Stayed up late over Christmas? Read our ultimate concealer guide for tired January skin – lots of great budget options

Few people can boast of their best skin in January, whether it’s dark circles under the eyes from being too late at Christmas or New Year’s, unwanted blemishes after a sumptuous festive meal, or a dry winter complexion.

So, during this time of year, concealer can be the most active product in your makeup bag.

If you choose the right one, these small pots and pens can work wonders in hiding skin concerns.

But that’s not the only recent effort. 2024 was the year that concealers infused with skin care ingredients like vitamins and skin-plumping hyaluronic acid became a real luxury. One notable example is a collaboration with Victoria Beckham and Augustine Bader, a £64 ClickPen concealer with added under-eye cream.

With prices like these, it’s no wonder the global make-up industry has boomed and is now worth more than £3 billion a year.

But you don’t have to spend a fortune to get results.

An effective concealer should be lightweight, moisturizing, color-matched, and long-lasting. There are plenty of budget options to achieve all of this.

Here is my verdict on some of the best concealers currently available. Prices start from just £1.

By Terry Hyaluronic Serum Concealer

As the name suggests, this contains hyaluronic acid, which is designed to boost hydration and keep the under eye area comfortable. The lightweight formula glides on beautifully for a dewy, natural finish. By Terry founder Terry de Gunzburg created YSL’s iconic Touche Eclat, so it’s no surprise that she’s created another luxury concealer.

4/5

Victoria Beckham by Augustine Bader Concealer Pen with TFC8

This is a collaboration between Victoria and skin care guru Augustine Bader. Bader’s luxury eye cream costs £160, which may explain why Bader products include this click pen, Touche Eclat style concealer, so expensive. It certainly feels like a luxurious choice and covers under eye shadows and blemishes beautifully and easily. But…you don’t have to pay this much to get a concealer that works for your skin.

3/5

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer

A gorgeous, slippery texture that melts into your skin. This is said to be the UK’s best-selling premium concealer. You can see why. Available in 30 colors, it’s bright enough to brighten the eye area, yet not so shiny that you can’t get it anywhere else. Provides medium buildable coverage. And yes, it also contains antioxidants that moisturize and strengthen the skin.

4.5/5

glossier stretch balm concealer

It’s been a bit of a cult product since it first launched, but it’s become even more accessible since the shade range was expanded. If you’re tired of canes, this little pot might be the answer. It works as expected, with medium coverage and a dewy finish that adapts to your skin. The only problem is that it lacks a bit of staying power.

4/5

Laura Mercier Real Flawless Waitress Perfecting Concealer

Laura Mercer Secret Camouflage has been a favorite with makeup artists for years, but this is an alternative for those looking for something lighter. It’s very sheer so it’s great for the under eye area and the finish is natural and buildable. However, it may not work if you want more coverage. Expensive for the amount you get.

3.5/5

Fenty Beauty We’re Even Hydrating Concealer

Available in the richest range of shades, this moisturizing (thanks to hyaluronic acid and prickly pear extract) concealer is easy to apply with an angled applicator and blends beautifully for a truly natural-looking finish.

4/5

Veeve Beauty Modern Radiance Concealer

A small amount of this creamy concealer goes on easily, so apply it easily with a relatively large applicator. It’s true to its word in that it has hyaluronic acid for hydration and gives a radiant, radiant finish. Plus, you get more product for your money compared to other products at the same price.

4/5

Cosus Revealer Concealer

Buildable and with medium coverage in an impressive number of shades, this concealer went viral on TikTok after model Hailey Bieber raved about it. It contains ingredients that soothe, plump and brighten the skin, so the finish is dewy, even if it doesn’t last as long as some people would like.

4/5

charlotte tilbury magic away concealer

The full-coverage twist pen concealer has a built-in sponge applicator (which doesn’t necessarily last as long as the product) and provides great coverage. However, the matte finish can feel a bit heavy on the skin and is difficult to apply without highlighting fine lines. It’s a shame.

3/5

Rimmel The Multitasker Wake Me Up Concealer and Foundation

It’s one of the cheapest products per ml we’ve tried, and it’s packed with skin-loving ingredients like caffeine, vitamin C, and niacinamide. Metal roller applicators provide a pleasant cooling effect on the skin, but are not the best for applying product. The finish is very matte and requires a lot of moisture underneath to avoid becoming patchy.

3/5

PS My Perfect Color Concealer Stick

• 4.5g for 1lb, Primark
• £0.22/g
• 8 colors

There’s no denying that this is a bargain, but sometimes you get what you pay for. The shade range is very limited and the lipstick style formula lacks sophistication. It basically hides it in a pinch (if you go out without your makeup bag), but it takes a long time to blend and the finish is quite flat.

1/5

Maybelline Instant Anti-Age Eraser

• £9.99 for 6.8ml, boots.com
• £1.47/ml
• 13 colors

Although the shade range is relatively limited and the twist-up design with built-in anti-bacterial sponge fox will appeal to some consumers, this is a high street hero. It’s relatively lightweight, doesn’t create fine lines, provides great coverage, hides and brightens, and doesn’t move.

4.5/5

Iconic London Radiant Concealer and Brightening Duo

This combo product includes a brightening crayon to use under the eyes and a medium coverage cream concealer that can be used over the crayon or for touch-ups on the face. You could make it a little brighter with a bright crayon, but the two-in-one concept is something more brands should embrace.

3.5/5

loreal true match radiant serum concealer

Considering the price per ml, this concealer delivers much more than expected. The pointed applicator allows you to apply it beautifully and easily to the corners of your eyes. Enriched with niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and caffeine, it leaves a semi-matte finish just like real skin, just by sliding it on your skin. To be continued. If it came in more shades, it might be the perfect concealer.

4.75/5

elf 16hr camo concealer

This full-coverage concealer may look a little matte when you first apply it, but if you use it sparingly and give it some time, it will start to look more like skin. The large applicator, matte finish, and the fact that it tends to look a little patchy over time on dry skin means it’s good for covering up blemishes and blemishes, except for those with very oily under-eyes. means.

3.5/5

Revolution Conceal and Define Concealer

There’s a reason this low-cost concealer has been a success since its launch over five years ago. It has full coverage and good staying power, and although the applicator is quite thick, it spreads easily and blends in well. It has a matte finish so it may make your under eye area look a little flat, but it’s not worth the price.

4.5/5

Bare Minerals Bare Pro 16 Hour Wear Perfecting Concealer

It has a very matte finish and claims to correct dark circles under the eyes over time (thanks to the niacinamide it contains), but you may want to use it for a little more clarity under the eyes, especially if it’s a long-wearing product. Something is usually preferred. I feel that the larger applicator is also suitable for covering blemishes.

3/5

it Cosmetics Bye Bye Dark Spot Corrector & Serum

• £27 for 6.7ml, boots.com
• £4.03/ml
• 18 colors

We think of this concealer as skincare with 2% niacinamide to help improve uneven skin tone, hyaluronic acid for hydration, and caffeine for brightening. It not only comes with an applicator wand, but also a dense built-in brush that makes blending a breeze. Coverage is quite thin, but buildable.

4/5

Basis of P. Louise rumors

Unless you’re into TikTok, you may not have heard of this brand, but they’re huge. It contains a lot of pigment, so use it sparingly. The finish is quite matte, and fans rave that it’s a great eyeshadow base, so it’s better for concealing blemishes on a budget than for the wrinkle-prone under-eye area.

3/5

Erborian Super BB Concealer

One of the first brands to bring the BB cream concept to the UK, this concealer version scores top marks for 5% niacinamide (which helps brighten skin) and SPF 25 However, the range of shades is very limited, which gives it a low rating. If you’re lucky and one of the five shades matches, you’ll get good coverage and a semi-matte finish.

3/5

Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Concealer

It goes on silky smooth to blur and brighten under the eyes and face with a natural velvety finish. It has great coverage and the price for the full size (6ml) packs a punch, but you might want to try the cheaper (£17) mini size (1.3ml) to see if you like it before you splurge. Masu.

4/5

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer

If you’re looking for full coverage, this affordable pick has more than you might need. Still, you’ll probably want to blend it with a damp sponge. Otherwise, the matte finish can look almost chalky. It may be good for young skin as it tends to cause fine lines.

3/5

Tarte Shape Tape Contour Concealer

With shea and mango butter to moisturize and licorice root to brighten, this full-coverage matte concealer should be applied carefully under the eyes to avoid looking cakey (try it with a damp sponge) . It does a great job of covering up dark circles, but should be paired with something a little brighter to avoid looking flat.

4/5

House Lab Triclone Skin Tech Hydrating Concealer

With just the right amount of tint, a versatile and flexible applicator with impressive skincare ingredients (hyaluronic acid for hydration, fermented arnica to even out skin tone and reduce irritation), this lightweight concealer covers the entire face effectively Cover it naturally. The “play” time, or how long you have to work with it before it hardens, is appropriate.

4/5

Dcypher My Custom Concealer

You’re sure to find your perfect shade with this brand that uses an image of your face to create the perfect match. You can also specify whether you want to cover facial blemishes or brighten the under-eye area to suit your skin. It has medium coverage, is easy to layer, and is fairly matte, so it may not be ideal for those with dry skin.

4/5

Clé de Peau concealer

It’s ridiculously expensive for a stick concealer, it’s really designed specifically for the face (there’s a separate one for the under eye area, which you can also use), and it only comes in 13 colors . That being said, this is the most beautiful and sophisticated stick concealer. It feels like a dream, melts into your skin, and lasts long without drying out.

4/5