People keep DMing me that I have perfect skin, but it’s actually these concealers
Anyone with acne-prone skin knows that concealer is the most important part of a makeup routine. Sure, I can get some serious coverage with a full-coverage foundation but there’s nothing like a dab of concealer to make my chin acne, forehead pimples, uneven skin texture, and acne scars look basically nonexistent.
Not that there’s anything wrong with acne (breakouts are normal and usually hormonal and genetic), but I feel so much more confident when my spots are guarded beneath a layer of coverage.
But not all concealers are right for your blemishes. The best concealers for acne will help cover up the discolouration and quell inflammation, all the while not feeling heavy, cakey, or – worse – leading to more breakouts.
Through my six-year career (and 15+ years of dealing with acne), I’ve tested hundreds of formulas on my quest for the best concealers for acne. Finally, I’m sharing all of my faves, from brands like NARS, L’Oréal, and E.l.f.
Our top picks for the best concealers for acne...
Keep reading for the full rundown on all my picks. Plus, I consulted makeup artist Neil Scibelli for his need-t0-know tips to conceal acne.
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Soft Matte Complete Concealer
With this concealer, you’d never guess I had acne. Like, it completely covers up every single spot and acne scar on my face – as if it were never even there. The cream texture might seem thick and cakey at first glance, but it blends out pretty effortlessly to a natural, matte finish that just looks like my skin.
Type: Cream in pot
Finish: Matte
Coverage: Full
Oil free? Yes
Glowing customer review: “I love this concealer! I have hyperpigmentation on my face and this is the first one I’ve found that really blends my skin closer to it was before. A little also goes a long way!”
I will dot this all over my face (as seen above), then blend out with a foundation brush. It completely evens out my skin – no foundation required. I’ll just go in with my favourite highlighters to pump up the glow since this formula is on the matte side.
Hydrating Camo Conceale
TikTok blew up when this affordable formula launched as a more lightweight, natural-finish version of the OG Camo Concealer (which I love, but find to be a bit drying on my skin).
It’s fab for hiding pimples, acne scars, dark circles – you name it. I just dot it right onto my skin, then stipple a brush to blend it out and keep the opacity.
Type: Liquid
Finish: Natural
Coverage: Medium
Oil free? Yes
Glowing customer review: “I love it. For me, it doesn’t crease, and it stays all day. And it’s cheap. I just repurchased for the fourth time, and it’s one of the best concealers out there.”
Infallible 24H More Than Concealer
My skin wearing this concealer? Blurred, smooth, soft, and basically poreless. It’s like magic for my oily skin. The matte finish seriously sets down too, so it lasts for eight or more hours easily. Plus, it has full coverage that doesn’t feel like full coverage, ya know? Instead, it has a light consistency that sets down without powder.
Type: Liquid
Finish: Matte
Coverage: Full
Oil free? No* (*but doesn’t contain any common pore-clogging ingredients)
Glowing customer review: “I have acne and combination skin this is the first concealer that actually covers up and makes my skin look like porcelain. I highly recommend – my new holy grail!”
You’d think I was wearing a full face of makeup here, but I only have on this concealer. It’s mind-blowing how full coverage it is (and even more wild considering how little it costs).
Vanish Airbrush Concealer
I’ve put about a dozen of my friends, co-workers, family members, and also random strangers onto this full-coverage concealer (Hourglass, pls sponsor my life).
When I dot it on a spot, the tiniest amount completely covers up any redness and even helps minimise the lumpy, raised look of a giant, hormonal pimple, in my experience. The consistency is quite thick (hence the coverage), so def blend this out with a brush to avoid streakiness or a cakey look.
Type: Cream in pot
Finish: Matte
Coverage: Full
Oil free? Yes
Glowing customer review: “I bought this product after it went viral on TikTok and I love it. It gives beautiful coverage and it has a beautiful finish. I reach for this every day no matter how many other concealers I’ve tried.”
Slip Tint Radiant All-Over Concealer
I am capital-L lazy most days, contrary to popular belief, which is why I pretty much always just slather my face in concealer, blend, and go on with my day. And this dewy one from Saie is perfect for that vibe.
The medium-coverage liquid creates a smooth, blurred look on my skin, camouflaging textured pimples but also helps conceal dark circles and even out my skin tone. I just dot it all over my face, and blend with either a brush for more coverage or a sponge for more glow.
Type: Liquid
Finish: Radiant
Coverage: Medium
Oil free? No
Glowing customer review: “I bought this concealer with the purpose of covering my acne and hyperpigmentation. It’s not super-high coverage, but it does significantly reduce the redness. If I added some green colour corrector, this concealer would be flawless. It doesn’t cling to dry spots, and it doesn’t oxidize either!”
All Hours Concealer
When I adjusted my entire makeup routine to only feature products without pore-clogging ingredients, I picked up this concealer when I realised all of my lightweight ones were filled with oils. Now, it’s my go-to when I want a sheer formula that can be built up and layered with my foundations and powders.
No, it’s not gonna cover a raging, bright-red cystic pimple, but it feels like nothing on my skin, which is ideal for days when I want to feel put-together but not covered in makeup.
Type: Liquid
Finish: Radiant
Coverage: Light, but buildable to medium
Oil free? No (but passes the test of most pore-clogger checkers, FWIW)
Glowing customer review: “I absolutely love this concealer! The packaging is beautiful and the formula is smooth! It sits beautifully on my skin!!”
Triclone Skin Tech Hydrating Concealer
Haus Labs is known for its skincare-infused formulas that have major colour and coverage.
This concealer tops of the list of my favourites from the brand, specifically for my most inflamed zits. This medium-coverage liquid is loaded with soothing arnica and niacinamide to help bring down swelling (whether that’s a blind pimple or under-eye bags).
So when my acne is practically screaming at me, I just dab this on for some coverage without worrying it’ll make it worse, since the formula is also noncomedogenic.
Type: Liquid
Finish: Natural
Coverage: Medium
Oil free? No (but noncomedogenic)
Glowing customer review: “This is my new favourite concealer. It’s so creamy and so buildable. Does not crease. I absolutely love the shade range. Would love to try out more. Definitely grab this when you’re in Sephora you won’t regret it.”
Floored at how natural my skin looks with this concealer on. And I think my breakouts look slightly less inflamed and red, even without colour corrector.
Very Valentino Concealer
If you only get the occasional spot (jealous) or just don’t care that much about your acne being completely hidden, go for this lightweight, radiant concealer.
It’s my go-to for brightening my under-eyes, since it has a creaminess that makes my skin feel more hydrated while leaving my acne looking less pronounced. Is it going to make my skin look absolutely flawless? Nah, but sometimes, the natural lewk is the vibe.
Type: Liquid
Finish: Radiant
Coverage: Sheer
Oil free? No* (*but only trace amounts of sunflower seed oil)
Glowing customer review: “I hate having a concealer that just settles into those lines and the redness breaks through within a short period of time. This doesn’t – it’s creamy without being really thick and covers without heaviness. Doesn’t give that pound of makeup feel.”
Double Wear Stay-in-Place Flawless Wear Concealer
Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation has been one of my holy grails since school. So I was pleased to discover this concealer has all the same qualities I love, particularly the staying power.
I can blend this on my pimples then go about my day without worrying about touching up even once – I’m talking 10 hours. It’s now my go-to for late nights, special occasions, and travel.
Type: Liquid
Finish: Matte
Coverage: Full
Oil free? Yes
Glowing customer review: “Love anything Estée Lauder, and their concealer is no different. Great match to my skin tone and covers and blends perfectly. I’ve used this product for years and it’s never failed me.”
Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Concealer
Weird, but this is one of my favourite foundations of all time. Yup, you read that right. I dot this formula all over my face, then blend with a brush, and it gives me the best medium-to-full coverage with a natural finish yet feels weightless. I only have to use the tiniest bit to cover my entire face, so a little goes a long way. It hides my active spots, as well as my acne scars, without feeling like I’m wearing a full face of foundation.
Type: Liquid
Finish: Natural
Coverage: Full
Oil free? Yes
Glowing customer review: “Just a tiny bit goes so far! I wanted to try this because I was looking for a new everyday concealer, and I found it. I also really love how natural it looks.”
The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Foundation and Concealer Stick
When I just want to quickly and simply cover up my acne, dark circles, and hyperpigmentation, I reach for this multi-use stick from Merit that influencer (and overall my icon) Matilda Djerf introduced to me.
It has a unique texture that provides coverage and a natural finish, yet somehow feels so lightweight on my skin. I usually draw lines all over my face, then blend with a dense brush (understandably, the one from Merit is perfect for this) to buff it across my entire face.
Type: Stick
Finish: Natural
Coverage: Medium
Oil free? Yes
Glowing customer review: “I am a full face girl, but this is great for my run out the door days! It’s a real swipe and go! I recommend blending it out with a brush, not a blender. Not super full-coverage.”
Future Fluid All Over Cream Concealer
Is this makeup or skincare? Both, babes. It's loaded with skincare ingredients, namely hydrating hyaluronic acid to help offset dry patches, along with arnica and aloe vera to quell acne-induced irritation and inflammation.
But it's also a master at covering up my spots, with medium-to-full coverage and a natural-looking finish.
Type: Liquid
Finish: Natural
Coverage: Medium to full
Oil free? No* (*but doesn't contain any common pore-clogging ingredients)
Glowing customer review: "Great coverage, buildable, and a LOT of product. I'm not even sure I can use all of the product before it expires! Highly recommend this product for normal/dry skin."
Forever Skin Correct Full-Coverage Concealer
When my roommate started breaking out from stress, she came to me, frazzled, looking for a solution. I gave her my extra LED mask, spot treatments, and a contact for my derm – but for some immediate relief, I handed her this Dior concealer.
Three days later, she told me she’d already went and picked up a tube of her own because it covered her acne so well. Lemme explain: This liquid, medium-to-full coverage concealer is the GOAT for building up coverage. So when you’ve got a teeny-tiny spot that’s healing, just dot this concealer over it and blend.
But when your pimple has a slightly more fiery temper, you can dab a few thin layers to get more opacity from the formula. Plus, it has a really lovely skin-like finish that pairs well with legit every foundation I’ve ever tried.
Type: Liquid
Finish: Natural
Coverage: Medium to full
Oil free? Yes
Glowing customer review: “Love this concealer. I use a thin layer as a base on low-makeup days and it looks totally natural. Blends like a dream, great coverage. Expensive, but lasts forever.”
How to cover acne:
According to Scibelli, the best way to cover acne is by making them “appear more flat in texture,” he says. Here’s his full guide to covering spots, step by step:
Prep your skin with skincare, like a salicylic-acid spiked toner, moisturiser, or primer (and sunscreen, ofc).
Reduce redness with a green colour corrector by dabbing it over your spot and blending.
Using a flat brush, pat concealer on and around the spot. “I like to use the top of my hand as a palette and pick up the product in increments to build coverage,” Scibelli adds.
Blend the concealer with a dabbing motion “to build the coverage and prevent the product from moving around the skin too much,” he says
Set with a fine setting powder to hold your concealer in place.
But the key to all of this is starting with a good skincare routine for acne. This means taking your makeup off every single night with an oil cleanser or micellar water, cleansing with a gel cleanser for acne, moisturising, then slathering on sunscreen during the day.
Once you’ve got that down, incorporate active ingredients like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid to help fight breakouts.
How to choose the best concealer for acne for you:
Assess your coverage level.
Concealers for acne can come in a slew of different formulations ranging in coverage levels, from covers-everything-full to barely-there-light.
Thicker, paste-like and cream formulas tend to have a stronger opacity, which makes them better at hiding any traces of a pimple, especially camouflaging any raised look. But this can make them feel a bit heavy on your skin.
If you still want your spot mostly covered but without the richness, try a medium-coverage concealer. And, of course, you can always use sheer concealers for acne for a tint that slightly evens out skin tone, but this definitely won’t fully cover a pimple, FYI.
Decide your ideal finish.
“When it comes to covering existing breakouts, I like to use mattifying formulas to help reduce the texture and shape of breakouts while also controlling oil,” says Scibelli.
With oily skin that gets shiny easily, a matte concealer that won’t lead to fading, breaking up, and creasing is usually the way to go. Plus, these formulas tend to have more opacity to really hide spots. But if your skin is acne-prone and dry, a radiant formula will help cover dry patches and breakouts.
If you lie somewhere in the middle, go for something with a natural, skin-like finish. These will make it look like you’re barely wearing makeup and blend well on top of (or underneath, if you’re into underpainting) matte and dewy foundations.
Prioritise oil-free, noncomedogenic formulas.
If you’re also worried about developing more acne in the process of wearing concealer, avoid formulations loaded with oils and butters, which could potentially clog pores.
Keep in mind: Pore-clogging ingredients can vary person to person (I can’t use shea butter, while my BFF swears by her shea-butter moisturiser, for example).
Not to mention, these rich concealers can actually potentially make your acne look even bigger and more inflamed, says Scibelli. “The shine from overly luminous or shimmery products can actually accentuate the texture of breakouts,” he adds.
Meet the experts:
Neil Scibelli is a makeup artist based in New York, NY, who works with celebrities and talent for TV interviews, press appointments, and more.
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan US with six years of experience researching, writing, and editing makeup stories that range from makeup trends to lip stains. She is an authority in all makeup categories but has very personal experience finding the best concealers for acne as someone who’s been covering up her spots since school. Of course, she also interviewed makeup artists for their product picks and tips.
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