The best concealers are capable of oh-so-many things. Some can brighten, while others are the best color correctors. A few cover redness or are capable of decreasing undereye puffiness with a hint of caffeine and a cooling metal applicator. But, as we age, there are added factors to consider when choosing the best foundations for mature skin, the best primers for mature skin, and, of course, the best concealers for mature skin.
They must be lightweight (cakiness is avoidable) and deeply hydrating to prevent the product from settling into little lines around the eyes. Thankfully, the concealer sector, which is expected to be worth a whopping $12 billion by 2031, is constantly releasing new formulations—and revamping existing items to perform at a higher standard.
In the past year, Charlotte Tilbury and Fenty Beauty entered the concealer game for the first time, while Anastasia Beverly Hills and Estée Lauder expanded their current offerings. Of course, brands like NARS and YSL have amassed a cult following (including yours truly, Jennifer Lopez, and Kendall Jenner) for their seemingly magical concealers that work to brighten, conceal, and color correct. Those few just make up the highlight reel.
Read ahead to get the full breakdown on the concealers in my personal collection (I’ve tested well over 100 formulas, FYI) and those loved by makeup artists and celebrities. That's not all, though. We also had four women over 45 put these products to the test—and share their honest thoughts.
The Best Concealers for Mature Skin
- The Best Concealer for Mature Skin Overall: Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Concealer
- The Best Hydrating Concealer for Mature Skin: Sarah Creal Face Flex
- The Best Brightening Concealer for Mature Skin: Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Medium to Full Coverage Radiant Concealer
- The Best Multi-Purpose Concealer for Mature Skin: NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer
A ton of pigment is packed into just a small amount of this natural-finish concealer, making it one of the best for disguising dark circles under the eyes. Two to three dots is all you need to counteract those purple-blue tones. It works so well in fact, it’s Ana de Armas’ red carpet staple. “It’s incredible, and it’s pretty much all I need on my face,” she previously told Who What Wear.
Coverage: Medium
Finish: Natural
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid (hydrating); Dimethicone (smoothing)
What I Love: Great coverage; Celebrity-loved
What I Don't: Can crease slightly
Review for MC: "I normally go for a lighter coverage formula so I don’t end up emphasizing the lines in my under eyes. I’ve learned less is more with older skin,” Mindy tells me during our daily morning phone call. “But I actually really liked the coverage this gave me. It really brightened me up and didn’t settle into my creases throughout the day. My husband even told me I looked more alive at dinner.” — Mindy Holender, 56
Mindy Holender testing Estée Lauder concealer.
If you're in the beauty industry, you know Sarah Creal. She's the product developer who has had her hands in pretty much every big cosmetic line: Victoria Beckham Beauty, Prada, Tom Ford, Bobbi Brown—to name a few. This year, she decided to go out on her own, creating a line specifically for women over 40. The brand's concealer is the unsung hero. It's incredibly hydrating and a little goes an insanely long way; you only need a dot for full coverage benefits.
Coverage: Full
Finish: Velvet
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid (hydrating); Caffeine (depuffing); Aloe leaf extract (soothing
What I Love: Can be used as a foundation too; Brightening
What I Don't: Only 10 shades to choose from
Review for MC: "As hard as I try, it's much harder to maintain a youthful look as I get older. When I wake up, my under-eye area is darker and swollen and needs more help than in the past. I've been using Sarah Creal Face Flex Concealer in the shade "Fair Warm," and its luxurious texture feels smooth and creamy on my skin. It blends easily, sans caking or heaviness, and, as promised by the brand, I can confirm it's perfect for mature skin. Comparing the before-and-after, it significantly improved the appearance of my undereye area and lasted all day. Thanks Sarah, for helping me look my best at 65 years young!" — Jane Petrarca, 65
Jane Petrarca testing the Sarah Creal Concealer.
Think of this product like an eye cream—but with pigment. Packed with hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, this concealer hydrates and brightens the skin as it deposits pigment, ensuring that your texture never looks heavy, dry, or settles into fine lines. Comparable to “shapewear for your face,” according to Tilbury, the radiant finish truly helps lift, contour, and brighten where you need it most. It's truly one of my favorite Charlotte Tilbury products.
Coverage: Full
Finish: Radiant
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid (hydrating); Vitamin C (brightening); Niacinamide (evening)
What I Love: Infused with skincare; Radiant finish
What I Don't: Can separate throughout the day
Review for MC: "I'm a Charlotte girl. Most of my makeup is from her line—I love it, I love it, I love it. Her formulas are the best. I find this concealer to be a bit similar to Cle de Peau in its texture. It has that really creamy, smoothing, and blurring feel. I will say this one is better for short-term wear. I like it for going out to dinner or a big event, but it starts to settle into my lines a bit if I wear it all day." — Mindy Holender, 56
Mindy Holender testing Charlotte Tilbury concealer.
A best-seller at every retailer, a TikTok sensation, and my personal go-to, NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer gets five stars across the board. I apply it almost like a secondary foundation in any area where I need brightness, coverage, or color correction. It gives a subtle glow that seemingly plumps up the skin rather than sinking into it. I even keep a darker hue on hand to use as my bronzer, and the texture is stunning.
Coverage: Medium
Finish: Radiant
Key Ingredients: Vitamin E (soothing); Grape seed oil (hydrating); Light diffusing mineral powder (blurring)
What I Love: Editor-approved; Good for under-eyes and face
What I Don't: Not enough pigment to conceal blemishes
Review for MC: "This is my holy grail. I always come back to it. It's super lightweight, so I don't have to worry about it creasing or caking. Sometimes I'll want a color corrector underneath for extra coverage, but the finish on this is by far the best." — Mindy Holender, 56
Mindy Holender tests NARS concealer.
Other Concealers for Mature Skin I Love
A staple in celebrity makeup artist Shadi Malek's kit, this Bobbi Brown cream concealer is her first pick for on-the-go applications or touch-ups thanks to its stick packaging. The formula inside speaks for itself: It’s creamy, long-wearing, and extremely blendable. You can build up the layers for additional coverage and stay confident that you won’t look cakey, crease, or pill.
Coverage: Medium
Finish: Natural
Key Ingredients: Coffee seed oil (de-puffing)
What I Love: Great for under-eye
What I Don't: Not a wide color selection
Review for MC: "It has a creamy, smooth texture that easily glides on the skin. I use it on the dark circles near my eyes and the edges of my lips. It stays on for a long time, but since it is a stick, I can reapply it quickly if needed. The Bobbi Brown Skin Stick is amazing!" — Darlese, 49
Darlese Robinson wears Bobbi Brown's Concealer Stick in shade Golden.
It's a good sign when you can tell that a concealer was formulated specifically with a mature woman's skin in mind. Such is the case with this Danessa Myricks creation. It contains sodium hyaluronate, which is an ingredient that not only hydrates the skin—but also moves with it, ensuring that the product won't crease as you make facial expressions throughout the day. You'll also find caffeine as a brightening pick me up, and centella asiatica, which will hydrate and soothe redness.
Coverage: Medium
Finish: Natural
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid (hydrating); Vitamin E (soothing); Caffeine (de-puffing
What I Love: Great ingredients like caffeine and centella asiatica; hydrating; not too shiny
What I Don't: Will look cakey if you apply too much; not the most forgiving
Review for MC: "I am pretty low-maintenance (aka lazy) when it comes to concealer, but I may be a believer now. I like the Yummy Skin concealer. The application stick makes it easy and mess-free to apply. Plus, it's lightweight. It provides coverage and brightens up my blemishes, making my tinted moisturizer much smoother. It's hard to find concealers for my skin color because most are a little pasty and wash me out. Yummy was much more natural and subtle." — Amber, 45
Amber Randolph wears the Daness Myricks Yummy Skin Lift & Flex Hydrating Concealer in shade 7.
I’m always asking makeup artists about their go-to drugstore products, and without fail, this Maybelline product always manages to come up. The plush topper is unique, making on-the-go applications incredibly easy. The formula is fragrance and oil-free, and it contains ingredients like goji berry to provide a radiant finish. You’ll get a full 12 hours out of one application—and no under-eye creases.
Coverage: Radiant
Finish: Medium
Key Ingredients: Goji berry (antioxidant); Glycerin (hydrating); Dimethicone (smoothing)
What I Love Lightweight; Hydrating; Easy to use; Affordable
What I Don't: Not great pigment for blemish coverage
Review for MC: "Is it crazy if I say I might like Maybelline for the win? I've tried so many luxury concealers, but I literally got stopped five times today by people to tell me how good my makeup looked! It can feel a little chalky when it dries down, but it doesn't actually look that way in person. It's really blurring and very brightening." — Mindy Holender, 56
With five-star reviews across the board and a cult-like following, Revealer Concealer is the real deal. It’s so good in fact, that many consumers, including Hailey Bieber, are known to use the formula in place of foundation. “I just love that it’s creamy and hydrating,” the Rhode founder shared in a Vogue Beauty Secrets video. “It leaves this dewy finish on the skin.” She’s right—try it for yourself to see.
Coverage: Medium
Finish: Radiant
Key Ingredients: Caffeine (de-puffing); Hyaluronic acid (hydrating); Arnica (brightening)
What I Love: Contains caffeine for puffiness and arnica for redness; Good for dark circles
What I Don't: Doesn’t last the whole day
Review for MC: "When I first put this on, I loved it. It covered dark circles and instantly brightened any area I put it. I loved the creamy texture at first, but it was a bit thick, and I found it settling into lines and emphasizing texture throughout the day. I feel like it's great for brightening certain areas on my skin, but not my go-to for under eyes or acne." — Mindy Holender, 56
Multi-purpose, full-coverage, and luxurious by every sense of the definition, this Cle de Peau concealer will change your makeup routine for the better. Just hear out Malek: “The formula is super buttery and not too thick, so it doesn’t seep into lines. The medium coverage is better for mature skin too because a fuller coverage will actually end up sinking into pores and accentuating wrinkles.”
Coverage: Full
Finish: Radiant
Key Ingredients: Color correcting pearl supplements (color correcting); Glycerin (hydrating); Dimethicone (smoothing)
What I Love: Great coverage; Very blendable
What I Don't: Some say it’s drying
Review for MC: "Easily one of the best concealers I've ever tried. It makes me look airbrushed and lasts a full day. I do my makeup at 7 a.m., and this stays on—and looks perfect—until I wash it off at around 8 p.m. It's almost like a blurring filter on my face. It smoothed out any texture or blemishes, too." — Mindy Holender, 56
Full-coverage concealers that work with dry and thinning mature skin can be tough to find. But Anastasia Soare, the founder of Anastasia Beverly Hills, set out to make a product that would do just that. The result, Magic Touch Concealer, is a blurring, brightening, and color-correcting concealer that dries down into a second skin finish.
Coverage: Full
Finish: Natural
Key Ingredients: Sunflower seed extract (softening); Glycerin (hydrating), Dimethicone (smoothing)
What I Love: Great coverage; Covers dark circles and blemishes
What I Don't: Heavy and thick; Better for under eyes than whole face
Review for MC "Figuring out the best way to apply this one was a learning curve. At first I thought it was really heavy and too thick, but I was actually just using too much product. I really only need a tiny drop to cancel out under-eye darkness completely." — Mindy Holender, 56
Long story short: I get why this concealer has hundreds of five star reviews. It maintains a hydrating, radiant texture and finish, while also managing to never settle into fine lines or creases. I use this medium coverage formula under my eyes, on my nose, my chin, on top of blemishes—it’s a do-it-all product. It's one of my favorite Tom Ford makeup products of all time.
Coverage: Medium
Finish: Radiant
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid (hydrating); Caffeine (de-puffing)
What I Love: Good for multiple areas; Doesn’t settle into lines
What I Don't: Expensive
Customer Review: "I have tried every concealer out there… I have very fine lines but concealers wouldn’t want you to know that.. it dries right in my creases and makes me look like I’m cosplaying a 95 year old!! I begrudgingly tried this (Admittedly because of the price point) and am amazed….. holy grail! It makes my under eye look bright and hydrated and it smooths away my lines!!" — Nordstrom
As we age, our skin has a tendency to get drier, which makes it even more important to find a concealer that is going to add moisture into the skin. Enter: Armani’s Luminous Silk Face and Under Eye Concealer, the counterpart to their wildly popular foundation, Luminous Skin Foundation. The concealer shares the same blurring and airbrush finish as the foundation, while having the added benefits of caffeine, glycerin, and vitamin E to help brighten and moisturize the skin.
Coverage: Medium
Finish: Natural Radiant
Key Ingredients: Caffeine (de-puffing); Vitamin E (soothing); Glycerin (hydrating)
What I Love: Lightweight; soft focus
What I Don't: Has a slight sparkle
Review for MC: "I'm 56. My skin is drier and I have more creases, so I've had to accept that less is more when applying concealer. Armani has been my go-to for years because it honestly checks every box. It feels lightweight on my skin and leave my under-eye feeling super hydrated. It's almost like putting a refreshing serum on. I think I look pretty damn good with it." — Mindy Holender, 56
Very rarely do we get a glimpse into Meghan Markle’s beauty routine. But, during her Suits days, the Duchess of Sussex shared with Birchbox that this YSL concealer was a staple in her makeup bag. Her tip: “To open up your eyes, apply a highlighter like Yves Saint Laurent’s Touche Éclat in the inner corner," Markle said. Given the formula’s radiant finish and antioxidant-infused formula (vitamin E reduces signs of fatigue), this product couldn’t be better for an eye-brightening boost.
Coverage: Light
Finish: Radiant
Key Ingredients: Marigold (soothing); Vitamin E (soothing)
What I Love: Celebrity loved; Creamy formula
What I Don't: Not the most overage
Customer Review: "I am on my third pen in almost 1.5 years I love this product it’s just enough coverage for my mature under eye & has a luminosity to it too. I love it and have had no problem with “very little product” in mine." — Sephora
What to Look for in a Concealer for Mature Skin
As a general rule of thumb, hydrating, radiant concealers are going to work better on mature skin types. “Matte formulas tend to enhance fine lines and can look very harsh on drier skin,” explains makeup artist Michele Shakeshaft. She recommends looking for descriptive words like “creamy” or “blendable” when selecting a product to ensure it lays smoothly.
If you are really in touch with the skincare side, do a quick scan of the product’s INCI list. “Hydrating hyaluronic acid and brightening niacinamide and vitamin C are excellent ingredients to look for in a concealer for the under-eye area,” adds celebrity makeup artist Sofia Tilbury, who has worked with Salma Hayek, Kate Moss, and Penelope Cruz. Glycerin is very hydrating, vitamin E is soothing, and dimethicone will help provide that silky texture. If dark circles are your concern, seek out a formula with caffeine.
The Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Concealer, Marie Claire's top overall concealer for mature skin, provides a hydrating, luminous finish.
When Do I Apply Concealer on Mature Skin?
Less is more when it comes to concealer, so you should only apply extra coverage where you need it. After applying one of the best primers for mature skin and putting the finishing touches on your foundation, you’ll want to apply concealer to any areas that need color correction or brightness. “Precise coverage will perfect the look of the skin without building texture or creating a heavy look,” notes Shakeshaft.
Do I Need Different Concealers for Different Concerns?
The number of concealers you need in your collection really depends on the intensity of your concerns. By all means, you can use one formula on your under eyes and complexion. That said, you might want to throw a color corrector into the mix. “It’s a great way to cancel out blue, purple, and green pigments in the skin that can otherwise show through your foundation or powder base,” notes Tilbury. These get applied directly after moisturizer. “Let the color corrector dry until it becomes a little tacky and less moveable,” explains Malek. “Then go in with your concealer on a flat brush and blend it out with a beauty blender.”
The Cle de Peau concealer stick, which was one of Mindy's favorites, doubles as foundation—and contains SPF 27.
What Shade Concealer Do I Choose?
This is largely personal preference. A few years ago, most makeup artists would tell you to go two shades lighter than your foundation in order to brighten the under-eye. Now, the trends have changed slightly. In order to achieve a more natural look, you should pick a concealer that’s one shade lighter. “We are looking to bring that area forward, brighten, and lessen the look of depth,” says Shakeshaft.
Depending on how bright you like your under-eye concealer, you might also want to consider having an alternative, slightly darker concealer on hand for touch ups on the face.
How Do I Apply Concealer on Mature Skin?
Picking the right concealer formula is only half the battle. Knowing the proper way to apply your concealer? That’s equally—if not more—important. “It’s all about building up in sheer layers to achieve your desired coverage and only focusing on using products where you feel that you need it,” notes Tilbury. This slow-and-steady technique ensures that the concealer looks airbrushed and natural anywhere on the skin.
If you’re specifically concerned about applying concealer in the under eye area, Shakeshaft suggests working from the bottom up. “Unless you are trying to neutralize redness in the lash line, don’t take concealer up to the base of the lashes. Apply it at the outer corner of the eye or deepest area of the under eye pocket, then tap it upwards, towards the lash line.”
When it comes to powder, you’re probably better off skipping it altogether, as it can draw attention to fine lines. Shadi suggests using minimal translucent powder with an eyeshadow brush if you need to set your makeup.
Meet the Experts
Shadi Malek’s career of nearly a decade in the make-up industry is a testament to her passionate practice, one that has resulted in an extensive list of life-long clients. She first began honing her unmistakable style from her home city of Vancouver, Canada. Today she works in one of the world’s major make-up industry hubs, Los Angeles, transforming models, influencers, and brides with her signature artistic method.
Today, Malek infuses every make-up look she creates with her mastery of aesthetic principles and her passion for an individualized approach to every client. Make-up has never been a one-shade fits all field; Shadi Malek has made it her mission to create beautiful, tailored looks that will match every client’s unique visage.
Sofia took on the role of Lead Artist at the Charlotte Tilbury Beauty counter in Selfridge’s, London. Two years later, she began assisting Charlotte with her work as a makeup artist, from fashion shows, including Temperley London, Tom Ford, Donna Karan, Versus Versace and Victoria’s Secret, to the world’s most glamourous red carpet events such as The Golden Globes, The Oscars, The Met Gala, The British Fashion Awards, BAFTAs, and The BRIT Awards. Sofia has also led the makeup direction for beauty editorial (Vogue Netherlands) and cover shoots (Cosmopolitan Middle East). Sofia has worked with VIP clients all over the world, including Sienna Miller, Irina Shayk, Shanina Shaik, Minnie Driver, Karolina Kurkova, and Olivia Palermo.
Michele is a Pro Artist for Bobbi Brown Cosmetics.
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