The Best Concealer For Dark Skin – 2023 Reviews And Top Picks

The Best Concealer For Dark Skin

In our commitment to help you pick only the best products that would bring out your real beauty, we gathered and reviewed 5 concealers made for those with dark skin tones. These products were then assessed based on their ability to conceal dark spots, hide dark under eye circles, and their affordability until we were able to choose what we believe is the best concealer for dark skin.

People with dark skin tones would really love the Concealer Jar by NYX. Aside from its superior coverage, it is also highly pigmented so a little really goes a long way.

Say goodbye to dark spots and imperfections with the True Match Concealer by L’Oreal. This lightweight formula offers a natural finish and wouldn’t settle into creases or fine lines.

For help in brightening the under eye area, choose e.l.f.’s Complete Coverage Concealer. This palette comes in 4 colors that neutralize color and is conveniently-sized for people on-the-go.

The Bareskin Complete Coverage Serum Concealer by bareMinerals works like a concealer with the benefits of a serum. It is packed with antioxidant and humectants that nourish the skin.

Laura Geller’s Real Deal Concealer offers full coverage and is ideal for all skin conditions and types. This oil-free and silicone-based formula is great for women who have yellow undertones.

#1 Concealer Jar by NYX

Best Concealer for Dark Skin - Concealer Jar by NYX

A medium to heavy coverage with a natural finish is what this best concealer for dark skin offers. This concentrated formula that can blur out even the toughest imperfection imaginable.

Lightweight, this concealer has a creamy texture and is highly pigmented. Great for those with yellow undertones, it is blendable and buildable and doesn’t give you a “made-up” look.

Dubbed as a dupe for a high-end brand, this best drugstore concealer for dark skin gives good coverage to hide under eye circles. It helps brighten the eyes and won’t settle into fine lines.

The great thing about this product is that it is water and sweat-resistant. It won’t oxidize quickly (or at all) and with the right setting powder, can really last you for a while.

This concealer is great for long night-outs because it only requires minimal touch-ups. Although it has a small packaging, it is pigmented enough to conceal dark spots or any discoloration.

It is also easy to remove, too: just use your regular cleansing oil and you’re good to go. This product comes in a number of shades as well so there is definitely one to match your skin tone.

Things We Liked

  • Provides a decent amount of coverage
  • Highly-pigmented
  • A little goes a long way
  • Wide variety of shades to choose from

Things We Didn't Like

  • Comes in a pot
  • Contains too little product
  • Is a bit sticky once applied

#2 True Match Concealer by L’Oreal

Best Concealer for Dark Skin - True Match Concealer by L’Oreal

Say hello to a brighter appearance with this best under eye concealer for dark skin. It blends in perfectly with your skin to make you look “more awake” and more flawless even up close.

We think its packaging is well-thought of. It is compact and travel-friendly, and its transparent tube allows you to gauge whether it’s time to purchase a new one (no guessing games here.)

Non-comedogenic, this best concealer for dark spots on dark skin comes in 9 different shades to suit women of all colors. It is also oil-free, lightweight, and doesn’t settle into fine lines.

This blendable product has a medium consistency and doesn’t cause breakouts or skin irritancy. It also doesn’t contain any fragrance, which is always a huge plus for us.

Its consistency also gives out a hydrating feel and offers a natural finish without looking streaky. Up close, you can also notice small reflective particles that subtly brighten the under eye area.

A little of this product goes a long way, thanks to its brush applicator. It makes everything easy and quick, plus it also lessens the chance of the product getting wasted.

Things We Liked

  • Travel-friendly packaging
  • Non-greasy formula
  • Does not irritate the skin
  • Available in a number of shades

Things We Didn't Like

  • Formulated with parabens
  • May not work for oily skin
  • Can wear out easily

#3 Complete Coverage Concealer by e.l.f.

Best Concealer for Dark Skin - Complete Coverage Concealer by e.l.f.

This best concealer palette for dark skin offers a customizable coverage to hide dark spots and skin blemishes. They come in 4 different shades, depending on the flaw you wish to conceal.

This product is packaged in a black case with little windows in it that show you the exact shades you’ll get. It has a built-in mirror and a small brush inside which add up to its travel-friendliness.

This variant has the following colors: light brown, chocolate brown, coffee (with cream), and reddish brown. The 2nd and 4th shades have red undertones while the remaining have olive undertone.

The question which concealer is best for dark skin ends here. They have a creamy texture and since they come in 4 shades, you can mix and match until you find one that suits your skin tone.

Not bad for a drugstore brand, isn’t it?

Buildable and blendable, some shades can be created to do some contouring and highlighting. They also do not crease and can last for up to 8 hours, which is impressive despite the price.

Things We Liked

  • Very affordable
  • Deep shades perfectly matches dark skin tones
  • Does not dry out skin
  • Sturdy packaging

Things We Didn't Like

  • Can be a bit oily
  • Formulated with parabens
  • Brush that comes with it is basically useless

#4 Bareskin Complete Coverage Serum Concealer by bareMinerals

Best Concealer for Dark Skin - Bareskin Complete Coverage Serum Concealer by bareMinerals

The powers of a serum and a concealer combine in this best concealer for dark skin African Americans. It effectively evens out complexion while delivering a more youthful-looking skin.

As the name implies, this concealer makes you look as if you’re not wearing any makeup. Great for the under eye area, this moisturizing formula doesn’t look cakey and leaves a dewy finish.

Lightweight, this creamy concealer effortlessly glides into the skin without settling into fine lines. It is also packed with mineral optics to neutralize shadows for a brighter and more radiant glow.

If you’re constantly asking yourself what is the best concealer for dark skin, your question has been answered. It comes in 6 different shades so it doesn’t matter how dark you think you are.

Aside from humectants that keep the skin hydrated, this product is also infused with Lilac Plant Stem Cells. An antioxidant, this ingredient can help with photodamaged, aging, or acneic skin.

Things We Liked

  • Easy to apply and to take off
  • Great for concealing dark under eye circles
  • Works great for oily skin
  • Water and sweat-resistant

Things We Didn't Like

  • Not as moisturizing as it claims to be
  • Can be a bit thick
  • May accentuate dry and flaky patches

#5 Real Deal Concealer by Laura Geller

Best Concealer for Dark Skin - Real Deal Concealer by Laura Geller

This best concealer for dark skin tones offers full coverage and is ideal for all skin conditions and types. It comes in 5 different shades, with this one suiting those with yellow undertones.

The tube states that it provides serious coverage, and boy is it true. Silicone-based, this product is tough enough to conceal birthmarks, childhood scars, or even tattoos that are now irrelevant.

Lightweight, this best concealer for black skin is very blendable but quite thick so you may want to work fast on that part. It also does not crease and has a rather impressive staying power.

Highly pigmented, a little of this product goes a long way since you only need so much to cover EVERYTHING. It doesn’t cause any breakouts, making it perfect for those with problematic skin.

The best part is this product is sweat and water-resistant. A girl has to look perfect even if they sweat, right?

Things We Liked

  • Great value for money (despite being a bit expensive)
  • Great for acne-prone and oily skin
  • Conceals dark circles really well
  • Conceals redness and minimizes large pores

Things We Didn't Like

  • May not work for mature skin
  • Can look cakey when layered too much
  • Can accentuate dry and flaky patches

Reviews and Comparisons of The Best Concealer for Dark Skin

Rankings

Best Overall

2nd choice

3rd choice

4th choice

5th choice

Top-Rated Concealer for Dark Skin 2017

Best Concealer for Dark Skin - Concealer Jar by NYX
Best Concealer for Dark Skin - True Match Concealer by L’Oreal
Best Concealer for Dark Skin - Complete Coverage Concealer by e.l.f.
Best Concealer for Dark Skin - Bareskin Complete Coverage Serum Concealer by bareMinerals
Best Concealer for Dark Skin - Real Deal Concealer by Laura Geller

Brand

NYX

L’Oreal

e.l.f.

bareMinerals

Laura Geller

Quantity

0.25 ounces

0.17 fluid ounces

0.25 ounces

0.20 fluid ounces

0.70 fluid ounces

Packaging

Jar

Tube with brush applicator

Palette

Bottle with wand applicator

Tube

Lightweight

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Coverage

Medium to heavy

Light

Light to medium

Light

Medium to full

Fragrance-free

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Get Started

Things People with Dark Skin Tones Should Remember When Buying a Concealer

The quest for makeup that matches our skin color perfectly can be intimidating. For those with dark skin tones, there are basically two things to be considered: the brand and lighting.

We must first make sure that the brand we like makes makeup that compliments our skin tone, and we must ALWAYS depend on natural lighting when we think we’ve found “the one.”

Aside from those factors, you should also consider the following:

Know what your undertone is

Most black women have red and orange undertones. If you’re the former, lean towards products that are more orangey while if you’re the latter, go for gold-based products.

The best way to do this is to test some product out on your inner wrist. Whichever blends in with your skin and looks more natural is your best bet.

One shade is all you’ll need

Wilson doesn’t really suggest having two concealers for multi-tone skin and hyperpigmentation. Pick a shade that matches your overall color and let your foundation match the rest.

Or better yet, consider buying a duo concealer.

Wear concealer on top of eye cream

This helps in treating the under eye skin especially if you have dark circles. Black women often skip this step so they end up looking cakey and made up.

Concealer OVER foundation

When you do it the other way around, the concealer will only move around and you’d have to reapply concealer on the area you tried to hide.

You’re only allowed to put concealer first when you’re wearing a powder foundation.

Use tapping, not rubbing, motions

This applies to all, not just those with dark skin tones. Rubbing isn’t going to get you coverage: the product only ends up being moved back and forth.

Keep eye creams in handy

Concealer only moves around and does not technically disappear. If you need a quick touch-up, use an eye cream to get concealer back into place.

However, if you really need to retouch, do so with a brightening pen or a liquid concealer.

Pick a darker shade for under eye puffiness

Under eye puffiness and dark circles aren’t the same. To conceal puffiness, use a concealer that’s one-fourth darker than what you’re actually using.

Conclusion

Concealers, in our opinion, are a must in any vanity kit. They literally save us from looking like a zombie brought back to life.

But choosing a concealer if you’re a woman of color can be extra difficult. So what’s your best bet?

We have chosen the Concealer Jar by NYX as the best concealer for dark skin. This creamy formulation offers medium to heavy coverage and doesn’t leave a finish that’s clumpy or caked-on.

Lightweight, this concealer is packed with emollients that hydrate the under eye area. It can also be considered a drugstore brand, so you have no excuse to not have one in your hands.

We also have a detailed buying guide about Best Concealer for Bruises and Best Concealer for Eyebrows in case you want to check out

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Dr Kathleen May Eusebio-Alpapara

A board-certified dermatologist who practices both medical and cosmetic dermatology

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