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Having dark circles is a common makeup complaint, whether you’ve got them because of lack of sleep or genetics, they can be something that a lot of us want to get rid of.
However, the issue is that they aren’t always the easiest thing to cover up if you don’t have a good concealer to hand. Trying to cover up the purple hues of dark circles is a challenge, and isn’t just about finding a full-coverage concealer.
Today, we’re going to be sharing with you some of our favorite eye concealers from drugstore brands that will provide the best results for those of you trying to cover dark under-eye circles. It also doesn’t hurt that they’re all a much more affordable option compared to high-end concealers.
What Causes Dark Under Eye Circles?
There are a lot of theories that people have on what causes dark under-eyes, but it can be caused by a range of factors such as genetics, aging, lack of sleep, dehydration, or even allergies.
The skin around the eyes is extremely delicate and thin, making it prone to discoloration and puffiness. It may be that you start to notice your under eyes looking extra dark when you’ve had a bad night’s sleep or not eating properly, in that case, it may be lifestyle changes that you should focus on to get rid of your dark circles. But, if you always have dark circles, it’s probably more of a genetic thing rather than a lifestyle.
Whatever the reason for your dark circles and under-eye bags, choosing the right concealer is a quick-fix solution to hide any discoloration.
The Criteria for the Best Drugstore Concealers
We take testing out concealers very seriously, so we’ve ranked them all against a few key factors to come up with the list of the best drugstore concealer for dark circles picks you’ll see below. The factors that we’ve been testing are coverage, longevity, formula, shade range, and price. In our minds, a great concealer should provide good coverage with a natural finish, it shouldn’t crease or settle into fine lines, it should have a long-lasting formula, cater to a diverse range of skin tones, and, of course, be budget-friendly.
The Best Drugstore Concealer for Dark Circles
Out of all the drugstore concealers that we’ve tried over the years. Here are the makeup products that we think are the best way to cover up your dark circles.
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Concealer
Starting with one of the cult favorites at the drugstore, the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Concealer may be one of the best options on the list for the best under-eye concealer. This medium coverage concealer comes with a sponge applicator and a beautiful lightweight formula that covers up dark circles in a flash.
We love it because it’s a creamy formula that doesn’t pick up texture on dry skin, or make oily skin look too greasy, it may just be the perfect concealer.
NYX Professional Makeup Bare With Me Serum Concealer
If you’re looking for something a little lighter, the NYX Bare With Me Serum Concealer is another great option. It works well on dry skin and mature skin without settling into fine lines or emphasizing dry patches. It provides great coverage considering how lightweight the formula is which makes it great for dark circles, dark spots, acne scars, or for use across the entire face.
We like to apply this with the ring finger to the under eyes as normally too much product gets soaked up by a brush or makeup sponge, but it provides flawless coverage and is essential in our makeup bag.
e.l.f Hydrating Camo Concealer
The e.l.f. Hydrating Camo Concealer has been a favorite for a long time and, in our opinion, is much better than the regular Camo Concealer which has a more matte formula (and is often called a dupe for the famous NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer). Whether you go for the hydrating formula or the matte finish, it’s totally a personal preference.
This lightweight concealer has a lovely creamy consistency and comes in a wide range of shades. We like to choose a lighter shade to brighten up the under-eye area, then a slightly darker color for concealing the rest of our face.
This trusty concealer comes with a large doe-foot applicator so you can cover large areas and cover up any areas where you have uneven skin tone, not just under your eyes.
L.A. Girl HD Pro Concealer
If you want a more full coverage look, the L.A. Girl HD Pro Concealer is one of the best, and cheapest, drugstore products you can get. A little bit goes a long way, and they have plenty of different shades in different undertones for concealing and color-correcting.
This has a buildable coverage that will completely hide any signs of dark circles in a few swipes, you’re sure to find your perfect match, and there’s no wonder why you see this product in the makeup bags of every makeup artist.
Maybelline Fit Me Concealer
Maybelline does some great concealers so it’s only right that we mention another one that we love and will always get perfect scores in our rankings. The Maybelline Fit Me Concealer has a super lightweight texture and is a wand-applicator liquid concealer.
It’s a top pick of ours for good reason, it works well all across the face but can hide dark circles and puffy eyes so easily. It’s a nice natural finish that isn’t too matte or too dewy, the perfect in-between for your makeup routine.
Catrice True Skin High Cover Concealer
Next, we have the Catrice True Skin High Cover Concealer. This is the matching concealer to their True Skin foundation, which is another full-coverage product. This concealer effortlessly conceals imperfections, dark circles, and blemishes, leaving a flawless finish.
The concealer’s velvety, liquid formula glides on smoothly, blending seamlessly into the skin for a flawless look that is surprisingly natural.
Flower Beauty Get Real Serum Concealer
The Flower Beauty Get Real Serum Concealer proves that you don’t just need the highest coverage concealer possible to cover up your dark circles, something light and natural can do a lot.
This is a favorite concealer of ours because it’s packed with hydrating ingredients that nourish your under eyes while providing enough coverage to make your under-eye circles disappear.
L’Oreal Infallible Full Wear Concealer
L’Oreal Infallible Full Wear Concealer is a reliable, high-performance concealer that anyone can pick up from their local drugstore. It’s famous for its impeccable coverage, which it uses to effortlessly conceal imperfections, dark circles, and blemishes with a long-lasting, waterproof formula. The broad shade range caters to diverse skin tones, ensuring an inclusive match for everyone.
We love the lightweight consistency that makes blending a dream, without settling into fine lines, providing a seamless, natural finish.
Beauty Pie Superluminous™ Under-eye Genius
So this one isn’t technically a concealer, but if you’re looking for something to hide under eye circles, we couldn’t tell you about how good this product is.
The Beauty Pie Superluminous Under-Eye Genius is a color corrector, the lighter shade has a brightening pink tint, and the darker shades lean more on the peach side. Although this product doesn’t give you any coverage, the color tint hides the appearance of dark circles. This gives you natural-looking coverage without the full-coverage finish that most of the other concealers will provide.
You can either use this by itself, or underneath any of the concealers we mentioned above — either way, you’ll be surprised at just how well this camouflages under eye circles.
Our Top Tips for Concealer Application and Techniques
Just because you know all of the best concealers for hiding dark circles doesn’t mean that you’re actually going to be able to cover them up completely, a lot of the work is done by your application technique.
Here are some of our top tips on how to achieve flawless concealer application, that’s beauty editor-approved, and ensures that your beauty products will stay on all day long.
Hydrate the Under Eye Area
A lot of people forget just how important prepping your skin before makeup is, it could make all the difference between a flawless complexion or a look that slides off your face a few hours into the day.
When it comes to concealer, you want to make sure that your undereyes are prepped to perfection. If the skin under your eyes is dry, your concealer won’t have a smooth base to cling to and will end up looking dry and cakey before you know it — especially if you have a dry skin type.
It’s important to use an eye cream to moisturize and prep the skin. We’d recommend looking for products that have hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and vitamin E to hydrate the skin and smooth everything out ready for your concealer.
Color Correction:
For particularly stubborn dark circles with noticeable discoloration, consider using a color-correcting concealer before applying your regular concealer. Peach or salmon-toned correctors can help neutralize the blue or purple undertones of dark circles.
As we said above, we love the Beauty Pie Corrector, but we also love the brightening version of the Maybelline Eraser Concealer which has a similar pinkish hue.
Choose the Right Shade
Next, you want to choose a concealer shade that’s a good match for your skin tone.
We like to go a shade or two lighter, just to add that brightening effect, but we wouldn’t recommend going any lighter than that. Choosing a shade too light can result in a stark contrast, drawing attention to the under-eye area rather than concealing it.
Blend, Blend, Blend
Proper blending is key to achieving a natural and seamless finish. Use a makeup sponge, brush, or your fingertips to blend the concealer evenly into the skin. Pay attention to the inner corners and edges to make sure that everything is blended out properly.
Set with Powder
To prevent creasing and ensure longevity, set your concealer with a translucent setting powder. Use a small, fluffy brush to lightly dust the powder over the concealed area. We’ve spoken in the past about our favorite powders from the drugstore, and any of these options will be perfect for setting your under eyes after applying concealer.
Build Coverage Gradually
It can be tempting to go all in with lots of concealers straight away, but it can quickly start to look cakey if you’re not careful. Less is more should be the approach you take, so start by applying a thin layer of concealer, and then gradually applying more if you think you need it. This helps maintain a natural appearance while effectively concealing dark circles.
