TL;DR
The ILIA True Skin Serum Concealer is our favorite, offering excellent coverage that hides all kinds of complexion concerns while still looking totally natural. If you want full coverage, the IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Full Coverage Anti-Aging Waterproof Concealer really packs a punch of pigment. Prefer sheer? The Saie Hydrabeam Under Eye Concealer is the way to go.
There’s no denying it: concealer is a must-have makeup product. From knocking out dark circles to erasing blemishes, concealer can do way more than just even out the look of skin. "I love using concealers to spot-cover, color-correct, as a base for eyeshadow, and sometimes to highlight and contour the features," says makeup artist Nick Lujan. But if you have a particularly reactive complexion or sensitive eyes, you'll need to be a bit more choosy about the formula.
As dermatologist Dr. Diane Madfes, M.D., explains, the eye area is delicate and sensitive, regardless of skin type. That's why, she says, "It's important to use products that have been specifically tested for tolerability and use in the eye area." (And, FYI, that applies to both makeup and skincare.) The only issue? There are hundreds of concealer formulas out there, and very few, if any, are specifically marketed towards sensitive skin. So, to help you make a considered choice, we tested more than 60 concealers for sensitive skin in our NYC lab and at home for two weeks. We evaluated each one on the most important criteria: feel, wear, finish, and application. Ultimately, these 14 did their intended concealer duty without irritating sensitive skin.
Best Overall
Ilia True Skin Serum Concealer
Delivers excellent coverage
Good for covering up a variety of skin issues
Great, natural finish
Could be more long-lasting
Coverage Level: Medium | Finish: Natural | Shades: 20 | Size: 0.16 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
We were thoroughly impressed with this concealer right off the bat. Despite the name, which might imply more sheer coverage, we loved how pigmented it was, effectively covering up dark circles, acne spots, and more. It also earned rave reviews for the perfectly skin-like finish that was neither too dewy, shiny, or too matte. It was easy to apply and blend, and never caked or creased. One tester said, “I’m a tough critic when it comes to concealers—I want something that brightens my under-eyes and covers acne spots without looking cakey. This one was great!”
The only thing we lamented was that it wasn’t slightly more long-lasting, which is why we felt it was best for everyday wear, rather than special occasions where you want something that will stay put for hours and hours on end.
Best Full Coverage
It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer
Provides very full coverage
Lasts all day
Doesn’t look cakey
Squeeze tube doesn’t come with an applicator
Coverage Level: Full | Finish: Natural | Shades: 24 | Size: 0.40 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
This concealer lives up to its name—it offers very full coverage. In fact, it was so much coverage that we could pair it with just a bit of tinted moisturizer and forgo foundation entirely. It was equally great at delivering said coverage to dark circles, acne, and prominent pores. One of our testers with acne-prone skin said, "This is my go-to concealer because of how great the coverage is. It’s just the best! Thick enough to cover any problem areas but it still looks natural.”
There is a bit of a learning curve to figuring out exactly how much product to dispense from the squeeze tube. If you use too much, we found it tends to crease.
Best for Acne
Maybelline Fit Me Concealer
Lightweight and breathable
Fragrance free
Natural finish
Dark circles need two layers to cover them completely
Coverage Level: Medium | Finish: Natural | Shades: 7; Light to Deep | Size: 0.23 oz | Cruelty Free: No
Using a concealer on acne-prone skin can pose somewhat of a conundrum—you want to hide blemishes, but you also don’t want to cake on tons of product that may further clog your pores. That’s what made this pick so notable. It’s noncomedogenic and has a featherweight feel that we love, but still covers what you want covered. It was extremely easy to blend, and acne aside, we were impressed with how well it worked to cover dark under-eye circles.
Best Shade Range
Kulfi Beauty Main Match Concealer
Offered in 20+ shades with varying undertones
Buildable coverage
Imparts very full coverage
Feels light and nondrying
Could be better at concealing dark circles
Coverage Level: Medium | Finish: Radiant | Shades: 21 | Size: 0.17 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
If you’ve previously had a hard time finding the right concealer color for your skin (#relatable) consider checking out this product. With over 20 different hues, including a variety for darker skin and a wide range of undertones, there’s something for every complexion. Our tester with dark skin was really impressed by how well it blended into her complexion. “This was a really nice color match for me! It did a nice job of smoothing and brightening my complexion.”
Other things we liked: How light it felt while wearing it, a subtle, natural finish, and that it didn’t cause any breakouts. That being said, it’s not very long-wearing; we noticed it had faded and looked a bit cakey at the end of the day; we also felt it could’ve been better at hiding dark circles.
Best Dewy Look
Thrive Causemetics Creaseless Concealer
Looks glowy but not greasy
A little bit goes a long way
Great for covering darkness and redness
Hydrating formula
Creases a bit
Coverage Level: Buildable | Finish: Dewy Shades: 24 | Size: 0.25 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
We greatly appreciated the dewy (not greasy) finish of this concealer, as well as how hydrating it felt on the skin. It’s also pretty pigmented; our tester only needed a tiny bit to score the coverage she craved. On that note, it worked equally well to hide both dark circles and rosacea-induced redness, as well as generally evening out the complexion. “I think it’s a good fit for those with sensitive skin as it lacks fragrance and didn’t cause breakouts or irritation and left my skin feeling hydrated, not dry," noted one tester. However, despite being billed as creaseless, she definitely noticed some creasing after wearing it all day.
Best for Dark Skin Tones
Black Opal Brightening Concealer
Works well on acne and under-eye circles
It has a gorgeous peach undertone
Doesn’t crease or fade
We’d like a wider choice of medium shades
Coverage Level: Medium | Finish: Radiant | Shades: 9 | Size: 0.1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
With a nice array of options for deeper skin tones (which, unfortunately, isn’t always the case with concealers) this concealer easily earned its superlative. The texture is creamy and hydrating and the pigment—aside from also having a good range of varying undertones—did an excellent job of hiding hyperpigmentation. While our tester generally liked how it felt on the skin, they did find that it sometimes got a bit chalky.
Best Clean Formula
Milani Conceal + Perfect Concealer
Cruelty-free formula
A little goes a long way
Long-lasting full coverage
Diverse array of shades
We’re not huge fans of the scent
Coverage Level: Full | Finish: Matte | Shades: 17; Light to Deep | Size: 0.17 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
A clean, super-high coverage concealer that you can get at the drugstore? Yes, please. This worked beautifully for covering up a range of complexion imperfections—dark circles, redness, scars, and more. Top tip: It is definitely on the thicker side, so we found that applying it with a makeup sponge yields the most seamless result.
Best Budget
NYX Professional Makeup HD Photogenic Concealer
Lightweight consistency
Provides great high coverage
Comes in 22 different shades
For very full coverage, you may need to use it as a color corrector first, followed by a thicker concealer
Coverage Level: Natural to medium | Finish: Natural | Shades: 12 | Size: 0.11 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
This (very) affordable pick conceals and neutralizes in one simple swipe, giving you even more bang for your buck. We loved how well the lightweight, almost watery texture, spread so easily, as well as how nicely it covered dark marks and never creased. Just FYI, if you want fuller coverage, you may want to layer this underneath a thicker, more pigmented formula, as it definitely skews toward the sheer side.
Best for Dark Circles
BareMinerals Original Liquid Mineral Concealer
Soothing ingredients
Fragrance-free
Not ideal for dry skin
Coverage: Buildable | Finish: Luminous | Shades: 17 | Size: 0.2 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Our favorite thing about this winner? How beautifully it covered up dark circles and illuminated the entire area around the eyes, making it look nearly air-brushed. It works great for other imperfections too, and while it is on the lighter side, it’s very easy to layer for extra coverage. Bonus points for the fact that it’s fragrance-free and contains white water lily extract to soothe and hydrate skin.
Read Full Review: Reviewed: BareMinerals Original Liquid Mineral Concealer Lasts Me All Day
Best for Dry Skin
Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Eraser Concealer
Super creamy texture
Works for targeting redness
Creates a lovely natural finish
Didn’t cover our blemishes as well as it did our dark circles
Coverage: Buildable medium | Finish: Natural | Shades: 19 | Size: 0.2 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
The creaminess of this pick makes it truly ideal for drier skin types; it also helps make it incredibly easy to apply and blend. Still, it didn’t feel tacky or heavy. We were also big fans of the sponge tip applicator, which was great for building up coverage. It is worth noting that it works best (and creases less) when set with powder. And while we loved it for dark circles, it didn’t conceal blemishes quite as well.
Best With SPF
Colorescience Total Eye 3-in-1 Renewal Therapy
Fragrance-free with SPF
Prevents irritation
Smooths and de-puffs
Expensive
Limited shades
Coverage: Medium | Finish: Natural | Shades: 4 | Size: 0.2 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Sun protection is crucial for keeping sensitivity and inflammation at bay, which is why we appreciate that this pick safeguards your skin with SPF 35, and smooths and de-puffs, along with the standard concealing attributes. It has extra long staying power, and while it does feel ever-so-slightly tacky, that grip actually makes it great for using on the lids as an eyeshadow primer. We just didn’t love that it creased slightly under the eyes.
Best Sheer
Saie Hydrabeam Under Eye Concealer
Blurs and brightens
Soothing
Fragrance-free
Not ideal for covering imperfections
Coverage: Sheer | Finish: Radiant | Shades: 9 | Size: 0.2 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
You may recognize this winner from social media; it was an instant TikTok fave when it launched a few years ago. It’s sheer for sure; we deemed it better for blurring and brightening rather than delivering full-on coverage. Still, we loved how nicely the gel-like texture blends into the skin. It also touts cucumber extract and squalane to keep irritation at bay.
Best Longwear
Rimmel London Stay Matte Concealer
Flawless matte coverage that lasts
Glides on smoothly and blends well
Covers dark circles and blemishes flawlessly
The color/shade isn't on the container anywhere, so it's hard to know which one you're using
Coverage Level: Medium | Finish: Matte | Shades: 4 | Size: 0.05 oz | Cruelty-Free: No
For times when you really need your makeup to stay put all day long, this pick takes the cake. It does indeed deliver a matte finish, but in our experience, it still went on and blended into the skin smoothly—not always the case with matte formulas, which tend to be more drying. It also dries down quickly and can easily be built up if you want more than the medium coverage it delivers.
Best Matte
CoverGirl TruBlend Undercover Concealer
Keeps shine at bay
30 shade options
Feels weightless on the skin
Makes dark circles disappear
Packaging could be considered a bit gaudy
Coverage Level: Full | Finish: Matte | Shades: 30 | Size: 0.33 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
We absolutely love the texture of this drugstore pick. While it’s definitely on the thicker side, it still feels surprisingly weightless and undetectable once it’s on the skin, a major win in our book. We couldn’t get over how well it knocked out dark circles, particularly given the wallet-friendly price tag. The matte finish makes it ideal if your skin is sensitive and oily or combination. Plus, it only took a few small dots to achieve the desired level of coverage.
What to Look for in a Concealer for Sensitive Skin
- Fragrance-Free: Fragrance is one of the most common irritants out there—and can be especially problematic if you have sensitive skin—so choosing one that’s labeled ‘fragrance-free’ is a good place to start. You can also look for ones labeled as hypoallergenic. We recommend conducting a patch test to ensure the product is well-tolerated on your skin before using it liberally.
- Hydration: Dry skin is more likely to get irritated, hence why it’s a good idea to seek out a concealer with moisturizing ingredients: hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane are a few good examples. Aloe vera is another good option as it’s both moisturizing and soothing.
- Buildable Coverage: A buildable coverage product allows you to customize your coverage by adding more where needed. If your skin is sensitive, the less product you can use the better your chances of avoiding irritation. By choosing a buildable coverage concealer, you can use exactly the amount you need in each area of your face.
Why Trust Byrdie
Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. Her skin is notoriously sensitive, so she’s well-versed in seeking out both the best skincare and makeup products for sensitive skin, concealer included.
Theresa Holland is a freelance commerce writer specializing in beauty. For this story, she compiled insights from two board-certified dermatologists and three makeup artists, who offered product recommendations and insight into potentially irritating formulations. She also referenced several peer-reviewed articles to cross-check ingredients before narrowing down the selections. Theresa has been contributing to Byrdie since 2020, where she covers color cosmetics, skincare, and lifestyle products.
Contributors spoke to experts to learn more about what to keep in mind when shopping for concealer for sensitive skin. Those experts included:
- Dr. Diane Madfes, M.D., PC, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City
- Nick Lujan, a professional makeup artist, licensed esthetician and educator