Oh, the scourge of dark circles… They plague me! No matter how much sleep I get, I just can’t seem to get rid of ’em.
And it turns out I’m not the only one (who knew?). Last week I put out a call for your favorite concealers to hide dark circles, and almost a hundred of you answered! Tabs tallied the votes, and here are the top five.
This creamy concealer has been my absolute personal favorite for a while, and the votes showed it’s one of your favorites, too. Able to (almost) completely cover my dark circles, it’s also able to work that magic without looking heavy or obvious, and it lasts throughout the day with nary a crease. $18, available in six shades. [Grab it…]
A friend of mine over at YSL once told me they sell a tube of this cult classic highlighter every six seconds. SIX SECONDS! That’s 14,400 per day… Not surprisingly, the product’s earned beauty awards up the wazoo. $40, available in four shades. [Grab it…]
Bobbi Brown Corrector is actually supposed to be layered beneath other concealers for a little extra oomph. It’s a helper product designed to treat uber-dark circles by adding extra coverage. $22, available in 12 colors. [Grab it…]
This concealer duo comes with two shades you can custom blend for best results. Fans love how well it blends, how smooth it feels and that it doesn’t settle into fine lines. $28, available in five shades. [Grab it…]
A creamy, all-in-one concealer AND brightener, Benefit Erase Paste is a peachy pink-toned concealer with a touch of shimmer. I’ve tried it before and didn’t feel like it had enough coverage for me, but die-hards absolutely swear by it. $26, available in three shades. [Grab it…]
Have you tried any or many of these top five? If you have a favorite that didn’t make the list, let me know in the comments.
Now it’s time to cast a vote for the best of the best. Which will take the dark circle-eliminating crown?
Loading ...Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
After I replied to your post asking for the best concealer, ive made a more conscious effort to conceal everyday.
It does make a diff – my face looks brighter!!!
Huge, right?
I think I need to treat myself to some of these. I’m a little worked up about my birthday and need a pick-me-up.
Every woman always needs pick me ups during that time — id say go for it! 🙂
I love Time Balm but whenever I go to Sephora, I always visit the Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage. I want that one so bad! 😀
ive never had to use concealer but maybe one day i will! i heard lemon aid from benefit works great! its for eye lids lol and its a eyeshadow primer too!
.-= candace’s last blog post… stuffed zucchini. =-.
I’ve tried it before and it wasn’t for me…it turned my lids gray!
For some girls I’ve heard it’s a miracle worker, though!
I’m loving maybelline dream mousse concealer! I have pathetic dark circles and this concealer covers it beautifully!! and it lasts throughout the day, no creasing, no cakey effect…..love love love it!!
That one was mentioned in the last post but didn’t make the final cut. I’ll have to try it some day!
i second the maybelline dream mousse! i’m a pale redhead with bluish circles under my eyes and that stuff works better than anything i’ve tried.
I currently use the BB concealer alone… I know, I know! But what would you recommend layering over it? I usually just apply my Bare Minerals powder with the concealer brush… Am tempted to try the Time Balm because I have seriously problem circles.
I love Benefit’s Erase Paste. I mix it with Stay Don’t Stray and it totally brightens up my undereyes!
Big *hugs* for your birthday – You rock, and every day you’re alive, you rock more!
I can’t vote in this poll, as I’ve only tried one of the concealers – the LM Undercover Pot (I bought the sample bag thing at Sephora and OMG IN LOVE! I may have to buy another one of the sample bags so I have a set of the TM and primer that can fly (or stay at school in my “emergency” makeup bag).
I use the BB corrector and love it, but it simply balances the dark circles. In order to bring the brightness needed to combat the look of tired eyes it should be used with a concealer over it. An added step, yes, but well worth it!
What do you use?
.-= Natasha’s last blog post… Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner =-.
I have been on a journey over a year, looking for the perfect concealer. I found it in a brand that I would have never though of. Karen, it’s Armani Master corrector. It does not crease at all, and it’s all I ever hoped she would be! I also use her with Kiehls avocado cream. Just wanted to let you know about this gem, and if you ever did a review it would great to share with the gals =)
OMG!! I have the bobbi brown corrector…BEST concealer ever!! then i read your past blog about the time balm, so i just recently bought that, this past wkend, and have been using it everyday and i totally love it!! both are really good, but i think i prefer the time balm better, it’s not as creamy as the bobbi brown one, so it doesn’t look like it’ll melt off my face after an hr in the sun. but still LOVE them both!
I love Thebalm concealer! I don’t know if you already have this info but itsa great time to try it if you haven’t.. The entire site is 30% off if you use coupon code “luckybreaks8” when you check out! Plus its free shipping! Oh, and the website is “www.thebalm.com” ! I like a few of their other stuff too even though they don’t have much of a selection.
BB is fantastic! We find Touche Eclat works really well layered on top, but the coverage is a bit too sheer for our liking when worn alone. Laura Mercier is next on our (never ending) list…
xx
p.s – this is our first comment. We’ve been reading your website for so long and absolutely love it! Sorry it’s taken us so long to pipe up!
Benefit’s erase paste is great for brightening dark under eye circles, but their boi-ing concealer is even better. You can use boi-ing anywhere on your face, it blends well, doesn’t get cakey, and covers everything. Even better? It’s only $18!
http://www.benefitcosmetics.com/gp/product/B00021AIFE/?ext_id=HP10_champ_053110_toboiing
i’m a boing-er too! fell in love with it via the realness of concealness palette & ended up getting a full size. a lil goes a loooong way for a looong time and it hold up well in humidity.
i ALSO love my boi-ing. it’s great (even covered a horrific black eye!) but it only comes in 3 colors BOOOO
I like the following for dark circles:
(All smashbox items)
Photo Op Liquid
Photo Op solid
New SB PRO concealer
.-= Bunny Masseuse’s last blog post… Some neat links from recent web-browsing for my readers! =-.
I have tried Laura Mercier and Erase Paste while they are really amazing they just didn’t do as they promised and cover them completely, I always seem to go for my Clinique All About Eyes, it gets a lot of crap lol but if you have the right undereye moisturizer It seem to not crease as much and it gives a really full coverage, I can only see them when I look down. Until I find that one that does the “look down” test AAE is my all time fav.
I’m on my third pot of Bobbi Brown’s concealer and recommend it to everyone I know. I refuse to even try anything else anymore!
I’ve been using Olay eye cream with a “touch of concealer” for about a year now and it helped permanently reduce my under eye circles! I still need a little help, and as a new Laura Mercier fan, I think this concealer is calling my name!
.-= Celine’s last blog post… maravi: A trip to McDonald’s should help the stomach flu #fail. =-.
Thanks! I’m kinda lazy when it comes to concealer, but I need dark circle coverage! My mother loves YSL and I just read Salma Hayek uses it as well so I think I will have to try it =)
.-= Cassandra’s last blog post… My Lashes =-.
My concealer of choice right now is The Balm Time Balm. That stuff rocks. I also like the BB one which I have tried in the past but I can’t recall why I didn’t repurchase it.
.-= marisol’s last blog post… Abandonment issues =-.
I think Time Balm by The Balm is really the BOMB, though I do wish they have more colour selection. My next favourite is MAC Studio Sculpt concealer.
.-= amy’s last blog post… A “Secret†Sale at Pacifica Perfumes for Bella Koola Readers =-.
I have had great luck with Almay Bright Eyes. It works amazingly well, especially for a $10 product I can get at the grocery store. No creasing, migrating, or smudging–even in the heat!
Definitely 5 popular favourites. Which of these do you think work best for dry skin? My undereye area is a serious dry zone!
.-= Angela’s last blog post… Angela, what’s with the not-posting? =-.
ever since i tried the balm’s time balm.. i’ve stopped my search for concealers… but i have heard so many good things about all of the other 4 that i am now super tempted to go give them a try! i especially want to test out BB’s corrector & benefit’s erase paste because they have more of a pinky salmon tone to it which i heard makes a BIG difference! 😀
.-= Agnes’s last blog post… New Love ♥ Green Nail Polish + Chanel Jade dupe? =-.
Neutrogena makes a product like that YSL tube. I picked it up a few weeks ago when it was on sale at ULTA and I think it works well. It’s very light and easy to blend… I don’t like tugging around my undereye so that’s really important for me! I’m going to research some of these and read the reviews, great article. Thanks!
love you for this post…..i guess now my search for a good concealer is over….will grab The Balm
I use one of Laura Mercier’s other concealers. I find it to be very light and it feels really nice on my skin. Never greasy or heavy feeling. I was just at the LM counter the other day and was looking at the duo…but didn’t buy it. I like the fact that it has the two shades so that you can mix and get just the right shade.
.-= Kristen’s last blog post… Chisel Deluxe Fluff =-.
Hi, Karen. From these I’ve tried YSL, Benefit and Laura Mercier. I love them, and they are indeed among the best. But I have to say they don’t compare to my favorite, which is the Dermablend Smooth Concealer. 😉
.-= Renata’s last blog post… Gurus do YouTube =-.
FYI – Lucky magazine had a code for The Balm’s site (thebalm.com) for 30% off. Use code luckybreaks8. I’m not sure how long the code will work, but probably through June at least.
Thanks, Trishket!
touche eclat is my staple in #3. I also use to highlight. love it. #4 is used to contour.
Touch Eclat never really worked for me. Does anyone have any application tips? thanks
Hi Karen! Great article! I wish I had found this sooner! When Max Factor stopped selling in the US, I had to find a new concealer(I was using their Pan Stick for YEARS!). I got Benefit’s boi-ing, but will look into these other ones when that runs out!
When I saw the heading I thought okay I bet I can guess what two of her five are…and I was wayyyy off.
Tell me you have tried Cle De Peau ! I am in love with it! It covers everything but I use it with a #217 MAC Blending brush. It makes it look airbrushed!
My second is the MAC Moisturecover! I cant live without it! When I ordered my last MAC Employee gratis I ordered 9!
.-= Maygan’s last blog post… MayCupChic2- New Blog Post Cool makeup tip I learned today from MAC Senior Artist Fred V- http-maycupchicblogspotcom- =-.
Thanks for this post!! it helped me so much! What is the closest match to NC35 (studio finish concealer) in the time balm concealer??
Well, I have all of them (and many more). but my favourite is by far the Erase Paste. I like that it gives a dewy look, I hate matte undereye concealers, they make my eyes look old, I like it’s salmony (I use nr 2), and, though it creases a little, it fades away nicely. I think I am the only person that hated the Bobbi brown corrector. While the color is perfect and the coverage is great, it doesn’t stay on my skin for more then 5 minutes. Then it fades away in the ugliest way. The Balm is ok, similar to the Kiko concealer (an Italian brand), ysl doesn’t have enough coverage. Laura Mercier is my HG for covering blemishes, discoloration etc, I would be lost without it.