-ended applicator, which includes a doe foot wand and a buffing brush that can be used for a targeted application as well as a quick on-the-go swipe when you're in a hurry.
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Why we love it: Just a few sweeps of this blurring and brightening under-eye concealer and we're all ready to go for the day. Packed full of ultra-hydrating ingredients such as squalane, glycerin and tomato extract, this product is deeply nourishing, comfortable to wear and has great staying power to boot. Perfect for dry skin.
Erase them or embrace them.
What makes a good under-eye concealer?
When you’re covering up acne and breakouts, it’s a good idea to use a drying concealer to try and reduce the production of oil. However, when you’re selecting an under-eye concealer, you might want to consider a more hydrating formula to nourish the skin around the eye and provide anti-wrinkle benefits while also covering up dark circles.
Why do we get under-eye bags and dark circles?
Considering our screen-centric lifestyles and the near-constant stream of stress, it’s not exactly hard to become a little too sleep-deprived and a little more reliant on our under-eye concealers.
Other reasons can include using the wrong skincare products, especially ones that are too harsh on the skin. When applied to the delicate under-eye area, skincare acids and retinol products can thin out the skin, making the blue blood vessels underneath more visible and creating more prominent-looking under-eye bags.
There are also some lifestyle habits than can exacerbate dark circles including dehydration and not removing makeup properly before bed (hello, panda eyes). In some cases, under-eye bags occur because of genetics, which, of course, makes them harder to treat. And while eye creams and eye serums can definitely sort you out, they typically require consistent and regular use in order to reap the benefits. But if you need near-instant results, you can always opt for a great under-eye concealer. And in most cases, you won't even need to reach for your trusty concealer brush, making them easy to use on-the-go.
I have oily skin - what under-eye concealer is best for me?
Everyone with oily skin will know that makeup usually slides off after a few hours of wear - unless you select the right products and apply them in the right way, that is. When it comes to your under-eye concealer, choose an oil-free cream or liquid, and always make sure to set the product with a finely-milled translucent powder.
How do I apply under-eye concealer on fine lines?
Choosing the right formula is also important if you have fine lines and wrinkles as the wrong concealer will settle into creases and make them look more visible.
To conceal under-eye bags as well as wrinkles around the eyes, it's always a good idea to apply a blurring or smoothing primer first, followed by a creamy concealer formula. Also, make sure that you're using the correct amount of product - too much will encourage creasing.
For more makeup, skincare, haircare and wellness content from our Commerce Writer Denise Primbet, follow her on Twitter @deniseprimbet and Instagram @deniseprimbet.
