The Ultimate Concealer Guide: Types, Shades & Application (2025)

Concealer is one of those makeup staples that should be straightforward. Cover what you want, brighten what you don’t, and move on with your life. But somehow, it’s become a minefield of textures, finishes, coverage levels, and weirdly aggressive shade names.

Whether you’re hiding a hormonal breakout, a bad night’s sleep, or your general disdain for the world, concealer is the real MVP of your makeup bag. But not all concealers are created equal, and picking the right one (shade, formula, finish) is more complicated than it should be.

So I put together this no-fluff guide that breaks it all down. From what types exist, what they’re really good for, different finishes and formulas, and how to pick one that doesn’t betray you by creasing five minutes into your day. Dig in!

What is Concealer?

Concealer is a concentrated, pigmented makeup product made to mask skin imperfections. Unlike a foundation, which is used to even and smooth the entire complexion, concealer is used to target more specific problem areas like under-eyes, pimples, dark spots, and more.

It can be used before or after foundation, alone or together with foundation, and to color correct and highlight the face. If you’re wondering how concealer compares to foundation, here’s a full breakdown of concealer vs. foundation that clears up when to use which and why.

Types of Concealer

Concealer can come in different forms, and depending on that, it may differ in coverage and texture. Here’s a quick visual of the most common concealer types, textures, and packaging styles.

1. Liquid Concealer

Liquid concealer is the most versatile of the bunch. It comes in various finishes and offers different levels of coverage, from sheer to full. It usually comes in a tube with a doe-foot applicator. Because of that, it’s more convenient for covering up the under-eyes and for applying tricky areas like around the nose. There’s a liquid concealer for every skin type and tone.

2. Cream Concealer

Cream concealer is thicker than liquid and usually offers more coverage — think medium to full. It typically comes in a pot or a squeeze tube. These are great for covering redness, blemishes, and uneven texture. Pot versions are often a bit denser and more concentrated, which makes them ideal for spot-correcting. Cream concealers work best for normal to dry skin, as they tend to have a moisturizing base. If you can’t decide between the two, check out my comparison of cream vs. liquid concealer to see which one suits your skin and goals better.

3. Stick Concealer

Stick concealer comes in stick form. It’s creamy, portable, easy to swipe on, and great for on-the-go touch-ups and easy application. Similar to cream concealer, it offers more coverage and can be used all over the face. But because it’s thicker, it might not be the best match for oily or acne-prone skin unless you set it well.

Once you’ve figured out the type, you’ll also want to pay attention to how it actually looks on the skin, which brings us to different finishes.

Types of Concealer Finishes

Unlike foundation, concealers don’t have a huge range of finishes, but you’ve still got options depending on your skin type and vibe.

1. Matte Finish Concealer

A matte finish concealer leaves the application area visibly smooth, matte, and shine-free. Depending on the exact formula, it can be fully matte, as in oil-absorbing, or soft-matte, as in blurring. Matte concealers are great for people with oily skin and for anyone looking for a sweat-proof, shine-free, and airbrushed finish. Matte concealers usually don’t reflect light and don’t draw attention to skin texture.

2. Radiant Finish Concealer

Radiant finish concealers usually have a subtly radiance boosting effect on the skin, not like infused with highlighter, but more like a flattering sheen. These look really stunning on mature skin to highlight and freshen up the eye area, and for dry skin to minimize flakiness.

3. Natural Finish Concealer

Natural finish concealers are pretty straightforward in that they don’t have a standout finish, neither matte nor radiant. They’re the perfect in-between when you don’t expect any type of visible effect from your concealer. They’re great for all skin types and tones and for all seasons.

How to Choose the Right Concealer for Your Skin Type

While choosing the right concealer depends a lot on what kind of coverage you want, what type of makeup you wear, or what finish you prefer, there are some basics that will help you narrow down your search.

• If you have oily skin, stick with oil-free concealers that come in liquid form with a matte finish to reduce shine and avoid slipping.
• If you have dry skin, opt for hydrating, creamy textures and radiant or natural finishes to avoid flakiness.
• If you have mature skin or wrinkles and lines, stick with lightweight, non-drying, crease-resistant formulas with a natural or radiant finish.
• If you have sensitive skin, go for fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, non-irritating formulas; avoid alcohol-heavy ones.

How to Choose the Right Concealer for Your Skin Concerns

With concealers, it’s hardly ever one size fits all. Your skin’s unique needs, whether you’re struggling with dark circles, acne, or redness, can require specific formulas to better target said concerns. So here’s what to keep in mind when you’re trying to cover up a specific skin concern with your concealer.

• If you have dark circles, you want a concealer with enough pigmentation to cover the discoloration without being too heavy or cakey. Look for a high-coverage, creamy, blendable formula. Peach and orange undertones counteract dark circles perfectly.
• If you have blemishes, you need a long-wearing, full-coverage concealer. The ideal formula won’t clog your pores or cause breakouts. Matte or natural finishes are best for blemishes because they won’t add extra shine to the area.
• If you have redness, you might first want to color-correct with a green concealer to even out the skin tone. You’ll want a formula with a bit more coverage, but still breathable so that your skin doesn’t feel suffocated.
• If you have wrinkles and fine lines, you need a hydrating, lightweight liquid formula with buildable coverage to keep things smooth and youthful. Concealers with anti-aging ingredients like peptides help nourish the skin and smooth the appearance of lines over time.
• If you have hyperpigmentation and dark spots, your best bet is a full-coverage concealer with a thicker consistency. A yellow or orange-toned concealer can help brighten up the skin and reduce the appearance of spots.

How to Choose the Right Concealer Shade for Your Skin Tone

Under-Eyes

The purpose of your use can affect what type of shade to choose when you’re buying a concealer. For example, if you’re looking to cover up under-eyes and for brightening that area, go for 1-2 shades lighter than your skin tone.

Face

For covering up blemishes, make sure your concealer is the same shade as your foundation, matching your skin tone perfectly. That’s the best way to naturally neutralize the appearance of skin imperfections. Otherwise, you’ll end up drawing attention to those.

Color-Correcting

Concealer can also be used to color correct skin like redness, purple acne marks, dark circles under the eyes, and hyperpigmentation or freckles. Peach and salmon tones are perfect for neutralizing dark circles, whereas green is ideal for color correcting redness and rosacea. And purple is incredibly helpful in freshening up a lackluster complexion and neutralizing dullness.

How to Choose the Right Concealer Shade for Your Undertone

As we established, except for color correction, you choose your concealer shade depending on your skin tone, like making it the exact skin tone when looking for a face concealer and going lighter when looking for an under-eye concealer.

But there’s more to that, which usually makes your shade choice spot-on! And that’s the undertones. Your skin’s undertone is the underlying hue of your skin tone. You need to keep that in mind when choosing your concealer shade, too.

If you have cool undertones, go for pinkish, cool concealer shades. If you have warm undertones, go for warm, golden shades, and if you have neutral undertones, go for light beige shades.

These undertones are usually indicated by a letter on the concealer shade name, suggesting that it’s suitable for the said undertone. For example, W is for warm undertones, N is for neutral undertones, and C is for cool undertones.

Concealer Application Basics

Once you’ve found your perfect formula, learning how to apply concealer is key to achieving a flawless look that lasts all day. Here’s more.

1. Skin Prep

Whether you’re using the concealer for your under eyes or your face, skin prep is key. Make sure your skin is clean and you’ve moisturized your face or applied eye cream under the eyes. This helps make the concealer look smoother and prevents the concealer from clinging to dry patches considerably.

2. Tools

You can use your fingers, a brush, or a sponge to blend the concealer in. Applying the concealer with your fingers, usually the ring finger, is better if you want to be hands-on and reach and blend tricky areas freely. The fingers also help warm up the concealer for easier blending.

A concealer brush, which is usually a small, dense brush, allows for an even, mess-free application and, depending on the bristles, can make the finish super smooth, streak-free, and also saves you a lot of time.

A makeup sponge is also ideal for applying concealer quickly, and is also helpful when you want a seamless blend between the concealer and the foundation.

3. Covering Blemishes

If you’re applying concealer on your face, apply it before applying foundation. While some people conceal after foundation, I find that applying it first makes it easier to truly camouflage whatever you’re trying to hide.

So, apply a dot of concealer on any area you want to cover up. A tiny amount is enough for a seamless finish. Blend to concealer in place. Once it dries down, apply your foundation on top.

4. Covering Under-Eyes

If you’re applying concealer on the under-eye area, start by applying a tiny amount closer to the inner corners of the eye without bringing it too much right below the lash line. Then apply a small amount on the outer corners for a lifting effect.

Blend the concealer, covering the entire under-eye area, without spreading it too much toward the temples or dragging it too much toward the cheeks.

Try to blend everything in place instead of smearing it because you might lose some coverage if you thin it out a lot. Consider setting your under-eye concealer with setting powder to make it last longer. Use a small amount of powder, or it can crease and look heavy.

Common Concealer Mistakes and What to Do

1. Caking

If you’re experiencing a heavy look or caking, you’re likely applying too much concealer or skipping the skincare step. Make sure the area is well-hydrated. And start with a tiny dot of concealer and apply more only if necessary.

2. Creasing

If you’re dealing with concealer creasing, which is 100% expected, especially if you have fine lines, pay attention to the formula. Choose a light skin-care-infused concealer, apply only a tiny amount, and avoid layering too much product.

3. Oxidizing

If your concealer shade looks different after a few minutes or hours, which is called oxidizing, check if the product has expired. Note that the problem may be the concealer itself, specific to that brand.

4. Patchiness

If your concealer looks patchy and doesn’t blend well, make sure your skin is moisturized enough. Also, after applying it, let it sit on your skin or under-eye area for about 10 seconds and allow it to melt with the heat of your skin. Then blend it. Alternatively, use your fingers to blend the concealer for a seamless finish.

So this is pretty much what there’s to know about concealers. A concealer is a must-have in a makeup bag, in my opinion. And finding a formula that works for you makes makeup a breeze, and saves you a lot of trial and error, and a lot of money. So knowing your way around concealers is the key to finding the right one.