The 10 Best Concealers for Men to Try for a Fresher Appearance in 2023 (2024)

Listen up, lads: it's time to embrace men's concealers. Holding the power to hide a multitude of sins (a heavy night with no sleep, for example) and frustrating imperfections (unwanted zits and dark circles under your eye, anyone?), they're the toilet bag superhero you never knew you needed. Until now.

Now, we know what you're thinking. Even if you're one of the many gents who've woken up to the importance of a basic skincare routine, for most men, the ideal of wearing makeup will be a step too far. But hear us out. Although a decent face wash and moisturiser will do a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to keeping your skin looking young and healthy, if you've woken up to an unexpected blemish or you've got an important day ahead of you and want to look your best, there really is no other skincare product better placed than a discreet concealer for providing you with a fresher, brighter appearance.

In case you're in need of a little more convincing, we spoke to Alex Doyle, founder of men's makeup and skincare brand ALTR London, to find out why more men are now using concealers and why you should too. We also spoke to Dr Ross Perry, Medical Director of Cosmedics Skin Clinics, to find out what men should look for when shopping for a concealer and what the best method is for applying them to your skin. In line with their expert advice, we've compiled a list of the best men's concealers to buy in 2023 for every skin type.

10 Best Concealers for Men to Buy in 2023

Here's a quick summary of the best concealers for men. For a more detailed breakdown of each, keep scrolling.

Why Are Men's Concealers Popular?

With most taking up no more space than your keys or wallet, it's hardly surprising that the popularity of men's concealers has risen. 'There's been a steady uptick in men buying concealers for the past 10 years or so due to changing social trends, with the younger generations, millennials and Gen-Z less concerned by the traditional social stigmas around male makeup,' explains Doyle. 'With people spending more time with work colleagues on camera, more people are concentrating on the face so it's natural that men have become more conscious about looking good.'

So what's caused more men to start wearing concealer? 'We’re seeing our imperfections far more frequently – fine lines, under eye circles/bags and enlarged pores – and as most of us lead busy lives, often finding ourselves under pressure and stress, that can result in sleepless nights and not looking after ourselves properly,' says Dr Perry. "It’s also become much more acceptable for men to also wear make-up. Social media, celebrities, male grooming influencers have made it entirely the norm, therefore it comes as no surprise that more men are purchasing concealers and wanting to look their best.'

Men's Concealers: What to Look Out For

There's a reason why department stores dedicate entire floors to makeup. With different skin shades and skin types to textures and application types to contend with, as Dr Perry explains, there's a lot to consider. If anything, though, having more options to choose from should make your life easier. 'First of all, look for a concealer which is as close a match to your own skin tone,' he says. 'Most online outlets now have tools to pick one as close a match as possible.'

A common concern around wearing makeup is that it'll look too obvious. As Dr Perry explains, this is something that's easy to avoid, so long as you follow some basic rules. 'You want the concealer to cover your imperfections, but not look obvious,' he says. 'Think about texture: if your skin is dry, you should be aiming for a creamy concealer; if it's oily, aim for a more matte version.'

How to Use Men's Concealers

Inevitably, there's more to applying concealer — and getting away with it — than slapping it on and walking out your door. 'It’s important that skin is well moisturised before applying concealer in the first instance, but it is tricky to find one to suit your own skin, so be aware it might be a case of trial and error to start with,' says Dr. Perry.

'Concealer can be used to hide pimples, fine lines, under eye bags and dark circles and therefore you need to choose the right one for your needs. For under-the-eye problems, such as bags and dark circles, a lightweight cream or a balm will work well, but if it’s acne or pimples you’re trying to cover then you might need something thicker and matte.'

10 Best Concealers for Men to Buy in 2023

If wearing 'war paint' is a more palatable idea than makeup, this is the product for you. With five shades available — tan, fair, light, medium and dark — this men's concealer has an easy application and an easy blend. Use War Paint's 'shade finder' tool to identify the one that's right for you. This is a cream-based concealer, so it's best suited to someone looking to cover up stubborn under-eye circles, spots and large pores.

Despite its lipstick-like appearance, Tom Ford's Concealer is a discreet and stylish way to ensure that you're looking your best when you're on the move. Perfect for keeping in your rucksack or storing in your locker at work, it is specifically designed to cover blemishes and razor nicks. This is a smooth concealer and blends well with the skin without a cakey finish, meaning it's a great choice for undereye problems, such as bags and dark circles.

With such a light skin-feel, you'll barely notice this men's concealer working its magic. Used by artists for its ability to correct with ease – in part thanks to its wand applicator – it's designed to last 16 hours and to combat any signs of fatigue with a luxurious feel. Creamy in texture, this concealer is best suited to those with dry skin. It also comes in 15 different skin tones, which gives you greater accuracy when choosing a shade to match your skin.

Need a concealer that easily applies? Bobbi Brown's Intensive Skin Serum Corrector has a wand applicator for getting the perfect amount of serum underneath your eyes. With a thin consistency, you'll benefit from a weightless, unnoticeable feel that combats major causes of dark circles and re-energises tired-looking skin. It also comes in a choice of 17 different shades, making it easier to find a colour that suits your skin tone.

With a 'glide-on formula' and stick applicator, this men's concealer is geared towards ease of use. It contains carefully selected oils to ensure that it effortlessly glides over your skin and leaves a natural and subtle result. With a matte finish, it's best suited to those with oily skin, or those wanting to cover up spots and blemishes. Designed to conceal imperfections for up to 8 hours, this is a great all-day concealer.

This is the world's best-selling men's concealer, which easily conceals dark circles, spots and redness with an undetectable finish. It applies easily, has a smooth texture, and is a cruelty-free product.

Using natural ingredients to solve modern skin problems, PaleoLab's men's concealer is made from 100% natural minerals and covers spots, blemishes, and dark circles easily with an anti-shine finish. It won't block your pores, either — which is handy. Available in four shades to match your skin tone, it is anti-shine and specifically formulated to blend undetectably with your skin, ensuring a subtle coverage.

Ideal for anyone concerned with dark under-eye circles, Shakeup's men's concealer reduces puffiness, moisturises your eye area, and can even boost microcirculation with SPF25 protection level, to help fight against wrinkles. Using a rollerball, it's easy to apply, too. This is a cream concealer, so it's best suited to those with dry skin.

Designed to cover up breakouts and even out dark patches around the eyes, this men's concealer comes in six shades including light, bronze, olive and deep — it'll fit nicely in your pocket or stashed away in your gym bag. This concealer has a matte finish, so if you have an oily skin type, this is the one for you.

This concealer stick uses Vitamin E to hydrate your skin and lessen the appearance of dark circles for a more even look. Available in a choice of seven shades to match your skin type, and with a heap of five-star reviews, it's a safe bet. This concealer has a matte finish, making it a suitable pick for those with oily skin. It also supposedly 'instantly camouflages' anything on your skin, so if you have acne or pimples you want to cover up, give this a go.

This colour-correcting stick and men's concealer uses Vitamin E to hydrate your skin and lessen the appearance of dark circles for a more even look. With hundreds of five-star reviews, it's a safe bet.

Not only will Recipe For Men's anti-blemish concealer help to cover up spots, it'll help fight them off too. Using a dermatologically-approved formula, the men's concealer houses spot-killing alicyclic acid and has a non-oily finish.