Why You Should Add a Hydrating Serum Concealer to Your Dry Skin Routine

Dealing with dry skin can be frustrating enough on its own. So, watching your concealer emphasize dry, flaky patches might just push you over the edge, tempting you to wash your face and call it a day. But there’s no need to throw in the towel on your makeup look just yet: a serum concealer may be the answer to your dry skin woes. This makeup and skincare hybrid is specifically formulated to camouflage dark circles, blemishes, and other imperfections while hydrating your skin, too. Ahead, we’re sharing our best hydrating concealer to add to your makeup bag and explaining how to use it. Keep scrolling for the inside scoop.

Our Best Hydrating Concealer

Let’s cut right to the chase and introduce you to our best concealer for dry skin: L’Oréal Paris True Match Radiant Serum Concealer. This medium-coverage concealer, which contains ingredients like hyaluronic acid and caffeine, corrects like a concealer and hydrates like an eye serum. It offers many skin-enhancing benefits, including neutralizing dark circles, visibly depuffing under-eye bags, and hydrating skin for up to 24 hours. Not to mention, the concealer doesn’t settle into lines, so there’s no need to worry about unwanted creasing from forehead wrinkles or smile and laugh lines.

How To Use a Hydrating Concealer In Your Face Makeup Routine

You can apply a serum concealer just as you would any other formula—under your eyes, on top of blemishes, and over bruises or scars. However, pairing it with other hydrating products can give you the most substantial moisturizing benefits. Here’s an easy step-by-step face makeup routine to try with your hydrating concealer.

Step 1: Prime your face

Like a house with a strong framework, laying a solid base for your makeup sets the stage for everything else. Start by applying your favorite moisturizer and follow it with a makeup primer, which can help increase the longevity of your makeup and keep it from fading. Primers also create an even canvas for the rest of your makeup and can provide skincare benefits depending on the formula.

All skin types can try the L'Oréal Paris Prime Lab OA Pore Minimizer Primer, a silky primer that instantly blurs the appearance of pores and smooths skin over time. Those with mature skin, on the other hand, should consider the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Makeup Blurring Face Primer infused with Serum. It immediately smooths the look of lines, while its universal rosy formula leaves skin with a radiant, healthy-looking finish.

Step 2: Apply your foundation

Next up is foundation. You can keep the hydration vibes going strong by matching your serum concealer with a tinted serum foundation, like L'Oréal Paris True Match Hyaluronic Tinted Serum. Or, for a bit more coverage, you can’t go wrong with L’Oréal Paris True Match Super Blendable Foundation, which covers a skin-like finish and a precise color match..

Editor’s Tip: It’s worth noting that, depending on your desired look and makeup goals, you may want to apply foundation after your hydrating concealer. Flipping these steps around can be beneficial when your look involves contouring. Check out our article, Should You Apply Concealer or Foundation First?, to learn more about what these techniques entail.

Step 3: Add your concealer

Here’s where the magic happens—it’s time to use our best hydrating concealer to make your skin even and glowy. Use the doe-foot applicator to apply the formula directly to any blemishes. You can also apply it in an upside-down triangle under each eye to help disguise the look of under-eye bags and brighten dark circles.

Another underrated use for this radiant serum concealer is a highlighter. Swipe and blend it on the high points of your face where the sun is more likely to illuminate it—on your cheekbones, chin, the top of your forehead, and even down the bridge of your nose.

Regardless of your approach, blend the concealer well using a makeup blender or concealer brush for the most even coverage.

Step 4: Color your cheeks

Blush is a lot like icing—it makes everything sweeter. A pop of color can help define your cheekbones and leave you with a beautiful faux flush. As with the rest of your dry skin routine, it’s important to use a blush with a formula that won’t appear patchy or flaky. We recommend the L’Oréal Paris True Match Blush. Apply it to the apples of your cheeks and blend it up and around your temples for luminous color.

Step 6: Set your look

Give your makeup staying power by finishing your routine with a setting spray. We’re partial to the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Spray and Set Make-Up Oil-Free Setting Spray, a non-comedogenic setting spray for smudge-proof, all-day looks. Shake well, close your eyes, and mist the formula over your complexion in an “X” and “T” formation to ensure every inch of your makeup gets locked in.

Who Should Use Hydrating Concealer?

Anyone looking for extra moisture can add a hydrating serum concealer into their routine. However, those with dehydrated skin or dry under-eyes may see the most visible benefits from this type of product since it won’t exacerbate persistent dryness.

A hydrating concealer is also among the best concealers for mature skin. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), skin becomes thinner and loses its ability to retain moisture as we age. Concealer formulas with skin-plumping ingredients (typically hyaluronic acid or vitamin E) can help restore hydration to the skin and cover-up imperfections without settling into fine lines or crow’s feet.

Last but not least, we highly recommend a serum concealer to multitaskers looking to streamline their makeup routine. You can treat and perfect your skin tone and under-eyes in one fell swoop. Plus, you only need to tote one product around in your purse when you’re on the go—and time and space savers are huge wins in our makeup playbook.

What is Hydrating Concealer Good For?

A hydrating concealer is one of the best concealers for the under-eye area, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. It’s also a great option for anyone who loves using their concealer to do more with their makeup products. They often have light yet creamy formulas that make it easy to contour and highlight your features. Sure, you can use any ‘ol concealer to get these looks, but we love ones that go the extra mile. A hydrating serum concealer can help you achieve your desired makeup look while simultaneously enhancing the overall look and feel of your skin.

For example, since our best hydrating concealer has all the benefits of a serum, it can help keep your skin hydrated for up to 24 hours (even after you remove the product) without settling into fine lines or creases. That means you can contour and highlight to your heart’s desire without fearing a caked-on finish. Be sure to keep a different color concealer on hand when opting for these looks: We recommend choosing a color up to two shades lighter than your foundation for a luminous highlight, then going up to two shades darker to sculpt and enhance your features.

Next Up: How to Find Your Perfect L'Oréal True Match Foundation and Concealer Shades