There is not a face in the world that couldn’t benefit from a little dab of concealer here and there. I kid you not, the photo-finish effect some of these magical concealers have literally transforms your face from tired to fresh, dark to bright, and puffy to smooth. Gotta love you some velvety concealer.

I think one little secret most women keep is that we all carry a mini concealer in our purses – a quick touch up here and there and voilá! Refreshed! I actually have a variety of concealers I stash in gym bags, purses, coat pockets, makeup counters… you never know when you’ll need a quick cover up.

Here are my top 5 concealers (and no, I could not live without them!)

There are so many different kinds of concealer – some are fantastic for under the eyes, you know – that puff that says “I have three kids and never sleep.” Well, that’s what Kevyn Aucoin’s Etherealist Super Natural Concealer does for my face. It corrects and blurs imperfections in a very natural-looking way and has a weightless finish, which is fantastic for under the eyes since the skin there is so thin. Sometimes I use the Super Natural Concealer as a lip primer to create a nude palette so my lipstick takes on the perfect colour.

Charlotte Tilbury is the queen of makeup these days. In fact, she has done for the makeup industry what Kevyn Aucoin did back in the day as a makeup artist. Yeah, I said it. I love her Magic Away Concealer because it has a flawless finish. What does that mean? Well, basically, what it means is that this full-coverage, long-lasting coverage is my go-to for photo shoots. Also, it reduces the appearance of wrinkles… yes, please!

Ok, this might sound crazy, but in actual reality, it’s a pro tip – so listen carefully, when applying concealer (especially liquid concealers), it’s important to use your ring finger to dab the liquid into the desired area. Don’t ask why, just believe me. The IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Full Coverage Anti-Aging Waterproof Concealer has such a super natural finish, it is creamy and doesn’t crack on the skin. This is my favourite vacation or workout concealer, because the waterproof feature allows me to sweat (or glisten, lol!) and keep my makeup intact. This concealer also has a few magical ingredients that help boost elasticity, plump, and firm the skin all while covering darkness, blemishes and imperfections.

NARS has been a front-runner for decades, and for good reason. One of my fave features of their award-winning Radiant Creamy Concealer is that it doubles as a contouring cream. I buy two shades darker and two shades lighter and create my own DIY contouring/highlighting palette. Concealer is known to have that power, but NARS also corrects, contours, highlights, and perfects. Ok, they all do that, but there’s something about how it feels that just sets this concealer apart from the rest.

Tom Ford came out with an applicator for their concealer that is super unique. It’s like a pen with a poof that sits on top of it. Kind of like the Charlotte Tilbury highlighter, but in a concealer. The Concealing Pen delivers “an undetectable finish,” that’s what their site says – and legit, it’s true. The formula is so rich and luxurious, I just love how smooth it leaves my skin.

There’s nothing worst then applying a concealer that creates a crackling, dried out effect. We’ve all been there. But that’s the cheap stuff that isn’t properly infused with hydrating formulas that are actually good for your skin. These 5 (and I have a few more) have been tried, tested and proven by yours truly to deliver the most natural-looking finishing effects that a concealer could possibly have. Smooth and even, all of these just blend right into your skin. Last tip? Be sure to pick the right colour!

Photography by Patricia Brochu