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Posted: 2023-03-14T09:45:02Z | Updated: 2023-03-14T09:45:02Z The Best Concealers For Anyone Who Doesn't Like The Look Of Makeup | HuffPost Life

The Best Concealers For Anyone Who Doesn't Like The Look Of Makeup

Get the look that one influencer described as fresh and ready but not complex with the help of these lightweight formulas.
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Whether you want to cover a single blemish, mask under-eye circles or brighten your whole T-zone, concealer is an easy, versatile product that shouldn’t make you feel (or look) overly done-up. However, the wrong formula can appear cake-like or heavy on your face. That’s why it’s crucial to find user-endorsed products that make your skin look like it’s totally product-free (even when it isn’t).

When doing a “no makeup” makeup look, beauty content creator  Layal Assi says she gravitates towards full-coverage concealers to minimize the need for foundation. For Assi, less foundation means less setting powder, making both her morning routine and finished face simpler. 

“The ‘no makeup’ makeup look is essentially a message of ‘I’m fresh and ready but not complex,’” said fellow beauty content creator Isdianys Araujo , calling concealer one of the “key pieces” to the look.

Brett Freedman , a Los Angeles-based celebrity makeup artist, said the area around around your eyes has a super high concentration of blood vessel with some of the thinnest skin on your body. If you’re trying to cover dark circles or capillaries, he suggests going for a fuller coverage formula — but only on the dark or red places. 

“You really want to have an even tone all over into the eye area,” Freedman told HuffPost. “Placement is crucial. No big jumps that distract from the eyes... which should be the focus.”

To help you achieve the “no makeup” makeup look or to truly give you makeup that doesn’t feel like makeup, we asked Assi, Araujo, Freedman and other makeup artists and beauty content creators about the best easy-to-wear and discrete concealers. For every option, we included a review from someone who  doesn’t like to wear a lot of makeup, or who doesn’t like to look like they’re wearing a lot of makeup. Whichever category you fall into, we think you’ll love this list. 

HuffPost receives a share from retailers on this page. Every item is independently selected by the HuffPost Shopping team. Prices and availability are subject to change.

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Most beloved drugstore option: Maybelline Instant Age Rewind concealer
When asked about the best concealers, especially for people who don't wear a lot of makeup, Freedman and two other beauty content creators immediately cited the budget-friendly Maybelline Instant Age Rewind.

"Maybelline Instant Age Rewind is a classic and has been a favorite since I first started wearing makeup in high school," said beauty TikTokker Lauren Peters . "It's perfect for covering dark circles and hyperpigmentation under the eyes."

Plus-size fashion and beauty content creator Ashley Lopez said she's used the product for over 10 years. "Its lightweight, hydrating and brightens under the eyes so much," she said, "not to mention super affordable so its a staple in my makeup collection."

Promising review: "I am 52 and I have dark, what looks like bruising to the inside corners of my eyes which I've had for years. I think it's from my glasses. I can't really find anything that covers without putting on a lot of crap and I don't like wearing a lot of makeup. This does a really good job of concealing the darkness and really brightens my eye area. Feels good on the skin, very soft to the touch, doesn't settle in my wrinkles and I'm very happy with it." Paula Filius
2
Most beloved high-end option: Nars Radiant Creamy concealer
Three beauty content creators named Nars Radiant Creamy concealer as a good luxury option. Peters suggested it because "it's on the lighter coverage side, has the largest shade range, and doesn't settle into your fine lines."

While it looks great on its own, Assi said the formula builds well if you're wearing other makeup. "It comes in so many shades which makes it easy to spot-conceal while it still looks like one with my skin," Assi told HuffPost.

Beauty and fashion content creator Carobi Parada said Nars "never creases under my eyes and gives me the most beautiful coverage."

Promising review: "Great coverage! I normally dont wear a lot of makeup and this concealer is light weight and hides blemishes! Compact size is easy to bring everywhere!" Lindsay robinson
3
For acne-prone or sensitive skin: Elf Hydrating Camo concealer
Lavinia Rusanda , a beauty and skin-positive content creator , loves the budget-friendly Elf Hydrating Camo concealer for acne-prone and sensitive skin.

"It works great on my dry and sensitive skin to not emphasize my texture more," Rusanda said. "Lightweight on my acne and buildable coverage so I can decide if I still want my spots to peak through or not! Breathable and doesn't make me break out. I love highlighting the center of my skin with this concealer and letting the rest of my skin shine!"

Promising review: "I have eczema, acne, and seborrheic dermatitis. this triggers none of them. works great for spots and under eye darkness. use less than you think you need." frank
4
For no-foundation days: NYX Bare With Me
For super minimal makeup, Peters recommended NYX Bare With Me. "It provides the coverage without feeling cakey," she said. "My go-to concealer on a no-foundation day."

Araujo called it "extremely hydrating, also lightweight." "It's suitable for all skin types and is perfect for everyday makeup looks," she told HuffPost.


Promising review: "Whats not to love about this concealer? The pump makes controlling the amount used easy. It blends seamlessly with fingers, sponge or brush. Doesnt crease on my dry, mature skin. Its perfect for those no makeup days. Im in love! Nyx, please dont discontinue this!" cam29
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Easiest to apply: Urban Decay Quickie concealer
Rusanda loves Urban Decay's Quickie concealer for how easy it is to tap on the skin with its built-in brush.

"Amazing medium-to-buildable-coverage concealer and perfect for on the go," she said. "I love this for a quick routine in the morning or when I am out and about. It looks so natural on the skin."

Promising review: "Absolutely LOVE this concealer! I love how full coverage it is, but doesnt look cakey AT ALL!! I got the shade 30NN & I absolutely love the undertone & shade! Its perfect! This has very quickly become a new fave! If you love concealers, this is a MUST HAVE! You wont be disappointed!!" Jen81981
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For buildable coverage: Dior Forever Skin Correct
If you're looking to really treat yourself, Araujo recommended Dior's Forever Skin Correct, calling it a "must."

"It offers full but buildable coverage; best of all is that just in a single sweep it covers not only redness but conceals under-eye circles with no transfer," she said.

Promising review: "I think this is my perfect concealer. The undertone, the coverage, the finish. It is not drying and while its full coverage, it still manages to look natural. Absolutely LOVE IT." amberd233
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For a skin-like finish: Kosas Revealer concealer
Susan Zeytuntsyan , a professional make-up artist in Los Angeles, recommends Kosas' Revealer Concealer.

"A little goes a long way and it provides great coverage without feeling or looking heavy. I also love that it's not drying and has a very natural, skin-like finish," Zeytuntsyan said.

Promising review: "I love love love this stuff! I have a hard time finding the right shade but this is perfect. A little goes a long way. I use this instead of a full face of foundation. It blends out effortlessly and leave a natural skin finish. Stays on through stress sweat and touchy-feely kids. Its my favorite product rn, Ive been using it for about 3 months. I highly suggest yall give it a try. Creamy, full coverage, blends like a dream, great for no-makeup makeup AND a full beat! Im picky With my products and have been on this new journey to find what makeup products work for me as I get back into the work force. This is officially a staple." Hannah
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Or, for blurring your skin: Hourglass Vanish Airbrush concealer
If you're going for the glass skin look, Lopez says Hourglass's Vanish Airbrush concealer is it. "If you want fuller coverage that melts into the skin, the Hourglass Vanish concealer is your girl," Lopez said. "It covers anything you need, wont crease and blurs skin texture while still looking like skin."

Promising review: "I am very picky about cancelers and this one is my favorite! This product is high coverage but makes your skin look flawless. It's creamy, but not too thick that it will crease and look weird. This concealer would be amazing for you wether you're looking for a natural makeup look, or a full face. It definitely lives up to its price!" LanieParr

Before You Go

Loved Makeup Sponges That Are Cheaper Than The Beauty Blender
Real Techniques sponges(01 of09)
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The Real Techniques blending sponge is possibly one of the best-known Beauty Blender alternatives. This vegan, cruelty- and latex-free sponge can be used wet for the most flawless airbrushed finish or dry for fuller coverage. It features round sides to blend larger areas, a flat edge great for contouring and a precision tip to reach around the nose and under the eye.

Promising Amazon review: "I've tried real Beauty Blenders and I've tried cheap imitators. Of course, real Beauty Blenders are great, but they're a bit pricey for my taste. I mean come on, it's a makeup sponge. After my first few Beauty Blenders needed replacing, I decided to start buying knockoffs instead. I quickly realized that maybe it's not 'just a sponge' like I thought. I had sponges that ripped, some that smelled horrible, and several that literally left a sponge pattern on my face. Each one went right into the trash before long. I was on the verge of going back to Beauty Blenders when I decided to give an alternate brand one last try. I bought this set from Real Techniques and I'm so glad I did. They are GREAT. I use one damp and one dry during my makeup routine, so a two pack for this price that works great makes me a happy girl. When used damp, foundation goes on soft, airy, and even. I use it with a buildable foundation and it keeps it from going on cakey and thick. But the best thing about these sponges is that they are cheap enough that I can toss them without hating myself when they get too discolored from repeated use." H Victorious
(credit:Amazon)
Sephora Collection angled sponge(02 of09)
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Sephora's take on a Beauty Blender rival is made with 60% plant-based materials and comes in a recyclable, ventilated base that doubles as a drying stand. The classic egg shape is supplemented with an angled side ideal for targeted coverage along hard-to-reach areas of the face.

Promising Sephora reviews: "I absolutely love this sponge. It's super soft and the angled tip makes it so easy to apply concealer on the inner corners of my eyes. I also use the Beauty Blender but I'd say this one is better and you can't beat the price." xminnna

"I like this more than the actual Beauty Blender brand. Allows makeup to go on full coverage and is also good for applying powder." justineeex3
(credit:Sephora)
Beakey's 5-pack of makeup sponges(03 of09)
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This 5-pack of soft and bouncy sponges won't soak up all your liquid and cream products and mimics the exact shape of the Beauty Blender: a round body and a pointed precision tip.

Promising Amazon reviews: "These blenders are so squishy and soft an exact dupe for the Beauty Blender brand!" Crystal

"I just received my purchase and had to test this out right away!! Im a makeup artist so having multiple blending sponges is a must! First, wowza, these are super soft. They dont feel rubbery, they bounce when applying foundation and leave a flawless application! Ill be purchasing more so I have a full stock for wedding season!!" Nancy
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Aesthetica beauty sponge(04 of09)
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In addition to offering the same flawless blending and multi-functional capabilities, Aesthetica's black sponge makes it easier to see how much product you're applying and that there's no remnants of product left after you wash it.

Promising Amazon reviews: "Great price, feels like [the] name brand. Does not absorb makeup like cheaper ones usually do. This will be my new go-to when I need a new Beauty Blender instead of spending $20 on a pink sponge for sure." Stephanie Cunningham

"I've been buying Beauty Blenders for years, I had eight of them, some got tossed, they kept falling apart and they just didn't last me that long. They also took forever to clean. BUT... talking about this beauty Sponge, it's amazing, it's easy to clean, it applies makeup wonderfully on to the skin and you can use it with powder and it still does an amazing job. My makeup looks just as if you were to use a Beauty Blender and I honestly think this is such an affordable product that I would very much recommend to anyone who's looking for an alternative beauty product even for luxurious foundations, this applies beautifully to the canvas." Honest reviews only
(credit:Amazon)
Juno & Co. velvet makeup sponge(05 of09)
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This microfiber makeup sponge has a unique velvet texture that can be used with both wet and dry products to create sheer-to-full coverage. Thanks to the microscopic microfiber coating, products won't get completely absorbed by the sponge and wasted.

Promising Target review: "This beats beauty blender 1000%. It blended my foundation beautifully without sucking the majority of the product. I used to use a brush for foundation and would have to dab a couple more drops of foundation to my finger to cover acne scars. With this sponge, I didnt have to. Huge win. " Fluffcomforterowner
(credit:Target)
E.l.f. under-eye concealer sponge(06 of09)
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The perfect shape and size for concealer application under or around the eye or covering blemishes, this dual-pointed sponge from E.l.f. is soft, latex-free and easy to wash clean.

Promising Amazon review: "Ive had the Beauty Blender and another sponge but this is THE BEST! Its so soft and fits into the tight eye area without affecting areas nearby if you dont want to. I have difficulty with eye primer in the inner eye area with my oily skin but this sponge makes it blend in quickly and easily. And, damp or dry, you can press makeup into the skin without removing anything, creating a flawless application without a lot of effort!" Laurie
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A 6-pack of Paw Paw Wonder Blender sponges(07 of09)
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Made from an ultra-soft latex-free material, these economic sponges are incredibly bouncy and can be used wet to apply foundations and cream products or dry to apply powders and highlighters. They are perfect for delivering a natural to medium-coverage finish.

Promising Amazon review: "Just got them the other day. I used one today to blend my lid concealer and setting powder and it worked great! I have one beauty blender from a year ago and refuse to spend $20 on one sponge. Were paying basically for the name. It got nice and big when wet and its soft, but I think they could be softer. For as many as you get for the price its worth it. They come in a reusable bag which is nice for storing them." Eileen J
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L'Oreal Infallible Blend Artist sponge(08 of09)
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Made from an exclusive plush material, the Infallible Blend Artist sponge has unique rounded edges so that you can roll or bounce product on the skin for seamless blending and uniform coverage.

Promising review: "This is my favorite makeup sponge, I honestly like it just as much as the Beauty Blender and this comes in at such a better price. I also prefer this over the Real Techniques sponges (those have a great texture and can be found even cheaper when the combo packs go on sale, but they irritate my skin somehow), and I also do prefer this over any of the many other brands' 'Beauty Blender' style sponges I've tried. The L'Oreal one looks like maybe it won't be soft enough at first, but when you add water it definitely does expand quite a bit and get softer, and (most importantly) it applies various types of foundation, concealer, and other liquid products really well when damp. It also can handle quite a few deep cleanings before it starts developing small tears, as long as you're mindful of your fingernails. It's definitely worth trying one at the Amazon price." C. Rose
(credit:Amazon)
Wet N Wild makeup sponge(09 of09)
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Wet N Wild's sponge is made from a soft polyurethane foam and promises to deliver a streak-free, blurred and effortless makeup application. It also features a flat angled edge as well as the precision tip and rounded bottom.

Promising Target reviews: "This works just as well as the Beauty Blender brand for a fraction of the price. It gives such a beautiful finish." chronichails

"This is the best makeup blending sponge for the price. Make sure to get it wet first. Ive tried other drugstore sponges that were too hard or too soft, but this one is perfect." xoxoallisonrae
(credit:Target)

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