Best Concealer: The 2024 Glam Beauty Awards
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Concealers help us hide dark spots and acne, brighten our under-eyes, and create dimension on our canvases (okay, our faces — but we're still partial to canvases). However, it's understandably challenging to get lost in the beauty world. With so many companies making so many different types of makeup with myriad benefits — what is the difference between water-based and silicone-based concealers? — there are so many ways to customize your beauty routine.
To help you accelerate the process, Glam tested 10 concealers from 10 different brands. I examined their quality, their price point, the extra benefits they provide compared to other concealers, and more to find the best of the best. What we ultimately landed on is one standout concealer — the best of 2024 — and four runners-up that rival the winner in their own special ways. Some have skincare benefits, while others showed that formulas and price points don't always correlate. In the end, five concealers wowed me, and I firmly believe that one of these five could be your next staple product.
Best Overall: Tower 28 Beauty Swipe All-Over Hydrating Serum Concealer
A test of 10 concealers quickly boiled down to one standout: Tower 28 Beauty's Swipe All-Over Hydrating Serum Concealer. If Tower 28 Beauty set out to create the ultimate concealer, including the best price, formula, and additional benefits, the brand certainly achieved it. This concealer laid on the skin silkier than any of the other products I tested, and it blended into my foundation incredibly quickly and gorgeously. Perhaps the product's hydrating ingredients help it flow and combine well with other products — in either case, I found a new staple for my makeup bag.
I tested the Tower 28 Beauty concealer over a full day of wear (in the shade BH, or "fair with neutral undertones"), and my skin didn't dry out nearly as much as it does when I wear other concealers. My face was also noticeably less red when I took my makeup off compared to when I wear other concealers. It's sometimes hard to believe that makeup products have any real skincare benefits to them — surely it's just marketing, right? — but this self-proclaimed "hydrating serum concealer" really is up to snuff. And for its price point, it can't be beat.
Purchase the Tower 28 Beauty Swipe All-Over Hydrating Serum Concealer at Sephora for $22.
Best luxury concealer: Urban Decay Quickie 24HR Multi-Use Full Coverage Concealer
It's not uncommon to hear folks debate whether you should apply concealer with the product's applicator or not, but with Urban Decay's Quickie 24HR Multi-Use Full Coverage Concealer, doing so is a no-brainer. This is because the concealer comes with both a traditional applicator and a built-in brush to buff it out. Now, I'll admit that the brush was a little bit stiff and hard to maneuver as I approached the inner corner of my eye, and I resorted to my regular concealer brush to get the job done when using this product. That said, the built-in brush is serviceable on the go. It wasn't perfect, but it could suffice.
Where this concealer truly shines is its formula. (For full transparency, I tested it in the shade 10NN, or "very fair neutral"). The novelty of a built-in brush alone couldn't warrant a $33 price tag to me, but the formula was silky smooth and blended out very beautifully with a lighter and more flexible concealer brush, making it worth every cent. Plus, I felt like the applicator actually delivered a decent amount of concealer — my eye bags are too big for the dainty drops of concealer that some applicators deposit on the face. Overall, this concealer stole the show in many ways.
Purchase the Urban Decay Quickie 24HR Multi-Use Full Coverage Concealer on Amazon for $33.
Best drugstore concealer: Catrice True Skin High Cover Concealer
The True Skin High Cover Concealer was the first product from Catrice Cosmetics that I had ever used, and it made me excited to try the brand's other products. This concealer costs just $7 but applied just as beautifully as others that cost upwards of $30 or more. When I tested this concealer in the shade 002, or "neutral ivory," I first wore one layer in my usual spots (under my eyes and on the lower portion of my forehead, just between my eyebrows). The next time, I added a second layer — the true test of a good concealer. It never ripped up my foundation and only worked better, never getting muddy or distracting even once bronzer and blush were layered on top of the concealer.
Ultimately, this cruelty-free and vegan pick is great for anyone who wants a break from other drugstore classics like e.l.f Cosmetics and Maybelline to try something new. It even boasts hyaluronic acid for those looking to up their makeup game with a skosh of skincare.
Purchase the Catrice Cosmetics True Skin High Cover Concealer on Amazon for $7.
Best hydrating concealer: Saie Hydrabeam Hydrating + Concealing Under Eye Concealer
Concealers do a simple, specific job: They literally conceal the areas where we want a little extra coverage. Because of this, many concealers are similar to one another, but what really surprised me during my testing was how similar Saie's Hydrabeam Hydrating + Concealing Under Eye Concealer (in the shade HB HALF, or " for very light skin tones with neutral undertones") is to Tower 28 Beauty's concealer — our 2024 winner. Both promise hydrating results, and both deliver. Both products also apply to the skin very similarly; they have milkier consistencies than others that we tested, but they contort to any area you need because of this.
What sets Saie and Tower 28 Beauty's concealers apart most is their price point. Saie's is $6 more than Tower 28 Beauty's, making it slightly more of an investment. However, if you're looking for an ultra-hydrating option, you can't go wrong with this one. My skin was left glowing after wearing this concealer, even after a full day. I'd even say it's more hydrating than Tower 28 Beauty's concealer, though the latter still hydrates far more than traditional concealers. Ultimately, for skincare lovers, this concealer is a must-grab.
Purchase the Saie Hydrabeam Hydrating + Concealing Under Eye Concealer at Sephora for $28.
Best targeted concealer: Glossier Stretch Balm Concealer
Glossier's rollercoaster ride to success always sees it producing innovative products that captivate beauty lovers everywhere (hello, Cloud Paint). This is no exception with its Stretch Balm Concealer, which I tested in the shade Very Light 2. This might actually be the most grab-and-go item on this list, perhaps second only to Urban Decay's concealer. With this product, you only ned to dip your finger into the pot, pat your concealer onto your face, and then lightly blend it out. You can throw this small pot in your backpack or purse, and you can apply it anywhere since you don't need a brush.
That said, I did resort to a brush for better results. I'm not sure if it's because I have naturally warm hands, but the formula consistently got too warm on my fingers, leading to a harder time blending it. However, a brush quickly remedied that, and I was able to have perfectly set concealer in no time. I also noticed that my setting powder (Puff Puff Pass Setting & Bake Powder from Kim Chi Chic Beauty) looked especially smooth on this concealer. It didn't crease or look dry throughout the day, and when it come time to remove my makeup, it slid off easily despite being firm in place before applying my makeup wipes. Overall, this is a more niche item, but it's perfect for targeted action. And it will last a long time, making it a great investment.
Purchase the Stretch Balm Concealer at Glossier for $22.