The Pale Girl’s Guide to Concealers

If you have pale skin and trouble finding the right concealer, The Pale Girl’s Guide to Concealers is for you! As tough as it can be to find the right foundation shade when you’re pale, concealers can be even trickier! So if you’re pale or fair skinned and you’re cruelty free conscious, you’ve come to the right place. These are the best concealers for pale skin. All are cruelty free and there are several vegan options.

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How to Choose a Concealer

Chances are, if you’re pale and new to makeup, you’re using the wrong shade of concealer. I know I did for years! Here are some things to keep in mind when searching for your perfect shade.

When you’re choosing a concealer, you want to choose one that is about a half shade lighter than your foundation for around the face if you’re wanting to cover texture. If you’ll be using it to conceal dark spots or blemishes, you’ll want a concealer that’s a shade lighter than your foundation. This is why it can be so difficult to find a concealer if you have pale skin! Many brands just don’t cater to our skintone. And don’t get me started on the brands who don’t make concealers as pale as some of the foundation shades they offer!

Some people with pale skin are blessed with a perfect, blemish free complexion so they only need a bit of concealer under the eyes to hide dark circles. I’m not one of those people. I’ve got redness from rosacea. Sometimes I’ve got blemishes from rosacea, too. While I feel confident enough in my skin to run errands with only SPF on, if I’m going out or doing anything else, I definitely need a complexion product on my face. I’m envious of those people who can get away with no foundation or concealer!

If you’re like me, you probably need at least a concealer in your makeup bag. Maybe a foundation too. Read on to see which concealer is best for you!

The Pale Girl’s Guide to Concealers Swatches

NARS really kills it when it comes to concealers. For most pale skin, Chantilly is probably the first concealer they ever try. NARS currently has 3 formulas available. Chantilly is their palest neutral tone.

Please note, I no longer recommend NARS because they are no longer cruelty free. They are selling in China and testing on animals.

NARS Stick Concealer in Chantilly

The NARS Stick Concealer is highly pigmented and ideal for hiding blemishes. It’s long wearing and crease resistant. You can use it anywhere around the face that you desire.

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Chantilly

Most people love the Radiant Creamy concealer for under the eyes. You can blend with your fingertips or a brush. Set with a translucent setting powder.

NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer in Chantilly

This is a concealer that is supposed to blur imperfections around the face and last all day. I was disappointed to see that Chantilly is darker in this formula than in the other formulas I own. The formula is really nice and you don’t need to set it.

Glossier Stretch Concealer in Light

Glossier’s Stretch Concealer in Light is best suited for fair skin rather than porcelain, but the formula is very dewy. You’ll definitely want to set it or apply it under your foundation. I’m sad that this isn’t a concealer I can wear since it’s too dark for my skintone. This is rumored to be a dupe for the RMS Uncover Up concealer. I believe this is neutral toned. Stretch Concealer is good for the undereye area, especially if you’re dry and have fine lines.

Nudestix Concealer Pencil in Light 1

The Nudestix Concealer pencil is so easy to use around the face. The shade Light 1 is perfect for pale skin with a pink undertone. Dot the concealer wherever you need it, then blend out with a finger tip and set with a translucent setting powder. (vegan)

Cover FX Blemish Treatment Stick Concealer in N-Xtra Light

The Cover FX Blemish Treatment Concealer is a stick concealer that is packed with pigment. You can apply this without setting it and have it last. It also contains 1% salicylic acid, making it ideal to treat blemishes. N-Xtra Light is their palest neutral shade. Cover FX recognizes all global shades of beauty and makes products for both the lightest and darkest skintones. (vegan)

Cover FX Perfect Pencil in N-Xtra Light

The Cover FX Perfect Pencil is perfect for use around the face. You can dot it on small zits, use it to carve out your brows or to brighten the inner corners of your eyes. It’s very versatile! N-Xtra Light is their palest neutral shade. See my 7 Ways to Use the Cover FX Perfect Pencil tutorial. (vegan)

Kat Von D Lock-It Concealer Creme in L1 Neutral

The Kat Von D Lock-It Concealer Creme in L1 Neutral and L3 Warm have become my go-to concealers. I use L1 around my face where I want brightness – under the eyes, the forehead, down the bridge of the nose, the sides of the nose and mouth, the chin, and the tops of the cheekbones. I use the L3 Warm where I would contour – the hollows of the cheeks, the perimeter of the forehead, and the sides of the bridge of the nose. I then blend the two shades out and blend where the colors meet. By applying my concealer first like this, I can then use a sheer foundation that’s moisturizing on my dry skin. (vegan)

It Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye Concealer in Light

Many of my friends swear by this concealer. It’s an ultra-pigmented illuminating concealer dries down and lasts all day. If you are fair skinned, this will work well on you. It’s not light enough for me to wear under my eyes. I feel like it’s neutral toned.

Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer in Fair Neutral

I love this concealer, I just wish it was lighter! Sometimes I will mix in a drop of white. It dries darker than my skintone, making it less than ideal for under my eyes. I do love the consistency and coverage. (vegan)



RCMA 5 Part Palette in KA

The RCMA 5 Part Palettes are actually highly pigmented foundations that can work as concealers. A little goes a very long way with this product. It’s wax based, so works well on my dry skin. KA is for very pale to fair skintones that have a slight warm undertone. I like mixing KA-1 and KA-2 to use as a foundation.

Other Concealers to Consider

There are a few concealers that I don’t currently have that people recommend for pale skin so I thought I would share them too.

bareMinerals Stroke of Light Eye Brightener in Luminous 1

I used to use bareMinerals Stroke of Light Eye Brightener in Luminous 1 for under my eyes. It’s only good for countering undereye circles.

RMS Beauty Un Cover-Up Concealer / Foundation in 000

Some people swear by RMS Beauty and that they can do no wrong. The shade 000 is described as ‘lightest shade for the true snow whites’. I haven’t seen it in stores anywhere to swatch myself, but this might work for fair to porcelain pale skin.

Kevyn Aucoin the Sensual Skin Enhancer in SX01

This is another foundation concealer combo product. The shade SX01 is for porcelain skintones. It’s a waterproof formula.

Nyx Hi Definition Photo Concealer Wand in Alabaster

The Nyx Hi Definition Photo Concealer Wand in Alabaster (pale with neutral undertones) is supposed to be a good concealer for pale skin.

Ulta Color Correcting Foundation and Primer Stick in Fair Porcelain

The Ulta Color Correcting Foundation and Primer Stick in Fair Porcelain, while is a fail as a foundation on me, is actually probably great as a concealer around the face. You can use the green color correcting core in a few key places to hide redness, then conceal with the outer part of the stick.

Tarte Double Duty Beauty Shape Tape Contour Concealer in Fair Neutral

While I personally could not stand the smell of the Tarte Shape Tape, I know a lot of you love it. Fair and Fair Neutral are both great options for pale skin.

White Concealers

For my friends who are extremely pale, as I have a few friends who are paler than I am, let me present to you white concealers. You can mix these into another concealer, into a foundation, or use them as a matte highlight.

Kat Von D Lock-It Concealer Creme in White Out

Kat Von D Lock-It Concealer Creme in White Out is awesome. As I mentioned above, you can use it on its own or mix it into another product. I also like it as an eyeshadow base to make colors pop or to do a cut crease. White Out is pure matte white. (vegan)

L.A. Girl HD Pro Concealer in Highlighter

L.A. Girl HD Pro Concealers have a creamy, lightweight texture that works well all over the face. Highlighter has a subtle, pearlescent illuminating finish for a natural glow. This is one of the most affordable options at a mere $5.



Row 1 – RCMA KO-2 – KA-3 – KA-1 – KVD White Out

Row 2 – RCMA KA-4 – KA-2 – LA Girl Highlighter

Row 1 – KVD White Out – IT Cosmetics Light – Nudestix Light 1 – Glossier Light – KVD L1 – NARS Chantilly – NARS Chantilly

Row 2 – LA GirlHighlighter – UD Fair Neutral – Cover FX N-Xtra Light – Cover FX N-Xtra Light – KVD L3 – NARS Vanilla – NARS Chantilly

Row 1 – RCMA KO-2 – KA-3 – KA-1 – KVD White Out – IT Cosmetics Light – Nudestix Light 1 – Glossier Light – KVD L1 – NARS Chantilly – NARS Chantilly

Row 2 – RCMA KA-4 – KA-2 – LA Girl Highlighter – UD Fair Neutral – Cover FX N-Xtra Light – Cover FX N-Xtra Light – KVD L3 – NARS Vanilla – NARS Chantilly

The Kat Von D Lock-It Concealers are the best for me, especially with how I apply my makeup these days. What’s your favorite concealer? Any new cruelty free brands I should know about?

Pale Girl’s Guide to Beauty Series