Want the secret to take-anywhere, perfect skin? The humble concealer moves centre stage with a range of new formulas that feel at home on any complexion.

Your days are as wide as they’re long. You wake up and proceed to do your makeup – only to be dismayed an hour later, when your foundation starts to slide, revealing those dark undereye circles, discoloration and other unsightly blemishes.

For those who don’t want to start their make up afresh (and honestly, who does?), concealer is your saviour.

Mobile, stylish and user-friendly, the modern concealer can do more than just touch up throughout the day, including highlight, contour and give a whole new lease of life to a winter complexion.

Like powders and lipsticks, concealers should take priority in your makeup kit and used to travel and reapply on the fly!

Here are 5 products with a different texture, applicator and finish to give you the look you’re after (and inspire with this wonder product’s endless use).

NARS Creamy Radiant Concealer

If dewy radiance is your preferred finish, then this NARS Radiant Concealer is your knight in a shinning tube. A kit favourite of mine, this light-to-medium coverage product is perfect on all skin types (even the drier ones), as it never cakes or collects into creases due to its moisturising formula and super lightweight texture.

One of my favourite concealers to highlight and contour, the superb formula is topped only by the ingenious lipgloss-like-applicator, which enables me to paint long lines of colour where I need for easier blending consistency. Tip: if you suffer deep dark circles under the eyes try this product in shade #3 – it has a beautiful peach undertone that’s ideal for brightening this hard to conceal region.

Becca Under Eye Brightening Corrector

If dark circles of blue, mauve or green are your main woe, then this little tub of magic is for you! After applying foundation, add a fine layer of Becca’s Eye Corrector, using the warmth of your finger tip in a dabbing motion on the area you want to brighten. Once you have blended this creamy pinkish hue, apply your normal concealer in a colour that’s one shade lighter than your skin tone over the top. Now watch as this genius product lifts and brightens your eyes, without ever settling heavily or cakey on the skin. Tip: use the Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder to set for staying power.

By Terry Touché Velouté Enlightening Concealer Brush

I’m probably one of the laziest makeup artists in the world (it’s true!). ‘In it for a good time not a long time’ is my motto. So, if there is a product that speeds up the primping process with its multi-tasking abilities, I’m all over it! By Terry Touché Velouté Enlightening Concealer Brush is one of those products, ticking more boxes than I even knew I had. First of all, it comes in a click-to-load brush that perfectly dispenses just the right amount of product into its smooth follicles. Flat and slightly rounded, this pen-like apparatus is ideal for getting into all those hard to reach spots, while still being sizeable enough to expertly highlight larger areas like the top of your cheekbones, chin and jaw. In terms of coverage, the piece de resistance of this super lightweight, creamy blend is in its light-reflecting finish. This product has light to full coverage (depending on how you blend or layer), attracting and reflecting light off the skin to work its concealing magic, rather than just relying on the  thickness of the product to do all the heavy lifting. Genius, right?

Now, while you can use this product to cover pimples, its strength is to lift under-eye darkness, brighten dull skin or highlight for a more youthful complexion. Tip: choose a colour that is one to two shades lighter than your natural skin tone and apply it over foundation for best results. No need to powder, the product melts into the skin for a flawless, feather-weight and velvety result.

Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer

Need some serious camo? Here is an excellent full coverage concealer that can be blended for more medium coverage if required. What I love about this Urban Decay’s Complete Coverage Concealer (other than its delicious, creamy texture) is that upon application, it sets to a complete WEIGHTLESS matte effect. If I can get away with NOT applying powder, I let it slide (just not the makeup) – and this gorgeous product always fulfils that rebellious requirement.

The texture is another selling point for me, with a super lightweight formula that doesn’t ever feel heavy or gather in fine lines on the skin, despite the serious coverage. However, be warned: as weightless as this product feels on the skin, this is a full coverage concealer in look and finish, so don’t overdo it!

Laura Marcier Candleglow Concealer & Highlighter

Having a good skin day, but still desire a polished look? Then you’ll require light-to-medium coverage with a light reflecting technology. LM Candleglow Concealer & Highlighter is top of my list for that objective. If you want your skin to look amazing rather than like you’re wearing a mask (or awkwardly drawing with face paints), this product has a foolproof sponge tip applicator and cream, gel-like formula for a flawless, undetectable finish.

With five carefully coded colours to chose from, you can do everything from highlight, contour and conceal your skin to perfection, while still retaining your natural glow – even if you find makeup application challenging. I love everything about it, and so will you.

CREDITS

Hair & Makeup and Product Reviews: Max May | Words: Alina Berdichevsky | Photographer: Tim Ashton | Model: Samie Robinson @IMG Models