The 12 Drugstore Concealers, Editor Approved

Similar to shopping for foundation, finding the perfect concealer shade is extremely important. Understanding your undertones will help you pick the best option for under-eye brightening, seamless contouring, and spot-concealing impurities. Celebrity makeup artist Allison Kaye suggests doing the concealer test.

“When looking for a concealer, swatch it on the back of your hand to make sure it looks even and smooth, and then run it under water for a waterproof test,” she says. This ensures your concealer will stay put throughout the day and won’t settle into fine lines or enhance the appearance of skin texture.

“You can choose the shade depending on what your goal is. If you want to just simply cover, choose a shade that matches your skin tone or foundation. If you want to cover, brighten, and create a contoured effect, choose a concealer 1-2 shades lighter than your skin tone/ foundation,” Kaye explains.

Allison Kaye, Fort Lauderdale-based celebrity makeup artist

Kirin Bhatty, Los Angeles-based celebrity makeup artist

Nerisha Penrose is the Beauty Commerce Editor at ELLE.com. Since joining ELLE.com in 2017, she has interviewed countless skincare professionals and has personally tested the latest and greatest products across makeup, skincare, and hair care.