Best Concealers

You can have it all ... in one

Common wisdom in the beauty department says you need one concealer for sensitive areas around the eyes and another for red acne. Some suggest you may even need a third for eliminating dark spots or scars. And there's certainly some truth to this old advice: Many concealers used for acne have irritating, drying ingredients that are too harsh for sensitive skin around the eyes, and many under-eye concealers are too thick and creamy for acne. However, we found one concealer that users and experts both recommend for covering up every problem spot.

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer (Est. $28) is a relatively new formula, yet garners the support of many experts and owners. Beauty expert Paula Begoun raves about this concealer and doesn't list a single con for it. She says it's long-wearing and lightweight. While it offers light to medium coverage straight out of the tube, it can be layered for added coverage. Some may find this layering step bothersome as the cream concealer has to set between layers.

However, it works well for blemishes, under-eye circles and everything in between. Users say it's brightening, which helps obscure discoloration. While the formula is moisturizing, it isn't greasy and it doesn't accentuate fine lines -- a common complaint among concealers. The 10 shades offer good options from light to dark, but some reviewers find there are shades missing in between. Some users solve this problem by wearing the concealer under their foundation.

Of course, if you need a foundation to do only one job -- say, treat acne or hide dark circles, you may want a more specialized product. For example, Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealer (Est. $34) is meant to cover the absolute most stubborn discoloration like scars, burns or tattoos. Meanwhile, Murad Acne Treatment Concealer (Est. $21) costs less and includes 2 percent salicylic acid. Many MakeupAlley.com reviewers say it doesn't really clear up acne, but reviewers at Sephora.com disagree, saying it's "mattifying" -- a pro for oily skin.