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When it comes to the best drugstore concealers, the classics (hey, Instant Age Rewind) are likely the first name that pops into your head, but it's far from being the only standout. There are plenty of other budget-friendly concealers that deliver seriously impressive coverage and cost as little as $6, but perform like luxury formulas that are eight times the price. Recommended by pro makeup artists and Allure editors alike, these under-$20 picks blur imperfections, brighten tired eyes, and leave your skin looking flawless, all without breaking the bank. Next time you're stocking up on essentials, don't skip the makeup aisle and pick up one (or maybe two or three?) of our favorite drugstore concealers for a base that just won't quit.
Why it's worth it: When you have a packed day of meetings or a big event like a wedding, you need a concealer that won't budge, and L'Oréal Paris' Infallible Full Wear Waterproof Concealer has impressive staying power. This waterproof formula never once creased or crumbled throughout the day -- and yes, it passed the tear test, too. The large doe-foot applicator covers larger areas with fewer strokes, meaning one swipe easily masks dark circles. This formula has a matte finish, so it doesn't get shiny throughout the day, but you can always set it with powder for extra insurance.
Why it's worth it: Nyx Professional Makeup's Bare With Me Concealer Serum is a very well-rounded pick, thanks to its serum-like texture, hydrating ingredients, and skin-like finish. It offers light-to-medium coverage that feels incredibly lightweight on the skin and is easily buildable. But no matter how many layers you pack on, it still looks natural and leaves behind a healthy, radiant glow. The skin-care-forward formula, however, really wowed our editors: Moisturizing and calming ingredients like tremella mushroom, Centella asiatica (a.k.a. cica), and green tea help soothe and repair skin.
Why it's worth it: The undereye area is usually the first place to show signs of aging or just general exhaustion, which is why having a concealer made specifically for that delicate skin really makes a difference. Maybelline New York's Instant Age Rewind Concealer is a total OG in the drugstore world and wins major points for its ability to hydrate, cover, and correct all at once. The formula is packed with ingredients like goji berry extract and haloxyl, which offer antioxidant benefits for the skin to help visibly brighten dark circles over time. The sponge-tip applicator makes application super easy and mess-free, and helps you control how much product you use.
NYC-based makeup artist Karol Rodriguez is also a fan of this concealer, saying, "The shade range is inclusive, and they have color correctors for all skin tones in the same formula, which takes out the guessing game if you have discoloration." Pro tip: Go one shade lighter to instantly brighten and lift your undereye area.
Why it's worth it: Don't let the thick texture of E.L.F. Cosmetics' 16HR Camo Concealer intimidate you. It goes on surprisingly smoothly, feels like nothing on the skin, and never looks heavy or cakey. One swipe is enough to cover anything from dark undereyes to melasma (a little goes a long way), but it also layers well to disguise red, swollen blemishes. Our editors are impressed by how well it held up through a full day without letting up on coverage. The only catch is that it dries fast once it hits your skin, so you'll want to blend quickly before it sets.
Why it's worth it: All of the picks on this list are affordable, but L.A. Girl's Concealer is hands-down the biggest wallet-saver of them all. That said, the formula feels anything but cheap: Its dewy, skin-like finish is so luxurious and surprisingly doesn't crease after a long day of wear. While it comes with a built-in brush applicator, you'll want to tap the product in with your fingers or another brush for a seamless, airbrushed look. Most impressively, this $6 steal comes in 48 shades (though those include color-correctors and highlighters) and offers buildable coverage that lasts all day.
Why it's worth it: Another serum-infused concealer, Morphe's Wakeup Artist Under Eye Concealer earns its name as one of the most brightening formulas at the drugstore. Packed with arnica, sweet potato extract, tremella mushroom, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin, it helps hydrate, smooth, and visibly brighten tired undereyes. (In other words, it fakes the effect of eight hours of sleep, even if you only managed five.) Wakeup Artist is lightweight and buttery on first swipe, but builds up beautifully if you're looking for more coverage. Bonus: The shade range includes color-correctors to neutralize redness, dullness, or dark circles.
Why it's worth it: While dehydration, fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots naturally come with getting older, you still have all the permission in the world to give yourself a break from what's bugging you. That's where CoverGirl's Simply Ageless Triple Action Concealer comes in handy because it's packed with hydrating hyaluronic acid, plus vitamin C and niacinamide to hydrate, brighten, and smooth extra delicate mature undereyes. The contoured applicator blends product effortlessly into the skin without creasing or clinging to texture, and the cooling ceramic wand helps gently depuff tired-looking eyes. Our one complaint is that we wish it came in more than 10 shades to suit a wider range of skin tones and undertones.
When looking for a drugstore concealer, Rodriguez says you should know your goal before shopping. "Then, you can work backwards and find the concealer that is suited towards that," they say. "For example, if you love a no-makeup-makeup look, Maybelline New York's Instant Age Rewind has a more radiant finish," so that might be a better choice than a thicker, full-coverage formula like the E.L.F 16HR Camo Concealer. If you like using your fingers to apply your product, Rodriguez says something waxy that needs a little warmth to blend in will be your best bet. It's all about preference.
Aside from CoverGirl's Simply Ageless Triple Action Concealer, Rodriguez says Instant Age Rewind is one of their favorite formulas for mature clients because of how skin-like the formula is. "Mature skin thrives with radiant, light-reflecting formulas that bounce light off of the skin," they say. "A drier, more matte formula is going to make mature skin appear more creasy, since mature skin already tends to struggle with dullness and lack of vibrancy." Rodriguez adds that you want to avoid layering too much product, as it will sink into creases and make the skin look heavy, especially since mature skin is naturally thinner. "Work in light layers, tapping where you want coverage and allowing the concealer to set before applying more."
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that's included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of the best drugstore concealers, we considered each product's performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors -- along with special consideration from makeup artists, dermatologists, and cosmetic chemists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
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