These Are the 11 Best Cheap Concealers, Hands Down
From £215 moisturisers to £400 hair tools, I'm incredibly lucky as a beauty editor to get access to some of the most premium products in the business, but money doesn't always talk. In fact, on a number of occasions, I've been left distinctly underwhelmed by some of the more eye-wateringly expensive products that I've tried, which is why I'm always keen to find affordable beauty products that deliver on performance. I've already covered cheap moisturisers, serums, and perfumes that are just as good as their more expensive counterparts, but now, I'm turning my attention to makeup—concealer, more specifically.
Concealer is my number one makeup-bag staple, so you can trust me when I say I've tried them all. From the crazy-expensive to the cheap as chips, I leave no stone unturned in my quest for coverage. Thankfully, this means I have a whole host of favourites for your concealing needs. Whether it's disguising blemishes, brightening the under eyes, or evening out your skin tone, I've got plenty of recommendations to get the job done. Keep scrolling to shop some of my favourite concealers and their more affordable dupes.
1. Best cheap concealer for coverage
If You Love... Tarte Shape Tape Contour Concealer
One of the best-selling concealers in America, the Tarte Shape Tape Contour Concealer is a full-coverage, matte formula that covers everything without leaving your skin looking dull.
Try... Revolution Conceal and Define Concealer
I think £20 is a reasonable price to pay for such a great product, but there is a dupe if you're looking for something cheaper. The beauty community went wild when Makeup Revolution launched its Conceal and Define Concealer. It is similarly full coverage and long wearing and has an equally great doe-foot applicator. Plus, it's just £5.
2. Best cheap concealer for buildable coverage
If You Love... MAC Pro Longwear Concealer
A cult classic in its own right, there was a time in my life when I'd only wear MAC Pro Longwear Concealer. It has a liquid consistency and can be built up easily from medium to full coverage. Plus, there have been many occasions when I've used it as a foundation when I've forgotten my usual base product. Basically, it's a great all-rounder.
Try... L.A. Girl Pro.Conceal HD High Definition Concealer
Recently though, I came across affordable beauty brand L.A. Girl. This £5 concealer really reminded me of my MAC favourite. It has a similarly lightweight texture that can be layered up, it comes in a wide range of shades, and it doesn't budge once you've applied it. I have to say that it's definitely now a favourite of mine.
3. Best cheap concealer for brightening
If You Love... Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Illuminating Pen
One of the most iconic concealers in beauty history, YSL's Touche Éclat is worn by everyone from Meghan Markle to Rosie Huntington-Whiteley thanks to its hybrid highlighter-concealer formula. This isn't something I'll reach for when I want to cover up blemishes or redness, but it's amazing at brightening under eyes and adding luminosity to the skin.
Try... Maybelline Instant Anti Age Eraser Concealer
Similarly glowy is Maybelline's Instant Anti Age Eraser, which magics away the appearance of under-eye darkness and even soothes puffiness when you're extra tired. It has slightly more coverage than the YSL, too, so it also works well on redness.
4. Best Cheap Concealer for Blemishes
If You Love...Shiseido Synchro Skin Gelstick Concealer
One of my favourite concealers on the list comes courtesy of Japanese beauty brand Shiseido. I have to say that it boasts a beautiful creamy formula that melts into your skin for a natural finish and makes light work of covering up everything from blemishes to fine lines without looking cakey.
Try...No7 Stay Perfect Stick Concealer
Although this dupe from No7 isn't as silky soft in texture, this concealer costs only £10, and the reason I consider it to be a dupe is the dewy finish it delivers on the skin. Both concealers do an amazing job of concealing without ever making pores look clogged or making skin look flaky.
5. Best cheap concealer for dark circles
If You Love...NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer
I absolutely love Nars's Radiant Creamy Concealer and am never without a tube in my makeup bag. In fact, ask any beauty editor, and I'm pretty sure you'll find it in their stash. It has a luminous finish that looks natural without being overly dewy, and it works double duty to diffuse light where you have darkness while camouflaging breakouts and pigmentation with ease.
Try...Maybelline Fit Me! Concealer
Maybelline's Fit Me! Concealer also has a wonderfully lightweight base that allows your skin to shine through where you want it to. It never looks heavy on the skin, and again, it can be used to brighten tired-looking skin as well as cover where you want it to.
6. Best cheap concealer for multi-tasking
If You LoveKevyn Aucoin The Sensual Skin Enhancer
Trust me on this one. I know that these two concealers look totally different, but I'm a big fan of both, and they basically do the same thing. The Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer is a makeup-artist favourite thanks to the way that you can use it on its own as a high-coverage concealer or mixed with moisturiser for more of a lightweight skin-tint effect.
Try...L'Oréal Infallible More Than Concealer
L'Oréal's Infallible More Than Concealer is just as versatile. You can apply it straight from the super-size doe-foot applicator as a full-coverage concealer or mix a bit with your moisturiser for a quick foundation. Plus, both products work well as natural-looking highlighters and contour colours if you get a shade lighter or darker than your usual skin tone.
7. Best cheap concealer for oily skin
If You Love...Urban Decay Stay Naked Concealer
More power to you if you're happy to embrace your skin whatever the weather, but when my acne is at its height, I want coverage. Urban Decay's Naked Skin Complete Coverage Concealer is brilliant, as it conceals everything without looking like you've got much on your skin at all. In fact, it has a surprisingly hydrating formula, which I think is how it manages to look fresh all day.
Try...Morphe Filter Effect Soft Radiance Concealer
While not quite as lightweight in texture, this Instagram-favourite concealer from Morphe provides just as much coverage at less than half of the price. The thing I love most about it is that it honestly stays put for as long as you need it to, so there's no need to touch things up throughout the day.
8. Best cheap concealer for a radiant finish
If You Love...Hourglass Veil Retouching Fluid
A concealer with a cult following, the Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Concealer, is what to reach for when you need all-day wear, instant brightening and no creases no matter how many times you smile or squint. Plus, the formula has microspherical powder particles that help to set the concealer and prevent slipping and sliding. At £35, though, it's on the more expensive end of things.
Try...Nyx Professional Makeup Can't Stop Won't Stop Contour Concealer
In the same way the Hourglass concealer dries down to a radiant matte finish Nyx's formula sets with minimal shine, making it an all-day-long solution for shiny under eyes. And, at £9, it's worth every penny.
9. Best cheap concealer for dry skin
If You Love...Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Radiant Concealer
Charlotte Tilbury has no doubt taken over the beauty space over the past few years with their innovative designs and forward-thinking formulations much like this creamy vitamin C-infused concealer. As it is an extension of the skincare-focused beautiful skin range it comes as no surprise that this medium coverage offering is sure to be found on most beauty editor's desks.
Try... The Body Shop Vitamin C Concealer
Just can't stay away from skincare-boosted concealer options? Then, The Body Shop's Vitamin C-infused formula equally boasts heavy hydration and a brightening effect for tired eyes. The silky formula and doe foot wand allow for easy application anyway so it's the perfect 'mid-eve touch-up' addition to your makeup bag.
10. Best cheap concealer for a natural look
If You Love...Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Brightening Concealer
Rare Beauty has enamoured many a beauty lover with its lightweight yet buildable formula that brings radiance to wherever you choose to apply it. It makes your skin look like its bathed in light.
Try...E.l.f. Cosmetics Hydrating Camo Concealer
E.l.f. has become a drugstore trailblazer with its highly regarded formulas that won't break the bank. If you want radiance and glow, look for the hydrating camo concealer, which imparts radiance and moisture in equal measure.
11. Best blurring cheap concealer
If You Love...Makeup By Mario Surreal Skin Awakening Concealer
Direct from Kim Kardashian's make-up artist Mario Dedivanovic's beloved beauty brand, the Surrealskin Awakening Concealer is, essentially, a good night's sleep/face massage/cup of coffee in a tube. It blurs and brightens sallow, tired-looking skin brilliantly and the formula is creamy enough to move and blend without feeling slick or slippery under your fingers.
Try... Beauty Pie Everyday Great Skin Hyaluronic Blur Concealer
Possibly the best in the biz at creating unbelievably efficacious formulas at reasonable prices, Beauty Pie's Everyday Great Skin Hyaluronic Blur Concealer is no different. On skin it blurs texture and tone, creating a diffused, soft-focus effect, while hyaluronic acid, shea butter and olive fruit emollients hydrate and moisturise.
This story was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
Mica Ricketts is a freelance beauty editor, copywriter and regular contributor to Who What Wear UK. She also writes for titles including Marie Claire Refinery 29 and Cosmopolitan, and previously worked at Who What Wear UK as Beauty Editor. With experience in both editorial and content management, she also works with beauty brands and small businesses on brand messaging and content strategy. As a busy mum of two, she is passionate about finding efficacious beauty products that can disguise all signs of tiredness with minimal effort.
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