In many ways, concealer is my ultimate makeup multitasker. In addition to providing a more intense cover-up, it also brightens, blurs, lifts, and subs in for my foundation on days when I want to streamline my routine. Along with my liquid eyeliner, it’s my desert island beauty product.
Unlike a decade ago, today’s line-ups showcase serious flex when it comes to formula and shade range. If you have a deeper skin tone, like mine, shopping for your perfect match has never been less stressful and more enjoyable.
The choice is great, however, not all concealers are created equal. Just like picking the best foundation for dark skin, finish, coverage and, most importantly, undertone, are all key considerations when choosing the best concealer for dark skin and creating a seamless finish that doesn’t look ashy or orange (my pet peeves when it comes to complexion products).
So, which ranges go over and beyond? I’ve tested today’s most hyped concealers to see which are truly worth investing in and asked top makeup artist Adeola Gboyega for her expert insights on how to pick the best one for your needs. Whether you’re looking to cover dark circles, dark spots, or pigmentation, this edit has you covered with detailed reviews breaking down the pros and cons of each formula, to help you buy the right one for you.
The best concealers for dark skin, tested by a beauty editor
RRP: £27 | Coverage: Medium, buildable | Finish: Radiant | Number of shades: 31 | Shade tested: 34 Medium Golden
Nourishing but lightweight, I loved this concealer’s radiant finish and hydrating formula. Containing soothing and re-energising niacinamide, fermented arnica, and a bio-engineered caffeine alternative, it felt like an extension of my skincare routine, doubling up as a de-puffing pick-me-up for my tired-looking under-eyes.
Its flexible doe-foot applicator was the perfect size – not too small, not too big, just right – for targeted coverage, allowing me to build and blend with ease. If you have pronounced pigmentation, I’d recommend something with fuller coverage or a colour corrector, but as an everyday concealer, this was my personal favourite formulation (also because of the compliments I received when I wore it).
Pros
- Great for dry and combination skin types
- Nourishing skincare ingredients
- Excellent range of undertones
- Non-comedogenic
- Fragrance-free
- Vegan & cruelty-free
Cons
- Not matte, for those who prefer this finish
RRP: £26 | Coverage: Medium to full | Finish: Matte | Number of shades: 29 | Shade tested: Praline 6.3N
If you’re looking for full coverage without the cakey finish, try this blurring and brightening concealer from Huda Beauty. Having tested it after a particularly horrendous night’s sleep, I can attest to its fatigue-fighting capabilities. It helped me look well-rested despite the truth being far from it.
A little went a long way, and it was easy to build up the coverage to help take the edge off my dark circles and the dark spots on either side of my face. What made this concealer extra special, though, was how long it lasted. Creasing was minimal despite a much-needed afternoon nap (footnote: it was the weekend), which sets it apart from other full coverage matte concealers out there. It’s one of the best ones I’ve tried.
Pros
- Great for combination or oily skin
- Effective at covering dark spots
- Long-lasting
- Fragrance-free
- Non-comedogenic
- Vegan & cruelty-free
Cons
- Matte finish may not suit very dry complexion
RRP: £29.50 | Coverage: Medium, buildable | Finish: Radiant | Number of shades: 30 | Shade tested: Caramel
Luxuriously textured, this glow-giving concealer blended like a dream, giving just the right amount of playtime before settling. When it did, it provided both balance and luminosity, reinstating a healthy, even glow to my under-eyes and a few areas of pigmentation and redness on my face. I can definitely see why it’s so popular.
Thanks to its light-diffusing tech, it gave a skin-like finish that blurred rather than masked – it concealed without washing out my features, unlike many fuller-coverage concealers. Now, I use it instead of foundation on days when I want targeted coverage rather than a whole face of makeup (thin, buildable layers work best to avoid creasing). It’s a great all-rounder.
Pros
- Luminous, skin-like finish
- Great for under-eyes
- Fragrance-free
- Non-comedogenic
Cons
- Can crease if you apply too much
RRP: £27 | Coverage: Full, buildable | Finish: Semi-matte | Number of shades: 16 | Shade tested: 10
This innovative, micro-correcting twist-up pencil has fast become my secret weapon for camouflaging capillaries and more targeted coverage. With its 1.5mm pencil tip, it has a distinct point of difference to others in this edit, a feature that proved handy for covering a green vein under my eye and scars left from a few stubborn spots.
Despite being full coverage, budge-proof, and semi-matte, its buttery gel formula blended easily, making it ideal for days when I didn’t want to wear much makeup and do more with less. Designed for precision, it doesn’t cover as large an area as quickly as a liquid concealer. But that’s not the true value of this product. It provides a level of detail that enhances in an ingeniously subtle way.
Pros
- Ideal for covering blood vessels, dark spots, or blemishes
- Precision tip
- Waterproof
- Self-setting
- Vegan & cruelty-free
Cons
- Doesn't lend itself well to covering larger areas
RRP: £36 | Coverage: Full | Finish: Natural, airbrushed| Number of shades: 32 | Shade tested: Valley 8.25
I was taken aback by how well this concealer stealthily diffused the appearance of fine lines and tinges of red, grey and green underneath my eyes. Its full coverage and lightweight formula containing microspherical powders was like an eraser for the signs of a bad night’s sleep – just a few dots were needed to blur and brighten.
The result was skin-like, airbrushed, and long-lasting; it concealed areas of discolouration and unevenness seamlessly. Plus, its applicator was one of my favourites due to its flexibility, compact size, and ability to dispense the perfect amount of product. If you have combination or oily skin, this concealer is definitely worth the investment.
Pros
- Great for combination and oily skin types
- Full coverage but skin-like
- Perfectly sized applicator
- Long-lasting
- Non-comedogenic
- Vegan & cruelty-free
Cons
- May be drying on drier complexions
- Expensive
RRP: £28 | Coverage: Medium, buildable | Finish: Radiant | Number of shades: 30 | Shade tested: 12 Tan
There’s a fine line between dewy and greasy when it comes to radiant-finish complexion products. However, this clever concealer has cracked the code for dry skin types. Containing skincare ingredients like niacinamide, camellia oil, and hyaluronic acid, I loved how its creamy, hydrating, and brightening formula helped even out the drier areas of my face.
The compromise of that extra dose of luminosity was that my T-zone looked a little oily at the end of the day. However, the formula was flexible enough to let my skin shine through (pardon the pun), which is my personal preference for concealer. Next time, I’ll just set the makeup on my nose with powder, as the glow it gave my complexion is what I look for in the colder months.
Pros
- Great for dry skin types
- Gives a dewy, glowy finish
- Hydrating
- Cruelty-free
Cons
- Finish may be too dewy for oily skin
RRP: £4.99 | Coverage: Full | Finish: Matte | Number of shades: 42 | Shade tested: C11.5
This high coverage concealer from Revolution proves intense pigment needn’t carry a high price point. Available in a wide range of shades that serve seven undertone families, it’s great to see this level of inclusivity catered for on a mass consumer level. It makes finding a true skin tone match easier than ever.
Matte and full coverage, it provided a solid level of cover with zero light reflection. For this reason, its finish was less skin-like than others in this edit. However, if you’re looking to cover dark spots and areas of uneven skin tone, or if you have a combination or oily skin type, its robust formula could be ideal for your needs.
Pros
- Affordable
- Ideal for combination and oily skin types
- Great shade range
- Non-comedogenic
- Vegan & cruelty-free
Cons
- Can be drying on drier skin types
RRP: £23 | Coverage: Medium, buildable | Finish: Radiant | Number of shades: 48 | Shade tested: 380W
For a brightening effect that’s long-lasting and comfortable, Rare Beauty’s concealer is a great option. A little of its formula went a long way, plus its oversized, flat-edged applicator excelled at extending its coverage to the larger areas of the face – both my dark circles and the areas of unevenness around my mouth benefited from its blurring abilities.
Buildable and easy to blend, its semi-matte formula created an airbrushed effect that gave an almost filter finish that surprisingly didn’t look or feel unnatural. It also had impressive wear time, and I loved how it helped even out my skin tone without feeling cakey. It’s soft glam, bottled.
Pros
- Great for combination and oily skin types
- Non-cakey
- Non-comedogenic
- Vegan & cruelty-free
Cons
- May not be well-suited to dry skin
How I tested the best concealers for dark skin
To compile this edit of the best concealers for dark skin, I put a range of different formulas spanning every price point through their paces. Each concealer was worn without primer, foundation, or colour corrector, so I could see how it performed on its own.
To make the final list, they had to score highly on shade inclusivity, offering options for a variety of different undertones, and provide best-in-class formulas that felt comfortable and non-cakey when worn for a whole day, without touch-ups.
How to choose the best concealer for dark skin
Concealers are like the Swiss army knives of the makeup world. They can cover up, brighten, and blur, but different formulas and textures work best for specific needs.
“I always teach that your under-eye concealer should be different from the one you use on blemishes or pigmentation,” says top makeup artist and beauty expert Adeola Gboyega. “The concerns are completely different, and so the textures and shades should be, too.”
How to choose the best concealer for dark circles
Creamy concealers are your best bet for a skin-like finish. “For under-eyes, I prefer creamy concealers because they blend easily, don’t collect in texture as much, and give that beautifully hydrated look we all love.” Adeola’s favourites are NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer and Danessa Myricks Beauty Vision Cream Cover Concealer.
As for shade choice, personal preference can come into play, depending on your finish of choice. I like to use a shade that's not too different from the rest of my face for ease. However, if you’re looking for a brightening effect, try something lighter. “If you want a brighter under-eye look, keep it subtle, go one shade lighter, not three,” Adeola recommends. “The aim is lifted and fresh, not stark.”
Prep is also key, and a colour corrector can be your secret weapon for covering dark circles and preventing an ashy finish. “For deeper skin tones, the under-eye area often carries a lot of brown or purplish discolouration,” explains Adeola.
“A peach or orange corrector can help to balance and neutralise the darkness before you apply concealer, giving you a much more natural, seamless result.” Try Adeola’s go-to, Huda Beauty’s #FauxFilter Color Corrector in Mango. For a multitasker that contains concealer and colour corrector shades, I also love MAC’s Studio Fix Conceal and Correct Palette.
Finish by setting with powder to seal your handiwork. “If you’re using a creamy formula, you absolutely need a touch of powder to lock it in place,” says Adeola. “You don’t need a lot, just a light press of powder with a fluffy brush or powder puff to help with longevity and prevent the concealer from shifting throughout the day.”
Picking a concealer as close to your skin tone as possible is best for a radiant and fresh finish. “Anything lighter will highlight the area instead,” Adeola advises.
The texture can make a huge difference. “Look for a concealer that has enough coverage to stand alone and isn’t overly creamy,” Adeola adds. “A slightly firmer texture grips better to targeted areas like the cheeks, jawline or forehead and gives a more lasting finish.”
Colour corrector can be a great addition here, too. “Corrector is optional here, but extremely helpful if the pigmentation is deeper in tone,” Adeola recommends. “A small amount of corrector under your concealer means you use less product overall, and the final result looks more natural and refined.”
I’ve recently been using this technique, and it’s allowed me to tailor my routine to what my skin really needs each day. If, like me, you feel you may have shifted onto ‘makeup autopilot,’ this type of strategic application of your complexion products could be a game-changer.
