Whether you didn’t get enough sleep last night or are perpetually plagued with bluish rings below your eyes, the best undereye concealers can help brighten dull, tired skin and disguise dark circles.
Although the best undereye concealers come in liquid and cream formulas, New York City-based makeup artist Suzy Gerstein prefers the former. Per the professional, liquid formulas often “look more skin-like and tend to be more flexible with the drier, finer undereye area than a sticky, heavier formula.” However, that’s not to say cream formulas won’t do the job well, either. While makeup artist Kirin Bhatty, who is based in Los Angeles and New York, echoes Gerstein’s sentiments — telling Allure that she “tend[s] to favor a liquid concealer” — she also notes that she will “lean towards a cream” for heavier coverage.
In terms of application, Los Angeles-based makeup artist Molly R. Stern recommends dotting a small amount of product to the undereye area closest to the nose before blending outward with a brush or sponge to ensure the concealer spreads evenly. On the other hand, Bhatty likes applying concealer with her fingertips, which allows for “seamless blending.”
For your shopping convenience, we’ve rounded up the best undereye concealers for dark circles, including TikTok-approved finds that won’t break the bank and award-winning Allure picks. Like our favorite eye creams, many of these top picks are spiked with brightening skin-care ingredients such as licorice root and vitamin C to promote even skin tone.
“This self-setting concealer is a mainstay in both my personal makeup bag and professional kit,” says Gerstein of the Kulfi Beauty Main Match Crease-Proof Long-Wear Hydrating Concealer. The medium-coverage concealer is made with beloved ingredients like moisture-boosting glycerin, brightening licorice root extract, and vitamin E-rich sunflower seed oil. The beautiful, radiant finish is just the icing on the cake.
Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer is a favorite amongst Allure editors, makeup artists, and beauty influencers — and for good reason. Gerstein is quick to shout out the product’s “iconic formula,” which offers “comfortable, long-wearing coverage,” as well as a vast shade range (30, to be exact). The concealer also contains antioxidant-packed magnolia bark extract and vitamin E-rich grapeseed oil extract.
No surprises here: Glossier‘s Stretch Concealer has a dewy finish that’s practically imperceptible as “makeup,” regardless of how much you pile on. Despite its lightweight, slippery feel, its brightening powers rival some of the thicker, heavier-duty formulas on the market. Available in 12 flexible shades, this pot concealer provides buildable coverage without looking cakey and makes instances of blemishes, discoloration, and undereye circles disappear (if only for the day).