Concealer Ranking (Dry, 40+ Skin)

Last Updated: September 20, 2025

Some Background Information To Keep In Mind

I am in my early 40s, and my skin type is dry, sensitive, and eczema-prone. I look for medium to full coverage because I do have darkness both under and in the inner corner of my eyes, as well as the occasional acne scar that I want to cover. Like many people, I also have discoloration around my mouth and chin. If I wear a foundation that doesn’t cover that discoloration well, I rely on concealer to pick up that slack.

Creasing will happen, especially as we age and expression lines and wrinkles deepen. As I’ve mentioned in most of my concealer reviews, everything will settle into lines to some degree. For me, when the pigment starts collecting in the lines so much that I can see it from a distance, I’m not happy. You may be surprised to see that most concealers crease a lot on me, and despite having dry skin, I need to powder the majority of concealers that I use. This may be due to the shape of my eye area or the fact that I use both a moisturizing serum and a heavy oil-based moisturizer. I have chubby cheeks, and when I smile, a lot of crinkle happens around my eyes. So, if your under-eye area is flatter than mine, you may not have the same issues with creasing that I do.

I have a warm olive, medium-deep skin tone (sometimes medium or tan, depending on the shade range). For shade reference, my best matches are NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Tahoe and Estee Lauder Double Wear 4W4 Hazel.

Wearing NARS Natural Radiant Longwear in Tahoe

Wearing Estee Lauder Double Wear in 4W4 Hazel

This ranking is obviously totally subjective and unique to my own preferences. It will likely change over time. In this ranking, I prioritized performance on my skin type and issues rather than what I use the most. I have embedded Google Sheets with the rankings, including prices, shade range, notes, etc (one for full coverage and one for medium coverage). I am new to this, so please let me know if you can not see the sheets.

One last note on the terminology I used for finishes other than matte formulas. I personally think that the terms natural and satin are used interchangeably, so that is how I have them listed. To me, a natural/satin finish looks slightly drier than my moisturized skin and lacks the more smooth/blurred look of a matte finish. A radiant finish looks like freshly moisturized skin, and a luminous/dewy finish looks wet and sometimes oily.

Update June 26, 2025: I recently posted a more concise list for individuals with dry skin who are seeking hydrating and non-drying concealers. You can read that post by clicking here.

Update June 28, 2025: While I can’t include it in a ranking since I have not tried it, I posted swatches of the MAC Studio Radiance 24HR Luminous Lift Concealer in the shades NC42 and NC45. You can see that post by clicking here.

Full Coverage Concealers

All prices and information are current as of March 6, 2025.

Click here to open the full coverage concealer ranking in Google Sheets.

Review and Swatch Links

Medium Coverage Concealers

All prices and information are current as of March 6, 2025.

Click here to open the medium coverage concealer ranking in Google Sheets.

Review and Swatch Links

My Current Most Used Concealers

If you’d like to check out more of my content, here are some places to start.

Disclaimer: I purchased all products featured with my own money. This site receives a minimal commission from participating in the WordAds program and using affiliate links. For my full disclosure policy, click here.