The best concealers for acne have a tough job: They need to cover blemishes without further clogging pores, conceal without caking, and help you feel like yourself on those breakout-caused “I might skip the hang. But fear not; there’s a wide range of formulas with different finishes, coverage levels, and capabilities to tackle blemishes big and small. In these concealers, you’ll find familiar skin-loving ingredients that support healing and hydration and go beyond simply masking the spots on the surface. We’re talking heavy hitters like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, squalane, and yes, even the occasional splash of salicylic acid. Whether you’re opting for full-fledged camouflage or just a bit of redness reduction, there’s a formula to fit your needs. We spoke to board-certified dermatologists, makeup artists, and our very own editors to get the skinny on what makes these concealers suited for skin at its most vulnerable.

Our Top Concealers for Acne

• Best Overall: Nars Soft Matte Concealer, $32
• Best Medium-Coverage: Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Concealer, $42
• Best Brightening: Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Concealer, $39
• Best for Dry Skin: IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Full Coverage Concealer, $29
• Best for Oily Skin: Estée Lauder Double Wear Concealer, $38
• Best for Acne Scars: Tarte Shape Tape Radiant, $32
• Best Full-Coverage: Huda Beauty #FauxFilter Luminous Matte Concealer, $31

Frequently Asked Questions

• How should I choose a concealer for acne?
• How should I apply concealer during breakouts?
• Meet the experts
• How we test and review products
• Our staff and testers

Best Overall: Nars Soft Matte Concealer

Why it’s worth it: Soft and matte are a match made in concealer heaven, especially if you’re trying to cover acne without making it look worse—or like you’ve doused your face in acrylic paint. That’s where Nars’s Soft Matte Concealer comes in. “It gives amazing coverage while also smoothing out texture, so it never looks heavy or cakey,” says makeup artist Lisa Aharon, who loves that it’s formulated with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, and peptides. “[It’s] perfect for covering breakouts without making them look worse.” TL;DR The semi-solid texture offers serious coverage but melts into the skin to blend and blur breakouts without settling into fine lines or pores.

Some makeup artists say this concealer has a self-setting quality, but if you have oily skin (as many acne-prone people do), a bit of setting powder is probably a good idea to keep things locked in. Even though the formula itself is oil-free, the sebum on your face tends to work overtime to override that quality. The brand encourages users to warm the concealer between their fingers before applying it. Still, for acne-havers, it’s a better idea to take your fingers out of the equation to keep the oil and bacteria to an absolute minimum.

Tester feedback: "My ultimate hack for covering zits is applying a pea-sized amount of this Nars concealer to the pimple and letting it sit for a few minutes before blending it with my favorite foundation. Thank me later," says shopping market editor Angela Trakoshis.

Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, peptides, antioxidants | Shades: 30 | Finish: soft-matte

Best Medium-Coverage: Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Concealer

Why it’s worth it: When a breakout bridges the gap between mild and maddening, your best bet is a concealer with a medium-coverage finish that masks blemishes without laying it on too thick. Armani’s Luminous Silk Concealer is a lovely example of just that. Using caffeine, vitamin E, and glycerin to hydrate and brighten, this formula offers a second-skin finish that can be built up on days when you’re combatting extra redness or texture, or kept low-key when the vibes aren’t quite as dire. If your acne extends to your undereyes, this is an excellent pick, as vitamin E and caffeine can help cut down on puffiness and dark circles that underscore your zits.

Tester feedback: "This concealer has quickly become a staple in my routine. It's the perfect amount of coverage for addressing some of my problem areas, including breakouts and acne scars," says Lexi Herrick, senior director of audience development. "A little really goes a long way, and the felt tip application makes application a breeze. The shade range is also impressive, and it holds up great throughout the day."

Key ingredients: vitamin E, caffeine, glycerin | Shades: 22 | Finish: natural

Best Brightening: Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Concealer

Why it's worth it: Laura Mercier's Secret Camouflage Concealer is a creamy, double-panned maestro ready for all the retouching. One of the shades is for your typical correcting, while the other is for brightening around your eyes. But, if you have an uneven skin tone, you can just use the brightening side as a regular concealer in lighter spots. "I didn't find the difference between the 'brighten' and 'correct' shades to be that large, so I used them interchangeably," said former editor Gabi Thorne.

Tester feedback: "I’ve been using the Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage since college, and for good reason: It works," says contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai. "The two complementary shades allow me to create the right shade to cover a given zit, and the texture—a cream that almost has a powdery to finish—pretty much guarantees all-day coverage." Pai adds that she always uses a brush to apply the concealer, followed by her fingers for blending, "since the warmth really helps the product melt to create a nice finish," she says. "It also takes some getting used to if you’re not into a firm cream formula, but it’s worth it for acne breakouts, since the coverage doesn’t get cakey."

Key ingredients: lotus flower extract, vitamin E, squalane | Shades: 16 | Finish: radiant

Best for Dry Skin: IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Full Coverage Concealer

Why it’s worth it: Ok, technically, It Cosmetics’s Bye Bye Under Eye Full Coverage Concealer is for—you guessed it—your undereyes, but there’s more than meets the label for this Readers’ Choice Award winner. Because of its supremely hydrating formula, this is a favorite for the girlies whose acne is accompanied by dry skin (super fun, right?). This full-coverage, waterproof concealer is rich with skin-care staples like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, peptides, and antioxidants to moisturize and plump as it covers up. A little goes a long way, so expect to get a lot of use out of this tube.

Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, peptides, antioxidants | Shades: 24 | Finish: full-coverage, natural-finish

Best for Oily Skin: Estée Lauder Double Wear Concealer

Why it's worth it: Estée Lauder's Double Wear Concealer is a cover-up MUAs can get behind. "It's thin, highly pigmented, and long-wearing. To cover a stubborn spot, apply one layer, let it dry, and then repeat," says makeup artist Beau Nelson. The formula is oil-controlling and hydrating—two musts for oily skin types—and stays put through sweat and humidity. "This oil-free formula is a lifesaver for long days," says Aharon. "It stays put without feeling heavy or clogging pores—great for keeping blemishes covered without constant touch-ups." She credits the kaolin clay for its sebum-soaking abilities and vitamin E for keeping irritation at bay.

Grab this concealer in a bottle one to two shades lighter than your foundation to use it as a highlight and one to two shades darker to put it to work as a contour. No matter how you choose to apply it, priming with a foundation is handy for creating a fuller-coverage look.

Key ingredients: kaolin clay, vitamin E | Shades: 30 | Finish: natural

Best Full-Coverage: Huda Beauty #FauxFilter Luminous Matte Concealer

Why it's worth it: You know it, we know it, Huda Beauty's #FauxFilter Luminious Matte Concealer knows it—some days call for the fullest of full coverage. We're talking days where your breakout-to-face ratio is, like, way way off. This 2024 Best of Beauty-winning formula is crease-proof, brightening, buildable, and opaque without looking unnatural, in part thanks to the nourishing powers of sweet almond oil and vitamin E.

Tester feedback: "I love the coverage of this," says social director Kassidy Silva. "Maybe I'm stuck in the 2010s concealer-verse, but this is the heavy-duty, blendable concealer I've been looking for." Dot the concealer on each blemish and let it sit for around 30 seconds before blending out with a beauty sponge or brush.

Key ingredients: sweet almond oil, vitamin E | Shades: 29 | Finish: matte

Best for Acne Scars: Tarte Shape Tape Radiant

Why it's worth it: The Best of Beauty-winning Tarte Shape Tape Radiant is the kind of concealer that makes TikTokkers want to hit "record," and editors want to hit "publish." And the super-inclusive shade range is only the tip of the iceberg (end of the applicator?). This formula features omega fatty acid-rich seaberry extract and ample hyaluronic acid for brightening hydration and smooth coverage. If you have scarring and discoloration from past breakouts, this formula is your girl. It adds a radiant dimension to otherwise dull, dark spots prior blemishes have left behind without making your skin look flattened. Just take it from Philadelphia-based makeup artist Yari Lamback, who loves how this concealer "blends down effortlessly and becomes your second skin," calling it a favorite for a "clean and fresh look." Note that because this formula is pretty light, it's not an excellent option for people with glaring zits—rather, it's a solution for general tone-evening.

Tester feedback: "Shape Tape Radiant has the same applicator and easy-to-blend texture as its predecessor," says senior editor Jesa Marie Calaor. "The difference is in its subtle, reflective finish. It dries down to feel like skin—not slick or sticky the way some other luminous concealers feel—and masks redness and hyperpigmentation completely. I used the shade Medium Honey on my undereyes (which tend to get dark), along my cheekbones (where I have dark spots from past breakouts), and around my nostrils (where I have redness). I plan to keep both Shape Tape concealers in my beauty arsenal."

Key ingredients: seaberry extract, hyaluronic acid | Shades: 48 | Finish: radiant

Best for Active Breakouts: Neutrogena Skinclearing Blemish Concealer

Why it’s worth it: As PB is to J, salicylic acid is to an acne flare-up. The Neutrogena SkinClearing Blemish Concealer takes a skin-care-first approach to concealer in a way that many of its peers don’t—for tackling breakouts as they happen. In the words of New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, MD, this formula “allows you to cover your pimple and treat it at the same time,” an offer that’s pretty hard to refuse. It’s also armed with kaolin clay to absorb excess sebum emitted by acne, and the natural-looking coverage seals the deal. The caveat is the extremely limited shade range. So, if you have deeper-toned skin, unfortunately, your zits may not find a home among these hues.

Key ingredients: salicylic acid (0.5%), kaolin clay | Shades: 4 | Finish: natural

Best Drugstore: E.L.F. 16HR Camo Concealer

Why it's worth it: E.L.F. is known for pumping out drugstore diamonds, so it's no surprise that its 16HR Camo Concealer won us over so swiftly. Full-coverage, lightweight-feeling, and armed with a fluffy, generously-sized doe foot applicator, this crease-resistant formula vanishes zits of all calibers with ease. Even though the Camo Concealer comes in two finishes, makeup artist Lennie Billie stands behind each iteration. "Both the hydrating and matte formulas [leave a] beautiful finish, are pigmented, and have great coverage for acne and dark spots." "I would definitely say that the matte formula is better for combo and oily skin, and the hydrating one for normal to dry skin."

Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, rose water extract | Shades: 20 | Finish: natural-matte

Frequently Asked Questions

When choosing a concealer for acne-prone skin, keep a close eye on the ingredients list. On average, "Go for oil-free, non-comedogenic formulas that cover without clogging pores," says Aharon. "Look for skin-friendly ingredients like salicylic acid (fights breakouts), zinc oxide (calms redness), and hyaluronic acid (keeps skin balanced)." As for finishes, let your preferences lead the way, but Aharon opts for blurrier formulas as a rule of thumb. "A soft-matte finish is best for controlling shine without looking dry," she says. Remember to be thoughtful about shade-matching. "Too light can highlight blemishes, and too dark can make them stand out."

Applying concealer during a breakout requires more than just a steady hand. According to Dr. King, there are steps you should follow to mitigate further agitating your skin. "Don't pop the pimple before trying to conceal it," says Dr. King. "You will only make the situation worse. You are likely to cause more inflammation and increase the risk for infection, all of which will make your pimple take longer to heal and increase the chances for discoloration and scarring." It's also essential not to use dirty brushes or unclean fingers. "If you aren't cleaning your makeup brushes regularly, then you could be spreading bacteria and yeast all over your skin. This will increase your risk for more pimples and skin irritations," she says. "It's important to wash your brushes at least once per week with warm water and a gentle cleanser."

How you blend is important, too. "If you load on concealer, it will appear cakey. Instead, build it up gradually—start with a dot and blend each layer, allowing you to judge how much you'll need to conceal the pimple adequately. And blend it into the rest of the surrounding skin for a more natural finish," Dr. King advises.

• Hadley King, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
• Lisa Aharon, a makeup artist
• Beau Nelson, a makeup artist
• Lennie Billie, a makeup artist
• Yari Lamback, a makeup artist

Before reviewing any makeup, we ask questions about a number of factors: What ingredients are in it? Does the brand offer a wide shade range inclusive of consumers with all skin tones and undertones? Is it safe for readers who have sensitive skin or wear contact lenses? Is it on the affordable side or more of a splurge? Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?

For our review of the best concealers for acne, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, makeup artists, and cosmetic chemists to review the products. This ensures our testing base spans different skin tones, genders, and dermatological conditions. We considered each product’s performance across four primary categories: formula, wear, longevity, finish, and water resistance. For more on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.

A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.

After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.

Now that you have an even base, it's time to move on to everything else you need for a gorgeous beat:

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Now, learn how to use concealer effectively:

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