I never used to use concealer sticks, but now that I’m a beauty editor and have expanded my makeup collection quite a bit, I can’t imagine my arsenal without at least a couple of them. IMO, concealer sticks (and foundation sticks) work extremely well when you’re in a hurry. A couple quick swipes and you can easily blend them out with a brush or your fingers.
Whether you’re trying to conceal dark circles, an unwanted guest (aka pimple), or redness, there’s definitely a stick formula out there for you. I asked celebrity makeup artist Judi Gabbay for her favorite and threw in some of my own picks below. Keep reading—the best concealer sticks for every concern are ahead.
“The concealer stick I’d recommend is by Bobbi Brown—the Skin Concealer Stick—as it plumps up skin and can last longer than most creamy sticks. Apply straight from the tube and buff out with a damp beauty sponge, marrying the product with your foundation or tinted moisturizer.” —Gabbay
This Merit stick acts as both a concealer and foundation. It’s lightweight and offers medium coverage, but works wonders on dark circles. Let’s just say I’ve used it on some pretty aggressive-looking ones in the morning and it blurred and smoothed them right out in a jiff.
This Laura Mercier concealer stick is specifically designed for the under eye area, but it can also be used on other areas of the face. One side of the stick conceals and blurs while the other brightens. It’s infused with brightening pearls, lotus flower extract, and hydrating squalane so it won’t settle into fine lines or crease.
WWW beauty director Erin Jahns loves this drugstore concealer stick and says it has been a tried and true favorite since college for her.
Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost Concealer Stick is perfect for those with dry or dehydrated skin. It’s formulated with purified hyaluronic acid to boost moisture levels within the skin without clogging pores.
Camouflage dark circles, redness, and fine lines with this $9 Maybelline gem. It’s a fan-favorite for the price, but it also just works incredible well—I can vouch for it myself. It’s also great at concealing blemishes and dark spots if you’re interested in concealing a few of those.
WWW associate beauty editor Kaitlyn McLintock loves this high end concealer from Clé de Peau. It offers full coverage, delivers up to six hours of hydration, and even offers SPF 27 sun protection.
For my matte-loving folks, this Tom Ford concealer does the trick. Although it offers a matte finish, it’s still infused with skincare ingredients like vitamin E and hyaluronic acid to boost hydration levels throughout the day.
Although this is technically a foundation stick, I’ve found that it works really well on the under eye area as a concealer, too.
Fenty Beauty’s color correction stick really helps neutralize any redness or discoloration on the skin. It can be used both by itself and under another concealer for even more coverage.
This CoverGirl formula contains soothing botanicals ginseng and chamomile to help with excess redness or inflammation in the skin. The full coverage formula also smooths, moisturizes, and conceals dark circles. The shade range currently offered isn’t great, but it will work for those with lighter skin tones.
Jilian Dempsey offers one of the best concealer sticks because it delivers matte, easy-to-blend coverage while nourishing the skin with redness-reducing ingredients. Sunflower seed wax and vitamin E hydrate skin and the formula blurs out zits and redness easily.
