Got a nasty blemish? Unsightly dark circles? A patch of redness? Concealer fixes (or rather, covers up) all imperfections.
But finding the perfect one is no easy task. The best concealer is one that has the right coverage for your needs (generally full coverage without any cakey-ness), is the perfect shade for your skin tone (an exact match is best for undetectable coverage), and a natural finish (this one generally depends on the type of foundation/base makeup finish you like – be it matte, semi-matte or luminous).
The texture you opt for is up to you too, although liquid concealers tend to be the most nourishing (a good choice for dry skin types), concealer sticks often have the best staying power (especially for oily skin types), and creamy concealers are great for use on uneven skin textures (like blemishes and acne scars).
If you’re not happy with your current concealer then shop our list of top contenders for the best concealer in Australia.
Kryolan Concealer Wheel
If the type of skin imperfections you need to cover up vary greatly on a daily basis, get this multipurpose concealer palette. It conceals, colour corrects and highlights with its six shades. The thicker, creamy consistency gives great full coverage, but smooths nicely over skin and doesn’t settle into lines or creases.
Available in 1 variant (with 6 shades included)
$72 at adorebeauty.com.au
Bobbi Brown Corrector
If tired under eyes are your nemesis, this corrector pot is about to become your hero. The creamy formula comes in a wide shade range, with pink to peach undertones, to help neutralise any unwanted shadow you’re dealing with. Its smooth texture is easy to blend and won’t crease throughout the day. You can wear it alone or layered with another concealer; it plays well with all.
Available in 48 shades
$51 at adorebeauty.com.au
Genie Full Coverage Line Smoothing Concealer
This full-coverage concealer can be used anywhere on the face, but where it really excels is around the eye area. Its silky texture glides over skin and is thick enough to conceal dark circles and smooth out the look of fine lines around the eyes. But it never looks heavy.
Available in 3 shades
$40 at geniebeauty.com.au
IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Full Coverage Anti-Aging Waterproof Concealer
For full coverage that won’t crack, you can’t beat Bye Bye. Despite it’s thick texture, it doesn’t creep or settle into lines, staying firmly put all day. It also works a treat for camouflaging blemishes and redness, so don’t let the name fool you.
Available in 42 shades
$43 at adorebeauty.com.au
Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat Radiant Touch
A cult classic that every beauty editor has in her makeup kit is the YSL Touche Éclat. The formula covers and brightens, making it a great under-eye concealer, as well as a highlighter along the high points of the face. The built-in brush makes application on-the-go a breeze, too. If you want more coverage, it now comes in a Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat High Cover variant.
Available in 12 shades
$72 at adorebeauty.com.au
MAC Pro Longwear Concealer
If matte and medium-to-full coverage is what you’re after, add this MAC concealer to cart. The finish looks natural on the skin, although it is richly pigmented so you need to get your colour match just right. Once applied, the liquid texture feels practically invisible on skin. Expect up to 12 hours of wear out of this long-lasting formula.
Available in 16 shades
$48 at myer.com.au
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Concealer
Boasting one of the largest ranges of concealer shades, what we also love about Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty concealer is its crease-proof and long-lasting formula that delivers a soft-matte full coverage that feels surprisingly weightless.
Available in 50 shades
$41 at sephora.com.au
Tarte Shape Tape Concealer
A liquid concealer with a doe-shaped applicator, one of these Tarte concealers sells every 12 seconds worldwide. It has a natural-looking matte finish and even though it’s a liquid, it has a thicker texture that makes it a winner for covering breakouts and scars.
Available in 30 shades
$42 at sephora.com.au
Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles
This Maybelline concealer may have ‘dark circles’ in its name, but it’s excellent at concealing other imperfections, too. The pigment is rich, so it’s great for covering even the darkest of circles, but the texture is ultra lightweight so you don’t need to worry about a cakey finish. The sponge tip makes blending a cinch for seamless coverage.
Available in 8 shades
$19.95 at adorebeauty.com.au