This $12 Concealer Hides My Dark Circles With One Swipe

• The new Revlon ColorStay Skin Awaken Concealer is a bargain at only $12.
• The concealer has a sponge-tip applicator and claims to hide blemishes and brighten discoloration.
• One editor tested out the formula and loved the natural-looking results.

I want my concealer to look natural while simultaneously being full coverage – a high bar, I know. I don’t like wearing heavy makeup, but if I’m going to try to conceal something – like my bluish undereye circles, post-inflammatory acne marks, or present pimples – then I want them gone.

It can be hard to find one concealer that does it all so I often end up using two different products: one for under my eyes and one for covering blemishes on my chin and cheeks. Still, I’ve never given up my mission of finding ones that can check both of those boxes, and the new Revlon ColorStay Skin Awaken Concealer ($12) does just that.

The concealer promises to cover, brighten, and hydrate for up to 24 hours of wear. It has a sponge tip for easy application and offers buildable, natural-looking coverage with a lightweight feel. The formula contains caffeine (hence “awaken” in its name) to help address puffiness and tired-looking skin, and vitamin C to help brighten dark circles and spots.

I was excited to try the Revlon ColorStay Skin Awaken Concealer because 1) it’s a bargain at only $12 and 2) the sponge-tip is one of my favorite application methods for concealers. Unlike twist-ups, all you have to do is give the tube a squeeze and the product starts to flow from the sponge tip. Its small size also helps get right under your eyes and with spot correcting discoloration. Out of the tube, the formula itself is thick and creamy – and so pigmented that one little dab completely covers the area it’s applied to – but it blends to a smooth finish.

When I first gave it a try, I used the shade 005 under my eyes and 001 on my face and dabbed a few dots where I wanted to cover. I used a damp makeup sponge to blend the concealer, but I’m sure you’d have no issues using your fingers or a brush instead. It was easy to achieve an untraceable, natural-looking finish without the pigment completely disappearing into my skin, which can be hard to find. For the spots on my face and my dark circles, one layer was plenty to get the coverage I wanted – something that not many concealers can pull off.

Once the formula dries (which is seconds after you blend it), it doesn’t move around or crease, and even without powder, it holds up its transfer-resistant claims. Nine hours after application it still looked good and hadn’t settled or turned patchy. Although it did crease a little under my eyes, I’ve never found a concealer that doesn’t and this one creased significantly less than most products. I even wore Revlon’s ColorStay Skin Awaken Concealer under a face mask for a dinner date and none of it rubbed off on the inside of my face mask. It’s safe to say this concealer has earned itself a permanent spot in my daily makeup routine.