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Kris Carr

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The Best Natural Concealers: My Top Picks + Application Tips

Hiya Gorgeous,

I don’t know many gals who haven’t grappled with under eye circles.

Those dark, puffy bags can show up for a long list of reasons, including lack of sleep, long hours staring at the computer, too much gin and not enough green juice—you know the drill.

Although sometimes, even a good night’s rest and nourishing nosh aren’t enough to alleviate those unsightly shadows. And did you know that they can also be hereditary and show up more prominently in those with darker skin tones?

So, what’s a gal to do when she wants to feel wide-eyed and awake?

This is when having a great concealer on hand can help you brighten up your look in a matter of minutes! And that calls for another beauty review.

To make all of my beauty reviews as accurate and useful as possible, I always bring in one of my favorite organizations, the Environmental Working Group (EWG).

EWG is a leader in up-to-the-minute research on toxins and chemicals present in the environment and our personal and home products. Together, we’ve teamed up and created a Healthy Home Checklist and done several beauty reviews like this one, including deodorant, lipstick, foundation, mascara and nail polish (stay tuned for more reviews to come!).

EWG did us a huge favor by analyzing the ingredients in these concealers and adding the product ratings to their Skin Deep Cosmetics Database, which contains information and online safety assessments for over 60,000 products. Thanks, EWG! So, let’s get started, gorgeous.

If you’re struggling with dark circles, have no fear. My team and I tested and rated some of the most popular concealers on the market so that you can do some complexion correction the natural and non-toxic way. Ready? Let’s uncover the best concealer!

How did I choose and rate these concealers?

Concealer Selection Process

The concealers chosen for this review came from a poll I ran at KrisCarr.com and on Facebook.

My goal was to test the concealers that were recommended most by my beauty-savvy readers. These product reviews are designed to make your life easier by providing helpful information on different beauty brands and sharing how they performed for me and my team. But please note that each concealer is going to feel, look and perform differently for everyone.

And if you don’t see a brand on my list, it may be because the product couldn’t be analyzed by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) at this time or it just didn’t make the Crazy Sexy cut while testing (aka we didn’t love it).

Concealer Review Results

My team and I have been researching and testing these natural concealers for the past several months, and we’ve never felt more bright-eyed!

Check out my nifty infographic below for the final results, and be sure to read on to get the details on how we determined the various ratings and additional info for each product. We’ve got something for everyone, from a less expensive drugstore brand to higher end products, and from sticks to liquids and pots—oh my!

My Crazy Sexy Concealer Review

natural concealer review

 

How to Apply Your Concealer

rebecca casciano concealer application tips

Now that you know more about non-toxic complexion correction, I’m sure the next question on your mind is how to apply your new natural concealer. I asked makeup artist/green beauty expert Rebecca Casciano for her top tips, and here’s what she had to say:

For Covering Dark Circles Under Eyes:

1. Prep your under eye area with eye cream or serum. Allow it to absorb before applying concealer.

2. Add a small amount of concealer to the tip of your finger or a concealer brush. You can always add more, if needed.

3. Apply concealer above and below the inner corner of your eye. This is the area where we will find the deepest concentration of color, also know as “dark circles”.

4. Use light, gentle strokes to blend product on the delicate eye area. You may want to apply concealer to upper and lower lids, as it will neutralize any discoloration and provide a nice base for eyeshadow application.

5. Set the concealer with a pressed or loose powder on a fluffy brush or sponge. This will help increase longevity and minimize creasing, although some creasing is expected (due to the creamy nature of the product and fine lines around the eyes).

For Other Imperfection Correction (Zits, Dark Spots, Etc.):

1. Prep your skin with skincare, sunscreen and/or foundation or tinted moisturizer.

2. Identify areas of discoloration where you would like more coverage. Some common areas for this are: around the nose and mouth, acne scarring, visible veins and/or sun damage.

3. Add a small amount of concealer to the tip of your finger or a concealer brush.

4. Lightly tap, or “stipple” concealer onto the area. Stippling is a professional makeup technique in which you lightly tap, rather than swipe, the concealer directly onto the area of discoloration, layering as needed. This helps you build coverage while seamlessly blending the concealer into the rest of the skin.

5. Set the concealer with a dusting of loose or pressed powder on a fluffy brush.

Thanks, Rebecca!

For those of you who are wellness detectives like I am and want to know more about how we vet the products I recommend, read this.

FYI: If a company is not certified through PETA or Leaping Bunny but they still have an internal policy on no animal testing, it’s your decision whether or not to embrace these makeup brands. In this Concealer Review, rms, bodisafe (formerly GlamNatural) and Beautycounter fall under this category. You can learn more about Leaping Bunny’s certification standards here and PETA’s here (scroll down to FAQ).

And remember, cruelty-free and vegan do not always mean the same thing when it comes to cosmetics. A company can pledge to not test on animals and even be certified by PETA and/or Leaping Bunny as cruelty-free, but may still use animal-derived ingredients in its products. We had to leave a few recommended concealers out of this review because they contained animal-derived ingredients (beyond bee products), despite being certified as cruelty-free.

Your turn: What’s your ultimate concealer pick or top application tip? Let us know in the comments below!

Gentle request: If you work for a beauty company, please be cool—we’re trying to keep these comments as unbiased and useful as possible. Sharing your product is welcomed and awesome. Hundreds of comments about your product and/or why you’re cranky that it wasn’t included is NOT awesome. Thank you!

Peace & reviews,

Add a comment
  1. It is rare to see such as the post. I am glad to visit your site. Thanks for sharing the informative information through the article. and all the details are awesome and good in this post.

  2. Your article is very useful, the content is also very good, I have read a lot of articles, but for your article it left me a deep impression, thank you for sharing it to the readers.

  3. i think its famous cosmetics brand, am i right ?

  4. happy wheels says:

    I like this article, it is very meaningful and detailed, I hope you will have many good articles like this to share.

  5. group d says:

    Really such a variety of cosmetic products list that do not have time to pick up a non-toxic and that it will enjoy. I think i can try this thing, I can trust on your written article.

  6. This product is very user-friendly, suitable for all users, go hayddi study can use and I also tried it, great.

  7. Hi Kris,
    Your Advise Always Work & I’m Huge Fan Of You, Thank You For The Advise.

  8. pink toy says:

    we are provide all kind of artificial and herbal sex product.Visit my website:-www.pinksextoy.in

  9. Jenny S. says:

    Hi Kriss,

    Lack of sleep and staring in front of a computer for long hours are the reasons why I have this dark circles. Thank you for sharing this information here. I have used one of the concealers as you instructed and it does amazing effect under my eyes. I look fresh and glowing.

  10. Debby says:

    Hi Kris, thanks for your great review! I just decided to try concealers for my eyes. This post is very helpful. I’m gonna share it with my friends!

  11. bullet force says:

    Great selection! This is so helpful. Thank you for sharing

  12. Cadie says:

    My favorite concealer is the NYX HD Photogenic Mineral concealer. It’s only $4.99 at Ulta and works wonderfully!

  13. Linda Gardiner says:

    My fave is Erase Paste by Benefit. My skin is older and wrinkled and fair. That makes the issue of Dark Circles real and daily. Worked thru many to find the Erase Paste.

  14. Hi. I discovered your website tonight which has been very helpful. About 5 years ago, I found out about toxic ingredients in makeup and skin care. I only look for the most natural and chemical free makeup and skin care which is not always easy to find. Your website has been helpful because there were a few companies I’d never heard of before. Thank you for what you do!

  15. Jane says:

    Such a variety of cosmetic products that do not have time to pick up a non-toxic and that it will enjoy. I think i can try this thing, I trust you.

  16. Katie says:

    Kris,
    Thank you so much for doing these product reviews. I have gradually been making the switch to natural makeup products and it was messy at the beginning, to say the least. There are a lot of natural products out there that aren’t really natural like they say or just slide right off of my face!! Now, I use your site as a guide for my products and so far I’ve been pleased with what I’ve tried. These are also affordable, which I appreciate <3
    Sincerely, Katie

  17. Liese says:

    Last month I was introduced to Tarte Cosmetics when inquiring for cruelty free but am a bit alarmed to find on the package that the concealer I bought and which you recommend is made in China! So it sits unused in the drawer.

  18. Shelia Mason says:

    This is awesome tips. I am very much of beauty conscious. I love to use concealers since I have very sensitive skin tone. My face skin easily gets affected by the pollution and climate change. I didn’t know how to use the concealer properly… Your tips helped me to get an idea of using that. I really rely on your advice. Thank you.. keep posting.

  19. Sheryl says:

    Beauty counter is a bit pricey but well worth it

  20. Quinn Caravella says:

    Kris ~ I love what you do! I am wondering what the difference is between the Animal Testing Standards? PETA I am aware of but what is Leaping Bunny and Company Pledge?

    Thank you for A L L that you bring to us!
    Q ~

  21. Amber says:

    These are great suggestions! I love the Tarte concealer, over the Tarte Colored Clay under eye corrector. I have serious circles, and need to color correct before I use concealer. How do you feel about the IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye? That’s another that I love. Thanks for sharing this helpful list!

  22. Sandy says:

    Nice review! Please try Lemongrass Spa concealers! They are natural, vegan and cruelty free, and they work very well!

  23. Thanks for this great roundup Kris! I have been using Jane Iredale concealer (mine actually comes in a tube though) and I love it because it is the one brand that never makes my skin break out. I used to be a huge RMS fan but wish they could find a vegan sub for beeswax. Such a bummer because their products are amazing. I am anxious to try a few of these though! Concealer is one of my favorite makeup items along with mascara blush and lip gloss.

    I will also give a thumbs up to Tarte products since I can always find them in Sephora which is great!

    Curious, do you have a winner as your personal favorite?

  24. JMo says:

    Hi there
    I’ve been reading you since about 2005 and I’m really intrigued that you are in the beauty review biz. I mean, I don’t mind it per se, but I just think your talent is better spent elsewhere.

    One more thing…What do commenters think about the prices of these natural products? I’ve been, let’s just say, more budget minded the past few years…And I have tried to live a more healthy life, including with my makeup and other beauty goodies.

    It’s REALLY hard to do on a budget and let’s face it, not all of them work, especially the ones that seem to be available in big box healthy grocery markets.

    I love my makeup and beauty supplies but darn it, it’s really difficult because they are as costly, if not more so, than the higher end makeup in dept. stores. Thanks!

    • Kris Carr says:

      Hi JMo,

      The reason I occasionally write beauty reviews is because health is interconnected. What we put on our skin matters and since the majority of my readers are women who use multiple beauty products per day that are potentially harmful, I want to provide safer alternatives. I hear you re: price, though! We always try to be mindful and choose affordable products. Unfortunately, safe cosmetics aren’t abundant in drugstores, etc. This list also came from a survey of the products that our readers use most. The good news is that concealer does last a long time. It’s not something you need to re-up on very often. I do appreciate your feedback, though, and I will take your thoughts on my talents as a compliment. 🙂

      xo, Kris

      • emily says:

        Thank you for this very useful information Kris. Beauty products are one of the biggest sources of toxicity for women – your talent is well spent addressing this topic. Thank you

  25. Karen says:

    Thanks Chris, the list was very educational for me. I purchase ALL my beauty/bath/hair products from The Body Shop (Canada) and surprised none made your list?

    • Karen says:

      My apology “Kris”!

    • Sophie says:

      Body shop products aren’t quite and clean and green as they might have you believe. There’s a great app called Think Dirty that gives the EWG ratings on hundreds of thousands of products so there’s no guesswork – highly recommend it!

  26. Amanda Cuenco says:

    The only concealer I use is the one that’s included in the Wet ‘n’ Wild’s cover-all correcting palette. It’s really light and so little covers so much (I don’t need a lot of stuff on my skin. I’m basic when it comes to make-up, if I wear any at all…hehe.) I enjoy these lists!

  27. Kathy says:

    Thank you once again, Kris. I really rely on your advice.

  28. Hiya Kris,
    Been following you since 2003? Always loved your content and its only gotten better and more informative. I have been a veggie girl for 20 years now and did the whole raw and vegan thing for a while but found it harder to maintain. So I change it up. So I never really paid attention to and or thought much about my face products, until Mother nature made me do so.I developed allergies to strange things that were never an issue before. I used this brand that I had been using for a couple of years and had some good success with it. I have what they like to call aging skin..sigh..So that bumps one up into a whole other bracket of trying to keep away the creepy lines and crevices that suddenly show up. But suddenly started getting these itchy patches on my forehead. All across my forehead!. It was very stressful and confusing. But after a bit realized it was my skin routine that had changed and stopped using the stuff right away. Have since been using a organic product called juice beauty. My skin is very happy now. Have not made it to the organic makeup area yet!. But the times they are a changing. Thanks for the info. Hugs d

  29. Laura says:

    Thank you so much for doing these, Kris! They are so helpful! <3

  30. This is so helpful…thank you! I have used the RMS and liked it…was light enough to blend all over as a foundation. I also really enjoy products from 100% Pure. I recently reviewed their Vanilla Bean Lotion on my happy, healthy and hot blog and will be posting a review of one of their shampoo and conditioner duos soon. Now that I’ve seen this post, I’m going to add their concealer to my next order. The good news is, with lots of green drinks, other clean foods, and plenty of water (I am not vegan, or even close to it, but I’m a very conscious eater) I very rarely need concealer! And believe me, that wasn’t always the case. Thanks for all you do Kris…Iove the positive vibe you put out!!!

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