8 best concealers for mature skin, tried and tested by a beauty editor

8 best concealers for mature skin, tried and tested by a beauty editor The Standard's journalism is supported by our readers. asserted

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As we age, our skin undergoes myriad changes, becoming drier, thinner, and more prone to lines and wrinkles. asserted

While this means we demand more from our skincare, it also means you’ll be looking for a concealer better suited to more mature skin. asserted

While I like to think my own descent into ageing skin has only just started, the reality is that these days, I do need my concealer to work harder. asserted

Whether it’s worsening sleep habits causing deeper, darker circles in my increasingly fragile undereye area, more noticeable sunspots or an infuriating recurrence of hormonal spots, I need a concealer that really holds up. asserted

When it comes to texture, I personally prefer something on the creamier side so that it blends easily and doesn’t sit too heavily in fine lines and creases. asserted

It also needs to be fluid enough so that it doesn’t sit unnaturally atop blemishes and dry them out (they always look worse caked in product). asserted

Apart from that, I like a doe-foot wand for ease of application, but it’s not a deal breaker. asserted

I think ultimately, I want what we all want from a concealer: a little bit of makeup magic that makes it easier to look like we’ve had our eight hours, even when we haven’t. asserted

Best concealers for mature skin at a glance Best overall – Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Blur Concealer: £31, Selfridges.com Best for dark circles – Vieve Skin Nova Concealer: £28, Cultbeauty.co.uk Best for blemishes – Poco Beauty Skintuition Concealer: £23, Selfridges.com Best for discolouration – Jones Road Wide Awake Brightening Concealer: £27, Libertylondon.co.uk Best for staying power – Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Longwear Hydrating Gel Stick Concealer: £26, Cultbeauty.co.uk How I tested Unfortunately for me, but fortunately for the purposes of this feature, these concealers were put to the test on everything from dark circles and spots to redness and patches of pigmentation. asserted

I like a concealer that can do a bit of everything, so each product was worn under the eyes and on any hotspot areas of discolouration such as around the nose, as well as on any spots and blemishes. asserted

Each one was tested on clean skin with no other base products, although I did use an SPF under each. asserted

I wore each product for varying lengths of time to see how it performed in different circumstances and applied each one with both fingers and a brush or sponge. asserted

★★★★★ Best: Overall concealer for mature skin What we love: Continuing the Hollywood glam theme of the range, this concealer claims to deliver a soft-focus, filter-ready finish to skin, all the while conditioning it with a host of skincare ingredients like hyaluronic acid. uncertain

Take note: If you don’t like wearing foundation or just want a lighter base layer, this works really well in lieu of a foundation. asserted

Just apply in the targeted areas you need to concentrate the coverage on, and then, with what’s left on your brush, sheer it out over the rest of your skin. asserted

Hands down, this is one of the best concealers I’ve tried. asserted

The formulation is more like that of a foundation, only a little denser and more pigmented, and so it covers everything you need it to with very little effort. asserted

The texture is creamy and hydrating but not too thick, so you can blend it out nicely with a sponge or small blending brush. asserted

It worked brilliantly under eyes as well as on spots and imperfections, and it didn’t budge. asserted

- Coverage type: Medium to full - Coverage time: Up to 24 hours Prada Reveal Concealer ★★★☆☆ Best: Concealer for oily mature skin What we love: The main selling point of this formula is its micro-correcting technology, which means it blurs imperfections and discolouration to create a more uniform skin finish. asserted

It’s also loaded with skincare benefits thanks to ingredients like peptides and squalane, so in theory it should help you look a bit brighter and less tired. asserted

In other words, it’s a great concealer for camouflaging areas of concern, but I wouldn’t use it as part of my skin-enhancing arsenal like I would other more luminous concealers. asserted

My initial impression was that it’s a slightly drier texture than others I’ve tried, but despite this, it blends to a lovely semi-matte finish and does create a blurred finish, which works especially well on dark circles under the eyes. asserted

Coverage-wise, it builds beautifully without any cakiness, so you can layer it over stubborn blemishes without worrying. asserted

- Coverage type: Medium - Coverage time: Up to 24 hours Poco Beauty Skintuition Concealer ★★★★☆ Best: Concealer for blemishes What we love: A do-it-all formula from a covetable, just-launched Irish beauty brand, this formula helps disguise everything from dark circles and spots to redness and pigmentation. asserted

The formula includes mattifying powders, ferulic acid and peptides. asserted

Take note: If you’re already a little dry under the eyes, make sure you use a hydrating eye cream before you apply. asserted

Oh, and watch out: the frosted glass does make it slightly tricky to get a true idea of the shades within. asserted

A thick and creamy formula that dries down to an almost powder-type consistency and offers excellent coverage. asserted

I applied it with a brush initially and then worked it in a little more with a sponge to remove any lines, and I am happy to report that the finish was seamless. asserted

I also used it on a day when my skin was more sensitised than usual, but it made light work of any redness straight away. asserted

- Coverage type: Full - Coverage time: N/A but described as long-wear Very Valentino Concealer ★★★★★ Best: Concealer for a second skin finish What we love: A signature light complex within the formula means this is ideally suited to brightening and sculpting all areas of the face. asserted

Infused with caffeine and vitamin E, it also helps de-puff the under-eye area and offers a buildable, luminous full coverage finish. asserted

Take note: Although it’s billed as a full coverage concealer, I found I need a couple of layers to cover patches of stubborn pigmentation. asserted

But given the gorgeous texture, it’s not a problem and never felt caked on. asserted

A very pleasant surprise from a brand I’m not overly familiar with. asserted

If I tell you that the first word that came out of my mouth as I applied this was “wow”, it should tell you everything you need to know. asserted

Not only did the shade happen to be the perfect match for my skin tone, but the formula was unlike any other concealer I’ve tried. asserted