Your skin type will play a large role in the type of concealer formula that will ultimately work best for you. And shade selection aside, if you’re going to be applying it mostly to cover blemishes, make sure to choose an oil-free formula, like the Maybelline New York Fit Me! Liquid Concealer Makeup featured on this list. But if you’re using it mostly to conceal spots or discoloration on the face, your concealer and foundation should match exactly, he says. For example, for under the eyes, you’ll want a shade that’s about one shade lighter than your foundation in order to brighten the darker areas. Where you’ll be applying your concealer will largely dictate what shade you go with, says Harris. Things to Consider Before Buying a Drugstore Concealer How and Where You’ll Be Applying It Price at time of publish: $6 Type: Liquid | Coverage: Full | Size: 0.11 ounces | Shades: 22 With its easy-to-manipulate applicator that reaches all our tough-to-get areas and effectively covered our dark spots, we ultimately found favor with this featherweight concealer. It looked and felt super smooth, and we were shocked to see that even when we blink or move our facial features around, there were no creases made. Also noteworthy: A total lack of creasing. However, it did perform better when paired with a color corrector from the same line.

We gave it a perfect score for the texture and coverage, noting that even though it was so light and easily spreadable, even a small amount covered dark spots on our faces. This particular option is ideal for those in search of featherweight formulas - we thought the consistency was water-like (in a good way!). This brand is well-known for their many concealers, so it’s no surprise that another one made it onto this list. We found that this worked better when a corrector color was paired with the concealer, rather than just using the concealer on its own Type: Liquid | Coverage: Light/Medium | Size: 0.23 ounces | Shades: 13 The biggest downside? We wish there was a more inclusive shade range, especially for darker skin tones (and a bit less cakiness, but we recommend just going a little lighter on the application to solve this problem).

It scored perfect scores for staying power and not creasing, and our tester also loved how easy it was to blend. This pick is oil-free and non-comedogenic and our tester found the coverage to be great for covering up redness and blemishes (although less so when it came to dark under eye circles which weren't fully concealed). If you're heavy-handed, this can end up looking a bit cake-y on the skinĪs anyone who is trying to cover up blemishes will tell you, it’s a delicate balancing act between using products that will actually hide them, but at the same time won’t further clog pores and exacerbate the issue. Shade range should be expanded, particularly for darker skin tones Below, the best drugstore concealers that PEOPLE tested. Everything from texture to coverage to creasing to staying power were evaluated and ranked on a scale of one to five. Our testers tried 25 different products - all costing less than $20 - swiping them on to hide both dark circles and skin discoloration.

Finding the right concealer for you and your particular needs can be tough, which is why we set out to find the best of the best.

Higher-end options may sometimes have “nicer” components or packaging, but, when it comes to coverage, staying power, and finding a wide array of shade and finishes, the drugstore finds are totally on par with the more expensive ones, he says. “The idea that drugstore concealers don’t meet the mark like luxury ones do is a total myth,” says makeup artist and grooming expert Todd Harris (who has worked with celebrities like Lorde and Katie Holmes). These days, the drugstore is filled with a treasure trove of amazing options, all ringing in at a fraction of the price of their more expensive counterparts. And luckily, there’s no need to shell out the big bucks for a phenomenal formula. Whether it’s used for covering up under-eye circles, camouflaging a pimple, or brightening and lifting (or all three), a good concealer really is an invaluable asset in your makeup arsenal. Nothing against lipsticks and mascaras and blushes, but there really is no single makeup product that's as versatile or change-making as concealer.

Nyx coverage concealer