Dry skin and concealer don't always mix—take it from someone who has combination skin that gets dry more often than not. Although it took me a while to find the right formulas that work for my skin type, I'm happy to report that there are more winners out there on the market than you think.
For starters, those with drier skin will want to look for formulas that provide long-lasting hydration so no pesky cracks, creases, or the dreaded flakes rear their ugly heads. Products with added skincare ingredients like hyaluronic acid, squalane, and shea butter can really help with dryness. You'll probably also want to avoid formulas that mattify since those are likely to make your skin even drier. Don't take my word for it, though. Makeup artists agree and have a few concealer recommendations for dry skin below.
For all their picks and a few of my own favourites that I've tried and keep coming back to, keep scrolling.
The Makeup-Artist Favourites:
1. Dior Forever Skin Correct Full-Coverage Concealer
Pros: Long-wearing, withstands heat and humidity
Cons: Expensive
Key ingredients: Floral extracts, glycerin
Coverage: Full
"This has a serum-like consistency that is perfect for dry skin. It provides lasting coverage and additional hydrating, leaving a beautiful finish on the skin." —Sara Talias, editorial makeup artist
2. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Treatment Concealer
Pros: Affordable, good for under-eyes
Cons: Hard to clean applicator
Key ingredients: Goji berry, glycerin
Coverage: Light
"The Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Treatment Concealer is a tried-and-true formula that creates a thin veil of coverage under the eyes. The light texture provides enough moisture for dry skin and lasts all day." —Talias
3. Kosas Revealer Concealer
Pros: Extensive shade range
Cons: Not very long lasting
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, peptides, caffeine
Coverage: Medium
"The Kosas Revealer Concealer is so dewy and creamy, creating a radiant finish for a dry under-eye area. I love the clean ingredients and the skincare elements. This is a great concealer to dot under eyes during the day." —Talias
4. Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Concealer
Pros: Highly pigmented, waterproof
Cons: Not great for dry skin
Key ingredients: Cica, chamomile
Coverage: Full
"I love the Hourglass Airbrush Concealer. It is so creamy and hydrating for a dry under eye!" — Allison Kaye, celebrity makeup artist
The Beauty-Editor Favourites, Tried and Tested:
5. Estée Lauder Double Wear Radiant Concealer
Pros: Longlasting, transfer-resistant
Cons: Not great for dry skin
Key ingredients: Chia, camelina, and kukui nut oils
Coverage: Medium
You'll no doubt know how Estee Lauder's holy grail Double Wear foundation is one of the best long-wearing foundations out there, but if you're yet to try to the concealer in the range, take this as your sign. It provides medium to full coverage, and offers a radiant finish, making it ideal for both highlighting and concealing.
6. Tarte Shape Tape Ultra Creamy Concealer
Pros: Hydrating, easy to blend
Cons: Large applicator can be hard to use
Key ingredients: Glycerin
Coverage: Full
Tarte's cult-loved formula is my go-to everyday concealer. This particular version of the formula is great for dry skin because it provides the same amount of coverage with a few added hydration boosters like hyaluronic acid, mango butter, prickly pear, avocado butter, and shea butter. I can also personally vouch for the fact that this formula never creases, cracks, or flakes.
7. Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Brightening Concealer
Pros: Hydrating, brightening
Cons: Frequently sold out
Key ingredients: Glycerin, rice extract
Coverage: Medium
Rare Beauty's Liquid Touch Foundation is one of my top formulas, and the concealer of the same name is equally as good. I love that it's so lightweight but locks in serious moisture with a blend of botanical ingredients like sunflower seed oil and lotus flower extract.
8. Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer
Pros: 16 hours of wear, brightens under-eyes
Cons: Not best for covering scarring and blemishes
Key ingredients: Magnolia bark extract, grapeseed extract
Coverage: Medium
A multi-active blend of magnolia bark extract, grape-seed extract, and vitamin E in this formula helps to hydrate, firm, and strengthen the skin barrier, making it a great option for dry, compromised skin.
9. Ilia True Skin Serum Concealer With Vitamin C
Pros: Weightless texture, covers spots and scars
Cons: Can crease under eyes
Key ingredients: Vitamin C, aloe leaf, mastic
Coverage: Medium
If you're a fan of Ilia's cult-loved skin tint, the brand's serum concealer will also be right up your alley. It's infused with nourishing ingredients like vitamin C to brighten, aloe leaf juice, and Albizia Julibrissin bark extract to promote smooth, supple skin.
10. Milk Makeup Future Fluid All Over Medium Coverage Hydrating Concealer
Pros: Long-wear, multitasking
Cons: Small size, runs out quickly
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, caffeine
Coverage: Medium
Milk Makeup's Future Fluid is another creamy formula I love because I've never seen it crease once and it smooths out the skin like no other. That's all thanks to powerhouse ingredients like hyaluronic acid, caffeine, aloe vera, and arnica in the formula that support and protect the skin barrier while adding a serious dose of hydration.
11. E.l.f Cosmetics Hydrating Camo Concealer
Pros: Affordable, extensive shade range
Cons: Oxidises so can appear warmer on skin
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, rose flower water
Coverage: Full
This full-coverage formula from E.l.f. hydrates and soothes the skin with sodium hyaluronate and rose flower water. I've put this product to the test myself as well and really liked it for the price.
12. Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Face and Under-Eye Concealer
Pros: Longlasting, hydrating
Cons: Small size for an expensive price point
Key ingredients: Caffeine, vitamin E, glycerin
Coverage: Full
This is another favourite of mine along with Armani's Luminous Silk Foundation. Both provide such a gorgeous, airbrushed finish on the skin. This concealer also provides up to 24 hours of hydration so you can guarantee it won't crease or look crazy by the end of the night.
13. Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Ultra Longwear Concealer
Pros: Crease-proof, 16 hour wear, suitable for sensitive skin
Cons: Not full coverage
Key ingredients: Green tea, cacao extract
Coverage: Light
Flawless Fusion provides up to 12 hours of crease-resistant wear and contains an exclusive blend of flexible, long-wearing polymers that are transfer-, sweat-, and humidity-resistant. Silk powder and silica also help create a smooth, light-diffusing film on skin that blurs the look of fine lines.
14. Erborian Super BB Concealer
Pros: Longwearing, contains SPF
Cons: Limited shade range
Key ingredients: Ginseng, niacinamide
Coverage: Full
"I'm obsessed with this all-new concealer version of Erborian's best-selling BB cream—perfect for no makeup-makeup days. It works as well for brightening dark circles as it does concealing spots and scarring." - Grace Day, freelance beauty editor
15. Charlotte Tilbury Magic Away Liquid Concealer
Pros: Water-resistant, easy to use
Cons: Small size
Key ingredients: Glycine, Persian silk tree bark extract, wild indigo extract
Coverage: Medium
"If you like a concealer that multitasks as a skin-brightener and sculptor, look no further. This creamy formula is easy to blend, lasts all day (and night), and hydrates skin in the process." - Grace Day, freelance beauty editor
This story was originally posted at an earlier date and has since been updated.
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