If you are looking for a multi purpose product to add to your make up bag, then a good trusty concealer is where you start. A concealer can be used to not only hide our blemishes but, to brighten the face and make our best features stand out for a clearer, flawless complexion. From hiding dark circles and highlighting our under eyes, we found some pretty impressive (and affordable) concealers that do just.... everything!
Our reviews team is made up of different writers with different skin textures and tones so this is a great way for us to show you which could work best for you.
The brands we have chosen include Fenty's Pro Filt'r Instant Retouch Concealer, 17's Second Skin Enhancing Concealer, Maybelline Eraser Concealer, Elf Hydrating Camo Concealer and the Make Up Revolution Define & Conceal concealer.
Jada Jones tried Fenty Pro Filt'r Instant Retouch Concealer
Jada Jones wearing this week's makeup item
I often struggle to find a shade that actually matches my skin tone with most being far too pale and the limited range around my complexion often given an orange tinge to my look.
That wasn't the case with this concealer, with the extensive range I was able to quickly and easily find a match without needing assistance in store.
I find that it blends in beautifully and doesn't feel cakey at all - I'm normally a huge fan of Nars Creamy Concealer but this one is absolutely my new favourite.
You can buy it directly from Boots.
Beth tried 17's Second Skin Enhancing Concealer
The finished result of the 17 Second Skin Enhancing Concealer
A Boots own brand concealer has been flooring shoppers, with some even saying it’s as good as high-end brand Estée Lauder.
The £2 product from the nostalgic brand 17 comes in 10 shades and promises a ‘velvety finish’. Shoppers have already been leaving rave reviews for the budget beauty buy - so naturally, I had to see what all the fuss was about.
The brand was discontinued in 2018, but celebrated its homecoming last year, telling customers they can build a whole makeup look for £10. Prices start at £2, such as the concealer, and are no more expensive than £5 for bigger products like foundation and eyeshadow palettes.
I picked up the Second Skin Enhancing Concealer in the shade 001N, and it was the ideal shade for me. It’s a neutral undertone, but you can also get it in cool or warm tones to suit your skin. The concealer then comes in 002 cool, warm and neutral shades, 003 cool, warm and neutral, then 004 in just neutral.
The 17 concealer comes in 10 shades
It would be great to see Boots extend their shade range to accommodate people with darker skin tones, because this is still an industry-wide inclusivity issue.
Applying the concealer after moisturiser, I found it glided across the skin smoothly, living up to its velvety claims. The budget-friendly concealer is dermatologically tested and promises to be ‘highly pigmented enhanced with a mineral mix complex, which perfectly masks imperfections and blends in seamlessly’.
I did find it blended well and a small amount of product goes a long way. I wouldn’t say it’s highly pigmented, but it is buildable without being cakey to offer a more full-coverage look. I was pleased with the results, which offered a crease-free appearance under my eyes, making them look brighter and smoother.
Other Boots shoppers have also adored the £2 product, with one writing: "I've used luxury brands that cost 10x this and didn't work as well."
A second added: "I cannot believe how good this concealer is! I usually use a brand that's £17 a pop and I never thought I'd find a rival, however this £2 beauty is it! Great applicator, lovely consistency, no creases and really brightens my eye area as much as my usual one! It's a firm 10/10 for me!"
Another commented: "I just tried this concealer and l am very happy with it... This is easy to blend, the consistency is creamy and just right. Also it didn’t make the fine lines around my eyes look obvious as some concealers can make you look “caked up” instead of concealed but this also covered the dark rings under my eyes!
“It wasn’t heavily scented. All in all a very nice, effective product worthy of its 5 stars! Works as good as my Estée Lauder at a fraction of the price!! 10/10!"
As well as concealing my dark circles, it also did a good job at covering my blemishes, as I typically get hormonal breakouts on my chin area.
For £2, you can’t ask for more from it. I was pleased my skin still retained its texture, but looked just that little bit enhanced.
The range, loved by celebs like Tilly Ramsay features 170 vegan beauty staples - all of which are cruelty free.
You can buy 17's Second Skin Enhancing Concealer from Boots' website.
Emily tried the Maybelline Eraser Concealer
The concealer brightened up my face instantly (Image: Emily Sleight/ Liverpool ECHO)
Eyebags are always a big issue for me, and without them covered, I feel like a makeup look is never complete.
For years I’ve sworn by the 'MAC Cosmetics ‘Pro Longwear Concealer’ a thick formula that works a treat on eyebags.
Considering that particular concealer is £22, I thought I’d try and find myself a cheaper alternative that’s just as good.
I’m a big fan of Maybelline products, so I thought I’d try their ‘Maybelline Instant Anti Age Eraser Concealer’ which has received rave reviews from happy customers.
The concealer is currently £8.99 at Boots , more than half the price of the MAC product, so I thought I’d give it a go.
Described on the Boots website as a ‘fan favourite concealer’ I had high hopes for this product. The ‘Anti Age Eraser’ concealer is said to have coloured pigments that perfect the under eye area, and ‘cover it flawlessly.’
For someone that struggles with sleep, I was desperate to find a product to make me look refreshed and awake, and I think I may have found it. For £8.99, the concealer looks a lot more expensive, and comes with a twist applicator sponge. I went for the palest shade 00 Ivory to really brighten up my dark circles, and I was shocked at the results.
Before the concealers my dark circles were on show (Image: Emily Sleight/ Liverpool ECHO)
The concealer instantly erased my eyebags and brightened up my eyes, I looked like I’d had a great night’s sleep. I loved the fact that this concealer was thin, but still did the job, as opposed to my original MAC favourite that was thick and quite sticky. After wearing the product for a few hours, I saw no signs of under eye creasing, and I didn’t even need to set it with powder.
The concealer was thin but had a high coverage (Image: Emily Sleight)
The best part? It was so easy to apply, just one quick swipe and I was ready to go, it was a miracle worker.
I’m seriously impressed with this concealer and will continue to use it on a daily basis, especially when I need a little pick me up. It was light, brightening, and half the price of my previous holy grail concealer, so it’s a win win for me.
The product felt refreshing under the eye and not too heavy, which is perfect for an under eye concealer.
As well as under my eyes, it worked really well at removing red areas around my nose and a few blemishes on my forehead. You can purchase the concealer from Boots here.
Stacey tried the MakeUp Revolution Define and Conceal concealer
Admittedly... I am a massive fan of contouring.
I contour my face most day to be honest just because I prefer this look for my quite round cheeks and face shape.
I have wanted one brand to get both concealer shades from for a long time, so MakeUp Revolution stood out as I had heard the consistency of the product is great for both concealing and contouring.
I used shades C3 and C13 to map out my face.
MakeUp Revolution concealers in shades C3 and C13
This is genuinely my make up routine every day- I firstly conceal my forehead (to shorten my forehead), under eyes for the eyebags and around my nose and mouth where I can get redness I need diminishing.
Here is the finished look once I have sprayed my face with the Huda Beauty Glow Coco Hydrating Mist.
I always tend to mix my concealers and foundations with some setting sprays for a more subtle finish- I have been obsessed with using the Fogs & Rouge Wonder Love Pearl Drops too which give such a beautiful glow rather than mattifying the whole face.
The finished look using C3 and C13 of the MakeUp Revolution Define and Conceal concealer
I picked them both up for £4.99 on Amazon.
Charlotte Roszko tried the Make Up Revolution concealer
MakeUp Revolution
The Revolution Conceal and Define Concealer is a firm favourite amongst make up lovers, and at just £4.99, it's not hard to see why. The concealer was launched in 2018 and since then it has remained a staple in my everyday make-up routine, in fact, I won't use anything else.
The product comes in an aesthetically pleasing rose gold packaging which gives it a high end feel, despite its affordable price tag. This is something you can consistently see throughout the Revolution brand, with attractive packaging found across the range of products.
A problem I have found with concealer is finding the right shade, but with 50 shades on offer, Revolution makes it easy to find one that suits. I personally opt for the shade C1 which I find to be a perfect match. I have pale skin and find this shade to work really well with my skin tone.
Opening it up, you get a decent sized applicator which is ideal for applying a good amount of product. Again, this feels high-quality and way more than you would expect for £4.99.
I like a full coverage and this concealer does just that. It covers dark circles effortlessly and is ideal for brightening up your undereye. It also works well for covering up any spots or blemishes.
The concealer also lives up to its name and works well for adding contouring or definition to the face. Despite offering a full coverage, it still feels lightweight and not at all cakey.
Sometimes full coverage products can feel a bit too much on the skin but you definitely don't get that with this concealer. The product blends well and feels smooth on the skin, which is a massive bonus. You don't need to use too much of it either, as a little product goes a long way.
The concealer lasts well too, I use this every day and never find myself needing to re-apply it.
I would give this concealer a 5/5 because it is affordable and offers a great coverage, you can't go wrong with it. You can purchase the concealer here from the Revolution website, Boots or Superdrug.
Rebecca Astill tried & tested the Elf Hydrating Camo Concealer
Concealers are an absolute staple in a makeup bag, whether that is to cover dark under eye circles, spots, or just to brighten your face a little. But finding the right one can be tricky.
This is something I have always struggled with as I have a dry, sensitive eye area. Many concealers flake and look patchy and I have long been on the hunt for a holy grail.
I came across the Elf Hydrating Camo Concealer and my attention was immediately grabbed by the hundreds of five star reviews. Many said it was better than high end concealers.
One review said: “I’ve tried concealers by Nars, TooFaced, Tarte etc. This one is by far my fave. Amazing coverage but doesn’t crease or make my under eyes look dried out.”
Another said: “This is my holy grail concealer of all time. It’s hydrating and full coverage at the same time. I always have trouble with trying to find a concealer that does both.” I was sold.
I ordered the concealer directly from Elf’s website and got the shade “light peach” as I have pale, cool-toned skin.
The packaging is pretty basic, the concealer comes in a transparent tube with an easy-to-use doe foot applicator. It is 6ml, too, so you certainly get a good size for £6, bearing in mind cult favourite NARS Creamy Concealer is £24.50 for 6ml.
For application, I popped some eye cream under my eyes (not a compulsory step, unless you have dry under eyes like me) and swiped two small dots on my skin. I dabbed it in with my favourite Real Techniques Beauty Blender .
The formula was rich and creamy, giving my under eyes full coverage without looking or feeling like there was anything there. I could not believe how seamless my under eye area looked.
It had a satin finish, which brightened my under eyes without looking oily and there was no sign of the usual dry patches concealer clings to. My sensitive skin did not feel irritated at all.
My only complaint was the colour match was not quite correct. Bearing in mind I bought the light peach shade, designed for cool-toned skin, it did look a little orange on me and took some blending.
Other than that, I have no complaints. The formula is beautiful and I definitely found my new favourite concealer.
You can pick the Elf Hydrating Camo Concealer up from Elf’s website.
Our winner is
We have decided that with this review, it is impossible to pick a winner because all of us used the concealer in so many different ways.
If we had to pick one for it's inclusivity, Fenty would win hands down, but it's not the most affordable of the bunch.
While for coverage, we absolutely have to acknowledge the Maybelline Eraser.
Last but not least, 17 and Make Up Revolution have incredible concealers on the market for such a low price point.
They are all winners in our eyes.
