Hannah Baxter
The best concealers are capable of oh-so-many things. Some can brighten, while others are the best color correctors. A few cover redness or are capable of decreasing undereye puffiness with a hint of caffeine and a cooling metal applicator. But, as we age, there are added factors to consider when choosing the best foundations for mature skin, the best primers for mature skin, and, of course, the best concealers for mature skin.
They must be lightweight (cakiness is avoidable) and deeply hydrating to prevent the product from settling into little lines around the eyes. Thankfully, the concealer sector, which is expected to be worth a whopping $12 billion by 2031, is constantly releasing new formulations—and revamping existing items to perform at a higher standard.
In the past year, Charlotte Tilbury and Fenty Beauty entered the concealer game for the first time, while Anastasia Beverly Hills and Estée Lauder expanded their current offerings. Of course, brands like NARS and YSL have amassed a cult following (including yours truly, Jennifer Lopez, and Kendall Jenner) for their seemingly magical concealers that work to brighten, conceal, and color correct. Those few just make up the highlight reel.
Read ahead to get the full breakdown on the concealers in my personal collection (I’ve tested well over 100 formulas, FYI) and those loved by makeup artists and celebrities. That's not all, though. We also had four women over 45 put these products to the test—and share their honest thoughts.
The Best Concealers for Mature Skin
- The Best Concealer for Mature Skin Overall: Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Concealer
- The Best Hydrating Concealer for Mature Skin: Sarah Creal Face Flex
- The Best Brightening Concealer for Mature Skin: Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Medium to Full Coverage Radiant Concealer
- The Best Multi-Purpose Concealer for Mature Skin: NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer
A ton of pigment is packed into just a small amount of this natural-finish concealer, making it one of the best for disguising dark circles under the eyes. Two to three dots is all you need to counteract those purple-blue tones. It works so well in fact, it’s Ana de Armas’ red carpet staple. “It’s incredible, and it’s pretty much all I need on my face,” she previously told Who What Wear.
Coverage: Medium
Finish: Natural
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid (hydrating); Dimethicone (smoothing)
Best Applied With: Fingers; small concealer brush
What I Love: Great coverage; Celebrity-loved
What I Don't: Can crease slightly
Review for MC: "I normally go for a lighter coverage formula so I don’t end up emphasizing the lines in my under eyes. I’ve learned less is more with older skin,” Mindy tells me during our daily morning phone call. “But I actually really liked the coverage this gave me. It really brightened me up and didn’t settle into my creases throughout the day. My husband even told me I looked more alive at dinner.” — Mindy Holender, 56
Mindy Holender before and after applying Estée Lauder Double Wear Concealer.
If you're in the beauty industry, you know Sarah Creal. She's the product developer who has had her hands in pretty much every big cosmetic line: Victoria Beckham Beauty, Prada, Tom Ford, Bobbi Brown—to name a few. This year, she decided to go out on her own, creating a line specifically for women over 40. The brand's concealer is the unsung hero. It's incredibly hydrating and a little goes an insanely long way; you only need a dot for full coverage benefits.
Coverage: Full
Finish: Velvet
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid (hydrating); Caffeine (depuffing); Aloe leaf extract (soothing
Best Applied With: Fingers; small concealer brush
What I Love: Can be used as a foundation too; Brightening
What I Don't: Only 10 shades to choose from
Review for MC: "As hard as I try, it's much harder to maintain a youthful look as I get older. When I wake up, my under-eye area is darker and swollen and needs more help than in the past. I've been using Sarah Creal Face Flex Concealer in the shade "Fair Warm," and its luxurious texture feels smooth and creamy on my skin. It blends easily, sans caking or heaviness, and, as promised by the brand, I can confirm it's perfect for mature skin. Comparing the before-and-after, it significantly improved the appearance of my under-eye area and lasted all day. Thanks Sarah, for helping me look my best at 65 years young!" — Jane Petrarca, 65
Jane Petrarca before and after applying Sarah Creal Face Flex.
Think of this product like an eye cream—but with pigment. Packed with hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, this concealer hydrates and brightens the skin as it deposits pigment, ensuring that your texture never looks heavy, dry, or settles into fine lines. Comparable to “shapewear for your face,” according to Tilbury, the radiant finish truly helps lift, contour, and brighten where you need it most. It's truly one of my favorite Charlotte Tilbury products.
Coverage: Full
Finish: Radiant
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid (hydrating); Vitamin C (brightening); Niacinamide (evening)
Best Applied With: Fingers; small concealer brush
What I Love: Infused with skincare; Radiant finish
What I Don't: Can separate throughout the day
Review for MC: "I'm a Charlotte girl. Most of my makeup is from her line—I love it, I love it, I love it. Her formulas are the best. I find this concealer to be a bit similar to Cle de Peau in its texture. It has that really creamy, smoothing, and blurring feel. I will say this one is better for short-term wear. I like it for going out to dinner or a big event, but it starts to settle into my lines a bit if I wear it all day." — Mindy Holender, 56
Mindy Holender before and after applying Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Radiant Concealer.
A best-seller at every retailer, a TikTok sensation, and my personal go-to, NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer gets five stars across the board. I apply it almost like a secondary foundation in any area where I need brightness, coverage, or color correction. It gives a subtle glow that seemingly plumps up the skin rather than sinking into it. I even keep a darker hue on hand to use as my bronzer, and the texture is stunning.
Coverage: Medium
Finish: Radiant
Key Ingredients: Vitamin E (soothing); Grape seed oil (hydrating); Light diffusing mineral powder (blurring)
Best Applied With: Fingers; small concealer brush
What I Love: Editor-approved; Good for under-eyes and face
What I Don't: Not enough pigment to conceal blemishes
Review for MC: "This is my holy grail. I always come back to it. It's super lightweight, so I don't have to worry about it creasing or caking. Sometimes I'll want a color corrector underneath for extra coverage, but the finish on this is by far the best." — Mindy Holender, 56
Mindy Holender before and after applying NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer.
A staple in celebrity makeup artist Shadi Malek's kit, this Bobbi Brown cream concealer is her first pick for on-the-go applications or touch-ups thanks to its stick packaging. The formula inside speaks for itself: It’s creamy, long-wearing, and extremely blendable. You can build up the layers for additional coverage and stay confident that you won’t look cakey, crease, or pill.
Coverage: Medium
Finish: Natural
Key Ingredients: Coffee seed oil (de-puffing)
Best Applied With: Fingers; small concealer brush
What I Love: Great for under-eye
What I Don't: Not a wide color selection
Review for MC: "It has a creamy, smooth texture that easily glides on the skin. I use it on the dark circles near my eyes and the edges of my lips. It stays on for a long time, but since it is a stick, I can reapply it quickly if needed. The Bobbi Brown Skin Stick is amazing!" — Darlese, 49
Darlese Robinson after applying Bobbi Brown's Concealer Stick in shade Golden.
It's a good sign when you can tell that a concealer was formulated specifically with a mature woman's skin in mind. Such is the case with this Danessa Myricks creation. It contains sodium hyaluronate, which is an ingredient that not only hydrates the skin—but also moves with it, ensuring that the product won't crease as you make facial expressions throughout the day. You'll also find caffeine as a brightening pick me up, and centella asiatica, which will hydrate and soothe redness.
Coverage: Medium
Finish: Natural
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid (hydrating); Vitamin E (soothing); Caffeine (de-puffing
Best Applied With: Fingers; small concealer brush
What I Love: Great ingredients like caffeine and centella asiatica; hydrating; not too shiny
What I Don't: Will look cakey if you apply too much; not the most forgiving
Review for MC: "I am pretty low-maintenance (aka lazy) when it comes to concealer, but I may be a believer now. I like the Yummy Skin concealer. The application stick makes it easy and mess-free to apply. Plus, it's lightweight. It provides coverage and brightens up my blemishes, making my tinted moisturizer much smoother. It's hard to find concealers for my skin color because most are a little pasty and wash me out. Yummy was much more natural and subtle." — Amber, 45
Amber Randolph after applying Daness Myricks Yummy Skin Lift & Flex Hydrating Concealer in shade 7.
There's no need to drop a ton of cash on an exceptional concealer for mature skin. This cult-favorite formula easily conceals both dark circles and blemishes with a full coverage finish, and with easily buildable color, it will quickly become the workhorse of your makeup bag. Dry skin under your eyes? This is definitely your new must-have.
Coverage: Full
Finish: Satin
Key Ingredients: Rose flower water (hydrating); Avocado oil (moisturizing0
Best Applied With: Small concealer brush
What I Love: Great coverage; hydrating; value for price
What I Don't: Some reviewers note that you can see creasing throughout the day
Review for MC: "I have very oily, ance prone skin but also struggle with dry patches. This concealer goes on so smooth and has great coverage. With other concealers, I have had issues with them creasing and becoming patchy due to my oily skin, but I have not had this issue over the past few weeks I've used this concealer. Looks as flawless as it was when I first applied 12+ hours beforehand. Highly recommend!!!" — Ulta
What to Look for in a Concealer for Mature Skin
As a general rule of thumb, hydrating, radiant concealers are going to work better on mature skin types. “Matte formulas tend to enhance fine lines and can look very harsh on drier skin,” explains makeup artist Michele Shakeshaft. She recommends looking for descriptive words like “creamy” or “blendable” when selecting a product to ensure it lays smoothly.
If you are really in touch with the skincare side, do a quick scan of the product’s INCI list. “Hydrating hyaluronic acid and brightening niacinamide and vitamin C are excellent ingredients to look for in a concealer for the under-eye area,” adds celebrity makeup artist Sofia Tilbury, who has worked with Salma Hayek, Kate Moss, and Penelope Cruz. Glycerin is very hydrating, vitamin E is soothing, and dimethicone will help provide that silky texture. If dark circles are your concern, seek out a formula with caffeine.
When Do I Apply Concealer on Mature Skin?
Less is more when it comes to concealer, so you should only apply extra coverage where you need it. After applying one of the best primers for mature skin and putting the finishing touches on your foundation, you’ll want to apply concealer to any areas that need color correction or brightness. “Precise coverage will perfect the look of the skin without building texture or creating a heavy look,” notes Shakeshaft.
Do I Need Different Concealers for Different Concerns?
The number of concealers you need in your collection really depends on the intensity of your concerns. By all means, you can use one formula on your under eyes and complexion. That said, you might want to throw a color corrector into the mix. “It’s a great way to cancel out blue, purple, and green pigments in the skin that can otherwise show through your foundation or powder base,” notes Tilbury. These get applied directly after moisturizer. “Let the color corrector dry until it becomes a little tacky and less moveable,” explains Malek. “Then go in with your concealer on a flat brush and blend it out with a beauty blender.”
What Shade Concealer Do I Choose?
This is largely personal preference. A few years ago, most makeup artists would tell you to go two shades lighter than your foundation in order to brighten the under-eye. Now, the trends have changed slightly. In order to achieve a more natural look, you should pick a concealer that’s one shade lighter. “We are looking to bring that area forward, brighten, and lessen the look of depth,” says Shakeshaft.
Depending on how bright you like your under-eye concealer, you might also want to consider having an alternative, slightly darker concealer on hand for touch ups on the face.
How Do I Apply Concealer on Mature Skin?
Picking the right concealer formula is only half the battle. Knowing the proper way to apply your concealer? That’s equally—if not more—important. “It’s all about building up in sheer layers to achieve your desired coverage and only focusing on using products where you feel that you need it,” notes Tilbury. This slow-and-steady technique ensures that the concealer looks airbrushed and natural anywhere on the skin.
If you’re specifically concerned about applying concealer in the under eye area, Shakeshaft suggests working from the bottom up. “Unless you are trying to neutralize redness in the lash line, don’t take concealer up to the base of the lashes. Apply it at the outer corner of the eye or deepest area of the under eye pocket, then tap it upwards, towards the lash line.”
When it comes to powder, you’re probably better off skipping it altogether, as it can draw attention to fine lines. Shadi suggests using minimal translucent powder with an eyeshadow brush if you need to set your makeup.
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For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.
How We Tested
To find the best concealer for mature skin, Senior Beauty Editor Samantha Holender worked with three makeup artists and four women over the age of 45. Each woman tested a minimum of three concealers that came recommended by online reviews, professional makeup artist, or members of the Marie Claire team. The products were evaluated on their wear, finish, and how well they withstood creasing throughout the day.
Meet the Experts
Shadi Malek’s career of nearly a decade in the make-up industry is a testament to her passionate practice, one that has resulted in an extensive list of life-long clients. She first began honing her unmistakable style from her home city of Vancouver, Canada. Today she works in one of the world’s major make-up industry hubs, Los Angeles, transforming models, influencers, and brides with her signature artistic method.
Today, Malek infuses every make-up look she creates with her mastery of aesthetic principles and her passion for an individualized approach to every client. Make-up has never been a one-shade fits all field; Shadi Malek has made it her mission to create beautiful, tailored looks that will match every client’s unique visage.
Sofia took on the role of Lead Artist at the Charlotte Tilbury Beauty counter in Selfridge’s, London. Two years later, she began assisting Charlotte with her work as a makeup artist, from fashion shows, including Temperley London, Tom Ford, Donna Karan, Versus Versace and Victoria’s Secret, to the world’s most glamourous red carpet events such as The Golden Globes, The Oscars, The Met Gala, The British Fashion Awards, BAFTAs, and The BRIT Awards. Sofia has also led the makeup direction for beauty editorial (Vogue Netherlands) and cover shoots (Cosmopolitan Middle East). Sofia has worked with VIP clients all over the world, including Sienna Miller, Irina Shayk, Shanina Shaik, Minnie Driver, Karolina Kurkova, and Olivia Palermo.
Michele is a Pro Artist for Bobbi Brown Cosmetics.
