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The 12 Best Korean Concealers for Flawless, Undetectable Coverage
Faking perfect skin has gotten a whole lot easier.
Korean women are known for their beautiful, flawless-looking skin. Sure, that partly has to do with genetics, their Korean skin care routines, and using the best Korean skin care brands; but sometimes, credit is also due to the Korean makeup and product application techniques they employ. Even as a Korean woman myself, I didn’t have naturally perfect skin. However, even when my skin was at its absolute worst, I could fake an even, blemish-less complexion with the help of Korean foundations and concealers.
Many Korean concealers come in the usual formats, like pots or tubes with doe-foot applicators. Additionally, professional makeup artists in the country are particularly fond of pencil concealers and concealer palettes with color correctors as well. “Whenever I get my makeup done in Korea, they would use pot or pencil concealers to cover small freckles and even when covering my dark circles, she used a color correcting palette and lightly tapped a very minimal amount of product onto my skin,” Hae Jin Chang, the brand director of Joah, says. “Since Koreans are about the natural, non-heavy makeup look, they mostly use concealer to cover blemishes, and even if they need to cover dark circles, they don’t lather on concealer. Rather, they apply small amounts and build up for more coverage,” she adds.
Our top picks for the best Korean concealers of 2024
For those of us who want to replicate this at home, thankfully, many of the most popular Korean concealers are available to us via online retailers. One crucial caveat I always have to mention though—since South Korea is such a homogenous country and favors lighter and more fair skin tones, most brands offer very limited shade ranges. There have been a few brands that have made an effort to be more inclusive, but the industry as a whole has a lot of room for improvement.
If you still want to see if there might be an option out there for you, I’ve gathered the 12 best Korean concealers below after speaking with the above expert, rummaging through my own makeup collection, and reading dozens of customer reviews. Keep scrolling to discover them for yourself.
Pros
- High coverage
Cons
- Very limited shade range
While this concealer is a pro at covering up dark circles, it really shines on oily, acne-prone skin. The matte yet hydrating formula doesn’t dry out the skin and also prevents excess sebum from breaking it apart throughout the day. Additionally, because it’s full coverage, you only need to use a little bit at a time.
Shades: 8
Size: 0.2 oz.
Amazon rating: 4.3/5 stars
An ELLE editor says: “If you go looking for the best Korean concealer on Reddit, you’ll find countless users recommending this one. And if I were an active Redditor (instead of an active lurker), I’d be one of those commenters too. It’s so affordable that it costs less than the average latte, and it covers virtually anything I need to cover with a natural-looking matte finish that doesn’t emphasize texture like glowier formulas. I’ve been known to use a few dots all over my face like a thin yet full-coverage foundation.”—Carol Lee, ELLE.com associate beauty e-commerce writer
Joah Beauty Hydrating Eye Serum Concealer
Pros
- Relatively wide shade range
Cons
- Sponge tip may be difficult to keep clean
This formula from Joah treats the skin as it conceals. Infused with ceramides and peptides, it moisturizes and plumps the skin to reduce puffiness and the appearance of fine lines. “The serum in the formula makes it very hydrating yet long-lasting, and the tip feels nice when applying onto the skin,” says Chang.
Shades: 10
Joah Beauty rating: 4.8/5 stars
A Joah Beauty reviewer says: “This is the best undereye concealer on the market hands down. I’ve gone through four of them, and I will continue to repurchase. Please don’t ever discontinue this formula, because it’s a godsend. It doesn’t crease, looks like skin, and lasts and wears all day and looks fresh.”
Pros
- Moisturizes the under eyes
Cons
- Can feel a little thick
Reviewers of all skin types recommend this pick, which features buildable coverage and a lightweight, hydrating formula. Even when you don’t have foundation on, the concealer blends in so seamlessly that you (and others) may not be able to tell.
Shades: 6
Size: 0.26 oz.
Olive Young rating: 4.6/5 stars
Olive Young reviewer says: “This Luna concealer gives me the same amount of coverage as high-end concealers. Great coverage, hydrating, and doesn’t look cakey. This covers all your dark circles, acne, past mistakes, ex-boyfriends, etc. I will only purchase this product for concealing [from] this day forward.”
Pros
- Soft matte finish
- Fuller coverage
Cons
- Does not come with refill
Recently, after feedback from TikTokers like Golloria, TirTir stepped up and expanded its shade range to include a whopping 40 hues. Although this cushion foundation isn’t a concealer, it’s so high coverage yet weightless that you could easily use it as one, whether you put down a full layer of the formula on your face first or not.
Shades: 40
Size: 0.63 oz.
Amazon rating: 4/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “This cushion gave me a semi-matte appearance that made me feel like I had a ‘glow [from] within’ vibe without looking oily. The formula didn’t irritate my skin, and I found that one dab of the product was enough to cover my whole face. It is also buildable, so if I needed more coverage on certain areas, I could do so easily. It effectively covered the hyperpigmentation I had but didn’t feel heavy on the skin. There was some breakdown at the end of the day, but compared to other foundations I have, it lasted well.”
Pros
- Precise application
Cons
- Limited shade range
Pencil concealers aren’t unique to South Korea, but they aren’t as common here in the States. If you’re nervous about the texture, don’t worry—like a lip liner pencil, it’s much softer and more gentle than your typical graphite or colored pencil. But its fine tip and slightly waxy texture allows you to precisely “color” over hyperpigmentation and other imperfections.
Shades: 5
Amazon rating: 4.5/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “I have erythema on my nose, where I also have an indented scar. This is the only thing that works to cover it up. I know it can be used under the eye, around the lips—but to cover up broken veins, red marks, it’s fantastic.”
The Saem Cover Perfection Triple Foundation Balm Set
Pros
- Includes color correctors
Cons
- Not suitable for all skin tones
This concealer palette is mini but mighty. The peachy shade is designed to cancel out darkness under the eyes, the green shade is meant to camouflage any redness, and the beige one can be used on top of the color correctors and as a general concealer. If you purchase the set, it comes with a double-sided brush you can use to apply both your foundation and concealer.
Shades: 1
Size: 0.78 oz.
YesStyle rating: 4.7
A YesStyle reviewer says: “This is so creamy and not drying at all. I have been using this to cover all my blemishes and haven’t been going back to my [other] concealers because of this! The brush is so nice, too.”
Pros
- Blends out easily
Cons
- Limited shade range
Hince is one of those cool-girl brands, much like Glossier or Milk Makeup; they’re just so irresistible, and a lot of it has to do with their vibes. But let’s not knock Hince’s formulas, either. The brand’s concealer has no problem disguising dark under eyes or blemishes—if one swipe doesn’t cut it, you can add a few more layers without fear of it looking cakey.
Shades: 4
Size: 0.23 oz.
Olive Young rating: 4.4/5 stars
An Olive Young reviewer says: “I just love this concealer! It is my favorite. I tried it the first time when I went to Korea, and I kept using it all the time. It gives nice coverage, it doesn’t look tacky or crease, but it keeps the skin glowy. Love it!”
Pros
- A little goes a long way
Cons
- Strong fragrance
This concealer is formulated to hug your skin and stick to it until you remove all of your makeup at the end of the day. Reviewers rave about how well it covers blemishes and dark spots, basically rendering them invisible.
Shades: 9
Size: 0.25 oz.
Amazon rating: 4.3/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “I’ve scaled down my makeup routine significantly and only use this concealer as my base in the needed areas. Some say it’s thick, but that’s probably because they’re applying too much. Just a quick and light swab is all you need. I find that blending this formula with your fingers gives the best results (I’ve used this technique with expensive brands, and it didn’t give the same results). Highly recommend!”
Pros
- Full coverage
Cons
- May not be suitable for dry skin
Shade matching can be challenging, so if you’d rather customize your own concealer shade, we’d recommend trying this palette of concealers and color correctors. Depending on your skin tone, you could even use some of the shades to contour, bronze and even as blush.
Shades: 2
Size: 0.32 oz.
Amazon rating: 4.1/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “I totally love it. The colors have a wide enough range that I can blend a few for a perfectly color-matched concealer. It’s great.”
Pros
- Blends out quickly
Cons
- Limited shade range
This wallet-friendly concealer went through clinical testing to ensure its suitability for sensitive skin—a huge plus for anyone who’s experienced breakouts or irritation from their complexion products in the past. The formula itself is creamy and blurs darkness or redness in a flash.
Shades: 5
Size: 0.19 oz.
YesStyle rating: 4.4/5 stars
A YesStyle reviewer says: “It covers all my acne and dark circles. I love Peripera’s—products, it never disappoints. This does not crease under your eyes. I wore it to work for four hours and came home with no creases, and it doesn’t make you look dry.”
Pros
- Affordable
Cons
- Only comes in two shades
Salmon or peachy concealers are perfect for canceling out dark circles in lighter skin tones. The Skinfood version is a K-beauty classic and actually contains omega-3-rich salmon roe and salmon oil to nourish the skin.
Shades: 2
Size: 0.35 oz.
YesStyle rating: 4.4/5 stars
A YesStyle reviewer says: “I was a bit scared at first, but the reviews were great. My skin is really pale and more on the rosy side. But it fits really nicely! The texture is great, creamy, and easy to apply. It’s easy to build layers with it, too. It reflects the light a bit, but I personally put loose powder on it, and the finish is matte. And it doesn’t smell like salmon—don’t worry!”
Pros
- Luxe packaging
- Creamy formula
Cons
- Limited shade range
This concealer is one of the newer additions to Clio’s beloved Kill Cover complexion line. Like the formulas in the rest of the collection, it provides an impressive amount of coverage while still allowing your skin to look like skin. When applied well, it might not look like you have anything on at all.
Shades: 3
Size: o.21 oz.
YesStyle rating: 4.5/5 stars
A YesStyle reviewer says: “You can put on a generous amount, and it’s very creamy and doesn’t dry down [too quickly]. It’s easy to blend out and gives my under eyes very nice brightness. And the packaging is so cute.”
Should you apply concealer before or after foundation?
At the end of the day, it all comes down to personal preference and “what you are trying to achieve,” says Chang. “When I’m trying to cover my dark circles, I apply the concealer before, but for blemishes and pimple spots, I would apply it after foundation,” she adds.
How should you apply concealer?
When concealing blemishes, your fingers or a small brush will give you the most coverage and accuracy. Remember, less is more—start with a thin layer and add more if needed for the most natural finish. For the under eyes, “since the skin is very thin and delicate, I would use a flat concealer brush to apply a small amount using very minimal pressure on the under eyes, in a downward motion. The key is to be gentle!” Chang shares.
Why Trust ELLE Beauty
As a leading publisher of fashion, lifestyle, and beauty content, ELLE.com is committed to highlighting the best products in various categories by personally testing the latest and most innovative products, interviewing countless experts, and vetting customer-loved items. For this piece, beauty writer Carol Lee spoke to a Korean beauty expert about Korean concealers. She also looked through her own stash and combed through reviews for top-rated options, assessing each one based on their features and customer evaluations.
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