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10 best under-eye concealers for pale skin for a fresh faced look

For those with a fair complexion, here are the cover ups that will hide darks circles and fine lines

Friday 14 June 2019 10:54 BST

To really brighten below the eye, go for a shade lighter than your foundation (iStock/ The Independent)

Concealer is one of the most powerful products in your make-up bag: even worn alone, with a little mascara and eyebrow pencil, it can be transformative.

It can also look really bad when it’s done wrong – cakey, patchy and creasy – so it’s one of the few items that it’s worth spending a little more on if you’re on a budget.

Throw in the need for a snowy pale shade for fair skin and you’ve got quite the search on your hands.

To help you on your way, these are our favourites; each tested for at least three days, between them they’ve dealt with sunshine and rain, sweating it out at the gym and lazy days at home, sleepless nights and breakouts.

When picking a shade, many people recommend going a shade lighter than your foundation to give more of a brightening effect under the eyes, but bear in mind that if you want to use it on spots, too, this will only draw attention to them.

You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

Nars soft matte complete concealer: £24, Nars

We are big fans of Nars’ radiant creamy concealer, but for those who prefer a matte, set consistency, this is just as good. A solid formula, it melts on to the fingers and, unlike many matte products, is light, builds and blends well, doesn’t dry too fast and isn’t drying. It has a satin, natural finish rather than a flat one.

Too Faced born this way super coverage multi sculpting concealer: £24, Cult Beauty

This is an unusually big bottle for a concealer, feeling more like a foundation in its packaging, but it is high coverage and well-pigmented, beating even the most stubborn dark circles, while also feeling light and creamy on the skin with a glowy finish. The pale shade range is excellent too.

YSL touche eclat high cover: £26, YSL

For those who found that the light-reflecting capabilities of the cult touche eclat didn’t quite cut it for their dark circles, the high cover version of the click-dispense brush pen provides greater coverage, while still being lightweight, moisturising and brightening. The shade range isn’t huge but the pale offering is strong.

Trinny London BFF eye serum concealer: £26, Trinny London

Trinny London (yes, that’s Trinny of What Not To Wear fame) has a clever range of cream-based products in pots that click together; perfect for chucking in your handbag. The BFF concealer is gorgeously thick and creamy, doesn’t dry and settle into fine lines thanks to the inclusion of hyaluronic acid, and is pretty close to imperceptible on the skin.

Charlotte Tilbury magic away: £24, Charlotte Tilbury

We’re not usually fans of sponge applicators as we can never shake the feeling that they’re absorbing more product than they dispense. However this, from Charlotte Tilbury, gives easy, even, full coverage and the applicator is perfectly shaped to hug the eye contour and glide round curves where you may need extra coverage, such as the nose.

Fenty Beauty pro filt’r retouch concealer: £19, Harvey Nichols

You can’t not include Rihanna’s inclusive beauty line Fenty in a roundup for specific skin tones. Its retouch concealer comes in 50 shades – by far the biggest range we’ve seen. It offers really good coverage without being cakey and has a satin finish. We found that while it blends beautifully, it lasts better if you really take the time to work it in.

RMS Beauty “un” cover-up: £34, Feel Unique

RMS is all about using organic, natural ingredients (an approach that’s been far slower to kick off in make-up than in skincare) for a natural, glowing look. Its solid concealer is lightweight and pats on softly to give good, buildable coverage. The palest shade is a proper snowy white, and each level of tone comes in warm or cool variations.

Clarins instant concealer: £22.50, Clarins

A product that only comes in five shades wouldn’t usually make it into a roundup for skin tone exclusivity, but Clarins’ instant concealer is so good we had to recommend it. It is thin but highly pigmented, non-drying and blends beautifully with a glowing, satin-y finish. There are two good pale shades available, 00 and 01.

Estee Lauder double wear instant fix concealer 24H: £21.25, John Lewis & Partners

If you find that concealer worn under your eyes dries out and settles into fine lines, instant fix is made for you. It’s a double-ended product, with Hydra Prep serum on flexi wand on one end and a light, thin concealer with a doe-foot applicator on the other. Those with oily skin may find it won’t stay put, but it suits dryer eyes perfectly.

Becca ultimate coverage longwear concealer: £21, John Lewis & Partners

It took us a few gos to get an application we liked with Becca’s ultimate coverage concealer, as it is thick – you only need a little – and dries quite quickly. Blended out with a brush or beauty blender it gives strong, long-lasting coverage, though those with dry patches may find it clings.

The verdict: Under-eye concealers for pale skin

Nars’ soft matte is so easy to apply, with good coverage and a beautiful finish; it will suit almost everyone. For the best shade range, try Too Faced or Fenty, while Trinny London will be a holy grail for those who like a creamy, moisturising formula.