In an ideal world we’d all embrace the skin that we’re in and celebrate our complexions exactly as they are, spots and all, but as a beauty editor that’s been dealing with acne for over two decades now I understand the desire to want to disguise a breakout fast. And that’s where my desert island make-up product comes in—concealer.
Even on my most minimal of make-up days, I rarely skip concealer thanks to its almost magic ability to camouflage dark circles (my other top skin concern), reduce the appearance of red, angry spots and to disguise any scarring or discolouration left behind by old breakouts. But, having tried a lot of different concealers over the years, it’s clear to me that some just aren’t cut out for the job of concealing acne. For instance, my beloved Glossier Stretch concealer that I swear by for my under-eyes just isn’t heavy-duty enough to make an impact on spots.
To understand the level of acne that I'm talking about, this is my skin on a fairly standard day—I tend to get hormonal breakouts around my jawline and chin when my period is due, and these can last a few days before calming down and leaving behind some redness. I also have some scarring and texture on my cheeks and chin from old breakouts.
Luckily, though, there are some real gems on the market that make light work of reducing the appearance of acne. But it's important to remember that everyone's experience with acne is different, and while I know what my favourite concealers for acne are, I appreciate people have different tastes. So, in order to compile the ultimate round-up of the best concealers for covering spots, I enlisted the help of Marie Claire's Executive Beauty Editor, Shannon Lawlor. As a fellow editor who experiences hormonal acne, between the two of us, you can guarantee we have the best recommendations going. But before getting into the full list, I caught up with pro make-up artist Lisa Caldognetto to get her expert advice on the best way to conceal acne.
The best application techniques for concealing acne
Before we get to the concealer, let’s focus on treating the breakout if it’s currently active. Lisa suggests popping on a pimple patch (I really rate the Hero Mighty Patches) for as long as possible before you start your make-up routine. If it’s a particularly juicy blemish, then she also rates the Fenty Skin Blemish Defeat’r BHA Spot-Targeting Gel, a salicylic acid spot treatment, which layers really well beneath make-up.
The key to really covering up a blemish lies in the application technique, though. “Avoid any circular or brushing motions, you want to be dabbing and pushing the product directly onto the spot,” says Lisa. “If it’s an active blemish then you could actually apply the concealer and leave it to set for a few minutes and then come back to it. You then want to use a soft blending brush and just blend out the edges of the concealer so it looks seamless.”
Finally, Lisa is adamant that there is one product you must not forget after concealing—powder. “When a spot is active there can be a bit more sebum and oil production which will break down the concealer,” Lisa explains. A good setting powder (I recommend Milk Makeup Pore Eclipse Setting Powder) will help to increase the longevity of the product you’ve applied.
The best textures for acne concealers
When you’re dealing with a spot, there’s often a couple of factors at play—the oil causing the spot itself and dryness around the spot where you may have been trying to treat it using active skincare ingredients. “You want to therefore have a mixture of hydration, but also longevity in the product,” says Lisa. “A liquid with a doe foot wand is a good choice or a cream pot one, as you don’t want anything that’s going to be highlighting any flaky patches around the blemish.”
It’s also important to keep your products as hygienic as possible when you’re concealing acne. “Decant the concealer onto the back of your hand, rather than putting it straight onto your skin with the applicator, to avoid cross-contamination and prevent bacteria from getting into the product,” advises Lisa.
Ahead, the 9 best concealers for acne.
1. MAC Pro Longwear Concealer
"It’s an oldie, but a goodie. MAC’s Pro Longwear Concealer is a make-up-artist favourite that I come back to time and time again thanks to the fact that it does a bit of everything. First impressions are that it’s quite a lightweight, liquidy texture that doesn’t feel like it would conceal much, but don’t be fooled. It has a really full-coverage finish that can be layered up easily for bigger spots but never looks cakey on the skin. I love that it has pump dispenser which minimises the risk of bacteria getting into the product (but admittedly can be slightly messy to use), and I find that it works just as well applied with fingers as it does with a brush or make-up sponge. Whether you’re covering scarring or raised blemishes, it does the job." – Mica Ricketts, Freelance Beauty Editor
2. NARS Soft Matte Concealer
"Not only is this concealer one of my personal favourites for covering second- or third-day spots, but Lisa rated it as one of her favourite concealers for acne, too. It has an oil-free formulation with an extremely long-wear finish. Plus, it’s matte so it doesn’t draw any extra attention to your skin by trying to look glowy. I find that it works best when almost painted onto the spot with a make-up brush and then blended out at the edges with your fingers. This technique means that the blemish is almost imperceptible on the skin. However, I would say that the very matte finish means that it can get a bit cakey if it’s a fresh spot that is particularly raised or has a whitehead on it. I tend to leave this for spots that are a bit flatter on the skin." – Mica Ricketts, Freelance Beauty Editor
"This concealer is, hands down, my favourite for quick spot coverage. Usually, I shy away from a matte finish, but when it comes to angry, red spots, I fervently believe you need a high-coverage, matte formula—just like this one—to do the job. I just stick my finger in the pot and dab it over the area that needs concealing, and it's done. No fuss, no stress, minimal blending." – Shannon Lawlor, Executive Beauty Editor
3. Sisley Stylo Correct Concealer
"This has quickly become my go-to concealer for everyday spot coverage. I have been left with a fair amount of redness on my chin from acne scarring, and I find a quick scribble of this over the top almost entirely covers it up, even when blending haphazardly with my fingers. It's eye-wateringly expensive, so I appreciate it's not a feasible daily-use product for everybody, however it's one of those products that works just as well for the everyday as it does for when you want a fuller coverage—it's impressively versatile." – Shannon Lawlor, Executive Beauty Editor
4. Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Brightening Concealer
"Although I would typically avoid any concealers that claim to be brightening or radiant when it comes to spots, this one from Rare Beauty is really impressive and has fast become the concealer that I reach for on mornings that I wake up to an unexpected breakout. The liquid formulation is wonderfully blendable, but impressively high coverage. I swipe it onto the back of my hand and then press it directly onto spots. The hydrating formula means that it doesn’t cling to any dry patches or highlight texture, instead it almost meshes with the spot itself and helps to camouflage it with the rest of your skin. I go for a tone down from the shade that I use under my eyes, though, just to minimise that brightening effect." – Mica Ricketts, Freelance Beauty Editor
5. Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Concealer
"If you're trying to cover up your breakouts with a full face and high-coverage base, this is the concealer you need in your arsenal. It's creamy, it's hydrating and it has a natural-looking finish that isn't too shiny nor too matte—it is the Goldilocks concealer. While it is buildable, I truthfully only reach for this little guy when I'm wearing a full-coverage foundation—it's just to good at what it does to be worn on bare skin, in my opinion. It's not the easy sort of concealer you can swipe on in a second, but if you're already spending an extra few minutes on your base, this high-coverage little tube is exactly what you need." – Shannon Lawlor, Executive Beauty Editor
6. Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Concealer
"We still have a long way to go when it comes to brands providing consistent and adequate shade ranges with their products, and concealers still tend to have a reduced selection of tones compared with their foundation products. Fenty Beauty, however, continues to prove that there is no excuse for it with a full 50-shade offering of their liquid concealer. This is a really versatile concealer with a long-wear liquid formula that feels featherlight on the skin but can be layered for full to medium coverage. It covers spots, dark circles and pigmentation with absolute ease, and it has an almost velvety finish that makes your skin look more even in tone and texture." – Mica Ricketts, Freelance Beauty Editor
7. Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Concealer
"So many make-up artists swear by this concealer kit and it’s easy to see why—it contains two concealer shades in the portable palette which can be mixed depending on where you’re applying the product. Lisa suggests that opting for a concealer shade that’s lighter than your under-eye one is the way to go when you’re concealing blemishes, and this palette allows you to mix exactly the right tone for you. Personally, I like to have a couple of brushes on hand when using this product—one for applying the concealer to the back of my hand and mixing and another for patting onto the blemish itself. It’s not one to use when you’re in a huge rush, but the extra time is definitely worth it as it truly provides an almost invisible finish on the skin when applied properly." – Mica Ricketts, Freelance Beauty Editor
8. Tarte Shape Tape Contour Concealer
"A few years back this was one of the most viral concealers around, and while the hype around Tarte as a brand seems to have died down, I think that this remains one of the very best concealers for acne. Firstly, it has bold claims when it comes to longevity, promising up to 16 hours of wear time. And, honestly, I don’t think it’s far off—when paired with a powder I can apply this before work at around 8am and trust that everything will still be covered up by the end of the day." – Mica Ricketts, Freelance Beauty Editor
9. Kosas Revealer Super Creamy Concealer
"This is probably the most brightening concealer of the bunch and, as such, I also love this concealer for dark circles—but it’s a really brilliant formulation if you’re looking to camouflage any discolouration or scarring caused by acne. I have lots of texture on my skin from old spots and also have pigmentation and redness that lingers for a long time once an active breakout has been reduced. In those areas, this liquid concealer is amazing at melting into your skin and minimising the appearance of uneven texture by almost plumping and hydrating the skin’s surface. Plus, it has a great range of shades to minimise any discolouration for smoother, brighter skin." – Mica Ricketts, Freelance Beauty Editor
