100K Five-Star Reviews Confirm That This $9 Concealer ‘Instantly Erases’ Dark Circles Better Than Luxury Formulas
Feeling drowsy? The right under-eye concealer can be like a shot of espresso for your complexion. You may already have a favorite product in your arsenal for covering up acne and discoloration, but according to makeup artists, it’s worth investing in something specifically meant to care for dark circles, because what you need in this area differs slightly from what you need on the rest of your face. Thankfully, you don’t have to break the bank for the sake of the cause, because one of the top-rated products for getting the job done costs less than an oat milk latte.
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment Concealer ($9) is a true drugstore treasure, and has over one hundred thousand five-star reviews on Amazon (it's no wonder it's the site's top-selling concealer). What makes it so effective is the fact that it hits all of the “big three” factors that makeup artists recommend in a formula for covering up under-eye discoloration.
First up, it’s hydrating—the brand promises 12 hours of moisturizing wear—which means it won’t cake, flake, or crease on the delicate skin south of your eyes. Next, it's got warm undertones, which are helpful for color-correcting the bluish tones in dark circles. Finally, with 18 shades to choose from, nearly all skin tones will be able to find a shade lighter than their complexion, which is what MUAs recommend for using under your eyes.
The concealer goes above and beyond these three elements, though, with its inclusion of goji berry and Haloxyl, which are purported to boost circulation to leave your undereye area looking radiant and bright. To boot, the sponge-tip applicator makes applying the product exactly where you need it effortless and easy.
In one of the most stand-out reviews on Amazon, a reviewer compares this under-$10 gem to the now-discontinued Armani Maestro Liquid Concealer (which used to retail for $42), saying it’s “at least 50% more opaque than the Maestro,” and “lasts so much longer than you'd expect.” Another fan says, “Throw all your other cover-up products out, [because] this one is great!” And a third writes, “I like this better [than] MAC, NARS, and [Estée] Lauder concealers to name a few.”
Over on team Well+Good, we wholeheartedly agree. “I stole this concealer from my mom, who absolutely swears by it on her mature skin—considering it was the only drugstore product in her makeup collection, I was definitely intrigued, and after using it only once, I could see why,” says senior beauty editor Zoë Weiner. “Not only does it minimize the dark circles under my eyes that appear when I’m straight-up exhausted, but it also makes the acne scarring on my cheeks and upper-lip discoloration totally invisible. A few dabs with the easy-to-use applicator and I’m ready to go— it’s so effective, wearing foundation on top of it is truly optional.”
"This is the only concealer that can cover up I-haven't-slept-for-more-than-three-hours under-eyes without any weird flaking or creasing," adds senior commerce editor Gina Vaynshteyn. "It's just as good (if not better) than a luxury concealer, and I've been using it for five years. I also love the soft tip applicator—it makes applying so much quicker. I can swipe in two seconds and be out the door!"
Our advice? Skip tomorrow's fancy coffee order, and put your $9 toward this concealer instead.
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