Key ingredients: vitamin E, caffeine, glycerin | Shades: 22 | Finish: natural
Best Brightening: Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Concealer
Why it’s worth it: Laura Mercier’s Secret Camouflage Concealer is a creamy, double-panned maestro ready for all the retouching. One of the shades is for your typical correcting, while the other is for brightening around your eyes. But, if you have an uneven skin tone, you can just use the brightening side as a regular concealer in lighter spots. “I didn’t find the difference between the ‘brighten’ and ‘correct’ shades to be that large, so I used them interchangeably,” said former editor Gabi Thorne.
Tester feedback: “I’ve been using the Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage since college, and for good reason: It works,” says contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai. “The two complementary shades allow me to create the right shade to cover a given zit, and the texture—a cream that almost has a powdery to finish—pretty much guarantees all-day coverage.” Pai adds that she always uses a brush to apply the concealer, followed by her fingers for blending, “since the warmth really helps the product melt to create a nice finish,” she says. “It also takes some getting used to if you’re not into a firm cream formula, but it’s worth it for acne breakouts, since the coverage doesn’t get cakey.”
Key ingredients: lotus flower extract, vitamin E, squalane | Shades: 16 | Finish: radiant
Best for Dry Skin: IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Full Coverage Concealer
Why it’s worth it: Ok, technically, It Cosmetics’s Bye Bye Under Eye Full Coverage Concealer is for—you guessed it—your undereyes, but there’s more than meets the label for this Readers’ Choice Award winner. Because of its supremely hydrating formula, this is a favorite for the girlies whose acne is accompanied by dry skin (super fun, right?). This full-coverage, waterproof concealer is rich with skin-care staples like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, peptides, and antioxidants to moisturize and plump as it covers up. A little goes a long way, so expect to get a lot of use out of this tube.
Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, peptides, antioxidants | Shades: 24 | Finish: full-coverage, natural-finish
Best for Oily Skin: Estée Lauder Double Wear Concealer
Why it’s worth it: Estée Lauder’s Double Wear Concealer is a cover-up MUAs can get behind. “It’s thin, highly pigmented, and long-wearing. To cover a stubborn spot, apply one layer, let it dry, and then repeat,” says makeup artist Beau Nelson. The formula is oil-controlling and hydrating—two musts for oily skin types—and stays put through sweat and humidity. “This oil-free formula is a lifesaver for long days,” says Aharon. “It stays put without feeling heavy or clogging pores—great for keeping blemishes covered without constant touch-ups.” She credits the kaolin clay for its sebum-soaking abilities and vitamin E for keeping irritation at bay.
