How To Pick the Best L’Oréal Concealer for Your Skin

Foundation is typically considered the holy grail of base makeup, but we’d argue that concealer is just as important. Whether you want to brighten tired-looking eyes or need help covering stubborn blemishes, concealer is often the ticket to a flawless-looking base. But in order to find the best concealer for your routine, it’s important to consider your needs, as different formulas serve different purposes. Here, we’re explaining how to differentiate between different types of concealers and sharing a look at some of the best L’Oréal concealers worth adding to your cart. Keep reading for the scoop and get ready to find your L’Oréal concealer match.

Why Choosing the Right Concealer Matters

There are several different types of concealer, with finishes ranging from matte to dewy. While each has its benefits, it’s important to choose the right one for your skin type and makeup look to ensure a natural-looking result. Here are a few factors to consider when shopping for your next concealer:

Finish: Generally speaking, matte-finish concealers are best suited for those with oily skin, as they won’t leave the skin slick or shiny-looking. If your skin is on the drier side, radiant concealers may be a better pick—these can help to make your skin look hydrated and healthy-looking. Natural-finish concealers, meanwhile, work well for everybody, as they’re neither overtly matte nor obviously luminous.

Coverage: Different concealer types also offer varying levels of coverage. Full-coverage concealers are intensely pigmented and tend to be best for more glam makeup looks (or areas where you need a lot of coverage). If you simply want help brightening and evening out your skin but want to keep things looking natural, a sheer or buildable-coverage concealer might work better for you.

Formula: Concealers are usually either creams or liquids. The main difference between a liquid vs. cream concealer is consistency: creams are thicker, while liquids are more fluid and spreadable. Both can work well for a range of skin types, so your preferences are what matter most here.

Shade match: Choosing the right concealer shade is a must—anything too bright or too dark will likely result in an unnatural look. If you’re wondering how to find your concealer shade match, we suggest checking out How To Choose a Concealer Shade.

Which L’Oréal Concealer Is Right For You?

At L’Oréal Paris, we have several concealers designed for different skin types and needs. Keep reading to learn about our favorite formulas to use to camouflage blemishes, dark spots, and more.

L’Oréal Paris Infallible Skin Ink Foundcealer

Coverage: Buildable coverage

Finish: Matte

Best for: Long-lasting coverage that won’t budge, fade, or transfer

Truly long-lasting wear is something of a unicorn: a lot of products are advertised as being waterproof or smudge-resistant, but few actually hold up to those claims. This light-as-air concealer, however, delivers. The patented formula provides up to 48 hours of waterproof, sweatproof, and humidity-proof wear, all while remaining undetectable on the skin. We also love that the unique formula provides customizable coverage and comes with a dual-ended applicator for application on different areas. Use the precise tip to apply concealer to smaller areas of concern or use the wide applicator to smooth the formula onto your entire face and blend for an all-over flawless matte finish—no foundation needed.

L’Oréal Paris True Match Radiant Serum Concealer

Coverage: Medium coverage

Finish: Radiant

Best for: Under-eye circles and puffiness

Makeup may not be able to make you feel more awake after a late night, but this concealer can help you look the part. The medium-coverage formula contains hyaluronic acid and caffeine and helps de-puff tired-looking eyes while neutralizing the appearance of those telltale dark circles. It has a hydrating formula that won’t settle into fine lines, and the radiant finish is perfect for faking a bright-eyed look. Though we tend to reach for it when covering up dark circles, the multitasking formula can also be used to camouflage blemishes, conceal dark spots, or even contour your face (for the latter, just use a shade slightly darker than your skin).

L’Oréal Paris Infallible Full Wear Concealer Up to 24H Full Coverage

Coverage: Full

Finish: Matte

Best for: Covering imperfections, including redness, bruises, and scars

Sometimes, you need a concealer that doesn’t just improve the look of imperfections, but completely covers them. In those moments, we suggest reaching for this high-performance formula. The concealer is ultra-pigmented and delivers full, matte coverage to disguise pesky blemishes, dark spots, and redness (it can even be used on the body to hide bruises, veins, and stretch marks). Because the concealer is so pigmented, a little goes a long way—we recommend starting with less than you think you need and blending it out before adding more. Once it sets, you’ll enjoy up to 24 hours of crease-free, transfer-resistant coverage.

Next Up: How To Use Concealer As Foundation

Photo courtesy of L’Oréal Paris