The 18 Best Under-Eye Concealers, Reviewed by Makeup Artists and Editors

Dark circles? What dark circles?

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Last updated In Buying Guides
Photo collage of modal with natural, clean surrounded by Tarte Double Duty Shape Tape Contour Concealer, Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Eraser, NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, NYX Professional Makeup Can't Stop Won't Stop Contour Concealer, Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat All-Over Brightening Pen over beige and blue gradient background
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If you're perpetually sleep-deprived or were born with a purple-blue tint under your eyes (hi, yes, me), you know the power of an exceptional under-eye concealer. A high-quality, multi-tasking concealer can instantly brighten skin and soften dark shadows along the delicate eye area. Whether you need a formula that can withstand humid climates (NYC in the summer heat is brutal) or want a concealer specifically equipped for mature skin, hunting for the best under-eye concealer can be daunting—to say the least.

To make everything a million times easier, the Marie Claire beauty team read every review, swiped on (almost) every single cult-favorite concealer on the market, and called on professional makeup artists Erin Parsons, Olivia Madorma, and Grace Balsamo for their best shopping tips, and of course, to reveal their holy grail under-eye concealer picks.

We narrowed the plethora of options down to the absolute best under-eye concealer formulas you're guaranteed to use, and love, on a daily basis. From luxury options to tried-and-true drugstore concealers, we selected the products that are guaranteed to address all of your under-eye needs this season.

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What to Look For in Under-Eye Concealer

  • Ingredients

If you’re on the hunt for a great under-eye concealer, you’ll quickly realize that there are about a million different options on the market, so how do you weed out the good from the bad? Take a look at the ingredient list. Balsamo says ingredients with hydrating and emulsifying properties are a must-have in an under-eye concealer. “Emulsifying ingredients help smooth the skin and fill fine texture and lines,” she explains. “A good one to look out for is dimethicone.”

Madorma seconds this, adding that hyaluronic acid and castor seed oil are the two ingredients she always looks for in an under-eye concealer. "The castor seed oil will help smooth out texture and keep the under-eye hydrated throughout the wear time,” she explains. Meanwhile, “the hyaluronic acid will help with any imperfections under the eye, and together they will work great!”

  • Texture

Both Balsamo and Madorma agree that to find the perfect under-eye concealer, you have to match the concealer’s texture with your skin type and needs. For example, Balsamo explains that for mature skin, a thin, hydrating formula will prevent creasing, while those with oily skin would benefit from a matte formula that “also helps prevent mascara from transferring from bottom lashes to the skin by eliminating excess oil or moisture.”

For specific skin concerns such as dark circles, blemishes, scarring, or pigmentation, Madorma recommends a pot concealer (such as RMS Beauty’s “Un” Cover-Up Concealer, above). She says, “They are extremely pigmented, creamy, and work well on top of makeup and underneath to cover any blemish.” But if you’re looking for light under-eye coverage or added brightness, Madorma says to use a liquid or pen formula since these are “so hydrating and easy to blend.” All in all, consider your skin needs first before weighing your under-eye concealer options.

How to Apply Under-Eye Concealer

As much as we would love to, you can’t just apply a little concealer to your under eyes and call it a day. Without the proper preparation and technique, you’ll likely end up with a whole lot of creasing, which no one wants. Instead, follow these pro tips below for a flawless under-eye application every time.

  1. “Prepping your canvas,” as Balsamo calls it, with skincare is the most important step to applying under-eye concealer. “Using an eye cream with brightening and smoothing agents will really boost your concealer’s results.”
  2. Then, if needed, Madorma goes in with any concealer a shade darker and with a peachy undertone to color-correct any darkness or blue tint under the eye. Ensure you blend that out and let it dry before using your under-eye concealer.
  3. Use your under-eye concealer in either your actual skin tone, or one to two shades lighter for added brightness. “Work with little amounts when applying and add coverage as needed,” Madorma recommends. “This will make any makeup application look natural and flawless!”
  4. Finally, finish off with just a touch of powder to set (if you prefer), and you’re on your way to flawless under eyes.

Meet the Experts

Erin Parsons headshot
Erin Parsons

Erin Parsons love of vintage beauty is splashed across her videos on TikTok, on which she boasts over 1.7 million followers. At one point serving as Pat McGrath's assistant, Erin is now one of the industry's leading makeup artists having worked with brands such as Maybelline, Schiaparelli, Calvin Klein, Stuart Weitzman, and Bloomingdales. Some of her clientele include Gigi and Bella Hadid, Julia Fox, Coco Rocha, and Storm Reid.

Olivia Madorma headshot
Olivia Madorma

Olivia Madorma is quickly building up her own client list of celebrities, models, and social media influencers like Anastasia Karanikolaou, Sistine Stallone, Olivia Jade, and the D'Amelio sisters. She creates soft glam looks that are accentuated with glowing skin and metallic accents.

Grace Balsamo headshot
Grace Balsamo

Grace is a professional Los Angeles makeup artist with an affinity for all things beauty. Grace pursued her passion for beauty and graduated from the Cinema Makeup School where she was certified in high fashion makeup. Trained in beauty, commercial, print, high fashion, bridal, and lifestyle, Grace has over six years of experience in the industry. Her makeup expertise ranges from red carpet events such as the Oscar's and Emmy's to music videos and weddings.

With experience in model making and miniature building in the film/TV industry, Grace also works and studies under Oscar-winning artists such as Alec Gillis and Ian Hunter. Grace Carries her excellent attention to detail and artistic eye into the beauty world.

Brooke Knappenberger
Brooke Knappenberger
Former Associate Commerce Editor

Brooke Knappenberger is the former Associate Commerce Editor at Marie Claire, where she specialized in crafting shopping stories—from sales content to buying guides that span every vertical on the site. She also oversaw holiday coverage with an emphasis on gifting guides as well as Power Pick, our monthly column on the items that power the lives of MC’s editors. She also tackled shopping content as Marie Claire's Editorial Fellow prior to her role as Associate Commerce Editor.