Top 5 Best Drugstore Concealers for Dark Circles To Brighten Up Your Under Eyes
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Do you suffer from dark circles under your eyes and struggling to find a way to cover them? Don’t worry we’ve got you covered. The answer and quick fix to your under eye woes is simply to invest in one of the best drugstore concealers for dark circles, where you won’t spend a fortune but will still get really great, long-lasting coverage!
You’ll find the 5 absolute best cheap concealers for dark circles right here, as we’ve done all the research and hard work for you, so all you need to do is add to cart and then conceal!
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If you’re in a hurry and are just keen to know our top pick best drugstore concealers for dark circles right away, we totally understand. So here’s our top 5 list (with the first being our absolute favourite!):
- Maybelline – Instant Anti Age Eraser Concealer
- Maybelline – Fit Me Concealer
- LA Girl – Pro.Conceal HD High Definition Concealer
- e.l.f. – 16hr Camo Concealer
- NYX Professional Makeup – Can’t Stop Won’t Stop Contour Concealer
If you’re keen to learn more about concealers including tips on how to apply your under eye concealer, color correcting, order of skincare products for the perfect base to start your makeup routine, best products to apply your drugstore concealer with and lots more, carry on reading!!
The Beauty Of Makeup For Dark Circles
We like to think of makeup as an art. There’s so much more to it than just piling on layers of makeup and expecting it to look good. Just like cooking, you need to do it with love and actually know what you’re doing too! Once you’ve mastered the basics of makeup application then the sky is the limit with the number of looks you can achieve! From natural daytime looks to glamorous evening makeup, the choice is yours!
The beauty of a drugstore concealer for dark circles however is its ability to completely transform your look. This makeup must-have is made for covering up any imperfections, from puffy eyes and dark circles to pigmentation, blemishes, fine lines and wrinkles. Opt for a shade lighter than your natural skin tone and it will brighten and give your under eyes a lifted illusion depending on how you’ve applied it (inverted triangle technique!).
Before the hype of contouring came about (which we love!), everyone wanted to achieve that famous Kim Kardashian flawlessly lifted under-eye look. Yes, she has an army of makeup artists at her beck and call but with the right makeup and technique, we can all banish dark circles and achieve A-list makeup looks too! Want to know more? Keep on reading.
We’ve done all the research for you and sifted through thousands of reviews and forums (you can read more about our signature research process here) and by the end of this article you’ll have found the answer to your dark circle woes and bagged yourself one of our top 5 best drugstore concealers for dark circles, that won’t break the bank!
Golden Tips Before Applying Your Drugstore Concealer For Dark Circles
Dark circles can come about with age, lack of sleep, stress and can also be hereditary. You’re probably here because you’re fed up of trying countless concealers from budget to luxury (remember expensive does not always mean best) and are just hoping that you’ll finally be able to find ‘the one‘ that you can stick with forever. A good concealer will not only cover up dark circles flawlessly but will also keep them hidden for the whole day. Also, you’ll want to find a good drugstore concealer for your dark circles that won’t oxidise or dry your skin too.
Nail Your Skincare Routine First
Behind every beautiful makeup look lies a healthy and well prepped canvas – your skin.
Make sure you follow the correct order of skincare application that we’ve illustrated below (don’t forget to save or pin it for later, or even print and stick it on your skincare cabinet!) paying particular attention to your eye cream and moisturiser.
If your skin is on the dry side, you’ll want to be generous with your moisturiser to prevent any dryness seeping through your makeup (particularly around your under-eyes) and don’t be shy with your eye cream too (you can check out our line-up of the Top 5 Best Eye Creams on the market if you haven’t invested in this skincare essential yet!).
Color Correcting Makeup Guide
What is color correcting you ask? This is simply the process of using tinted concealers (usually in pastel colors) to cancel out or balance different undertones before you apply your under eye concealer.
So whether you have dark circles, acne scars or rosacea, obvious veins, purple or yellow discolouration or redness under your eyes, these color correctors really do work magic on providing that perfectly even look after you’ve applied your drugstore concealer for dark circles.
How To Use Color Correcting Concealers
To conceal dark circles or any other under eye concern, instead of caking on layer after layer of foundation and then concealer to stop these different undertones from constantly reappearing, you just need to dab on the right shade of your color correcting concealer before your usual under-eye concealer and carry on your normal makeup routine as you would (remember foundation or tinted moisturiser first, concealer second for your base).
So in order to decide what colors correct what, you need to understand the basic principles of the color correction wheel. In a nutshell, the color you are trying to cancel out on your skin will need a color corrector shade on the opposite end of the color spectrum on the color correction wheel.
- Purple will cancel out yellow tones under your eyes
- Peach is great for cancelling out dark circles and brightening too
- Green will cancel out any redness and sun spots
- Yellow will cancel out purple/blue tones under your eyes
Our number one recommendation for the best drugstore under eye corrector is the incredibly popular NYX Color Correcting Concealer Palette which include the perfect color correcting shades (mentioned above) that you need to conceal dark circles like a pro!
This drugstore color corrector is almost always sold out or very low in stock so if you spot it on the shelves, don’t think twice!
Check out the video below by the beautiful Kaushal, who explains pretty much everything you need to know about color correcting and the do’s and dont’s of color correcting. You’ll be a color correcting pro by the end of it and will be the queen of applying concealer the right way by the end of this article!!
Don’t forget to keep on reading to discover the best color correcting concealer for dark circles too as well as our top 5 best drugstore concealers for dark circles.
Use The Right Tools When Applying Your Drugstore Concealer For Dark Circles
We’ve experimented with applying under eye concealer with our fingers, brushes and sponges and the application looked most flawless when applied with a Beauty Blender sponge. The pointed end allows you to get your concealer in the inner corner of your eyes and the round end allows for easy dabbing and blending.
An incredible dupe for the famous beauty blender is the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. It applies and blends your concealer flawlessly, is also easy to wash and the quality is just as good as the Beauty Blender (if not better!). It now comes in a new design which consists of a pointed side, rounded edge (for blending and dabbing) and straight edge (for contouring).
In our opinion the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge is just as good as the beauty blender and is much kinder on our pockets at only a fraction of the price of the Beauty Blender ($8 for a pack of two Real Technique Sponges vs $18 for one Beauty Blender!)
Another really great makeup sponge is the Juno & Co Microfiber Velvet Sponge by the TikTok famous clean skincare brand that rose to fame with its viral JUNOCO Cleansing Balm, that the skincare community went crazy over! You can learn more about JUNOCO’s sell out products and their best selling makeup sponge below.
{Related Post: JUNOCO: The Clean Beauty Brand Behind The TikTok Famous Cleansing Balm (With A 50k Waitlist)}
Best Way To Set Makeup
Whether you have dry skin, oily skin or combination skin, setting your makeup after applying one of our best drugstore concealers for dark circles is a MUST especially if you want your makeup to last the whole day, not budge and stay looking fresh and radiant like you’ve just applied it!
After you’ve applied your favourite drugstore concealer for dark circles, apply some translucent setting powder (the Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder is easily the most iconic and leading setting powder around) either with a brush or again using your Beauty Blender or Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge (don’t forget your T-zone if your skin is on the oilier side) but don’t brush it off just yet.
We like to practice the ‘baking method’ with setting our makeup so leave the setting powder under your eyes to set while you dress your lips (for a natural daytime lip we absolutely adore the Dior Lip Glow or Dior Lip Oil which literally enhances your natural lip colour and comes in various subtle tints too and a colourless option) or apply your mascara (see Haul of Fame’s Top 5 Best Budget Mascaras for our top picks).
{Related Post: Dior Lip Glow Oil: The Viral And Highly Coveted Lip Oil On Every Girl’s Wish List In 2022}
Once the rest of your makeup is done, dust off any setting powder debris with a brush and you’ll be so surprised with how perfect and airbrushed your drugstore concealer for dark circles looks.
Finish off with a setting spray for some extra hydration and glow and off you go!
(What dark circles??)
Best Drugstore Concealers For Dark Circles: Haul of Fame
Now let’s cut to the chase. We know that many of you feel overwhelmed with the thousands of concealers out there (from drugstore to high-end) that all claim to do the same thing, are packaged beautifully and come at various price points, but how on earth are you supposed to know the market leaders without buying them and testing their coverage and longevity first?
As always, we believe that our readers deserve the best and in order to save you time (researching) and money (potentially wasted), we have worked tirelessly to search for and narrow down the absolute best drugstore concealers for dark circles to our final 5 superstars (that are truly worth the hype and actually conceal!).
Concealer Tip Recap: Opt for one or two shades lighter than your skin tone when shopping for under eye concealers and then your normal shade for concealing facial blemishes/imperfections. Apply your under eye concealer in an inverted triangle, rather than dots or a semi circle. This application will instantly brighten up your under eyes and create a lifted illusion to your face as a whole. For best results, ensure you’ve applied a great eye cream as part of your skincare routine and finish off your concealer with a setting powder so it stays put for the day!
1. Maybelline – Instant Anti Age Eraser Concealer
This has to be a worldwide favourite and one of the best and most loved drugstore concealers for dark circles!
Many of their popular colors always sell out within minutes of restock which is always a tell-tale sign of an items popularity. The hype is definitely very real with this concealer!
Maybelline’s Instant Anti Age Eraser Concealer is extremely budget friendly and an absolute dream to use. The creamy texture of this concealer also makes it the best drugstore concealer for dry skin.
Dubbed as the makeup eraser for dark circles and fine lines, this super cheap drugstore concealer not only provides flawless coverage despite its super lightweight texture, but also hydrates thanks to its formulation of goji berry and haloxyl which is also gentle on the delicate under eye area.
Twist the applicator to release the product into the built in sponge (bonus!) and apply seamlessly for all day coverage without any dry patches.
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2. Maybelline – Fit Me Concealer
Another favourite drugstore concealer for dark circles that’s been flying off the shelves since its release and it’s no surprise that again, it’s by the drugstore makeup giant, Maybelline.
This new gel concealer claims to contain ‘no nonsense’, i.e no oils, waxes or fillers and is a non comedogenic concealer (meaning it won’t clog pores), making it one of the best drugstore concealers around for acne and to cover those dreaded acne scars. It’s also a great match for anyone with oily or combination skin as its an oil free concealer.
The Fit Me concealer provides an even and natural finish whilst also allowing your skin to breathe.
A great go-to everyday concealer for erasing blemishes, acne scars and pigmentation.
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3. LA Girl – Pro.Conceal HD High Definition Concealer
The insta famous brand with 3 million fans is best known for its game-changing, best drugstore under eye concealer for dark circles, which quite frankly does it all!
Providing full coverage without looking cakey, this super lightweight and creamy in texture, crease resistant and long wearing.
If you’re struggling to find the best drugstore concealer for dark skin in particular, you’ll be spoilt for choice finding your exact color match with this concealer as in comes in 43 different shades, to correct, contour AND conceal!!
If you’re on the hunt for the best drugstore under-eye concealer for wrinkles in particular, LA Girl’s Pro Conceal definitely has you covered (pun totally intended!) and is known to be one of the most popular full coverage drugstore concealers.
Don’t forget to bag yourself some of their color correctors too as LA Girl are known for their impressive and effortless correcting abilities and they have some of the best drugstore under eye color correctors around.
This is also one of the best drugstore concealers for contouring too. Opt for a dark shade and the creamy consistency will prove to be so effortless to blend and contour with using your Beauty Blender sponge.
Plus the beautiful Jhené Aiko is a big fan of this so yeah, need we say more?!
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4. e.l.f. – 16hr Camo Concealer
The concealer that went viral for being the best dupe yet for the famous Tarte Cosmetics Shape Tape concealer at a fraction of the price and is just the best affordable concealer for dark circles!!
Providing full coverage with a matte finish, this long-lasting concealer (that everyone is going crazy over!) comes with a large doe for an easy and quick application.
It is also infused with avocado oil to moisturise skin and also won’t crease either which is probably why its one of the best drugstore dark circle concealers (along with its exceptionally high coverage)!
Available in 26 shades and (like all of e.l.f.’s products) is one of the most popular cruelty free concealers you’ll find at the drugstore and is vegan too.
It just goes to show that the best doesn’t always have to break the bank!
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5. NYX Professional Makeup – Can’t Stop Won’t Stop Contour Concealer
Another one of the best under eye concealer from drugstore is from the brand that creates makeup delivering professional results with affordable prices, the NYX under eye concealer provides exceptionally high coverage that won’t budge for 24 hours, making it another firm favourite for anyone that is after a full coverage concealer from the drugstore.
The Can’t Stop Won’t Stop concealer is so easy to blend and is available in an impressive range of 24 super pigmented shades.
The high pigment in the NYX under eye concealer makes it one of the best drugstore concealers for blemishes in particular.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can you explain how to get rid of dark circles completely, rather than just conceal them?
To get rid of dark circles permanently, we’d recommend first to try and make some lifestyle changes and improve/get rid of any bad habits (especially if you find that your dark circles are temporary rather than hereditary, i.e. they come and go). Some of the main lifestyle factors that can cause under eye dark circles are mentioned below.
Sleep better – Most under eye dark circles are caused by lack of or bad quality sleep. We therefore cannot stress enough how important it is to try to get at least 7-8 hours of quality sleep a night. If you struggle getting to sleep, perhaps try having a cup of camomile tea before bed (check out these 9 drinks that will help you sleep better at night).
Other lifestyle factors that can cause dark circles include caffeine and alcohol consumption, dehydration, iron deficiency, smoking and late nights – which ties into not getting enough sleep (they call it ‘beauty sleep’ for a reason!). Improve all of these factors and you’ll definitely notice a massive difference in your under eye area (as well as your overall health too!).
For anyone looking for ways to get rid of dark circles permanently we’d suggest consulting with your doctor to explore hyaluronic acid injections (also known as tear trough fillers) which adds volume to the sunken area of the under eye thereby filling it and consequently reducing the appearance of dark circles. To find out more about eye fillers to remove dark circles, click here.
Please could you explain how to remove dark circles under eyes naturally in one week?
There are lots of natural ways to remove dark circles under your eyes quickly and if done repeatedly and consistently, you will definitely notice a big difference in one week.
The most popular natural ways to remove dark circles naturally, or at least significantly reduce the appearance of them in one week is to use cold tea bags (green tea and chamomile tea work best!). Soak your teabags in cold water and chill in the fridge for a couple of hours (less is fine too if you’re pressed for time). Apply them straight onto your eyes for 15 minutes. You can repeat this multiple times throughout the day, or once a day but just make sure to do it regularly and repeatedly. It really does work wonders.
Another incredibly popular way to remove dark circles naturally is to use grated potatoes (or even cucumbers). Grate raw potatoes (or cucumbers) and apply straight onto and around your eyes. Leave for 15 minutes.
These two vegetables in particular are known for their cooling properties and the juices that soak the eye area are packed with vitamins and antioxidants and so will be especially good for reducing redness and inflammation/puffiness around the eye area as well as reducing/removing dark circles.
Other home remedies that will effectively remove dark circles naturally (and in one week) are tomatoes, milk, almond oil and aloe vera (to name a few).
If under eye puffiness is your biggest concern, any sort of cold compress will really help too to constrict the blood vessels around your eyes causing the puffiness (there’s a reason we apply ice instantly to any sort of swelling!).
I have fit me and and the pro concealer. I WASNt getting my hopes up but im a budget blogger so did my research & both are amazing! Excellent coverage!!
So glad you love them! They’re all fantastic concealers and the incredible volume of reviews backing them makes purchase decisions so much easier and less overwhelming!
Maybelline – Instant Anti Age Eraser Concealer is my absolute favorite!