8 of the Best Concealers for Deeper Skintones

1. Airspun Loose Powder

I remember this loose powder being one of the very first makeup products I ever tried after seeing it in my mom's makeup kit. It's super nostalgic for many other beauty fans – and no wonder, because it first launched in 1935!

Formulated to have a "cloudlike softness" to it, this powder is ideal for setting foundation and concealer so your base stays in place.

“I used Coty Airspun loose powder for years," one Redditor wrote about it. "I don't use powder anymore, but I still take a fond look at it in the makeup aisle. The packaging is so retro and pretty. It always made me feel very 1950's movie star.”

I will say that the main disconnect between this "old school" makeup product and today's beauty trends is that more and more brands tend to lean toward dewy, natural finishes rather than fully matte ones – this powder definitely delivers on the latter.

2. L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara

This mascara launched in 1990 and it was quick to become a favorite amongst beauty fans looking for long, full lashes. Claiming to give lashes the appearance of 5 times their natural thickness, this formula goes on super easy, thanks to the streamlined wand design.

This mascara has proved itself a mainstay in many makeup bags, and since its launch, L'Oreal's launched several different colors to play with. I myself am especially fond of the blue and purple mascaras if I just want to get a little playful with my makeup!

"I have tried other mascaras in the past but I find this one is the best for me. I have been using it for years," one reviewer wrote on Amazon. "I now find it difficult to to buy at the drug stores so I order it through Amazon. It goes on easily, dries quickly and does not flake. I wear the burgundy because I have green eyes."

3. Clinique Black Honey Almost Lipstick

You probably recognized this one super quick. Clinique's Almost Lipstick in the shade Black Honey is renowned since it's said to be universally flattering and totally nails the natural look! Though it first hit the market in 1989, it's had an undeniable resurgence in the past couple years, further proving its iconic status.

“My grandmother took me to a Clinique counter when I was 13 and bought me a lipstick and some eyeshadow. I used them until they were gone," one Redditor reminisced. "The only Clinique item I've used since then is Black Honey, which is in my bathroom today.”

4. Benetint Liquid Lip & Cheek Stain

This beloved Benefit product hit shelves back in 1976, though it wasn't originally intended for use on the lips and cheeks. 👀 Benefit revealed that it was actually formulated for exotic dancers to use on their nipples to make them stand out!

Since its introduction, it's been a great pick to reach for to add a natural flush to the cheeks and make the lips a bit bolder. Benefit's launched several different shades over the years to join the OG "rose" one.

5. Max Factor Panstik Foundation

This "old school" makeup product was one of the first foundations that came in a convenient stick form. It launched in 1947, but you can still find it today! This creamy product is noticeably full-coverage and leaves a silky-matte finish once it's applied. A little truly goes a long way.

“I grew up in the 90s and remember using the Max Factor Panstik makeup. I can still remember the scent," one Redditor wrote. "It was a really great product for its time and I used it like a concealer.”

“I have this! What I like about it is it’s quick to apply when I don’t have the energy for liquid concealers," another Reddit user said. "The colour range isn’t impressive though.”

6. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick

Hitting the market back in 1957, it didn't take long for the Lustrous Lipstick from Revlon to become a cult classic. Many shades that the company developed in the latter half of the 20th century are still around today – several makeup fans on Reddit mentioned shades like Cherries In The Snow, Toast Of New York, Wine With Everything, Fire And Ice, and Sandalwood Beige are still their absolute favorites!

"Fire And Ice is one of my favourite lipsticks. It’s a wonderful bright corally red/pink..." one Redditor said. "It dates from the 50s. It’s quite nice to think I’m wearing the same colour as girls who were listening to Elvis.”

7. C.O. Bigelow Rose Salve

This might just be the most old school of all the "old school" makeup products mentioned here. This rosy skin salve was introduced way back in 1838 to heal dry, cracked skin in need of hydration – lips, face, hands, and body included. It's crafted the same way it was back in the 1800's, with rose extract to calm irritation, and lanolin, cotton seed, and jojoba oil to moisturize. The company also sells lavender, mint, and vanilla varieties in addition to the OG rose.

"I've been using C.O. Bigelow lavender salve for years and still love it. I rub it into my cuticles in the winter, spread the excess around my hands and top it with a layer of hand cream to seal it in," one Amazon reviewer wrote. "It works great to keep my skin from drying out and cracking and the lavender scent smells natural and not fake."

"Love this product! Worth every penny," another Amazon user said. "Use it on my lips, face and hands. Softens and is non greasy. My all time favorite product in my beauty stash!"

1. e.l.f. Power Grip Primer

This gel-based primer does such an impressive job at hydrating your skin, all while still serving as a surface for your makeup to stick to.

The formula is fully clear, so it's friendly for all skin tones. Plus, it retains a slightly-sticky feel after applying it, allowing subsequent foundation, concealer, and powder to stay put all day long.

"It's really great for dry, oily, and combination skin which explains why my skin feels immediately hydrated after I use it," Brit + Co Staff Writer, Jasmine, writes in her review of the e.l.f. Power Grip Primer. "I usually purchase two at a time because I know it won't take long before I run out of this primer."

2. e.l.f. Hydrating Camo Concealer

This $7 concealer boasts a satin finish that helps you achieve the most natural of natural makeup looks. It leans on the side of hydrating, which we always prefer.

Plus, it's shoppable in a whopping 23 different shades. The option to browse a wide shade range is just another thing we love about e.l.f.!

Brit + Co Entertainment Editor, Chloe, has only good things to say about the e.l.f. Hydrating Camo Concealer:

"It's not too heavy but it still has good coverage," she said. "It's also the perfect balance for me between matte and super dewy, neither of which i'm a huge fan of so the middle ground is great. Super easy to blend."

3. e.l.f. Wow Brow Gel

While many brow gels simply add color, this $5 one also volumizes them. The wax-gel hybrid formula is infused with tiny fibers that just add that extra oomph you may be searching for. The packaging is also really seamless and easy to use, according to Brit + Co Affiliate Writer, Meredith.

"I reach for this brow gel nearly everyday," she added. "My eyebrows are already pretty thick, but I find that it gives them a boost when I want that. When I'm not using a clear brow gel, I'm using this e.l.f. one in a brunette shade that's not too bold."

4. e.l.f. No Budge Retractable Eyeliner

With a convenient retractable design, this $5 eyeliner packs a punch with a very smooth, creamy, and ultra-pigmented formula.

Available in three shades, it's also smudge-proof and waterproof. Whether you wear it on your lash line or waterline, you'll be surprised by its staying power!

In fact, Brit + Co Staff Writer, Jasmine, awarded this pick as the best drugstore eyeliner in her review. It survived a single crying session, and she knew it'd be a fave ever since.

"This eyeliner deserves its own spotlight," she writes.

5. e.l.f. Glossy Lip Stain

Okay, e.l.f. with the innovation! While most lip stains on the market these days are either draw-on markers or funky peel-off formulas, this $6 tube comes in gloss form, which makes it incredibly easy and intuitive to use. Thus, it brings shine and long-lasting color.

After drying down, this glossy lip stain leaves a very natural and hydrating wash of color. It's currently available in 7 shades on Amazon right now.

After testing several viral lip stains, Brit + Co Affiliate Writer, Meredith, ruled this e.l.f. pick the absolute best one.

"I wore the e.l.f. lip stain to a friends’ dinner party to test out if it was really long-wearing. After a couple rounds of cocktails and a big feast, there was still a good amount of color on my lips," she writes in her review. "What stood out to me the most is that the color that stayed was still as even as if I had just freshly applied it — just sans glossy finish."

1. Ellie is dealing with some major trauma.

In The Last of Us season 1, episode 8 "When We Are in Need," we had the unpleasant experience of meeting a man named David, who says he's a pastor who found God. And over the course of the anxiety-inducing 51 minutes, David kidnaps Ellie, Joel attacks David's men to get her location, and, oh, Ellie realizes David has turned the group into cannibals without their knowledge.

At the end of the episode, David attempts to sexually assault Ellie while the lodge burns down around them. Ellie winds up killing him with a literal meat cleaver before stumbling outside covered in his blood. (I still think about this scene, I hate it so much).

Joel finds her, and from this moment until the end of episode 9, Ellie's a changed person (duh). She's still curious and fun, but she's definitely more closed off than she was before — and we'll have to see how much it affects her five years later.

2. ​Joel saves Ellie at the expense of the Firefly hospital.

Ellie's troubles are far from over after her run-in with David. In episode 9, "Look for the Light," Joel and Ellie arrive in Salt Lake City. After a very sweet conversation about how she helped Joel heal from his daughter Sarah's death that had me emotional, the Firefly rebels arrive and both knock Joel out and take Ellie.

Joel wakes up in a hospital room, where he learns that the Fireflies will operate on Ellie (who's immune, remember) to get the cure for the infection. The only problem? She won't make it out alive. And in a fit of pure paternal rage, he takes out the entire hospital, including both doctors and soldiers.

3. Ellie is immune thanks to her mom.

The show finally explains Ellie's immunity in the final episode during a flashback. Ellie's mom, Anna, gives birth to our leading lady right around the moment she's attacked by an immune. And since the umbilical cord still connects Ellie and Anna, the cordyceps infection enters Ellie's body, and immune system, differently than if she'd been bitten.

4. Joel and Ellie return to Jackson.

The beginning of The Last of Us saw Joel trying to find his brother Tommy, and they do reunite in episode 6, "Kin." After everything that happens at the hospital, Joel and Ellie head back to Tommy's home in Jackson to start their new lives alongside Tommy, his wife Maria, and the rest of the town (including Dina and Jesse, two new friends Ellie has in season 2).

5. Joel lies to Ellie about the cure.

Perhaps the most important thing to remember about The Last of Us ending is that not only does Joel kill a dozen Fireflies, but he tells Ellie that there were multiple immune people, and that raiders had attacked the hospital. Ellie doesn't know that the cure would cost her life, but she's obviously disappointed by the fact she couldn't help — especially since it's clear she feels like her purpose as an immune is to help develop a cure.

In the final moments of the episode, she tells Joel to swear he was telling the truth. And when he does, all she says is, "Okay."