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 few. In my opinion, concealer sticks (and foundation sticks) work well when you’re in a hurry. They require only a few quick swipes and blend easily with a brush or fingers.
Whether you’re trying to conceal dark circles, redness, or an unwanted guest (aka a pimple), there’s a concealer stick out there for you. I asked celebrity makeup artist Judi Gabbay to share her favorite and threw in some picks of my own below. Keep reading—the best concealer sticks for every concern are ahead.
“The concealer stick I recommend is Bobbi Brown’s Skin Concealer Stick. It plumps up the 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 concealer and foundation. It’s lightweight with medium coverage but also works wonders on dark circles. Let’s just say that I’ve used it on some pretty aggressive-looking dark circles, 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 can also be used on other areas of the face. One side conceals and blurs while the other brightens. It’s infused with brightening pearls, lotus flowers, and hydrating squalane, which helps prevent it from settling into fine lines or creases.
WWW Beauty Director Erin Jahns loves this drugstore concealer stick and says it has been her tried-and-true favorite since college.
Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost Concealer Stick is perfect for 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 and works incredibly well on dark circles—I can vouch for it myself. It’s also great at concealing blemishes and dark spots if needed.
WWW associate beauty editor Kaitlyn McLintock loves this high-end concealer from Clé de Peau Beauté. It offers full coverage, delivers up to six hours of hydration, and even has 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 it also works well as a concealer on the under-eye area.
This color correction stick from Fenty Beauty helps neutralize redness and discoloration on the skin. It can be used alone or under another concealer for even more coverage.
This CoverGirl formula contains soothing botanicals such as ginseng and chamomile to help with excess redness or inflammation in the skin. The full-coverage formula also smooths, moisturizes, and conceals dark circles. While the current shade range isn’t great, it could work for those with lighter skin tones.
Jilian Dempsey offers one of the best concealer sticks. It delivers easy-to-blend coverage and a matte finish while nourishing the skin with redness-reducing ingredients. Sunflower-seed wax and vitamin E hydrate the skin, and the formula blurs out zits and redness.
