“Conceal, don’t feel” has never been more real when it comes to the best concealers for your dark circles and acne. We Asians tend to have problems covering up our dark eye circles and evening out our skin tone thanks to hyperpigmentation. Even with a good foundation, those blemishes might still be visible and cause your entire look to fall short of perfect. If you’re tired of receiving comments about your “panda” eyes or pimple breakouts, check out these best concealers that are made for Asian skin!
Our skin is the canvas when it comes to makeup. Hence, it’s important to understand the characteristics of our Asian skin before deciding on the best concealer.
Thanks to Singapore’s hot and humid weather, it’s inevitable that many of us experience oilier skin. Asian skin contains more oil glands. In addition, humidity causes these glands to produce more sebum due to constant perspiration. Sweat, sebum and other impurities tend to clog our pores, resulting in pimples, blackheads and more. It’s important to find out how oily our skin is so that we can choose a concealer that won’t clog our pores and won’t melt away as we sweat.
Asian skin is also more prone to scarring. The outermost layer of our skin is responsible for protecting what’s below the surface. Since this outermost layer is thinner than Caucasian skin, it’s easier to damage our skin if we’re not careful with choosing the products we apply. Once damage is done, this thinner layer also makes complete healing very difficult.
According to Unilever, Asian skin contains more melanin than Caucasian skin. This is the element that gives colour to our skin and it’s also in charge of protecting our skin from harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. Thanks to higher levels of melanin, Asians are more prone to hyperpigmentation and freckles. This can result in an uneven skin tone.
Shopping for the best concealers for Asian skin is hard because we can’t really tell for sure which shade is suitable. As diverse as Asians are, the myriad of skin tones are just as varied. To pick the best concealer shade for your skin tone, you have to consider these two factors:
The colour of your skin can vary from very fair to beige and even a deep brown hue. The best way to find out your skin tone is to look at your jawline. This is where you’ll need to blend any of your facial cosmetic products to match your neck for a natural finish. From here, you’ll be able to determine if your skin tone falls under the light, medium or dark category.
Another factor to consider when choosing the best concealers for Asian skin is the undertones. Your skin undertone is this subtle hue that’s right underneath the surface of your skin. The easiest way to know your skin undertone is to look at the veins on your wrist.
Warm undertones: Your veins will look greenish.
Cool undertones: Your veins will look blue or purple.
Neutral undertones: Your veins will either be colourless or matching your skin tone.
Based on the shade of your skin and your skin undertones, you can select the best concealers that will match your complexion.
While your foundation should match your skin tone, this is not the case for your concealer. The best concealer for Asian skin is one that’s lighter than your foundation. However, it should only be one to two shades lighter or it’ll start to look too obvious. A lighter concealer will help to cancel out any discolouration on your face.
Pro Tip: Mix in some of your foundation if your concealer is too light.
The best concealer shades for dark circles should help brighten up your under-eyes and match the rest of your makeup. You should look out for concealers with a more warm and orange shade to cancel out the purplish and bluish hues of dark circles. Also, try to pick lightweight and moisturising formulas and set your undereye concealer with a light dust of powder to prevent creasing.
Is the lack of sleep causing you to look like a panda? The Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Liquid Concealer (available on Maybelline Official Store) can hide them for you. The moisturising formula in this Maybelline concealer helps to hydrate the skin under your eyes. It’s also capable of blurring any fine lines around your eyes. Instead of the usual doe-foot applicator, this Maybelline concealer comes with a cushion tip applicator. If you’re using this concealer for the first time, simply twist the top and you’ll hear a couple of clicks. Give it a few seconds and you’ll see the cushion soaking up some of the product. Dab the concealer under your eyes with the cushion applicator and blend it out evenly. The cushion applicator helps to make sure that there won’t be any cakiness under your eyes.
Known for being the top concealer brand in the United States, this IT Cosmetics Mini Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer (available on IT Cosmetics Official Store) is a must-have to hide those dark eye circles! IT Cosmetics has worked with plastic surgeons and dermatologists to create several award-winning concealers This best concealer for dark eye circles is super pigmented and provides full coverage for your dark circles. In fact, this IT Cosmetics concealer doubles as skincare for your under-eyes as it is formulated with tons of vitamins, collagen and hyaluronic acid. It is long-lasting and lightweight, making it the best concealer for Asian skin.
When it comes to the MKUP Hydrating 12H Liquid Concealer (available on MKUP 美咖 Official Store), a little goes a long way. This MKUP concealer is infused with ocean dew that helps moisturise and soften the skin under your eyes. The formula used in this best concealer for dark eye circles is also lightweight and water-resistant. The MKUP concealer glides on like your second skin and is here to stay all day even when you sweat!
Your splurge on luxury makeup is justified if it’s the Yves Saint Laurent All Hours Concealer (available on Strawberrynet SG Official Store)! If you’ve heard of the Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat then you’d be happy to know that this All Hours Concealer is an improved version of that. This best concealer for Asian skin is promised to last for up to 16 hours without caking. Blending this extra smooth YSL concealer into your skin is a breeze and it sets into a natural soft matte finish. In addition, it’s so lightweight, you may even forget that you’ve got concealer on!!
Liquid concealers are great at providing full coverage, especially when they’re used with liquid foundation. The BENEFIT Boi-ing Cakeless Concealer (available on Strawberrynet SG Official Store) hides your dark eye circles extremely well without feeling tacky. This BENEFIT concealer is also buildable, which means that you can always apply more after it sets for fuller coverage.
Pro Tip: The formula tends to set quickly, so you have to blend it quickly after applying.
SKINFOOD takes pride in creating cosmetic products that are skin-friendly. Their products are also formulated with natural ingredients like the salmon roe extract in this SKINFOOD Salmon Dark Circle Concealer Cream (available on Skinfood Official Store). The salmon roe extract in this cream concealer not only reduces aging, but also nourishes the skin to give you a brighter and more youthful appearance. This best concealer for Asian skin does a good job at hiding your purplish and bluish dark circles with its unique salmon hue. The long-lasting formula also melds into your skin so you won’t experience any creasing or cakiness throughout the day.
The best concealers for acne are ones with full coverage. In addition, pick concealers with good longevity to ensure your pimples stay covered throughout the day. Also, try to pick lightweight and moisturising formulas that will not clog your pores. This is to prevent any further impurities from settling in your skin which could exacerbate your skin condition.
The KAJA Don’t Settle Concealer (available on kaja_official.sg) is one of the best at reducing the appearance of acne. Besides its high coverage, the KAJA concealer is great for concealing acne around your mouth or forehead. The concealer earned its reputation as a “flex” concealer because of its flexibility to mould into your skin. It doesn’t crease even in high movement areas like your smile lines or forehead. With a moisturising and lightweight formula, you won’t feel any cakiness even if you apply this concealer with a heavy hand.
Canmake is one of the best makers of concealers for Asian skin. The Canmake Color Mixing Concealer (available on Shopee Supermarket) comes with three different shades that you can choose from. This makes it great for concealing different types of acne. There’s also a designated space for you to mix the shades if you need a more specific colour. The cream formula is silky smooth and sets into a semi-matte finish, making it perfect for those who prefer a more natural look. This Canmake concealer may not provide the best coverage but it’s extremely buildable without becoming cakey. We recommend using the included concealer brush to dab the product onto your acne for fuller coverage.
The best concealer for acne is one that can also hide all traces of it on your skin. The Peripera Double Longwear Cover Concealer (available on Clubclio_official) has been formulated to do just that and you don’t even need to use a lot of the product for full coverage. This long-lasting Peripera concealer is also the best concealer for Asian skin because of its mild formula. Those who are prone to pimple breakouts can give this Peripera concealer a go as it has been tested to not irritate sensitive skin.
If you’re prone to having pimple breakouts then the best concealer for your acne is the Medicube Red Concealer (available on Medicube Official Store). This Medicube concealer is non-comedogenic, which means that it won’t clog your pores. Clogged pores are one of the biggest culprits for acne breakouts. This best concealer for Asian skin also contains centella asiatica leaf extract, which is great at restoring moisture to your skin while giving it an extra layer of protection.
You’ll need budge-proof concealers that provide high coverage to keep those scars and dark spots hidden. You can also try out warmer shades with yellow undertones to cancel out the purplish hues of your scars. Alternatively, concealers with green undertones can help hide reddish scars better.
Raved by makeup artists from all around the world, the Bobbi Brown Instant Full Cover Concealer (available on Strawberrynet SG Official Store) is definitely the best concealer for Asian skin. This concealer works well for scars thanks to its pigmented formula that promises high coverage. In addition, the Bobbi Brown concealer has a brightening effect that can neutralise dullness and redness.
Florasis is a Chinese makeup brand that is known for its beauty products created to suit Asian skin. Made with natural floral extracts and herb essences, this Florasis Smooth Tricolor Concealer Palette (available on Florasis Official Store) will not exacerbate sensitive skin. This Florasis concealer comes in three different colours that you can mix to create your own shade. You can also use each of the colours separately to conceal different types of blemishes. The cream formula is soft and smooth, and the best part is how it’s long-lasting and waterproof, so your makeup won’t budge and your scars will still remain concealed!
Colour correction and concealer all in one? Sign us up! The FOCALLURE High Coverage Concealer (available on Focallure Official Store) is every girl’s dream come true. It comes with a green and pink colour corrector that can help neutralise redness and sallow skin. Together with the three other concealer shades, this is the best concealer for Asian skin that can hide all sorts of blemishes and acne scars! When you apply this FOCALLURE concealer, you’ll also realise that it’s extremely moisturising and non-cakey. Those who sweat a lot will also be happy to learn that this concealer has a waterproof formula – perfect for Singapore’s weather!
Go for concealers that are lightweight and moisturising for your enlarged pores. The key is to make sure that the formula can melt into your pores without causing any clogging. Some concealers are formulated with low content of silicone which can help to achieve a poreless finish.
Large pores can ruin your smooth canvas and make your makeup look cakey. Providing a poreless finish, the CEZANNE Poreless Concealer (available on Watsons Singapore Official Store) has earned itself the reputation of being one of the best concealers for Asian skin. The formula in this CEZANNE concealer will melt into your pores without causing them to be clogged. As such, large pores are diminished to create a silky smooth complexion. This concealer is also great at covering any scars you have because of its high coverage.
Need one of the best concealers for Asian skin that can help with those enlarged pores? The Aprilskin Perfect Spot Erasing Puff Concealer (available on Aprilskin Official Store) would be your best bet! This full-coverage yet lightweight concealer help to smoothen out every pore, so you’ll end up with a flawless canvas to apply the rest of your makeup. The formula is also budge-proof so you won’t experience any streaking if you were to sweat. This Aprilskin concealer also contains niacinamide that can help brighten any discolouration. With UV protection, this Aprilskin concealer makes sure that your skin will constantly be protected from any harmful rays that can cause any further damage!
Look out for concealers that are moisturising if you want to add some shine to your complexion. It’s best if the concealers contain certain oils that could benefit your skin. Always give these concealers a wear test to find out how they look like when the formula sets. You wouldn’t want to have too bright a finish that it ends up looking more oily!
Advocated by American model Hailey Bieber, the KOSAS Revealer (available on Lefleurofficial) is one of the best concealers that’s also perfect for Asian skin. With a creamy formula that isn’t too oily or drying, this concealer is suitable for all skin types! It’s no wonder Hailey Bieber has added this amazing concealer to her makeup routine. The KOSAS Revealer is not just a concealer. It’s also an eye cream that keeps your undereyes moisturised! But what we especially love is how this concealer contains tons of nutrients. The caffeine and pink algae in this concealer have brightening properties that’ll elevate your complexion, giving you a dewy skin that’ll glow for days!
If convenience is a priority then a concealer pen is a must-have in your vanity! The Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat (available on Strawberrynet SG Official Store) is one of the best concealers for Asian skin and a great investment to help hide any of those blemishes! This Yves Saint Laurent concealer has a waterproof formula that is long-lasting and lightweight. You just have to click the end like a pen and the concealer will start soaking the brush at the other end. The concealer will glide onto your skin smoothly and you’ll notice the brightening effect on your complexion. The formula dries off quickly and you won’t experience any oiliness, but you’ll definitely radiate with a natural glow!
Being one of the most popular makeup brands in Japan, this RMK Luminous Pen Brush (available on Compasss) is definitely one of the best concealers for Asian skin. This RMK concealer is suitable for all skin types, so whether you’re experiencing oiliness or dried, cracked skin, it will definitely hide any blemishes well! It also contains macadamia seed oil and rosehip oil that are great for moisturising and brightening your skin. These oils can help with discolouration by reducing dark spots and dullness to give you a glowy finish when the concealer sets. The formula is also extremely lightweight and spreads smoothly over your skin to fill every nook and cranny.
If you need help with dullness in your skin, the Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Concealer (available on Strawberrynet SG Official Store) is the one for you! This best concealer for Asian skin is formulated with powder to give you a smooth, blurred effect. The formula in this Laura Mercier concealer is extremely lightweight, long-lasting, and water-resistant. Thanks to its hydrating formula, the concealer also provides a subtle shine to add radiance to your flawless complexion.
What’s dull and dry skin when you’ve got the CLIO Kill Cover Liquid Concealer (available on Clubclio_official)? The CLIO concealer is extremely hydrating and sets into a smooth finish with a light sheen that isn’t tacky or greasy. This CLIO concealer is also suitable for all skin types, so you don’t have to worry even if you have sensitive skin. The formula is lightweight and provides great coverage to hide any blemishes you may have.
Whether you’re searching for the best concealer for dark eye circles or acne, we hope you’ve found the best one that’s suitable for your Asian skin! Need more beauty recommendations? Learn how to perfect your brows with our brows drawing guide. Don’t forget to check out the best Japanese skincare products that are taking the beauty world by storm. Looking for health products that can better your skin from within? Find out more about these chaga mushroom products for a flawless complexion today!
This article was updated on 18 March 2021. Additional research done by Jamantha Lim.
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