10 Concealers To Cover And Correct Any Skin Concern (Including Those Eye Bags)

Sometimes, you can follow every skincare rule in the book, but your complexion still repays you in the meanest of ways. You can try every hack to brighten from within and slap on the face masks to clear up blemishes, but it won’t mean you’ll get to enjoy a flawless complexion every single day.

This is where concealer comes in. Find a good one, and it’ll become your skincare hero in serious times of need. Whether it’s a late night-fuelled pair of eye bags or a sudden hormonal breakout, the best concealer will hide those imperfections for as long as it takes to get your great skin back on track.

These days, there are endless concealing options to try, from swipe-on sticks to creamy liquids and professional balms you can apply with a precise brush. 'I like to use a small pin point eyeliner brush to apply concealer to tiny areas that need more coverage and then powder those areas delicately to set it', says pro make-up artist Katie Jane Hughes.

To help you cut through the concealing crowd, we’ve swatched, swiped and smeared an endless list of contenders to bring you the very best of the bunch.

Read on for the ELLE verdict on the best concealers...

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Concealer - was £34.50 now £17.25

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Lightweight but with enough coverage to mask redness and imperfections, this concealer leaves things looking glowy and feeling hydrated. A great choice if you want to skip the foundation and just give sheer coverage where needed.

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Instant Retouch Concealer - £19

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Many brands have upped their shade range game now (finally), but not many do it as well as Fenty, who take your undertone into account too. Available in 50 shades, they defy you not to find an exact match. The finish, like their foundation, is high-coverage, matte, and super long lasting. A firm favourite of ELLE's Beauty Assistant Charlotte Bitmead.

Bobbi Brown Intensive Skin Serum Concealer - £30

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Boosted with skin-soothing ingredients, this pro concealer helps to counteract the causes of your imperfections (dark circles and pigmentation, for example) while covering them. The buildable, liquid formula dries down to cover like a second skin.

Dior DiorSkin Forever Skin Correct - £25

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For when you need to call in the big guns, this creamy-yet-full-coverage concealer is a fail-safe option. Available in 30 shades, the long-wear formula is especially good for covering redness in those oily areas around the nose, without you worrying about it shifting through the day.

Kevyn Aucoin The Sensual Skin Enhancer - £36

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This cult classic is billed as a 'multi-use balm', but the super-high pigment levels make it perfect for using as a concealer, both under the eyes and over imperfections. If you have dry skin it's the dream for evening out your tone and covering dark circles without fear of flakiness. Apply sparingly, as a little goes a very long way.

Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Concealer - £32

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Sturdy but with a satin finish, this light-reflecting liquid concealer blends into skin to cover blemishes and blur pores – and then it stays there. The budge-proof finish is smooth and, yes, looks almost airbrushed. The best choice for a big event (where photographers and selfies are a given).

Trinny London BFF Eye - £26

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If dark circles and dullness are your main complexion concern, look no further. This brightens and covers, but is so hydrating and sheer it feels more like an eye cream on application. Once it has dried down it evens out tone and boosts glow. ELLE's Beauty Editor Jennifer George loves the finish so much, she uses it as an all-over complexion fixer.

Toofaced Born This Way Sculpting Concealer – £25

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This one has such a loyal fan base, thanks to the way it covers every blemish and lingering acne scar with total ease. The coverage is major, but the formula doesn't cake: no easy feat. Plus, with 35 shades covering all undertones, you're bound to find your perfect match.

Marc Jacobs Accomplice Concealer – £32

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Combining a super-creamy, non-cakey formula and practical stick packaging, this swipe-and-go stick is perfect for touching up throughout the day. The coverage is full, but there's no compromise to radiance: think glowy, even skin, and you're on the right track.

NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer - £24

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Rummage around in many a beauty editor's make-up bag and you'll find this cult product in there. Creamy and buildable, it gives a flawless finish that keeps shininess at bay all.day.long. Try this if your pores are your biggest bug bear.