Brilliant concealers that are perfect for mature skin (2024)

Like foundation and cream blushers, using the right concealer for mature skin is the key to ensuring a healthy, natural-looking base. As you age, you may find that your skin doesn't act the same as it did 10 years ago, and therefore, your trusted cover up is no longer cutting it. With a sea of options available, whittling down the texture and shade can be quite the feat to overcome. Luckily, we've rooted out the best in the beauty business to help you out.

Before you start makeup shopping, it's worth understanding how your skin changes as you mature, and what this means for your routine (make sure you look at adapting your moisturiser and cleansers, too). Ageing and hormonal changes can cause everything from hyperpigmentation and broken capillaries to redness and dark circles – not forgetting those wrinkles, of course. Cell turnover also slows down, which can result in a dull complexion. But we're here to tell you that the right concealer will help to camouflage these concerns, so you can feel just as confident in your skin as you did in your 20s.

Now, when it comes to concealers, it’s not one size fits all. The best concealer for brightening your under eyes may not work quite as well on those dark spots, so it's worth investing in targeted products. Turns out, it’s all in the formula. You may be inclined to opt for a thick and matte finish to tackle dark under-eye circles, but Zara Findlay, Senior Pro Artist at Bobbi Brown, suggests otherwise.

“When picking a concealer for mature skin, opt for a formula that is hydrating, lightweight & has a balmy texture. This will ensure your formula won't settle into fine lines, making them look more prominent,” she advices. This is especially important around the eyes where the skin is thinner and more prone to wrinkles.

The best concealers will also have the same skin-nourishing ingredients that can be found in your favourite moisturiser. Without getting too technical, as you mature your sebaceous gland activity reduces – a fancy way to say your skin's function to create sebum (oils) slows down – so this will often result in a dry complexion. To help combat this, look out for ingredients like hyaluronic acid which will boost hydration and starve off that cakey look. Dewy formulas are a good option as they will give lacklustre skin a much-needed radiance boost.

How to find the best concealer shade

According to Findlay, finding the best concealer shade for you is not just down to your individual skin tone, but it all depends on the specific issues you're trying to cover. “To re-energise tired-looking eyes, pick a colour that is one shade lighter than your skin tone as this will help to visibly brighten and lift,” she says.

And, what about hyperpigmentation? Findlay advises that a two-step process is the key to completely concealing those sun spots. “Start with a colour corrector to counteract pigmentation. Pick a peach tone to counteract brown pigment and a bisque tone to counteract bluey/purple pigment. Then layer a concealer – I love Bobbi Brown's Skin Concealer Stick – over the top in your exact skin colour. This is very important as, if the concealer shade is lighter than your skin tone, it will not cover the pigmentation and bring more emphasis to it.”

Read on for the Prima team's verdict on the very best concealers for mature skin, from purse-friendly champions to high-end heroes worth splurging on.

The best concealers for mature skin

Maybelline's Instant Anti Age Eraser Concealer may be an old favourite, but it's a mainstay in our makeup bags for a reason. What's so appealing about this formula is that it doesn't gather or migrate into crepey skin around the eyes, ensuring a crease-free finish. We also love the sponge applicator to prevent you from going too heavy-handed with your application.

It's a cult product for good reason. Yves Saint Laurent's Touche Éclat Highlighter is the concealer to go for when you want to brighten up dark under eye circles. Simply dot in the inner corners of the eyes and blend out, building up around the eye as needed.

Blur, conceal and highlight with this serum-like concealer. With a promise of adding hydration with an illuminating finish, this is perfect for applying on a more mature face as it combats dryness and won't sink into fine lines.

Trinny London’s BFF Eye is a serum-concealer hybrid. In other words, the creamy consistency is super lightweight, making it perfect for lifting tired-looking eyes. The formula is infused with peptides – to boost collagen and elastin production – as well as brightening vitamin C and hydrating hyaluronic acid. You can read our full (and glowing) review here.

A cult classic for a reason, Nars’ Radiant Creamy Concealer is one of the best money can buy for brightening the under-eye area. Formulated with light-diffusing pigments, it creates a soft-focus effect which helps to deliver a natural finish while minimising the appearance of fine lines and dark circles. It's a long-time favourite you just can't go wrong with.

Max Factor is getting GREAT reviews for this budget concealer. With an added dose of hyaluronic acid and vitamin c, this mixture tackles all your mature skin woes in one.

Lightweight formulas are the best choice for diminishing dark circles and discolouration. Without highlighting texture, this creamy concealer offers solid coverage, a soft-focus finish and feels weightless on the skin. Plus, you can trust that the velvety formula won't settle into wrinkles or fine lines.

This concealer has that all-important dose of hyaluronic acid which works wonders at hydrating and plumping the skin. The coverage itself is very lightweight – so it glides effortlessly over the skin –while adding radiance and smoothing out texture. There is no getting around it, this concealer is on the pricier side but it's well worth the splurge for its skincare benefits.

No7's Lift and Illuminate concealer does exactly what it says on the tin: it brightens your complexion thanks to its light-reflecting particles and skin-plumping ingredients. Plus, the formula has a handy dose of vitamin C – an antioxidant known for its brightening powers – to help fight hyperpigmentation and take on your dark circles.

Elf concealers have been a long-time staple in the Prima team’s beauty bags – and not just because of their affordable price points. The Hydrating Camo Concealer is a particularly great pick for those with mature skin. Just like the original Camo Concealer, it has great coverage to hide blemishes or redness (an ideal option for rosacea sufferers), and it's also infused with hydrating ingredients to give you that extra moisture boost.

All of Glossier's make-up is known for being lightweight and buildable, and its concealer is no different. Part of its 'Stretch' range, the clue is in the name as the formula is designed to stretch with your skin, so no caking or piling throughout the day. With a dewy finish, this concealer has remarkably efficient coverage, too.

Lightweight with full coverage, this concealer promises to not sit in any fine lines giving you the youthful look you're after.