I go through concealer more than any other beauty product I own. It’s because I don’t just use it to cover up breakouts—I use it all over my face like foundation to minimize my dark circles, hide the redness around my nose, and disguise the melasma and dark spots on my cheeks and forehead. It’s a lot. That said, I’m not trying to break the bank every time I need a concealer restock, so I stick to inexpensive options that really work, like one of these 13 best drugstore concealers, below. They’re super effective and each one costs $13 or less. What more do you (or your wallet) need?
1 . Best All-Natural Drugstore Concealer
Burt’s Bees Concealer
If you’re into the all-natural and organic makeup scene, then you’re going to love this clean drugstore concealer from Burt’s Bees. It’s made with 98.5 percent naturally derived ingredients and helps conceal everything from breakouts to dark circles. Plus, the formula is ultra moisturizing (thanks to avocado oil and shea butter), so you don’t need to worry about it getting dry or patchy during the day.
SHADE COUNT: 8
2. Best Easy-to-Use Drugstore Concealer
Covergirl TruBlend Undercover Concealer
What makes this drugstore concealer from Covergirl so ridiculously easy to use? The giganto doe-foot applicator. It quickly and seamlessly covers dark circles, redness, breakouts, discoloration, you name it. And the formula is full coverage but still surprisingly lightweight, so you don’t need to worry about it feeling overly thick or cakey.
SHADE COUNT: 30
3. Best Drugstore Concealer for Acne
Almay Clear Complexion Concealer
If you’re looking to cover up blackheads, whiteheads, or cysts, pls allow me to introduce you to this drugstore concealer from Almay that’s specifically designed to not only cover but also treat breakouts at the same time. How, you ask? With salicylic acid, which unclogs pores and reduces redness and inflammation, along with a mattifying mineral complex to absorb oil plus soothing aloe vera.
SHADE COUNT: 6
4. Best Drugstore Concealer With Antioxidants
Revlon PhotoReady Candid Antioxidant Concealer
If you want your drugstore concealer to do more than just conceal, try this antioxidant-infused option from Revlon. The medium-coverage texture hides just about everything and even protects your skin from the damaging effects of pollution and blue light (from, say, devices like your smartphone or laptop). The formula is also on the cleaner side—it’s made without parabens, mineral oil, phthalates, and synthetic dyes.
SHADE COUNT: 18
5. Best Hydrating Drugstore Concealer
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Concealer
Fact: There’s nothing worse than a concealer that gets cakey, like, five minutes after you put it on, which is why I love this moisturizing drugstore concealer from Neutrogena. It gives you buildable, natural-looking coverage but won’t ever feel dry or flaky thanks to its hydrating hyaluronic acid (HA) core. P.S. It’s also great to use around your eyes, since the hydrating HA helps temporarily plump up fine lines.
SHADE COUNT: 5
6. Best Drugstore Concealer for Dark Circles
Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Eraser
This drugstore concealer’s soft, fuzzy applicator makes it so easy to cover up dark circles. Just twist the pen until concealer floods the spongy tip, then tap it under your eyes with the applicator (no fingers) until it’s blended in. The full-coverage pigments completely cover shadows while goji berry and haloxyl—two effective blood-circulation boosters—work to brighten your under-eye area.
SHADE COUNT: 12
7. Best 2-in-1 Drugstore Concealer
Milani Conceal + Perfect 2-in-1 Foundation and Concealer
If you’re all about a minimalist makeup routine, then you’ve gotta try this two-in-one drugstore concealer and foundation. Pump out a dime-size amount and use a foundation brush to blend it all over your face, or use a tiny bit and your fingers to spot-conceal dark circles, red marks, and breakouts. The medium-coverage liquid formula is water resistant, so you don’t need to worry about it disappearing from your face halfway through the day.
SHADE COUNT: 24
8. Best Waterproof Drugstore Concealer
L’Oréal Paris Infallible Full Wear Concealer
Say hello to the longest-lasting drugstore concealer ever. The packaging says the creamy, waterproof formula stays on for 24 hours, and I can tell you firsthand that it’s actually true. I wore this to brunch with friends, then stayed out the rest of the day and passed out in my makeup that night (don’t judge, and don’t do it). The next morning, it was still in place—although definitely a little worse for the wear. Pretty impressive, right?
SHADE COUNT: 25
9. Best Vegan Drugstore Concealer
Pacifica Liquid Cover Lasting Concealer
Great news! No cute lil bunnies were harmed in the making of this drugstore concealer from Pacifica—it’s 100 percent vegan and cruelty-free. As for the formula itself? It is multiuse (use it to cover everything from acne to under-eye circles), won’t crease or cake thanks to coconut water and hyaluronic acid, and is super easy to blend and build to customize your coverage level.
SHADE COUNT: 12
10. Best Drugstore Concealer Palette
E.L.F. Cosmetics Corrective Concealer
New to color correcting? This four-in-one drugstore concealer palette is all you need. It has four different shades that help neutralize redness, discoloration, and dullness. Use them underneath your go-t0 concealer for even better coverage without having to pile on a ton of makeup.
SHADE COUNT: 1
11. Best Drugstore Concealer Jar
NYX Professional Concealer Jar
Like to apply your concealer with a brush? This best-selling drugstore concealer from NYX is about to be your new number one. It comes in a jar instead of a tube—which means you really shouldn’t keep sticking your finger in there if you want to keep it free from germs and bacteria. Instead, use a concealer brush, dip it in the little jar, and use it to blend the coverage cream over dark spots, redness, and circles.
SHADE COUNT: 23
12. Best Brush-On Drugstore Concealer
L.A. Girl HD Pro Concealer
First, let’s talk about the price. This drugstore concealer is literally the same price as my Starbucks order, which is pretty effing amazing. But what it lacks in price, it makes up for in quality: The long-wearing formula comes in 43 shades to camouflage dark circles, redness, and discoloration and is hella easy to use, thanks to the twist-up brush applicator.
SHADE COUNT: 43
13. Best Brightening Drugstore Concealer
Maybelline New York Dream Brightening Creamy Concealer
Think of this brightening drugstore concealer as your cover-up and highlighter in one. The medium-to-full coverage formula is ultra creamy and contains light-reflecting pearl particles to give your skin a dewy glow. My favorite place to use it? Under my eyes or on the tops of my cheekbones. The only place NOT to use it? On breakouts, since the brightening effect will only draw more attention to those bbs.
SHADE COUNT: 6
Lauren Balsamo
Deputy Beauty Director
Lauren Balsamo is deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan, where she writes, edits, and produces all types of beauty content—from product reviews to personal essays and trend reports. She has covered beauty for nine years at Cosmopolitan and has contributed to Women’s Health and Seventeen magazines as well. Follow her on Instagram.