Makeup can be expensive.
By the time you’ve added your foundation, mascara, bronzer, brow pencil, and lipstick to basket, it’s all added up very quickly - and that’s if you’re fairly minimal about your routine. Add in contouring, blush, eyeshadows and the rest and we’re talking a serious undertaking.
Being able to cut down on these regular costs will come as music to the ears of those feeling the pinch from the on-going energy and cost of living crisis - and this can begin with your concealer.
We’ve already dug deep into the worlds of affordable foundation, mascara and shampoo, and concealer nicely follows suits with some drugstore favourites punching above their price tag weight in terms of formulation and coverage.
The perfect concealer will match or be slightly lighter than your skin tone (the latter for that bright-eyed effect). It will glide onto the skin without sitting in creases or flaking off, and if you’re looking to cover up blemishes or the effects of a sleepless night, it has to have a good amount of coverage and boast staying power.
You want a line-up of ingredients that are kind and nourishing to the complexion like vitamin E, jojoba oil or coconut oil that also have antioxidant protection as well as hydration heroes like hyaluronic acid. But most of all, and as is the case for all makeup, it should make you feel confident with every swipe of the brush or dab of the finger.
Shop the best affordable concealers below
e.l.f Hydrating Satin Camo Concealer
You will have no doubt spotted e.l.f on your TikTok feed as just about every launch from the label becomes a viral sensation on the platform. This is a testament to its hard-working formulations where this concealer is a case in point.
It is a full coverage product that can be applied in any place where you need a little extra camo, be it under the eyes or when a spot arises. The hydrating components encourage it not to settle into creases, while it leaves a satin finish in its wake. There are 23 shades.
Buy now £5.70, Amazon
Rimmel London Multi-Tasker Concealer
Rimmel has unveiled this concealer to do far more than just its main purpose. You can opt for it in various different shades as the purse-friendly price point allows and use it for your brightening and contouring needs too. In the colour that best matches your skin tone though, it has impressive coverage with high pigment.
Buy now £8.49, Boots
Max Factor Miracle Pure Concealer With Vitamin C & Hyaluronic Acid
This concealer is part of Max Factor’s skincare meets makeup collection where all the products are infused with complexion-boosting ingredients like the named vitamin C and hyaluronic acid. The former brings a glow, while the latter improves hydration in the skin, which in turn encourages staying power for the product.
Conceal and care is its M.O and as such, it is a lightweight formula that imparts illumination to where you apply, while peptides minimise the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. There are eight shades.
Buy now £9.99, Boots
MAC Studio Fix 24-hour Smooth Wear Concealer
Whether it’s acne scars, pigmentation, pores or redness that you are looking to cover up, this concealer from MAC was designed to leave your complexion smooth and prepped for the rest of the base makeup to follow. The brand has put an emphasis on lasting power and so you can count on this to see you through the day and into the night with only light touch-ups required if needed. The finish is matte and it shouldn’t settle into creases or dry out the skin.
Buy now £22.00, MAC
L’Oréal Paris True Match The One Concealer
There is a reason why this has stayed a popular concealer for many years now, it’s the key to the on-going trend of the skinimalism no-makeup makeup with its light texture and hydrating formula. It has a barely-there look on the skin, while still miraculously covering up what is standing in the way of your confidence by being ultra-buildable. The formula is enriched with caffeine to improve the look of dark circles with continual use.
Buy now £7.99, Sephora
Fenty Beauty Bright Fix Eye Brightener
You can always rely on Fenty Beauty to one, have an impressive shade range that cater to all skin tones and two, for a full coverage so that it does the job and does it well. The Bright Fix Eye Brightener adheres to both of these points with 16 colours, but for the latter, the coverage is buildable so you can really customise the finish to your preference.
This is achieveable through the brightening and hydrating ingredients that also ensures it is crease, humidity and sweat-resistant. A product you’ll be reaching for all year round.
Buy now £19.00, Boots
NYX Professional Makeup HD Photogenic Concealer Wand
If you’re at all familiar with NYX products, you’ll know it’s a brand that simply does not budge, no matter how action packed your day is. The same is true with this concealer that is designed to offer that filter effect but with the IRL twist. So confident is the brand that you’ll love the makeup staple that you can get your money back if you’re not happy. It layers onto any imperfection with a full but not cakey coverage.
Buy now £6.00, Boots
Morphe 2 Hide & Peek Concealer
This is the spin-off label to the original professional makeup artist favourite, which specialises in hybrid skincare and makeup products. With nourishing sunflower oil and glycerin at its heart and paired with soothing lavendar extract, it is a formula that works as well to offer some cover where you need as it is a treat to the skin below. The coverage is light to medium so you’ll never get that overly done up appearance with this product.
Buy now £12.00, Boots
Milani Conceal + Perfect Long Wear Concealer
The creamy goodness of this concealer is one for those who want a hard-working product that will stand the test of time without much fuss in the application process. It glides right onto the skin, blends easily and then stays put. The infusion of vitamin E helps to fortify the skin’s moisture levels, while also covering up dark circles, discoloration or pesky spots.
Buy now £14.25, Boots
