How do you apply under-eye concealer?

To begin, makeup artist Taylour Chanel recommends applying a few small dots under the eyes, concentrated near the inner corners. After letting it set for a minute, she says to "start from the inner corner with a damp sponge and work the product out to the cheekbone for a natural, diffused, and brightened under-eye that has a smooth finish." Once you place the concealer where you want it, you can set it in place with a light layer of setting powder or setting spray if you tend to crease. Martinez also says that in order to ensure the concealer looks smooth and that lines are as plumped as possible, it's best to apply a hydrating eye cream a few minutes before concealing.

How can you avoid creasing?

"I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but creasing is natural if you yourself have creases," says Chanel. "And that’s okay! Making sure the product is evenly distributed in the crease and set with a hydrating, non-drying powder is key. However, if you don’t have under-eye creases and seem to still see some creasing in your makeup, then make sure you’re letting the product set properly before blending. And though it feels counterintuitive, use less product. An excess of product is often the reason someone who otherwise has a smooth under eye will see creasing in their concealer."

The 8 Best Under-Eye Concealers of 2024

Our choices for best under-eye concealers with embedded image of a before and after face — Byrdie / Kevin Liang

Whether you're looking to brighten dark circles, create the appearance of smoother-looking skin, or simply look like you got a great night's sleep, there's an under-eye concealer for that. "Under-eye concealer is used to brighten, lift, and color correct around the eye," says makeup artist Lauren Danielle Martinez. "There is no one-size-fits-all concealer, so when looking for the one that's right for you, consider your desired finish and skin type. The under-eye is a delicate area that moves a lot, so finding a lightweight, hydrating, and flexible formula will provide a natural smooth finish."

With so many options on the market—all with different formulas, textures, coverage levels, and finishes—it can be tough to find the right one for your needs and budget. The good news? We're here to help. First, we researched the most popular under-eye concealers on the market; then, we enlisted nine editors to put them to the test, evaluating each one based on its texture, coverage, staying power, and value.

Read on to see our top picks of the best under-eye concealers on the market.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Tarte Shape Tape Concealer (See Price)

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Best Budget:

Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Eraser Concealer at Ulta ($11)

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Best for Dark Circles:

UOMA Beauty Stay Woke Concealer at Ulta ($25)

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Best Budget:

e.l.f. Cosmetics 16HR Camo Concealer at Amazon ($6)

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Best Splurge:

Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish Sublime Perfection Concealer at Sephora ($34)

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Best Matte:

Nars Soft Matte Concealer at Sephora ($32)

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Best Natural Finish:

NYX Professional Makeup Bare with Me Concealer Serum at Amazon ($11)

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Best Shade Range:

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Concealer at Sephora ($30)

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Best Overall

Tarte Shape Tape Concealer

Ulta

View on Ulta View On Ulta $32 View On Tartecosmetics.com $32

What We Like

Excellent coverage
No creasing
Doubles as contouring product

What We Don't Like

Can feel heavy

Tarte's best-selling Shape Tape concealer has long been a Team Byrdie fave, so it's no surprise it earned high praise from our testers across the board. Three editors tested this formula, and each of them gave it perfect scores for its texture, staying power, coverage, and creasing. We found that the matte formula creates a smooth finish that doesn't crease or emphasize fine lines. The coverage is full and buildable, meaning it works to cover dark circles and hyperpigmentation beautifully. We also appreciate that it comes in nearly forty shades that range from very fair to very dark and vary in undertone.

Who It's For

Because the formula is relatively thick and offers super opaque coverage, this concealer might not be ideal for everyday wear or for those who prefer more minimal makeup. However, if you're looking for a concealer that you can rely on to give you your desired coverage while remaining intact all day long, this is absolutely a fantastic choice for you. Note that if you have dry skin, you'll want to be sure to apply a nice layer of eye cream before swiping this formula on.

Coverage Level: Full | Finish: Satin | Shades: 37 | Size: 0.3 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Byrdie / Ashley Rebecca
Byrdie / Tamara Staples
Byrdie / Tamara Staples
Byrdie / Alex Jiang
Byrdie / Alex Jiang

Best Budget

Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Eraser Concealer

Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment Concealer

Amazon

View On Ulta $11 View On Target $9 View On Walmart $9

What We Like

Affordable
Minimal creasing
Versatile

What We Don't Like

Limited shade range

There are a lot of things we love about this fan-favorite dark circle concealer. The price is affordable, the applicator is designed specifically for under-eye circles, and the formula is lightweight and buildable. During our test, we were impressed that it was crease-resistant, non-drying, and made the under-eye area look smooth and bright. Although the sponge-tip applicator isn't ideal for actually blending the product, the shape is awesome for placing concealer under the eyes as well as in areas of the face to highlight. The workable formula and rounded applicator combo also make it easy to contour if you buy a shade that's a bit darker than your complexion.

Who It's For

Because the formula isn't super drying or overly emollient and oily, we think this is an excellent concealer for all skin types. One light layer can be used to yield medium coverage on a daily basis, while a second layer can be added for more coverage that suits full-glam makeup.

Coverage Level: Medium to full | Finish: Matte | Shades: 18 | Size: 0.2 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Byrdie / Jhett Thompson
Byrdie / Jhett Thompson
Byrdie / Tamara Staples

Best for Dark Circles

UOMA Beauty Stay Woke Concealer

Beauty Bay

View On Ulta $25 View On Uomabeauty.com View On Shopbop.com $25

What We Like

Very brightening
Doesn't crease
Great buildable coverage

What We Don't Like

Can emphasize texture

This creamy formula was one of our favorite concealers we tested, thanks to the buildable, full coverage it provides. Just a few dots are all you need to brighten dark circles, cancel out discoloration, and fake a more awake-looking appearance. We loved that it didn't crease or migrate around, though we noticed that it did emphasize a bit of texture and dryness, so be sure to moisturize the area before application. We also enjoyed using the semi-large doe-foot applicator—it felt soft, was a nice shape to apply the product in the eye area, and was large enough that we didn't need to keep re-dipping into the tube.

Who It's For

If you're looking for a budge-proof formula that works to brighten dark circles and even your skin tone while remaining lightweight on the skin, we highly recommend checking out this pick.

Coverage Level: Full | Finish: Natural | Shades: 19 | Size: 0.17 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Budget

e.l.f. Cosmetics 16HR Camo Concealer

Ulta

View On Amazon $6 View On Ulta $7 View On Target $7

What We Like

Super affordable
Controls shine
Great shade range for a budget product

What We Don't Like

Could be too drying for those with dry skin

This popular drugstore pick is similar to the Tarte Shape Tape concealer, though the formula doesn't look quite as smooth on the skin. During our test, we loved the full, buildable coverage it offered—it has some of the best coverage capabilities out of the concealers we've tried. We also appreciate that it's available in 26 inclusive shades, which is an impressive number compared to other drugstore options. The finish is very matte, which is great for those with oily skin and also helps to keep the formula from smudging or migrating, but we did notice that it does feel a bit drying and can emphasize dry patches and texture. However, we think this could be mitigated a bit by layering a rich eye cream underneath the concealer. While we did experience minimal creasing, it wasn't more than with other options we tested.

Who It's For

Though not necessarily ideal for those with super dry skin under their eyes, this budget-friendly concealer is absolutely worth checking out if you're looking for a full-coverage option that comes in tons of shades. It's also great if you want to use the same concealer under your eyes as well as on blemishes because the matte formula does a nice job of concealing them.

Coverage Level: Full | Finish: Matte | Shades: 26 | Size: 0.2 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Byrdie / Jhett Thompson
Byrdie / Jhett Thompson
Byrdie / Jhett Thompson
Byrdie / Jhett Thompson
Byrdie / Tamara Staples

Best Splurge

Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish Sublime Perfection Concealer

PAT McGRATH LABS Sublime Perfection Concealer

Sephora

View On Sephora $34 View On Ulta $34 View On Ulta $34

What We Like

Blends very easily
Buildable coverage
Great for under-eyes and spot coverage
Large shade range

What We Don't Like

Shades pull fairly yellow

Pat McGrath knows a thing or two about creating beautiful complexion formulas, and this concealer is one of them. With a creamy and lightweight consistency, it applies smoothly and evenly under the eyes. We loved that the formula is buildable, so you can get medium or full coverage to suit your preferences, and we were impressed that it was pretty resistant to creasing. Also notable is this product's expansive shade range, with 36 hues to choose from—the second-highest number on this list behind Fenty Beauty's concealer. With that being said, the shades do lean pretty yellow in tone, so if you have cool, pink undertones, it could be challenging to find a shade that matches your skin tone perfectly.

Who It's For

This concealer formula is great for all skin types since it has a natural finish and a balanced formula that isn't too dry or oily. And if you have a warm or olive skin tone and you find that concealers often pull peachy or pink on you, you might appreciate that many of the shades in this range have yellow undertones.

Coverage Level: Full | Finish: Natural | Shades: 36 | Size: 0.16 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Byrdie / Joy Kim

Best Matte

Nars Soft Matte Concealer

Sephora

View On Sephora $32 View On Ulta $32 View On Nordstrom $28

What We Like

Creamy texture
Easy to blend
Great for blemishes and under-eyes
Long-lasting coverage
Extensive shade range

What We Don't Like

Can emphasize dry patches

This NARS concealer earned high marks during our test—especially for how it covered blemishes in addition to brightening the under-eye area. It works beautifully to camouflage dark circles and discoloration thanks to the buildable full-coverage formula, and we love that the finish is a soft matte, meaning that it's not as dry or flat as other matte options. And despite being a matte formula in a pot, the texture is surprisingly creamy, making it very easy to blend. While it can emphasize obvious dry patches, we found that it looked incredibly smooth in general. It also works beautifully to cover red blemishes and control oil surrounding breakouts.

Who It's For

This concealer was a favorite during testing, and it's also a favorite among our editors with all different skin types. If you're looking for a creamy, soft matte formula that offers excellent coverage and lasting power, you can't go wrong with this one.

Coverage Level: Full | Finish: Matte | Shades: 30 | Size: 0.22 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Best Natural Finish

NYX Professional Makeup Bare with Me Concealer Serum

Amazon

View On Amazon $11 View On Ulta $12 View On Target $11

What We Like

Lightweight
Hydrating
Buildable
Skin-like finish
Inclusive shade range

What We Don't Like

Does crease

We fell in love with this concealer during our test of the best drugstore concealers, and we've continued to love it throughout testing. The serum-like formula is very lightweight and blendable, and we were incredibly impressed by how skin-like it looked once it set down. You won't get super full coverage from this one, but it's versatile because you can sheer it out for light coverage or build it up to yield medium-to-full coverage. We did experience a bit of creasing in prominent creases under the eyes, though this wasn't a dealbreaker because you can gently tap out the creased areas with your fingertips without ruining the application. Not only does it look smooth and subtly radiant under the eyes, but some of our editors even use it as a foundation thanks to the weightless texture, beautiful coverage, and natural finish.

Who It's For

This is a great option for all skin types, even sensitive skin. If you're looking for a buildable concealer that feels weightless on the skin and offers a truly natural-looking finish, we highly recommend checking out this drugstore buy.

Coverage Level: Medium | Finish: Natural | Shades: 17 | Size: 0.32 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Byrdie / Jhett Thompson
Byrdie / Jhett Thompson
Byrdie / Jhett Thompson
Byrdie / Tamara Staples

Best Shade Range

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Concealer

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Instant Retouch Longwear Liquid Concealer

Sephora

View On Sephora $30 View On Ulta $30 View On Walmart $36

What We Like

Very full-coverage
A little goes a long way
Expansive shade range

What We Don't Like

Slightly hard to blend
A bit cakey

Fenty Beauty's complexion products come in shade ranges that are second to none. Available in 50 shades, chances are, you'll be able to get a pretty spot-on match with this one. However, there was much more to love about this product, like the coverage capability and staying power. A little bit goes a long way under the eyes, and it does a great job of concealing darkness and brightening the area. What we didn't love about this formula was that it dries down very quickly, meaning you don't have a lot of time to blend it in. It can also have a bit of a cakey finish if you over-apply it, so we recommend applying just a few small dots under one eye at a time and blending it out quickly.

Who It's For

This concealer is a great option for anyone who struggles to find a shade that blends in well with their skin tone and is looking for a full-coverage formula. Though not ideal for people with very dry or flakey skin, the matte formula is nice for people with balanced or oily skin.

Coverage Level: Full | Finish: Matte | Shades: 50 | Size: 0.27 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

What to Look for When Buying Under-Eye Concealer

Formula: When it comes to finding the perfect under-eye concealer, consider your skin type and the look you're going for. If you have dry skin, opt for a hydrating pick with a natural or radiant finish, like the NYX Bare With Me Serum Concealer, which will help to keep the under-eye area looking and feeling hydrated. If you have oily skin, something with a matte finish that isn't super emollient, like the Tarte Shape Tape Concealer or the Nars Soft Matte Complete Concealer will work beautifully for you.
Coverage: Great coverage is a must when it comes to under-eye concealers, especially if you’re trying to mask dark circles or you're going for a full-glam look. The Tarte Shape Tape Concealer and the Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Longwear Liquid Concealer both offer great full coverage. If you're looking to achieve a more natural or minimal makeup look, choose a formula that has light-to-medium buildable coverage.
Shade Range: Finding a concealer that matches your skin tone or is a shade that will help to counteract discoloration is key, so you'll want to look for a product that comes in a large variety of shades, like the Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Longwear Liquid Concealer. If you're looking to cover dark circles specifically, you'll likely want a different shade of concealer than the one you might use to cover blemishes. "When looking for a color [to correct dark circles], find a formula with peachy undertones to help color correct and brighten all in one," explains Martinez.

FAQ

How do you apply under-eye concealer?

To begin, makeup artist Taylour Chanel recommends applying a few small dots under the eyes, concentrated near the inner corners. After letting it set for a minute, she says to "start from the inner corner with a damp sponge and work the product out to the cheekbone for a natural, diffused, and brightened under-eye that has a smooth finish." Once you place the concealer where you want it, you can set it in place with a light layer of setting powder or setting spray if you tend to crease. Martinez also says that in order to ensure the concealer looks smooth and that lines are as plumped as possible, it's best to apply a hydrating eye cream a few minutes before concealing.
How can you avoid creasing?

"I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but creasing is natural if you yourself have creases," says Chanel. "And that’s okay! Making sure the product is evenly distributed in the crease and set with a hydrating, non-drying powder is key. However, if you don’t have under-eye creases and seem to still see some creasing in your makeup, then make sure you’re letting the product set properly before blending. And though it feels counterintuitive, use less product. An excess of product is often the reason someone who otherwise has a smooth under eye will see creasing in their concealer."

How We Tested

To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category before selecting top-rated options to put to the test in our lab facility in NYC. During our test, we evaluated each concealer based on its texture, coverage, staying power, shade range, and value. Those that impressed us the most across these attributes appear on this list.

Why Trust Byrdie

Alyssa Kaplan is an experienced writer in the beauty industry and product tester specializing in cosmetics. She’s been using and testing under-eye concealers for many years, and she’s tried several options on this list for herself. She received a bachelor’s degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she studied marketing and product development in the cosmetics industry. Alyssa has been a commerce writer at Byrdie since 2022, where she covers all things beauty.

For this story, Alyssa spoke to experts to discuss important things to consider when looking to purchase under-eye concealers. Those experts include:

Lauren Danielle Martinez, a celebrity makeup artist who's worked with clients like Bobby Bones, Jordan Ozuna, Paris Jackson, and more.
Taylour Chanel, an LA-based celebrity makeup artist who has worked with clients like Indya Moore, Tiffany Haddish, and more.