These 12 Concealers Are Hands Down the Best to Minimize Dark Circles

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There’s certainly no shortage of skincare hacks and TikTok tips to treat the appearance of dark circles. But one quick and easy method makeup artists and editors are aligned on to brighten under-eyes? Applying a few swipes of one of the most coveted concealers.

Many of the best concealers for dark circles not only treat discoloration around the eyes on a surface level, but also contain brightening ingredients like vitamin C, to help diminish lingering darkness over time. When searching for your next holy-grail concealer, “look for hydrators such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin, which attract water, making your eyes appear plumper and less dull,” board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon Margarita Lolis tells Bazaar. “Some concealers contain brighteners, such as vitamin C or niacinamide, which are good at eating up pigment and reducing inflammation.”

According to the expert derm, concealers can work in three ways to disguise dark circles, by using peach or orange color-correcting pigments to neutralize blue-purple undertones. “They provide coverage with a layer of pigment on top of dark circles, which masks discoloration, and creates a smoother, more even tone,” she says. “Some concealers also use light-reflecting particles to help decrease shadows.”

With professional guidance from Lolis, along with makeup pros Brigette Pheloung and Dara Levitan, we found the best concealers for dark circles, to help temporarily hide and brighten the delicate under-eye area.

Related: The Best Drugstore Concealers That Actually Work

True Skin Serum Concealer

Ilia’s lightweight serum concealer tops beauty expert Brigette Pheloung’s list of favorites—and for good reason. Its formula is packed with skincare ingredients, like brightening vitamin C, making discoloration instantly less visible.

One satisfied customer writes: “This blends like a dream. The coverage is amazing and doesn’t crease. I hardly even need setting spray from how well it lasts! I have oily skin, and it doesn’t melt at all. I have a lot of redness and acne scars, but this beautifully covers them up.” —MinnieSTAY

Triclone Skin Tech Hydrating + De-Puffing Concealer

Lady Gaga’s Triclone Skin Tech concealer comes with an impressive shade range—up to 31 different options—and is considered the little sister to Haus Labs’ viral foundation. It also nicely contains niacinamide to brighten under-eyes, fermented arnica to soothe any irritation, and a hyaluronic acid complex to plump and hydrate.

One satisfied customer writes: “The finish is like skin! This last all day without creasing, with or without setting powder. So easy to blend & very lightweight.” —Lashawnsss

Very Valentino Concealer

Blood running through veins in your under-eyes can sometimes settle in place, causing dark circles to become more prominent. Valentino’s coveted concealer uses key ingredients like caffeine to help get the blood flowing again, and diminish discoloration over time.

One satisfied customer writes: “My new go-to concealer. It applies smoothly and it’s buildable—just perfect for everyday use!” —Gemstxr

Revealer Concealer

Professional makeup artist Dara Levitan recommends this beloved vegan concealer from Kosas. Its buildable, plumping formula features key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and caffeine to treat discoloration while also expertly disguising it.

One satisfied customer writes: “It’s creamy, it brightens a bit, it blends well, and it lasts. I love the consistency; the color is great for me.” —beautyfanBenton

Swipe Serum Concealer

Levitan also loves this pick from Tower 28 because of its lightweight texture—it feels like a second skin. Since it applies more like a serum than a makeup product, it’s also extremely buildable if you’re looking for a little more coverage.

One satisfied customer writes: “Love this concealer! Really good coverage, super light, and very easily blendable. Everything you want in a concealer.” —Charissa

Shape Tape Contour Concealer

This popular pick from Tarte is another favorite on Lolis’s list, thanks to its creamy texture and full-coverage formula. Along with smoothing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, it also stays put for up to 16 hours.

One satisfied customer writes: “I literally swam in the ocean all day and this concealer was still covering my dark circles! It doesn’t wear off easily but comes off easy with makeup wipes. Which is perfect. It blends beautifully and it isn’t too drying.” —Mikayla

Under Eye Corrector

While a slight departure from traditional under-eye concealer, Lolis recommends layering Bobbi Brown Cosmetics’ color corrector under your go-to concealer—or even your foundation—to neutralize darkness.

One satisfied customer writes: “I have genetic dark circles and have all my life. It’s something I’ve been self conscious about since I was a preteen but this stuff is like the holy grail! Cancels out my blue and darkness perfectly!” —wheezysteezy

Radiant Creamy Concealer

Nars Radiant Creamy is an icon in the world of concealers—and Lolis agrees. “It conceals and highlights, so that you can build coverage but still attain a radiant brighter finish,” she says.

One satisfied customer writes: “It goes on smooth yet offers full coverage, doesn’t dry too quickly, sets beautifully and is easy to blend.” —Miikii

Positive Light Under Eye Brightener

Lolis counts Rare Beauty’s Positive Light Under Eye Brightener among her personal makeup go-tos. “It’s super lightweight with a fluid texture. You can wear it for a no-makeup look to instantly brighten and hydrate, or layer it on top of a concealer for a brightening effect,” she explains. “It also has vitamin E, which keeps your skin hydrated. And an extra perk is the metal applicator, which soothes and cools the skin upon application.”

One satisfied customer writes: “I love the metal applicator and makes it refreshing to use in the mornings. The formula is a plus too it’s not caked all.” —bebemh19

Quickie 24HR Full-Coverage Waterproof Concealer

In addition to this concealer’s full-coverage formula with hydrating vitamin E, the applicator is pretty clever too. Dab the product on with the doe-foot side, and then blend seamlessly with the brush end for a flawless finish.

One satisfied customer writes: “I couldn’t be happier with the results! It did completely brighten my eyes. It wasn’t cakey, didn’t crease, it has a nice buildable coverage.” —sgates

Power Plush Longwear Concealer

There’s not much this buildable concealer doesn’t do when it comes to disguising dark under-eyes. Its long-wearing formula uses pro-vitamin B5 to keep skin moisturized, along with soothing Centella asiatica to minimize redness. And since its formula is flexible, you won’t have to worry about unsightly creasing.

One satisfied customer writes: “Super soft formula doesn’t oxidize and change colors and it doesn’t cake up and get weird by the end of the day.” —alanas40

Bye Bye Dark Spots Concealer + Brightening Serum

A combo of niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and caffeine works on dark circles beneath the skin, while the serumlike formula provides temporary coverage.

One satisfied customer writes: “This product feels good, goes on very smoothly, and doesn’t smell. It really does lighten dark spots over time, too!” — Shani Whilby

Meet the Experts

• Margarita Lolis, M.D., is a board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon at Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City.

• Dara Levitan is a celebrity makeup artist and content creator in New York City.

• Brigette Pheloung is a beauty expert and content creator in New York City.

What causes dark circles?

If your dark circles are hereditary, it’s not possible to get rid of them permanently—which is where a great full-coverage concealer comes in. According to Lolis, dark circles can be caused by thin under-eye skin, hyperpigmentation from chronic irritation, and blood vessels, among other factors. She adds that volume loss around the eyes happens naturally over time, contributing to hollowness and shadows that make dark circles more visible.

Why trust Harpers Bazaar?

For more than 150 years, Harper’s Bazaar has been the preeminent fashion and beauty resource for women at every age. We cover what’s new and what’s next in beauty by working with the world’s leading authorities in dermatology, plastic surgery, cosmetics, skincare, hair care, and fragrance. Every story we publish has been thoroughly researched and vetted by our team of beauty editors and industry experts.

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