Best Concealer for Blemishes

If you want acne and dark spots to disappear without looking caked in makeup, this guide is for you. We compare the best concealers for blemishes, who each one suits, how they wear on real skin, and how to apply them so they actually stay put.

Blemishes are stubborn. They are red, often raised, and they love to peek through makeup by lunch. The right concealer changes that. In this guide, we focus on concealers that make active breakouts and post-blemish marks look flat, even, and natural under real-life conditions like long workdays, sweat, and masks. You will find clear picks for different skin types and budgets, plus step-by-step techniques so your coverage holds up without looking heavy.

Who this guide is for: anyone who wants a concealer that can tame redness and texture, resist oil breakthrough, and blend seamlessly into the rest of your base. If you are comparing options and want to make a confident choice, start with the Quick picks, then read the In-depth reviews to dial in the finish and feel you prefer.

Quick picks

• NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer: Best overall for quick, natural-looking spot coverage
• Dermablend Cover Care Full Coverage Concealer: Best long-wear, non-comedogenic option
• e.l.f. 16HR Camo Concealer: Best budget matte for oily or combo skin
• Make Up For Ever Matte Velvet Skin High Coverage Multi-Use Concealer: Best smoothing finish for larger areas
• IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Breakout Full-Coverage Treatment Concealer: Best for active blemishes you want to treat while concealing

In-depth reviews

NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer review

Who it is for: You want fast, reliable coverage that blurs redness and the look of raised bumps without drawing attention to texture. Great for normal to oily skin and anyone who prefers a natural-matte, skinlike finish.

How it feels and works: This is a cream-in-a-pot formula with high but flexible pigment. It spreads thin with a small brush or fingertip, diffuses edges easily, and sets to a soft matte that looks like real skin. The finish blurs pores and takes down shine without looking flat. Because the pigment is concentrated, you can use very little to neutralize redness, then press a touch more only where the spot is darkest.

Standout features: Oil-free, soft-focus blurring effect, and a buildable, self-setting texture that layers well over foundation or bare skin. It does not need much powder to last, which helps keep texture looking smoother. Shade range is broad with useful undertones for canceling redness.

Key drawbacks: Pot packaging requires a clean brush or sanitized fingertip. On very dry or flaky spots, it can catch unless you prep with a light moisturizer first. If you prefer a liquid with a wand, see Make Up For Ever below.

Compare it to: Versus Make Up For Ever Matte Velvet Skin High Coverage Multi-Use Concealer, NARS gives a touch more immediate opacity for pinpoint concealing and a slightly more diffused look. Make Up For Ever is more flexible for covering larger areas like the sides of the nose or clusters of breakouts.

Dermablend Cover Care Full Coverage Concealer review

Who it is for: You want serious, all-day coverage that resists heat, humidity, and mask friction, and you prefer a dermatologist-trusted, non-comedogenic formula. Ideal for acne-prone and sensitive skin.

How it feels and works: This liquid comes with a doe-foot applicator and a high-pigment formula that spreads smoothly, then sets to a natural matte. It covers active redness and older brown or purplish marks with fewer layers than most, and it holds up well on oily T-zones. A thin layer under translucent powder can survive a long commute and a full workday without obvious fading.

Standout features: High coverage with a relatively thin texture, water-resistant wear, and a non-comedogenic claim that is meaningful for breakout-prone skin. A little goes a long way, so one tube lasts.

Key drawbacks: If you pile it on, it can read heavy. Keep layers thin and targeted. The undertones skew classic beige to neutral; if you rely on olive or golden-olive, you may find a closer match in NARS or Make Up For Ever.

Compare it to: Versus e.l.f. 16HR Camo Concealer, Dermablend is more forgiving and less drying, especially around healing spots. Versus NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer, Dermablend wins for budge-proof wear over long hours, while NARS wins for undetectable texture on close inspection.

e.l.f. 16HR Camo Concealer review

Who it is for: Budget-minded shoppers who want a true matte finish and strong coverage for redness. Best for oily or combination skin or for covering blemishes in humid weather.

How it feels and works: This is a classic fuller-coverage liquid that dries down quickly. The large applicator deposits plenty of product, so dab it lightly onto a palette or the back of your hand and pick up with a small brush. Once set, it resists creasing and does a good job keeping shine at bay.

Standout features: High performance for the price, robust shade range, and a matte finish that helps flatten the look of raised spots on camera and in person.

Key drawbacks: It can emphasize dry patches or healing spots if you do not prep. Mix a drop of moisturizer into the tiny amount you plan to use, or avoid areas with obvious flaking. Because it sets fast, blend edges immediately.

Compare it to: Dermablend Cover Care is more flexible and less prone to dryness, which makes it a safer choice for sensitive or dehydrated skins. e.l.f. 16HR Camo is the better value if you are comfortable with a quick set time and a true matte finish.

Make Up For Ever Matte Velvet Skin High Coverage Multi-Use Concealer review

Who it is for: You want a smoothing, natural-matte finish that looks great on texture and can cover both individual spots and larger areas without looking thick. A good match for normal to oily skin.

How it feels and works: Lightweight yet highly pigmented, this liquid levels the look of pores and unevenness as it covers. It is flexible enough to use in thin layers over cheeks or the sides of the nose where redness is diffuse, then to tap a second layer directly over an active blemish. The finish is modern matte, not flat, which blends well into most foundations.

Standout features: Self-setting feel, blurring effect, and a precise applicator that makes dot concealing easy. It resists separating around oilier zones better than many radiant formulas.

Key drawbacks: If you prefer dewy skin or have very dry patches, you may need to prep well or choose a more emollient concealer. Undertone range is good, but if you fall between shades, you may need two for a perfect match.

Compare it to: Versus NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer, this is less pinpoint and more versatile for larger areas. Versus e.l.f. 16HR Camo, it looks smoother on close inspection and blends more slowly, so you have time to perfect edges.

IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Breakout Full-Coverage Treatment Concealer review

Who it is for: You want coverage and a targeted formula for active blemishes. Good for spot treating red, inflamed pimples that you would also like to calm during the day.

How it feels and works: This is a thicker liquid designed for pinpoint application. It covers redness well and sets to a natural matte that holds up with a light dusting of powder. The formula includes acne-focused ingredients often used to support clarity, and a touch of clay-like absorbers that keep shine down around the problem area.

Standout features: Coverage plus targeted blemish care in one step. Works well on its own or layered under a standard concealer if you need extra opacity for a very dark spot.

Key drawbacks: Can be drying on fragile or healing skin. If you are sensitive to typical acne actives, patch test first. The shade range is more limited than the other picks, so getting an exact undertone can take some trial and error.

Compare it to: Versus Dermablend Cover Care, this is more of a treatment-concealer hybrid for active spots rather than an allover camouflager. Versus NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer, IT Cosmetics may help reduce the look of a blemish over the day, but NARS usually looks more seamless on texture.

How to choose

Match the finish to your skin type. If you are oily or deal with midday shine, a soft matte or natural matte formula will keep raised spots looking flatter and prevent sliding. Oily or combo skin types usually do best with NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer, Dermablend Cover Care, or Make Up For Ever Matte Velvet Skin. If you are normal to slightly dry, Make Up For Ever is the most forgiving. Very dry or flaky skin may prefer a hydrating formula for under eyes and a separate matte concealer used sparingly just on blemishes.

Pick coverage based on the job. Active, red blemishes need fuller coverage. Post-blemish marks that are flat often only need medium coverage and precise placement. For single, stubborn spots, creams in a pot like NARS make dot concealing easier. For larger areas or clusters, a liquid with a wand like Dermablend or Make Up For Ever blends faster without building thickness.

Get undertone right for redness. A concealer that matches your skin tone and leans slightly neutral or golden often neutralizes redness better than a cool or pink tone. If everything turns gray, you may be using a shade that is too light. Match to your face with a tiny patch along the jaw in daylight and assess once it has set.

Think about wear time and setting. If you need your coverage to survive long days, reach for Dermablend Cover Care or Make Up For Ever Matte Velvet Skin. If you sit in dry, air-conditioned offices and prefer minimal powder, NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer is a comfortable pick that still holds.

Consider sensitivity. If you are acne-prone, look for non-comedogenic claims and a light, breathable feel. If you know sulfur or certain acids irritate you, avoid treatment concealers and choose a straightforward camouflager like Dermablend or Make Up For Ever. When in doubt, patch test on the jawline for a day before spot covering your whole chin.

Budget smart. If you want performance under ten dollars, e.l.f. 16HR Camo Concealer is tough to beat. If you want to invest in an editor-favorite texture that vanishes on the skin, NARS Soft Matte is worth the price because you use so little each time.

Application that actually hides blemishes

Blemish coverage is as much about technique as it is about the product. Use these steps to get a smoother, longer-lasting result.

Prep only where needed. Moisturize dry patches lightly and let them absorb. On oily zones, skip heavy creams and go straight to a thin, oil-controlling primer around the blemish. This keeps the surface smooth without adding slip.

Neutralize, then pinpoint. Apply foundation first if you wear it. This evens out the canvas so you use less concealer later. For particularly red spots, place a tiny dab of your concealer in a neutral or slightly warm tone, wait 20 to 30 seconds, then tap to blend the edges. If the redness still peeks through, add a second pinpoint layer only where it is darkest.

Use the right tool. A small, flat synthetic brush the size of a grain of rice gives control. Place color only on the blemish, then use a clean fingertip or a clean brush to feather just the edge. For pot formulas like NARS, warm a tiny amount on the back of your hand first so it melts in.

Let it set before powder. Give the concealer a short moment to self-set, then tap a microfine translucent powder with a small, fluffy brush. Set only the area you concealed. Press, do not sweep, to avoid lifting coverage.

Troubleshoot texture. If the blemish is raised, trying to “flatten” it with heavy layers usually backfires. Instead, even out the color and keep thickness minimal so light does not catch on product edges. If the spot is flaky, lay down a thin layer of moisturizer, wait a minute, then use a creamier concealer or mix a tiny drop of moisturizer into your concealer before applying.

Midday touch-ups. Blot first, then add the smallest amount of concealer only where color has returned. Re-powder lightly. If product has gathered around a dry patch, lift the excess with a clean cotton swab before adding anything new.

Final thoughts

If you want the most seamless, fast spot coverage that still looks like skin, start with NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer. If your days are long and you need coverage to lock in, reach for Dermablend Cover Care Full Coverage Concealer. On a budget, e.l.f. 16HR Camo Concealer is a dependable matte pick for oily or combo skin. If you prefer a flexible, smoothing liquid that can handle both clusters and single spots, Make Up For Ever Matte Velvet Skin is a smart choice. And for active breakouts you want to treat while you cover, IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Breakout is the specialized option. Use the application tips above and you will get more from whichever formula you choose.

See also

If you want your base to grip better and stay smoother over texture, pair your concealer with the right primer. Our guide to the Best Primers for Acne-Prone Skin explains what to use under makeup, and this in-depth piece on the Best Foundation for Acne-Prone Skin (In-Depth Guide) will help you build an even canvas before you spot conceal. For a full routine that minimizes clogging while still looking polished, check the roundup of the Best Makeups for Acne-Prone Skin: Clearer Look, Lighter Feel.

If dark marks linger after breakouts, a targeted serum can speed fading between makeup days. We compare options in Tranexamic Acid Serums for Stubborn Dark Spots, and for a gentler cleanse that does not strip or provoke more oil, see the picks in Best Facial Washes for Acne-Prone Skin: Clear, Calm, Not Stripped.

FAQ

Should concealer for blemishes match my skin tone or be lighter?

Match your blemish concealer to your skin tone as closely as possible. A lighter shade will highlight raised texture and turn redness gray. If you need extra help neutralizing red, choose a tone that leans slightly neutral or golden rather than pink. Always check the match in daylight after the formula has set for a minute.

Can I use the same concealer for blemishes and under eyes?

You can, but it is not ideal. Under-eye formulas are often creamier and more radiant, which can slide off pimples or emphasize texture. For blemishes, a soft or natural matte formula works better. If you want one product to handle both, pick a flexible matte like Make Up For Ever Matte Velvet Skin and apply sparingly under the eye with extra moisturizer.

How do I keep concealer from sliding off oily spots by midday?

Prep with a thin, silicone-based or oil-controlling primer only where you need it, apply foundation first if you wear it, then use a high-coverage concealer in thin layers. Let it set for 20 to 30 seconds before tapping edges, then press on a microfine translucent powder. Blot oil before any touch-up, add a pin-dot of concealer, and re-powder lightly.

Is a treatment concealer with acne-fighting ingredients a good idea?

It can be, especially for red, inflamed breakouts you want to calm during the day. Just know that treatment concealers can be drying. If your skin is sensitive to common acne actives, use a standard non-comedogenic concealer and reserve treatments for your skincare routine. Patch test any new product on the jawline before applying to multiple spots.

What is the best tool for spot concealing raised blemishes?

A small, flat synthetic brush gives you precision to place color only where needed. Use the brush to dot concealer directly on the spot, then tap the edge with a clean fingertip or a clean blending brush to feather into the surrounding skin. Avoid big sponges for spot work since they can lift coverage and deposit too much product.

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