So, if I had more nerve, I'd post a "before" picture of the dark circles under my eyes in this post, but, well, ain't nobody (me) wanna see that. So, too bad.
However, I will tell you, they are there, loud and proud, so I find most drugstore concealers to, ehem, suck balls.
You see all these ads and commercials claiming their product works great, but if you spend the money, try it, and it doesn't work for you at all, then you are back to square one, and out the $10. Such a bummer.
So, one day at the store, I decided to just take one for the team, and buy four different concealers at the same time. Figuring I'd increase my odds, and save three more trips to the store a different week.
Here we go!
1. Almay Smart Shade Concealer
This whole smart shade trend really works pretty well (how do they do it?!?!) with foundation and BB creams. So, I thought I'd give it a try with concealer, too. Not the greatest result. Was too orange/dark. You need a lighter shade to cover the dark circles, and this one I think tried to match them in color. Fail. The coverage is thin, too, because the cream/liquid is so thin. It doesn't stick very well in place. It covers dark circles and facial redness fairly smoothly in texture, but the color and coverage isn't good. It stays a bit tacky, too - never really dries.
2. Revlon Colorstay Undereye Concealer
This stick comes with a sponge applicator brush attached, which is great. And the coloring was good. But the texture of the concealer wasn't smooth at all. It clings to any wrinkles or peach fuzz hairs on your skin, making the result look very lumpy and textured. Also, it stays very sticky, and doesn't dry.
3. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Treatment Concealer Winner!
This one is my fave. It comes with a rounded sponge tip to apply the concealer, which works well. I still use my ring finger to blend it a bit further once I'm done. The color is great. Works for dark undereye circles, and skin redness both. The coverage is great, without looking caked on. And it dries smoothly; the least sticky of the bunch. Which means if you apply powder over it later, the texture still stays smooth.
4. Almay Wake Up Undereye Concealer
This would be my second favorite. The brush tip is decent for application, and the color is great. The coverage is very good. Very smooth. Only issue is it is very shiny and a bit sticky. I wish it dried matte and a bit more powdery.
So there you have it. These are just my opinions, but hopefully it is helpful! I definitely recommend trying the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Concealer. I have used it daily, and it is pretty great. I know I may find better in higher quality/price range products, so I may eventually venture into Sephora or Ulta a try a couple there! But for me, the winner of the drugstore options works great.
All opinions are my own. I was not compensated in any way for this post. I just like sharing my experiences!