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Under-eye concealers are a tricky thing. In the right and skilled hands—like, say, those of a professional makeup artist—it can perform miracles. The right concealer can make someone who’s barely slept look like they’ve just emerged from 12 hours of uninterrupted slumber. With the right product and proper application, your eye concealer can even turn back the cruel hands of the clock. It can also erase other imperfections like skin discoloration or blemishes.
When choosing your concealer, consider your skin type and tone. Opt for a tone that is no more no more two shades lighter to avoid creating white circles or a cast around the eyes. Liquid formulations give light, buildable coverage and can work best for those who have oily, sensitive skin types. If dark circles and discoloration are your main concern, stick concealers are ideal. Makeup pros will suggest the use of cream concealers especially if you want to disguise tired-looking, dark-circled eyes. This formulation offers medium to full coverage and gives off a nice, satiny finish to illuminate the eyes.
This year’s best under-eye concealers consider all the needs and concerns of the modern living. Here are the best of 2019:
Charlotte Tilbury Mini Miracle Eye Wand Concealer Duo
Created by British makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury, this concealer features a dual-ended wand that revives tired, dark eyes in two steps. On one end of the wand is a hydrating eye cream for creating a surface that is smooth and firm. The other end, meanwhile, dispenses concealer formulation inspired by a “photographer’s silver light reflectors.” The easy-to-absorb consistency illuminates the eye area, evens out skin tone and softens the appearance of lines.
Cle de Peau Beauté Concealer Stick
This concealer stick from Cle de Peau Beauté is a beauty investment. A little product can go a long way and deliver long-lasting full coverage. This glide-on stick works especially well around the eye area. The formulation allows the cream to set into the skin with ease, creating an overall look that’s uncannily even and spotless. It also tones down dark circles without leaving a heavy finish on the surface. What makes this makeup innovation a worthy investment is that it includes other skin care essentials like an adequate SPF.
Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat High Cover Radiant Concealer
This eye concealer is part of Yves Saint Laurent’s cult favorite Touche Eclat collection. The new innovation to YSL’s eye-brightening solutions was specifically created to address under-eye circles. Weightless and buildable, this magic-in-a-pen draws light away from the eyes to diffuse eye shadows. A built-in brush also makes it easy to use especially when on the go.
Koh Gen Do Moisture Concealer
This may look like your ordinary concealer palette at the onset but it’s the kind of beauty essential that can change your life. Formulation from the Japanese HD makeup label Koh Gen Do features three shades, allowing you to customize the perfect shade. You basically meet all your concealer requirements with one palette. A signature blend of jojoba oil, olive squalene and shea butter creates a creamy consistency the glides on skin with ease and adheres for hours on end. Botanicals, amino acids and silk powders support skin hydration.
Kevyn Aucoin the Etherealist Super Natural Concealer Corrector
This natural concealer as conceived by makeup legend Kevyn Aucoin to create camera-ready makeup looks. The light, buildable consistency is fused with brightening pearls and high-definition pigments that diffuse and offset dark circles and discoloration without the creasing or a white, cake-y cast. An oxygenating complex gives skin help to revitalize and protect skin while creating a look that’s very natural.
Dior Fix It 2-in-1 Prime and Conceal
This is the first multipurpose concealer from Dior that takes inspiration from the magic that happens backstage during fashion shows. It features full-coverage concealers and a formula-enriched powder in one stick. This all-around magic wand hides skin imperfections, diffuses lines and dark circles under the eyes and also works as a lip primer. It’s everything you need to perfect your look in one stick.
IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Concealing Pot
Many makeup pros consider this the holy grail of under-eye concealers. Formulated with hyaluronic acid, peptides, collagen and caffeine, IT Bye Bye Under Eye cream smoothens and nourishes skin around the eye area while camouflaging the appearance of dark circles and discoloration. The creamy formulation gives medium to full coverage but feels like silk on skin.
Laura Mercier Secret Concealer
Laura Mercier’s Secret Concealer is an everyday beauty essential that helps to create a “flawless face” without looking like too much product has been used. This makeup industry favorite provides medium coverage and leaves a soft, radiant finish around the area around the eye. It is also formulated so that it stays on all day and does not create creases or lines around the eyes.
