The best concealers are capable of oh-so-many things. They can brighten, color correct, cover redness, or even decrease under-eye puffiness with a hint of caffeine and a metal applicator. But, as we age, there are added factors to consider when choosing a coverage product. The best concealers for mature skin must be lightweight (cakiness is avoidable) and deeply hydrating to prevent product from settling into little lines. Thankfully, the concealer sector, which is expected to be worth a shocking $12,012 million by 2031, is constantly releasing new formulations—and revamping existing skus to perform at a higher standard.
In the past year, Charlotte Tilbury and Fenty entered the concealer game for the first time, while Laura Mercier and Estee Lauder expanded their current offerings. Of course, brands like NARS and YSL have amassed a cult following (including yours truly, Jennifer Lopez, and Kendall Jenner) for their seemingly magical concealers that work to brighten, highlight, and color correct. Those few just make up the highlight reel.
To get the full breakdown on the concealers in my personal collection (I’ve tested well over 100 formulas, FYI) and those loved by makeup artists and celebrities, read ahead.
The Best Concealers for Mature Skin
- The Best Concealer for Mature Skin Overall: Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate Concealer
- The Best Multi-Purpose Concealer for Mature Skin: NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer
- The Best Brightening Concealer for Mature Skin: Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Radiant Concealer
- The Best Under Eye Concealer for Mature Skin: Bobbi Brown Skin Concealer Stick
- The Best Natural-Looking Concealer for Mature Skin: Kosas Revealer Concealer
Marie Claire’s Beauty Director Deena Campbell sings this concealer’s praises regularly, so I naturally had to test it out for myself. Long story short: I get why she is this concealer’s number one fan. It maintains a hydrating, radiant texture and finish, while also managing to never settle into fine lines or creases. I use this medium coverage formula under my eyes, on my nose, my chin, on top of blemishes—it’s a do-it-all product.
Coverage: Medium
Finish: Radiant
Pros: Good for multiple areas; Doesn’t settle into lines
Cons: Expensive
A best seller at every retailer, a TikTok sensation, and my personal go-to, NARS’ Radiant Creamy Concealer gets five stars across the board. I apply it almost like a secondary foundation in any area I need brightness, coverage, or color correction. It gives a subtle glow that seemingly plumps up the skin it sits on, rather than sinking into it. I even keep a darker hue on hand to use as my bronzer—the texture is that stunning.
Coverage: Medium
Finish: Radiant
Pros: Editor-approved; Good for under-eyes and face
Cons: Not enough pigment to conceal blemishes
Think of this product like an eye cream—but with pigment. Packed with hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, this concealer hydrates and brightens the skin as it deposits pigment, ensuring that your texture never looks heavy, dry, or settles into fine lines. Comparable to “shapewear for your face,” according to Tilbury, the radiant finish truly helps lift, contour, and brighten where you need it most.
Coverage: Full
Finish: Radiant
Pros: Infused with skincare; Radiant finish
Cons: Can separate throughout the day
A staple in celebrity makeup artist Shadi Malek's kit, this cream concealer is her first pick for on-the-go applications or touch ups thanks to its stick packaging. The formula inside speaks for itself: It’s creamy, long-wearing, and extremely blendable. You can build up the layers for additional coverage and stay confident that you won’t look cakey, crease, or pill.
Coverage: Medium
Finish: Natural
Pros: Great for under eye
Cons: Not a wide color selection
With five star reviews across the board and a cult-like following, Revealer Concealer is the real deal. It’s so good in fact, that many consumers, including Hailey Bieber, are known to use the formula in place of foundation. “I just love that it’s creamy and hydrating,” the Rhode founder shared in a Vogue Beauty Secrets video. “It leaves this dewy finish on the skin.” She’s right—try it for yourself to see.
Coverage: Medium
Finish: Radiant
Pros: Contains caffeine for puffiness and arnica for redness; Good for dark circles
Cons: Doesn’t last the whole day
Also Recommended
Multi-purpose, full-coverage, and luxurious by every sense of the definition, this Cle de Peau concealer will change your makeup routine for the better. Just hear out Malek: “The formula is super buttery and not too thick, so it doesn’t seep into lines. The medium coverage is better for mature skin too because a fuller coverage will actually end up sinking into pores and accentuating wrinkles.”
Coverage: Full
Finish: Radiant
Pros: Great coverage; Very blendable
Cons: Some say it’s drying
Very rarely do we get a glimpse into Meghan Markle’s beauty routine. But, during her Suits days, the Duchess of Sussex shared with Birchbox that this YSL concealer was a staple in her makeup bag. Her tip: “To open up your eyes, apply a highlighter like Yves Saint Laurent’s Touche Éclat in the inner corner," Markle said. Given the formula’s radiant finish and antioxidant-infused formula (vitamin E reduces signs of fatigue), this product couldn’t be better for an eye-brightening boost.
Coverage: Light
Finish: Radiant
Pros: Celebrity loved; Creamy formula
Cons: Not the most overage
While matte and full-coverage typically aren’t what you want for mature skin, Rihanna’s concealer innovation is the exception. It’s able to cover up dark circles, redness, and hyperpigmentation with such a small amount of product (less really is more here) that it actually sits very natural and light on the skin. Plus, it stays on—no fading, no smudging, no transferring—for the entire day.
Coverage: Full
Finish: Matte
Pros: Covers dark circles; Long-wearing
Cons: Can be a little drying
The Best Concealer for Dry, Mature Skin
As we age, our skin has a tendency to get drier, which makes it even more important to find a concealer that is going to add moisture into the skin. Enter: Armani’s Luminous Silk Face and Under Eye Concealer, the counterpart to their wildly popular Luminous Skin Foundation. The concealer shares the same blurring and airbrush finish as the foundation, while having the added benefits of caffeine, glycerin, and vitamin E to help brighten and moisturize the skin.
Coverage: Medium
Finish: Natural Radiant
Pros: Lightweight; Soft focus
Cons: Has a slight sparkle
I’m always asking makeup artists their go-to drugstore products and without fail, this Maybelline product always manages to come up. The plush topper is unique, making on-the-go application incredibly easy. Not only is the formula fragrance and oil-free, but it also contains ingredients like goji berry to provide a radiant finish. You’ll get a full 12 hours out of one application—and no under eye creases.
Coverage: Radiant
Finish: Medium
Pros: Lightweight; Hydrating; Easy to use; Affordable
Cons: Not great pigment for blemish coverage
While radiant finishes typically work best on mature skin, Lawless Beauty’s concealer is a great matte option if you’re committed to a shine-free face. It has a soft focus finish that’s capable of blurring over fine lines or pores, rather than drawing attention to the area. I’ve found that this is great on the face, but, as with any matte product, needs to be used very sparingly around the under eye area to avoid creasing.
Pros: Great coverage; Blurring
Cons: Drying
Customer Review: “This is just soooo good for mature skin! I bought several of the new concealers to try them on in real life with my skin care and other make up and this was by far the best. It doesn’t crease and doesn’t look dry and crusty. It works with all the different eye creams and you can even put some over the top if you’re especially dry.” — Sephora
Pigment is packed into just a small amount of this natural-finish concealer, making it one of the best for disguising dark circles under the eyes. Two to three dots is all you need to counteract purple blue tones. It works so well in fact, it’s Ana de Armas’ red carpet staple. “It’s incredible, and it’s pretty much all I need on my face,” she previously told Who What Wear.
Pros: Great coverage; Celebrity-loved
Cons: Can crease
Customer Review: “Safe to say, I will never go back to any other concealer. This covers my under eyes well, so smooth and easy to blend, and no wrinkles or dry patches whatsoever. My favorite concealer!” — Sephora
What to Look for in a Concealer for Mature Skin
As a general rule of thumb, hydrating, radiant concealers are going to work better on mature skin types. “Matte formulas tend to enhance fine lines and can look very harsh on drier skin,” explains makeup artist Michele Shakeshaft. She recommends looking for descriptive words like “creamy” or “blendable” when selecting a product to ensure it lays smoothly.
If you are really in touch with the skincare side, do a quick scan of the product’s INCI list. “Hydrating hyaluronic acid and brightening niacinamide and vitamin C are excellent ingredients to look for in a concealer for the under-eye area,” adds celebrity makeup artist Sofia Tilbury, who has worked with Salma Hayek, Kate Moss, and Penelope Cruz.
The Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Concealer provides a hydrating, luminous finish.
When Do I Apply Concealer on Mature Skin?
Less is more when it comes to concealer, so you should only apply extra coverage where you need it. After putting the finishing touches on your foundation, you’ll want to apply concealer to any areas that need color correction or brightness. “Precise coverage will perfect the look of the skin without building texture or creating a heavy look,” notes Shakeshaft.
Do I Need Different Concealers for Different Concerns?
The number of concealers you need in your collection really depends on the intensity of your concerns. By all means, you can use one formula on your under eyes and complexion. That said, you might want to throw a color corrector into the mix. “It’s a great way to cancel out blue, purple, and green pigments in the skin that can otherwise show through your foundation or powder base,” notes Tilbury. These get applied directly after moisturizer. “Let the color corrector dry until it becomes a little tacky and less moveable,” explains Malek. “Then go in with your concealer on a flat brush and blend it out with a beauty blender.”
The Cle de Peau concealer stick doubles as foundation—and contains SPF 27.
What Shade Concealer Do I Choose?
This is largely personal preference. A few years ago, most makeup artists would tell you to go two shades lighter than your foundation in order to brighten the under-eye. Now, the trends have changed slightly. In order to achieve a more natural look, you should pick a concealer that’s one shade lighter. “We are looking to bring that area forward, brighten, and lessen the look of depth,” says Shakeshaft.
Depending on how bright you like your under-eye concealer, you might also want to consider having an alternative, slightly darker concealer on hand for touch ups on the face.
How to Apply Concealer for Mature Skin
Picking the right concealer formula is only half the battle. Knowing the proper way to apply your concealer? That’s equally—if not more—important. “It’s all about building up in sheer layers to achieve your desired coverage and only focusing on using products where you feel that you need it,” notes Tilbury. This slow-and-steady technique ensures that the concealer looks airbrushed and natural anywhere on the skin.
If you’re specifically concerned about applying concealer in the under eye area, Shakeshaft suggests working from the bottom up. “Unless you are trying to neutralize redness in the lash line, don’t take concealer up to the base of the lashes. Apply it at the outer corner of the eye or deepest area of the under eye pocket, then tap it upwards, towards the lash line.”
When it comes to powder, you’re probably better off skipping it altogether, as it can draw attention to fine lines. Shadi suggests using minimal translucent powder with an eyeshadow brush if you need to set your makeup.
Meet the Experts
Shadi Malek’s career of nearly a decade in the make-up industry is a testament to her passionate practice, one that has resulted in an extensive list of life-long clients. She first began honing her unmistakable style from her home city of Vancouver, Canada. Today she works in one of the world’s major make-up industry hubs, Los Angeles, transforming models, influencers, and brides with her signature artistic method.
Today, Malek infuses every make-up look she creates with her mastery of aesthetic principles and her passion for an individualized approach to every client. Make-up has never been a one-shade fits all field; Shadi Malek has made it her mission to create beautiful, tailored looks that will match every client’s unique visage.
Sofia took on the role of Lead Artist at the Charlotte Tilbury Beauty counter in Selfridge’s, London. Two years later, she began assisting Charlotte with her work as a makeup artist, from fashion shows, including Temperley London, Tom Ford, Donna Karan, Versus Versace and Victoria’s Secret, to the world’s most glamourous red carpet events such as The Golden Globes, The Oscars, The Met Gala, The British Fashion Awards, BAFTAs, and The BRIT Awards. Sofia has also led the makeup direction for beauty editorial (Vogue Netherlands) and cover shoots (Cosmopolitan Middle East). Sofia has worked with VIP clients all over the world, including Sienna Miller, Irina Shayk, Shanina Shaik, Minnie Driver, Karolina Kurkova, and Olivia Palermo.
Michele is a Pro Artist for Bobbi Brown Cosmetics.
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