When it comes to makeup MVPs, there’s really no product that compares to the all-important concealer. “Concealer is a must-have for anyone over 30,” says Sarah Uslan, a celebrity makeup artist and founder of botanical skincare line Lula. “Our under-eye area can tell a story: how much or how little sleep we had, how much water we are drinking, if we have been traveling, if we are under stress. By using a concealer you are brightening and waking up this very transparent part of the face.”

The best concealers help create a clear, flawless complexion, providing a clean slate for the rest ... [+] of your makeup to shine.

In addition to jump-starting tired eyes (the world will have no idea just how exhausted you really are), concealers help create a clear, flawless complexion thus providing a clean slate for the rest of your makeup to shine. Like our top pick from Nars, “the right concealer really can do it all and make such a difference, especially when it comes to boosting confidence with your beauty look,” says Priscilla Ono, Fenty Beauty’s global makeup artist. Ahead, we talked to the experts and rounded up the best concealers to match your beauty needs.

Key ingredients: Magnolia bark extract, grape seed extract, vitamin E | Shades: 30| Cruelty-free: No

There’s a reason Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer is the number one prestige seller in the U.S. The cult-favorite is formulated with powerful skincare ingredients like magnolia bark extract to fight signs of aging and grape-seed extract to nourish and protect the skin. The result: a concealer that provides medium, buildable coverage to brighten skin and instantly hide any blemishes or dark circles. (It can also be layered for a more natural-looking foundation). Plus, it’s crease-resistant, sweat-resistant, stays on for 16 hours and goes on like a dream thanks to its velvety texture. And with 30 different shades, it’s perfect for a variety of concealing tasks.

Key ingredients: Peptides, hydrolyzed collagen, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E| Shades: 24 | Cruelty-free: Yes

For mature skin, it’s key to use a product that covers up dark circles and imperfections without penetrating into fine lines and causing any cakiness. Another necessity: a product that can hydrate and help slow down signs of aging. Enter: It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye, an award-winning waterproof concealer that’s highly pigmented to conceal every issue from broken capillaries to age spots. Plus it’s chock-full of anti-aging peptides, hydrolyzed collagen, hyaluronic acid and vitamin E, to support skin elasticity and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

Key ingredients: Ginger root extract, hyaluronic acid, argan oil, chestnut extract | Shades: 12 | Cruelty-free: No

When a product has Martha Stewart’s stamp of approval, you know it’s quality. Not only does Cle De Peau conceal and correct dark spots, under-eye circles and blemishes effortlessly with its lightweight-yet-full-coverage formula, it also improves skin in the process. First, it protects the delicate eye area with SPF 27. Botanicals like zingiber aromaticus extract (ginger) help fight hyperpigmentation, while chestnut extract helps skin look younger. Hyaluronic acid and argan oil moisturize and plump the skin. In fact, after a four-week study conducted by the brand, 97% of users felt their skin looked brighter, while 93% said they had radiance.

Key ingredients: Bamboo, raspberry seed oil, squalane, kaolin clay | Shades: 15 | Cruelty-free: Yes

Whether in hot, humid weather (hello, heat wave), at a fancy event or hitting a pilates class, you can count on a waterproof concealer to stay put. BareMinerals’ crease-proof, smudge-proof version is formulated with squalane to keep skin radiant while at the same time kaolin clay absorbs excess oil—creating a perfect balance. Other skin enhancing ingredients include antioxidant-rich bamboo and age-fighting raspberry seed oil. Keep in mind that waterproof formulas are often full-coverage, and dry skin types should look for one with hydrating ingredients.

Key ingredients: Glycerin, goji berry extract | Shades: 18 | Cruelty-free: No

This award-winning concealer provides 12 hours of crease-resistant coverage. The hydrating formula is lightweight and can be used to conceal blemishes or define your cheekbones. Plus, its genius applicator—featuring a soft sponge tip—makes blending-on-the-go a breeze.

Key ingredients: Caffeine, pink algae, arnica, provitamin B5, peptides, hyaluronic acid | Shades: 28 | Cruelty-free: Yes

Not only does Kosas’ super creamy concealer cover up imperfections, it tackles skincare issues at the same time. The hardworking restorative formula is made up of caffeine and pink algae to brighten, arnica to soothe and peptides and hyaluronic acid to plump and hydrate, leaving users with a glowing complexion. In a consumer study, 100% of participants agreed that the brand’s Revealer improved the quality of their bare skin.

Key ingredients: Candelilla, chamomile, vitamin A and E | Shades: 8 | Cruelty-free: No

Uslan reaches for Laura Mercier's iconic Secret Camouflage when the situation calls for a corrector. This full-coverage concealer is more pigmented than most and is perfect for masking flaws masterfully. This includes scars, broken capillaries, discoloration...you name it. A two-shade compact, with one lighter and one darker color, allows users to customize by building and blending shades until settling on the perfect match for whatever season it is. The oil-free formula works for all skin types, and if you don’t want to deal with the compact the brand recently released a double-ended stick version.

Key ingredients: Shea butter, mango butter, licorice root | Shades: 35 | Cruelty-free: Yes

Deney Adam, Pro Team Member at Ulta Beauty loves this award-winning concealer for “its ability to stay put and the longwear property.” The cult product, with a following that rivals that of Nars’ Radiant Creamy Concealer, boasts 16 hours of wear and a full-coverage formula. It’s also the perfect solution for those with oily skin. Despite its matte finish, Shape Tape won't cake or create dry patches. In a clinical study, 100% of users said it doesn’t crease or look cakey. Another bonus: The application wand features a large domed tip to deposit more product than the standard size, making for quicker application. And with skin-boosting ingredients like shea butter and licorice root extract to brighten and smooth skin, why not glide a little extra on.

Key ingredients: Salicylic acid | Shades: 14 | Cruelty-free: No

If you’re prone to breakouts, look for lightweight formulas that contain acne fighting ingredients and won’t clog pores. Sephora’s award-winning concealer includes 2% salicylic acid (to shed dead skin cells and clear pores) and chamomile extract (an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agent to soothe irritated skin).

Key ingredients: Glycerin, centella asiatica extract, tea leaf extract | Shades: 50 | Cruelty-free: Yes

Fenty’s creamy, dreamy, crease-proof concealer is so versatile and can easily go from medium to full coverage without feeling—or looking!—heavy. “My favorite thing about it is its soft matte finish, so skin is perfectly radiant but not shiny,” says Ono. “It also has amazing coverage and wear, so it looks great all day.” But perhaps the best part is that it comes in 50 shades, making it one of the most inclusive lines on the market.

This wonder-working product helps you fake good night’s rest and preps your complexion for the rest of your makeup routine. Here’s what to consider when shopping for the best concealer for you.

The most important step is finding the right shade. Start by figuring out if you have a warm, cool or neutral undertone. Next, swatch your picks under your eye or on your wrist to find the tone that looks most natural with your overall coloring. “Then, decide what the goal of the concealer is,” says Ono. She recommends always stocking two shades in your makeup arsenal. “If you’re looking to disguise dark circles, choose a concealer that’s one shade lighter than your natural skin tone to cover up and give that brightening effect,” she says. For covering blemishes on the rest of your face, pick a concealer shade that matches your skin tone or foundation.

Concealers come in a variety of finishes. Oily skin types should go with a drier more satin-matte finish, says Uslan. Those with drier skin should opt for a concealer that is a bit more creamy.

Another factor to consider is how pigmented the concealer is. Coverage can range from light to medium to full-coverage. “I always look for a concealer that has buildable coverage that still lets skin look like skin,” says Ono. “Buildable coverage is ideal because your needs can change day-to-day. Sometimes you have more blemishes, and some days your under-eye circles are a little darker than normal.”

“Concealer helps to neutralize any redness, brighten any darkness and cover any blemishes,” says Ono. This includes sun spots, broken capillaries, acne scars, irritations and under-eye circles. In blurring the imperfections, concealer creates a flawless base for your makeup. Applied correctly, it can also be used to contour cheekbones or as a highlighter.

Why stop under the eyes? “Use a concealer to brighten dark circles and anywhere on the face to cover blemishes,” says Ono. You can even use the product around the mouth, on the bridge of the nose and on the chin. One spot Ono especially loves to glide it on: the brow bone. “It helps brighten and give a lifting effect.”

Whether you use your fingers, a brush or the applicator is based on your personal preference and the finish you’re looking for. In general, blending with a sponge gives a more natural, air-brushed finish. For under-eye coverage, Uslan applies concealer like an upside down triangle, lifting up towards the temples in nice long strokes. Then, she uses a sponge like a Beauty Blender or her fingers to work it into the skin.

Ono loves using the Fenty Beauty Lil Precision Makeup Sponge Duo 105 to get into those harder-to-reach areas like in the corner of the eyes or on the sides of the nose where you often need to cover up. “Applying the concealer directly to the skin always deposits the most pigment onto the skin,” she says.

The best way to make concealer or any makeup last longer is to use a primer, says Ono. “A primer helps to not only extend the wear of your makeup but keep it in place, so it doesn’t crease or budge,” she says. Uslan likes to apply a very light translucent powder over it to set it in place.