I'm Breaking Up With Foundation for This Natural-Looking, One-Step Complexion Product
There’s a time and place for a BB cream, and I’m always partial to a tinted SPF, but nothing comes close to a concealer pen. Keep scrolling to see my edit of the best.
As someone who adores a “no makeup” makeup look, has eczema and extremely dry skin, and, most importantly, despises the feeling of too many products on my face, I’m forever on the hunt for lightweight base products that cover my blemishes and dark spots without looking cakey or flaking. And although there’s a time and place for a BB cream, and I’m always partial to a tinted SPF, for me, nothing has ever come close to a concealer pen.
What Is a Concealer Pen?
A concealer pen merges your typical liquid concealer with skin-loving ingredients, then packs it into a sleek bottle with a built-in applicator brush. It lets you precisely cover blemishes and hyperpigmentation without the heaviness of classic foundation. The click-style design also dispenses exactly the amount of product needed, making it mess-free and easy to take on the go.
As someone who has very dehydrated and sensitive skin, I reach for this hydrating concealer year-round; however, I think it really comes into its own throughout summer when we all want to avoid layering too many heavy complexion products. Whether I’m heading to the office, a night out or on a sun-soaked getaway, a concealer pen will make doing my makeup quick, easy and streamlined, all with the added skincare ingredients that will nourish and protect my skin.
What Are the Benefits of a Concealer Pen?
A concealer pen comes with many benefits:
1. Natural-looking finish: Concealer pens are lightweight formulas that allow for targeted application. This stops makeup from looking too cakey or feeling heavy on the skin. These formulas can also be built up or applied sheer, meaning you can achieve a finish that’s as natural as you’d like.
2. Skin-loving ingredients: Concealer pens are packed with a number of skincare benefits, often using ingredients such as vitamin E, hyaluronic acid and caffeine that help to hydrate the skin and eliminate dark circles with continued use.
3. Easy to take on the go: The sleek, leak-proof packaging of a concealer pen makes it small enough to fit in a clutch, purse or handbag, enabling easy touch-ups on the go.
Convinced and ready to pick out your perfect concealer pen? Well, luckily for you, I’ve tried many, and below, I’ve rounded up the eight best formulas to suit every skin type and budget.
The Best Concealer Pens, According to a Beauty Writer
● Best Overall: YSL Touche Eclat High Cover Concealer (£32)
● Best Luxury Concealer Pen: Victoria Beckham The Concealer Pen (£64)
● Best Affordable Concealer Pen: L'Oreal Paris True Match Concealer Eye Cream (£11)
● Best Dewy Concealer Pen: CAIA Radiant Touch Concealer (£25)
● Best Matte Concealer Pen: MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix Every-Wear All-Over Face Pen (£28)
1. YSL Touche Eclat High Cover Concealer
Key ingredients: Vitamin E, caffeine, Moroccan calendula extract, ruscus extract
No. of shades: 16
Coverage: High
Finish: Radiant
A staple in my cosmetics bag for many years now, YSL’s Touche Eclat High Cover Concealer was my first luxury beauty purchase. And it’s stuck around for very good reason. Not only does it blend out seamlessly without settling into dry patches or fine lines, but it also brightens up my under eyes without looking unnatural or overdone. Packed with antioxidants and nourishing vitamin E, this formula is a treat for anyone with dry or sensitive skin, and although I’ve tried many “dry-skin-approved” concealers, I come back to this fail-proof formula time after time.
Pros
- High coverage formula that covers dark circles
Cons
- Formula might be too rich for oily skin types
2. Victoria Beckham Beauty The Concealer Pen
Key ingredients: Augustinus Bader's TFC8®: technology, polyglutamic acid, acetyl hexapeptide-8, squalane, rosa damascena flower water, hydrolysed rice protein
No. of shades: 19
Coverage: Light to medium
Finish: Natural-luminous
As someone who’s a firm believer that spending more money does not always equate to a better makeup experience, I wouldn't normally spend anywhere near £64 on a concealer. However, trust me when I say that Victoria Beckham Beauty’s The Concealer Pen is well worth the splurge. It covers up my dark spots with a radiant, dewy finish that genuinely makes my face look like I have naturally perfect skin. Made in collaboration with luxury skincare brand Augustinus Bader, the formula is packed with TFC8® to promote cell renewal, acetyl hexapeptide-8 to reduce wrinkles, and polyglutamic acid for deep hydration. It’s a splurge for sure, but the skin-loving ingredients, beautiful finish and sleek packaging make it undeniably worth it, in my opinion.
Pros
- Infused with patented skincare that helps to repair the skin barrier and renew cells
Cons
- Significantly more expensive than other concealer pens on the market
3. L'Oréal Paris True Match Concealer Eye Cream
Key ingredients: Pure hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, glycerin, sodium hyaluronate, light-reflecting mineral pigments
No. of shades: 10
Coverage: Medium (buildable)
Finish: Dewy
A cult favourite for tired, dark under-eyes, L'Oréal Paris’ True Match Concealer Eye Cream has been an affordable beauty favourite since it launched five years ago. It offers a medium but buildable coverage, which blends in with my skin tone and is perfect for concealing dark circles around the eyes without settling into fine lines. As well as pure hyaluronic acid, you’ll also find vitamin C to brighten and glycerin to moisturise the skin, making this a hardworking formula that delivers on both concealing blemishes and skin-loving benefits on a budget.
Pros
- Affordable alternative to other concealer pens on the market
Cons
- Might be too low coverage for those looking to hide darker blemishes
4. CAIA Cosmetics Radiant Touch Concealer
Key ingredients: Trehalose, Chinese peony root extract, glycerin,
No. of shades: 12
Coverage: Sheer to medium
Finish: Radiant
A new product that landed on my desk recently is Caia Cosmetics’ Radiant Touch Concealer. And although I haven’t been testing it for very long, it’s already become a firm favourite that I’d recommend to family and friends with dry skin. Unlike other concealers that people with dry skin might find go cakey under the eyes, this formula uses trehalose to draw and lock in moisture into the skin, prevent cellular damage and strengthen the outer skin barrier. It feels lightweight and breathable on the skin, and doesn’t settle into dry patches. But despite being creamier than your average concealer, rest assured that it’s just as long-lasting.
Pros
- Provides the skin with a healthy-looking glow
Cons
- Formula might be too rich for oily skin types
5. MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix Every-Wear All-Over Face Pen
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, caffeine, vitamin E
No. of shades: 33
Coverage: Medium to full
Finish: Natural-matte
If you have oily skin and a concealer pen feels daunting, let me introduce you to MAC Cosmetics’ Studio Fix Every-Wear All-Over Face Pen. It has a medium-to-full coverage with a second-skin, naturally matte finish that makes it a go-to for covering blemishes and disguising dark circles without adding any unwanted glowiness or radiance. I like that, despite being an oily-skin-approved formula, this concealer is still packed with hyaluronic acid, vitamin E and caffeine to nourish and brighten the skin. As I mentioned earlier, I have dry skin, so getting this formula to work for me requires slightly more skin prep than the other products in this round-up; however, if you're looking for a concealer pen that gives you a matte finish without having to compromise on any skincare benefits, this is the one for you.
Pros
- Large shade range that suit a wide range of skin tones and undertones
Cons
- Product dries down quickly so can become difficult to blend
6. No7 Pro Artist Touch Up Concealer
Key ingredients: Knotgrass extract, dimethicone, vitamin C
No. of shades: 6
Coverage: Buildable
Finish: Natural
Looking for a spot-conceal pen that gives you that “good skin day” look? No7 has you covered with its Pro Artist Touch Up Concealer. With a skin-like finish that covers and conceals dark spots without feeling too thick or heavy, this formula is perfect for those who want to achieve a natural look. It contains dimethicone to lock in moisture without clogging pores as well as notgrass extract to improve elasticity and vitamin C to brighten. For me, the only setback is that this formula only comes in six shades, and they don’t go nearly as deep as they could. Because of this, I only use this as a brightening concealer under my eyes, but I’d love to see this shade range extended so that I can use it all over my face in the future.
Pros
- Provides a natural, "your skin but better" finish
Cons
- Limited shade range
7. Chantecaille Le Camouflage Stylo
Key ingredients: Anti-fatigue complex, sugar-based oligopolymer, botanical-based brightening ingredient, light-reflecting pigments
No. of shades: 6
Coverage: Light to medium
Finish: Radiant
Due to their hydrating and brightening formulas, makeup products for mature skin always get a yes from me. And Chantecaille’s Le Camouflage Stylo has long been praised for its crease-free formula that conceals dark under eyes and blurs fine lines. Its concoction of light-reflecting pigments, sugar-based oligopolymer, and anti-fatigue complex makes it ideal for those of us with dull, dehydrated skin as well. And don’t just take it from me. One reviewer said, “Concealers that work for mature skin are extremely hard to find. No matter what price you pay, most end up caking or sitting in fine lines in the eye area. Not Le Camouflage Stylo; it's really the very best concealer for mature skin (and I've tried plenty over the years).”
Pros
- Formulated with skin-loving ingredients that help to nourish mature and dry skin types
Cons
- Might be too low coverage for those looking to hide darker blemishes
8. Clé De Peau Beauté Radiant Corrector
Key ingredients: Illuminating complex, crataegus monogyna flower extract, zingiber aromaticus extract, chestnut rose fruit extract, colour-correcting pearls
No. of shades: 6
Coverage: Sheer to medium
Finish: Natural-satin
If you’re looking for a product that specifically targets dark under eyes, I’d recommend the Radiant Corrector from Clé De Peau Beauté. Not only does it cover up under-eye blemishes easily, but it also feels practically weightless on the skin. Infused with colour-correcting pearls, illuminating complex and advanced glow technology, it evens out the skin tone, brightens dark circles and provides lasting hydration. I typically wear this over my tinted moisturisers for a natural-looking everyday makeup look, but it can also be worn on its own when you simply want to hide dark spots.
Pros
- Rich, hydrating formula that helps to brighten dark under eyes
Cons
- Significantly more expensive than other concealer pens on the market
How I Tested
As a beauty writer, I’ve tested many different concealer pens over the years. To bring you the best, I evaluated each formula based on its ability to blend seamlessly into my skin without looking cakey, how long it lasts on my skin without creasing, as well as its skincare benefits.
Why Trust Us?
At Who What Wear, we know that beauty isn't one-size-fits-all. Over the years, our editors have tested thousands of products—including haircare, makeup, skincare, and nails—while also working closely with trusted experts, like renowned dermatologists, celebrity makeup artists, and other leading industry insiders. Together, this ensures every guide is well-researched, inclusive, and relevant to you.
We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they're affordable favourites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how, and what we'd truly recommend to our closest friends and family members.
