It earns bonus points for its inclusive 30-shade range, which makeup artist Bob Scott shouts out for darker skin tones. “[Nars does] a great job at creating shades that are true to the skin they are meant to match, as opposed to going down a color wheel and creating a cool or warm version of whichever tone,” he says. We also appreciate the botanicals present in this formula, like the barrier-strengthening and redness-reducing magnolia bark extract, grape seed extract, and vitamin E.
Key ingredients, who it’s for, shades, and finish
light-diffusing mineral powder, mineral-tone balancing powder, magnolia bark extract, grapeseed extract, vitamin E; those looking for long-lasting coverage; 30 ; radiant, natural
Best for Sensitive Skin: Kosas Revealer Concealer
Why it’s worth it: Creamy, creaseless, non-comedogenic, and delightfully easy to blend into the skin, Kosas’s Revealer Concealer very much has us covered. The formula (backed by an impressive cast of caffeine, glycerin, squalane, sunflower seed oil, hydrating hyaluronic acid, and collagen-boosting peptides) swiftly conceals crow’s feet, dark circles and fine lines without irritating sensitive skin, especially handy if your face has grown more reactive during menopause. Plus, the extensive shade range is worth a golf clap, and you can even opt for a brightening, color-correcting version to supplement your camouflage. The applicator makes dabbing it on especially easy, and the 38 shades practically guarantee a color match, even for our medium-neutral tester, who struggles to find a match even among robust shade ranges.
Tester feedback from contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai
“This is like the Swiss Army Knife of concealers for me,” says contributing editor Deanna Pai, who primarily uses this either around her eyes or nose (not for blemishes). “I use the flat sponge to deposit just a few dabs of concealer beneath my eyes or the more precise tip to spot-cover redness around my nose. I’ve also found that it blends in seamlessly with my fingers—no brushes needed, which is always a plus.”
Key ingredients, who it’s for, shades, and finish
caffeine, glycerin, squalane, sunflower seed oil, hyaluronic acid, peptides; people with sensitive skin; 38; natural
Best for Brightening: IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Dark Spots Concealer + Serum
Why it’s worth it: Whether your breakout left you a parting gift, or a batch of dark spots has bloomed from basking in the sun a little too long, the IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Dark Spots Concealer + Serum is up to the task. This formula treats discoloration with 2% niacinamide, while caffeine helps brighten the look of dark circles. Hyaluronic acid is also at play to smooth fine lines and curb creasing. There’s also a built-in kabuki brush to blend out the product, which can help save time. It’s lightweight, and the medium, buildable coverage lends seamlessly to a second-skin finish that layers nicely over and under your other makeup.
Key ingredients, who it’s for, shades, and finish
hyaluronic acid, caffeine, niacinamide (2%); those dealing with post-acne discoloration or dark circles; radiant
Best for Dry Skin: Tower 28 Swipe Serum Concealer
Why it’s worth it: Worried about wigging out your skin? The Tower 28 Swipe Serum Concealer glosses over blemishes, dark circles, and redness without causing any icky irritation. That’s all thanks to soothing, non-comedogenic ingredients like Centella asiatica extract (also known as cica) and hyaluronic acid. It also features lysine, an amino acid used to promote tissue repair and mitigate dry skin, per cosmetic chemist Laura Lam-Phaure. Aharon is a fan, too, adding that it “goes on super smoothly and gives medium to full coverage—I love it for covering dark spots and for sensitive, mature skin.”
“This is the creamiest concealer on the planet, or at least in my vast collection,” says content director Kara McGrath. “I love that it feels lightweight but offers full coverage, making it perfect for covering dark undereye circles. It also doesn’t dry out and crack, which I appreciate on days when I won’t have time to touch up my makeup before dinner.”
Key ingredients, who it’s for, shades, and finish
hyaluronic acid, centella asiatica leaf extract, lysine; people looking for a hydrating, non-irritating serum concealer that still provides medium coverage; 20; radiant, brightening
Best Light Coverage: Iris & Romeo Best Skin Days Concealer
Why it’s worth it: Iris & Romeo Best Skin Days Concealer strikes the perfect balance between skin care and makeup, blessing us with a serum-like, featherweight formula that won’t accentuate fine lines or enlarged pores. Kakadu plum is an excellent source of vitamin C, which, in this formula, helps brighten the look of dark circles and firm under the eyes. Aharon says this hydrating concealer, which also contains hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, melts right in, doesn’t crease, and leaves you with a natural, second-skin finish that won’t look cakey. “This is perfect for [people with] mature skin [who] love the no-makeup makeup look,” says Aharon.
Key ingredients, who it’s for, shades, and finish
kakadu plum, licorice root extract, hyaluronic acid; those looking for a creamy concealer that has light coverage and a natural finish; 15; natural, radiant
Best Brightening: Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Concealer
Why it’s worth it: We love a concealer compact, and we especially love it when it’s Laura Mercier’s Secret Camouflage Concealer. This two-pan beauty comes with a correcting shade for general coverage and a brightening hue to perk up undereyes without settling into fine lines. The dual shades are also great if your complexion has uneven tones and different areas of your face require varied concealer shades. Former editor Gabi Thorne found this versatility helpful: “I didn’t find the difference between the ‘brighten’ and ‘correct’ shades to be that large, so I used them interchangeably,” she says. It’s oil-free and noncomedogenic, too—both qualities we can always get behind. This is another great pick for acne.
Tester feedback from contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai
“I’ve been using the Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage since college, and for good reason: It works,” says 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 uses a brush to apply the concealer and then her fingers for blending, because, as she says, “the warmth really helps the product melt to create a nice finish. 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, who it’s for, shades, and finish
caranauba wax; people with uneven tone; 8; natural
Best Medium Coverage: Tarte Shape Tape Radiant Concealer
Why it’s worth it: As iconic as it is, our testers have found that the OG Tarte Shape Tape Concealer tends to be too drying for mature skin. But the Tarte Shape Tape Radiant Concealer? That’s a different story. This 2023 Best of Beauty Award winner gives a second-skin, hydrating finish that works really well if you prefer the “found-cealer” look—à la spot-concealing all over, rather than applying a full face of foundation. This formula imparts a soft-focus finish that covers up but still looks like your skin. And, ICYMI, the formula is infused with three weights of hyaluronic acid. “The smaller the molecular weight, the deeper it penetrates,” Los Angeles-based cosmetic chemist Jane Tsui explains. “The larger molecular weight sits more superficially on the skin and can give a wrinkle-filling effect while also drawing moisture to the skin.” Fine lines and creases, who?
Tester feedback from content director Kara McGrath
“My concealer usually starts to crease around my eyes by lunchtime, but these diamond powders really seem to be doing their fill ’em in job,” says McGrath, adding that “Radiant looked essentially as good as it had when I first applied it seven hours earlier,” even after walking her dog on a warm spring day.
“Shape Tape Radiant has the same applicator and easy-to-blend texture as its predecessor. The difference is in its subtle, reflective finish. It dries down to feel like skin, not slick or sticky the way some other luminous concealers feel, and masks redness and hyperpigmentation completely,” says senior editor Jesa Marie Calaor. “I used the shade Medium Honey on my undereyes (which tend to get dark), along my cheekbones (where I have dark spots from past breakouts), and around my nostrils (where I have redness). I plan to keep both Shape Tape concealers in my beauty arsenal.”
Key ingredients, who it’s for, shades, and finish
seaberry, licorice root, prickly pear, ginseng, hyaluronic acid, vegan squalane, niacinamide, diamond powder; people who like a soft-focus look; radiant, natural
Best Full Coverage: Dior Forever Skin Correct Full-Coverage Concealer
Why it’s worth it: If a dewy finish isn’t your thing, Robin Black, a Los Angeles-based makeup artist, recommends the Dior Forever Skin Correct Full-Coverage Concealer, a full-coverage, long-wearing formula that leaves behind a soft matte finish. Spiked with hydrating iris, wild pansy, and yarrow extracts, this formula brightens undereyes, conceals blemishes, and even blurs imperfections with minimal product—and still looks natural.
For the full Dior effect, pair this with one of the Dior Forever Foundations like Skin Glow, which comes in the same shades.
Key ingredients, who it’s for, shades, and finish
iris, wild pansy, and yarrow extracts; people looking for long-lasting hydration and maximum coverage; 30; soft-matte
Best Drugstore: Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Concealer
Why it’s worth it: Sara Talias, a makeup artist based in NYC, also loves the -drugstore-classic, wallet-friendly Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Concealer, which has picked up one Allure Best of Beauty Award, two Allure Readers’ Choice Awards, and continues to be one of the most beloved concealers in the U.S. “It really brightens under the eyes and is super lightweight too,” Talias says. Bonus: The built-in sponge tip means you don’t need a brush to blend in the product (but if you want one, do your thing). It’s also a treat for sensitive skin—fragrance-free, oil-free, and infused with brightening goji berry and haloxyl. Grab it in the green color-correcting hue to amp up the effects of your standard concealer shade.
Key ingredients, who it’s for, shades, and finish
goji berry, haloxyl; those looking for an affordable formula that can color correct, conceal, and contour; 18; natural, brightening
Best for Dark Circles: Sisley Paris Phyto-Cernes Éclat Eye Concealer
Why it’s worth it: Black puts it simply: “Sisley Paris’s Phyto-Cernes Éclat Eye Concealer diffuses and brightens the undereyes with a very natural, non-creasing finish.” Plus, the formula is infused with skin-care ingredients like red vine extract, caffeine, and carrot, which come together to help minimize puffiness, dark circles, and smooth out fine lines. The depuffing, circulation-boosting metal massaging tip certainly doesn’t hurt, either. The only downside? This shade range is rather limited (only nine hues here), so you might not find your perfect match.
Key ingredients, who it’s for, shades, and finish
red vine extract, caffeine, carrot; those with dry skin looking to combat fine lines and wrinkles under the eyes; 9; radiant, light-diffusing
Frequently Asked Questions
What to look for in a concealer for mature skin
“I look for concealers that have moisturizing ingredients like glycerin or hyaluronic acid, as well as a natural finish because mature skin is often dry with surfaced texture,” says Black. She finds that radiant, luminous, soft, and natural-matte finishes work best on mature skin. She also prefers formulas that can be layered to build up coverage just where it’s needed.
In other words, “Avoid thick, drying concealers as they bring out [ fine] lines,” makeup artist Nick Barose suggests. “When it comes to undereye concealer, you need a formula that will give you coverage but without looking cakey or dry, which emphasizes fine lines.
How to choose the right shade
When picking a shade of concealer, you shouldn’t expect said shade to be the same all year round. “People run into difficulty when blending and shade-matching, especially when they rely on one shade year-round,” New York City-based makeup artist Tommy Napoli previously told Allure. “We know this is trouble because we are not the same shade in summer as we are in winter.” If your go-to concealer isn’t a great match, consider what time of year you purchased it and then invest in a new shade to fit your current skin tone.
How to apply concealer for mature skin
Stick to a light hand and build up your coverage where it’s actually needed so you don’t venture into cakey, fine-line-emphasizing territory. Makeup artists recommend using a sponge for the best results, whereas “[using your] fingers can look blotchy, uneven, or gloppy, which can make your lines come out more,” Barose explains. “If you need coverage under the eyes or on spots, find a thin, highly-pigmented concealer that locks into place and doesn’t require powder,” per makeup artist and photographer Beau Nelson. Alternatively, “if you love your current concealer and it doesn’t self-set, try setting it with a blurring powder and a small, soft brush,” he suggests.
Meet the experts
How we test and review products
Before reviewing any makeup, we ask questions about a number of factors: What ingredients are in it? Does the brand offer a wide shade range inclusive of consumers with all skin tones and undertones? Is it safe for readers who have sensitive skin or wear contact lenses? Is it on the affordable side or more of a splurge? Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?
For our review of the best concealers for mature skin, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and makeup artists to review the products. This ensures our testing base spans different skin tones, genders, and dermatological conditions. We considered each product’s performance across four primary categories: ingredients, wear and longevity, packaging, and inclusivity. For more on what’s involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
