TL;DR
The ILIA True Skin Serum Concealer is our favorite, offering excellent coverage that hides all kinds of complexion concerns while still looking totally natural. Prefer something more subtle? The Saie Hydrabeam Under Eye Concealer is the way to go.
There’s no denying it: Concealer is a must-have makeup product. From knocking out dark circles to erasing blemishes, concealer can do way more than just even out the look of skin. “I love using concealers to spot-cover, color-correct, as a base for eyeshadow, and sometimes to highlight and contour the features,” says makeup artist Nick Lujan. But if you have a particularly reactive complexion or sensitive eyes, you’ll need to be more choosy about the formula.
As dermatologist Dr. Diane Madfes, M.D., explains, the eye area is delicate and sensitive, regardless of skin type. She says, “It’s important to use products that have been specifically tested for tolerability and use in the eye area.” (And, FYI, that applies to both makeup and skincare.) The only issue? Hundreds of concealer formulas are out there; very few, if any, are specifically marketed towards sensitive skin. So, to help you make a considered choice, we tested more than 60 concealers for sensitive skin in our NYC lab and at home for two weeks. We evaluated each one on the most important criteria: Feel, wear, finish, and application. Ultimately, these eight did their intended concealer duty without irritating sensitive skin.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall:
Best Shade Range:
Best for Dark Skin Tones:
Best for Dark Circles:
Best Clean Formula:
Best Full Coverage:
What We Like
Delivers excellent coverage
Good for covering up a variety of skin issues
Great, natural finish
What to Consider
Could be more long-lasting
Coverage Level: Medium | Finish: Natural | Shades: 20 | Size: 0.16 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Associate editor Abby Dupes was thoroughly impressed with this concealer right off the bat. Despite the name, which might imply more sheer coverage, we loved how pigmented it was, effectively covering up dark circles, acne spots, and more. It also earned rave reviews for the perfectly skin-like finish that was neither too dewy, shiny, or too matte. It was easy to apply and blend, and never caked or creased. The only thing Abby lamented was that it wasn’t slightly more long-lasting, which is why she felt it was best for everyday wear, rather than special occasions where you want something that will stay put for hours and hours on end.
Abby Dupes, associate editor: “I’m a tough critic when it comes to concealers—I want something that brightens my under-eyes and covers acne spots without looking cakey.This one does exactly that!”
What We Like
Offered in 20+ shades with varying undertones
Buildable coverage
Imparts very full coverage
Feels light and nondrying
What to Consider
Could be better at concealing dark circles
Coverage Level: Medium | Finish: Radiant | Shades: 21 | Size: 0.17 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
If you’ve previously had a hard time finding the right concealer color for your skin (#relatable) consider checking out this product. With over 20 different hues, including a variety for darker skin and a wide range of undertones, there’s something for every complexion. Our tester, editor Eden Stuart, was really impressed by how well it blended into her complexion. Other things she liked: How light it felt while wearing it, a subtle, natural finish, and that it didn’t cause any breakouts. That being said, it’s not very long-wearing; she noticed it had faded and looked a bit cakey at the end of the day; she also felt it could’ve been better at hiding dark circles.
Eden Stuart, editor: “This offers a really nice color match for me! Plus, it's smoothing and brightening. It maintains its hydration throughout the day, thanks to ingredients like saffron flower and rosehip extracts, which I think are key for how well it wears”
What We Like
Looks glowy but not greasy
A little bit goes a long way
Great for covering darkness and redness
Hydrating formula
What to Consider
Creases a bit
Coverage Level: Buildable | Finish: Dewy Shades: 24 | Size: 0.25 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Our tester, associate social media director Star Donaldson, greatly appreciated the dewy (not greasy) finish of this concealer, as well as how hydrating it felt on the skin. It’s also pretty pigmented; she only needed a tiny bit to score the coverage she craved. On that note, it worked equally well to hide both dark circles and rosacea-induced redness, as well as generally evening out the complexion. However, despite being billed as creaseless, she definitely noticed some creasing after wearing it all day.
Star Donaldson, associate social media director: “I think it’s a good fit for those with sensitive skin as it lacks fragrance and didn’t cause breakouts or irritation and left my skin feeling hydrated, not dry."
What We Like
It has a gorgeous peach undertone
Works well on acne and under-eye circles
Doesn’t crease or fade
What to Consider
We’d like a wider choice of medium shades
Coverage Level:Medium |Finish:Radiant |Shades:9 |Size:0.1 oz |Cruelty-Free:Yes
With a nice array of options for deeper skin tones (which, unfortunately, isn’t always the case with concealers) this concealer easily earned its superlative. The texture is creamy and hydrating, and the pigment—aside from also having a good range of varying undertones—did an excellent job of hiding hyperpigmentation. While our tester, Byrdie editor Olivia Hancock, generally liked how it felt on the skin, she did find that it sometimes got a bit chalky.
Best for Dark Circles
BareMinerals Original Liquid Mineral Concealer
What We Like
Soothing ingredients
Fragrance-free
What to Consider
Not ideal for dry skin
Coverage: Buildable | Finish: Luminous | Shades: 17 | Size: 0.2 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Our favorite thing about this winner? How beautifully it covered up dark circles and illuminated the entire area around the eyes, making it look nearly air-brushed. It works great for other imperfections, too, and while it is on the lighter side, it’s very easy to layer for extra coverage. Bonus points for the fact that it’s fragrance-free and contains white water lily extract to soothe and hydrate skin.
Read Full Review: Reviewed: BareMinerals Original Liquid Mineral Concealer Lasts Me All Day
Lynn, tester: "At almost 59 years young, my skin tends to be on the drier side, but this lightweight concealer offered hydration and plenty of coverage."
What We Like
Blurs and brightens
Soothing
Fragrance-free
What to Consider
Not ideal for covering imperfections
Coverage: Sheer | Finish: Radiant | Shades: 9 | Size: 0.2 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
You may recognize this winner from social media; it was an instant TikTok fave when it launched a few years ago. It’s sheer for sure; our tester, Alexandra, deemed it better for blurring and brightening rather than delivering full-on coverage. Still, she loved how nicely the gel-like texture blends into the skin. It also touts cucumber extract and squalane to keep irritation at bay.
Alexandra, tester: "I love the finish and color match, it feels very hydrating and flexible on the skin."
What We Like
Cruelty-free formula
A little goes a long way
Long-lasting full coverage
Diverse array of shades
What to Consider
We’re not huge fans of the scent
Coverage Level:Full |Finish:Matte |Shades:17; Light to Deep |Size:0.17 oz |Cruelty-Free:Yes
A clean, super-high coverage concealer that you can get at the drugstore? Yes, please. This worked beautifully for covering up a range of complexion imperfections—dark circles, redness, scars, and more. Top tip: It is definitely on the thicker side, so we found that applying it with a makeup sponge yields the most seamless result.
What We Like
Provides very full coverage
Lasts all day
Doesn’t look cakey
What to Consider
Squeeze tube doesn’t come with an applicator
Coverage Level: Full | Finish: Natural | Shades: 24 | Size: 0.40 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
This concealer lives up to its name—it offers very full coverage. In fact, it was so much coverage that we could pair it with just a bit of tinted moisturizer and forgo foundation entirely. It was equally great at delivering said coverage to dark circles, acne, and prominent pores. There is a bit of a learning curve to figuring out exactly how much product to dispense from the squeeze tube. If you use too much, we found it tends to crease.
Holly Rhue, editorial director: "This is my go-to concealer because of how great the coverage is. It’s just the best! Thick enough to cover any problem areas, but it still looks natural.”
What to Look for in a Concealer for Sensitive Skin
- Fragrance-Free: Fragrance is one of the most common irritants out there—and can be especially problematic if you have sensitive skin—so choosing one that’s labeled ‘fragrance-free’ is a good place to start. You can also look for ones labeled as hypoallergenic. We recommend conducting a patch test to ensure the product is well-tolerated on your skin before using it liberally.
- Hydration: Dry skin is more likely to get irritated, hence why it’s a good idea to seek out a concealer with moisturizing ingredients: hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane are a few good examples. Aloe vera is another good option, as it’s both moisturizing and soothing.
- Buildable Coverage: A buildable coverage product allows you to customize your coverage by adding more where needed. If your skin is sensitive, the less product you can use, the better your chances of avoiding irritation. By choosing a buildable coverage concealer, you can use exactly the amount you need in each area of your face.
FAQ
What type of concealer looks best on sensitive skin?
If your skin is prone to redness, concealers with pigments added to balance or counteract redness (typically green tints) will be very helpful.
What does sensitive skin look like?
Sensitive skin can show up in many different ways and as mentioned, can be oily to dry. But one very common characteristic is reactive. That can manifest as anything from bumps and blushing to a rash-like appearance.
Is fair skin more sensitive?
Fair skin is more prone to sunburn, but not necessarily more prone to irritation.
Meet Our Experts
We asked several skin experts what to consider when shopping for concealer for sensitive skin. Those experts included:
- Dr. Diane Madfes, M.D., PC, is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City.
- Nick Lujan is a professional makeup artist, licensed aesthetician, and educator.
Why Trust Byrdie
Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. Her skin is notoriously sensitive, so she’s well-versed in seeking out both the best skincare and makeup products for sensitive skin, including concealer.
Article Sources
Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.
van Amerongen CCA, Ofenloch RF, Cazzaniga S, Elsner P, Gonçalo M, Naldi L, Svensson Å, Bruze M, Schuttelaar MLA. Skin exposure to scented products used in daily life and fragrance contact allergy in the European general population - The EDEN Fragrance Study. Contact Dermatitis. 2021 Jun;84(6):385-394. doi: 10.1111/cod.13807. Epub 2021 Mar 2. PMID: 33576005; PMCID: PMC8247875.