Take it from someone who had to learn the hard way: The right set of brushes can totally change how your makeup looks for the better. I'm not sure what I was doing before I invested in a good set of foundation and concealer brushes, but I will say that since I've been using them, my makeup looks smoother, more natural, and takes far less time to apply. I know that sounds like a train you want to hop on, so you're going to want to pay attention.
Concealer, in particular, can be tricky to apply without going overboard, right? Using a good brush can change all that—especially if you're applying it in the under-eye area. Whether you're looking to conceal dark spots, blemishes, or under-eye circles, find the best concealer brushes for each below. We also asked our roster of editorial and celebrity makeup artists for their personal favorites.
The Best Concealer Brushes, Listed
- Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Concealer Brush
- Nars #11 Soft Matte Complete Concealer Brush
- Bobbi Brown Full Coverage Touch Up Brush
- Wet n Wild Large Concealer Brush
- It Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Dual Airbrush Concealer Brush #2
- e.l.f. cosmetics Flawless Concealer Brush
- Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Concealer Brush
- Real Techniques Expert Liquid and Cream Concealer Makeup Brush
- Energy Concealer Brush 270
- Sonia Kashuk Essential Flat-Top Concealer Brush No. 172
- Sephora Collection Pro Concealer Brush #71
- Clinique Concealer Brush
- Kevyn Aucoin Duet Concealer Brush
- Ciele Cosmetics The Concealer Brush
- Tarte Concealer Paw Brush
- Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Concealer Brush
- Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Concealer Brush
- SheGlam Glam 101 Eye Essentials Brush Set
Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Concealer Brush
Makeup artist Sara Talias highlights this concealer brush as one of her favorites. "The super-soft bristles effortlessly blend concealer and help to diffuse product on any skin type, especially dry skin," she says.
Pros: Half-moon shape hugs the contours of the face, ultra-soft bristles.
Cons: Not the most budget-friendly brush.
Customer Review: "This is the softest makeup brush ever! Feels so good tapping your concealer on under your eyes. Firm enough to get the job done, too. Soooo luxurious! Bought a second for my purse."
Nars #11 Soft Matte Complete Concealer Brush
The five-star ratings speak for themselves on this one. This Nars brush works well with any cream concealer to cover blemishes, dark spots, and under-eye circles.
Pros: All-in-one brush designed for various areas of the face provides an airbrushed effect to the skin.
Cons: High price point.
Customer Review: "Holy! Why didn't I purchase this sooner? I'm usually not one to purchase brushes (I'm not that great at makeup), but this is amazing. Works so well with the complete concealer. I have aging skin, and this doesn't pull the skin under my eyes, and there is no creasing. Miracle brush!!"
Bobbi Brown Full Coverage Touch Up Brush
Crafted with short, tightly packed bristles, this tapered brush by Bobbi Brown is perfect for you to buff and blend product, achieving complete coverage under the eyes other hard-to-reach-spots. The brand recommends using a stippling motion to the blend your product of choice into skin.
Pros: Can be used for targeted concealer and foundation application.
Cons: Offered at a luxury price point.
Customer Review: "I have been using as a concealer brush and it is fabulous! Spreads product evenly and easily. This will be the only one I use from now on. Actually bought a second one for my travel bag."
Wet n Wild Large Concealer Brush
Yes, you read that right. This drugstore concealer brush from Wet n Wild is only $1 and has an almost-perfect five-star rating on Amazon. It's made specifically for use in the under-eye area and under the brow.
Pros: Affordable, exclusive thermoplastic polymer brush complex that mimics natural hair.
Cons: Can be a little too thick for other areas of the face.
Customer Review: "I don't really like wasting a lot of money on makeup tools, and these brushes are amazing. They are cheap, soft, and blend eye shadow very well."
It Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Dual Airbrush Concealer Brush #2
This happens to be celebrity makeup artist Allison Kaye's favorite concealer brush. "They have a dual-ended concealer brush, so one side is flat (best for applying) and the other side is fluffy and rounded (best for blending)," Kaye explains.
Pros: Dual-ended brush is designed for all areas of the face, densely packed bristles.
Cons: Caps fall off easily.
Customer Review: "This is actually an amazing brush. It buffs out so perfectly, better than a beauty sponge. Just don't expect those caps to work! That seems to be a major drawback for some reviewers, but I think the brush itself is a must-have."
e.l.f. cosmetics Flawless Concealer Brush
As far as drugstore options go, I'd say e.l.f. cosmetics' concealer brush is one of the best. The synthetic bristles are light and fluffy, so the brush can easily blend both liquid and powder formulas.
Pros: Affordable, rounded brush shape allows you to contour and cover areas easily.
Cons: Bristles might be too stiff for some.
Customer Review: "I cannot sing the praises of this brush enough. I am a MAC NC30-37 and C3-C5, for reference. I have dark, purple-bluish brown under-eye circles. They aren't sunken-in or puffy, just very dark. I use this brush with a high-coverage salmon concealer in a stippling motion all over my circles and then use a high-coverage skin-toned concealer to blend the salmon out a bit. I used this technique for 10+ years, and when I first tried this brush, I was amazed at the coverage and finish that the brush provided."
Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Concealer Brush
Rare Beauty's foundation and concealer are some of my favorites on the market. The brand's concealer brush always gets the job done too. I particularly love the pointed tip because it provides extra precision for when you're trying to spot-conceal a few dark spots or active acne bumps.
Pros: Uniquely sculpted bristles and pointed tip for extra precision, vegan bristles.
Cons: Collects build-up easily.
Customer Review: "The best brush for blending concealer! I'm obsessed."
Real Techniques Expert Liquid and Cream Concealer Brush
"The Real Techniques Brightening Concealer Brush is such a great brush and very affordable. The flat top of the brush is perfect for blending concealer under the eye and detailing the outer corner of the eyes." — Talias
Pros: Affordable; rounded bristles help blend concealer seamlessly.
Cons: Brush hairs fall out easily.
Customer Review: "I used to use sponges to blend my concealer because I couldn't really find a brush for me that wouldn't leave streaks. For the price, it definitely does the job well and is now my go to for concealer! Has soft bristles and blends concealer nicely on my skin without pulling foundation."
Energy Concealer Brush 270
Never underestimate a good Amazon find. This $6 brush offers an angled flat-top design. It's also relatively small, allowing it to get into harder-to-reach areas like the inner corners of the eyes.
Pros: Affordable, small, deeply-angled brush head for more precision; can be used for baking under the eye area.
Cons: Might be too large to use for spot-concealing.
Customer Review: "Super soft. I bought the mini to try first. I use it to apply primer/base to my hooded eyes. It blends products so smoothly and is ultra soft. It's easy to clean and has a slightly textured handle for grip. I'm about to purchase the medium! Very happy with this product."
Sonia Kashuk Essential Flat-Top Concealer Brush No. 172
Brushes like the Essential Flat-Top Concealer Brush No. 172 by Sonia Kashuk with completely flat tops work well for covering blemishes if you use them to gently pat concealer onto the skin.
Pros: Soft, synthetic bristles; flat-topped for a natural finish.
Cons: The cap can be hard to get off.
Customer Review: "It's super soft and blends my makeup amazingly. I love the packaging, the cap is easy to open, and I think the people saying otherwise didn't know how to open it correctly. Also, I keep it in the cap to prevent bacteria from all the other makeup in my bag. Plus, the price is so good."
Sephora Collection Pro Concealer Brush #71
Sephora's brush is designed to be used in multiple ways for a custom application. It's ideal for blending concealer (and foundation!) around the natural contours of the eyes, nose, lips, and brows.
Pros: Uniquely tapered brush designed to mimic fingertip application; provides smooth and natural coverage.
Cons: Strong plastic smell on the handle.
Customer Review: "Love this concealer brush!! Works so well under and around my eyes, as well as my nose. Perfect design!"
Clinique Concealer Brush
This slim, tapered brush is designed for dabbing concealer onto the under-eye area and for spot application. It's great for covering blemishes and the flat side really helps smooth out under-eye bags.
Pros: Slim, tapered brush designed for spot application; flat side is designed for the under-eye area.
Cons: High price point.
Customer Review: "Good brush for application of concealer. Helps with blending a little."
Kevyn Aucoin Duet Concealer Brush
What I love the most about the Duet Concealer Brush is how ergonomic it is. With it's dual-ended design, I can trust that I can get a flawless, airbrushed look by using either the flat rounded side or the soft domed side under the eyes. My dark circles and fine lines are completely disguised.
Pros: Applies concealer seamlessly for an airbrushed finish.
Cons: Moderately priced.
Customer Review: "I’ve always suffered from bags under my eyes, Kevyn Aucoin concealer and this brush are life changing!! Great brush to apply and blend the concealer in! Trust me, you all need this in your makeup bags"
Ciele Cosmetics The Concealer Brush
Ciele's concealer brush is one of my favorites because it features two ends for precise and flawless concealer application. One side (Pinpoint) has pin-size bristles made for detailing and correcting, while the other (Conceal) is flat with dense bristles that can stamp and blend product.
Pros: Designed with opulent synthetic hair that's gentle on the skin.
Cons: None.
Customer Review: "Love this concealer brush especially the smaller side..it’s so great for detail work with a color corrector. Would buy again!"
Tarte Concealer Paw Brush
If you have sensitive eyes and skin like I do, then you know how important it is to have a concealer brush crafted with gentle bristles. The Concealer Paw Brush by Tarte has bristles that are soft on the skin and angled, making it easy for you to apply concealer seamlessly with tapping or sweeping motions. I like to tuck this one away in my bag when I'm on the go for easy access.
Pros: Paw-shaped brush allows for customizable coverage.
Cons: None.
Customer Review: "This brush is all kinds of awesome! It conceals perfectly and is especially good for the under eye area. The bristles are soft and dense, making for excellent coverage."
Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Concealer Brush
Here's another concealer brush with a unique angled shape that allows for unparalleled application and blend. Over the three months I've had it in my collection, I've noticed the brush picks up the right amount of product every time and distributes it evenly without patchiness or piling.
Pros: Made with patent-pending TRX fiber technology bristles.
Cons: Has a short handle, which makes the brush challenging to control.
Customer Review: "This little brush will become your concealer’s best buddy. I’ve tried it with several different concealers, and it has a phenomenal finish. The bristles are firm but not too harsh for the sensitive under eye area."
Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Concealer Brush
I don't like to spend too much time on my makeup when I have somewhere to go, and this concealer brush makes it possible to get rid of my dark circles in seconds with ultra-precise, synthetic fibers. It can also be used with both cream-based and powdered products.
Pros: Has a flat, wide surface ideal for applying concealer to larger areas.
Cons: None.
Customer Review: "I love these brushes. I did not think it would work as well as your last camouflage brush (which I have used for at least 30 years!), but I am pleasantly surprised that it is even better. I am sure I will be purchasing this particular brush many times in the future."
SheGlam Glam 101 Eye Essentials Brush Set
What's better than one brush that can conceal? Multiple brushes that can get the job done, like the ones included in SheGlam's Glam 101 Eye Essentials Brush Set. The set features four essential double-sided brushes that can be used for everything from covering dark circles and fine lines under the eye to creating bold eye shadow looks.
Pros: Brushes can be used for every step of your makeup routine.
Cons: None.
Customer Review: "The brushes are amazing. They come in a nice little pouch that you can take with you anywhere. There is a brush for every part of my make up routine in there, and it makes it so much easier and quicker for me to do my makeup."
Shopping for a Concealer Brush
As for any beauty tool, there are a few things to consider while shopping for a concealer brush—because why would you want to invest in one that doesn't meet your standards? We tapped co-founder and CEO of Ciele and celebrity makeup artist Nikki DeRoest for guidance on what to look for while browsing beauty retailers online or in person. "I usually go for a fluffy blending brush—one that you typically see for eye shadows," she begins. "I want to be able to blend and blur concealer into the skin for concealing under the eyes or fine lines instead of packing it on with a flat, dense bristles. Throw out the old idea of what concealer brushes used to look like 10 years ago."
How to Apply Under-Eye Concealer With a Brush
Makeup artists also have a few tips for us when it comes to applying under-eye concealer. Talias says, "The trick to applying concealer with a brush is to use a very small amount of concealer and start on the inner corner of the eye where there is typically the most darkness, applying the product in a stamping motion," she says. "Working the concealer into the skin in this way ensures you get maximum coverage with the least amount of product. Too much concealer under the eye will crease and actually accentuate dry skin."
Kaye also has another key tip to ensure flawless application. "When applying concealer with a brush, don't swipe the product back and forth, as it will cause it to disappear. Pat the product on with the brush!" Lastly, DeRoest tells us her secret to pulling off an even, airbrushed look under the eyes. "Apply the concealer to the back of your hand, blend the product into your brush first (called priming the brush), and then apply the concealer to your skin," she says. You'll get more of a seamless coverage and have the ability to layer as needed, preventing creasing, fine lines, and wrinkles.
Makeup Sponges vs. Concealer Brushes
The best concealer brushes can provide more precise coverage than sponges, especially for cream- and powder-based products. Sponges are great for a lighter, airbrushed finish, especially when damp. If you're looking to conceal dark circles or under-eye bags, a brush can also provide more controlled application and more product application than a sponge. While there are many ways people use concealers, DeRoest recommends using Ciele Cosmetics' brushes that are designed specifically to give you results for specific areas of the skin (especially The Concealer and The Blending Brush).
"I use two methods for myself: a brush under the eyes and a sponge on my sunspots. I want more coverage there and prefer stamping the concealer over those spots rather than brushing over them. Both can and will give you a flawless application," she says. While deciding on which tool will serve the purpose, DeRoest also encourages consumers to consider their skin type in some cases. "If you have large pores and are concealing around or on the nose, you may want to use a sponge so you can bounce and press the product onto the skin instead of swiping it—which might not conceal and fill the pores the way you'd like it to."
This article was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
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