Summary: It’s difficult to find a concealer that’s a good middle ground between high coverage and cakey and low coverage and oily — but Well People’s Gleamstate fit the bill! It’s buildable, hydrating, and easy to apply. It has a pinkish undertone that really counteracts dark circles. And it’s from Well People, which has fantastic sustainability specs. For what it’s worth, I realized that my shade is actually 2 – Fair Neutral, not 1 – Fair Cool, as I initially thought!

What I Love:

  • The Gleamstate concealer had a medium but adjustable coverage — ideal in a concealer so you can get the exact look you’re going for.
  • The product had a hydrating feel that slipped over the skin and felt moisturizing, but dried down enough that it felt set and wasn’t sliding around all day.
  • At $15, it’s one of the most affordable “clean” concealers on the market, with a comparable price to drugstore brands!

Things to Keep in Mind:

  • This product is highly buildable, so a little goes a long way! I accidentally used too much the first time I applied it, but quickly learned how much product to use for daytime vs. nighttime looks and to achieve the coverage I wanted.
  • When I did use more product for a full-coverage makeup look, it needed a bit of setting spray to truly stay put all night.

Concealers are tricky for me. On the one hand, I often get dark circles under my eyes after nights of less-than-ideal sleep, and a good concealer can go a long way in rectifying a tired-looking complexion. 

On the other hand, I’m practically allergic to an “overdone” makeup look. I hate when my foundation or concealer looks cakey or settles into fine lines — I’d rather just not wear makeup at that point. And on a third (?) hand, my combination skin reacts heavily to my environment, so in the humid summers I can’t do a dewy concealer, and in the winters I can’t do anything remotely drying because the product clings to my dry spots.

“I hate when my foundation or concealer looks cakey or settles into fine lines — I’d rather just not wear makeup at that point.”

I’ve been testing makeup products like foundations and concealers — especially “clean” ones — for years, so I have a good idea of what I like and don’t like in a product. I know when a product is compatible with my skin tone and skin type, and I know how makeup products stack up to one another in terms of consistency, longevity, application, etc.

So I was excited for the opportunity to test Well People’s newest launch, their Gleamstate Brightening Serum Concealer. The brand’s medium-coverage concealer, it’s pegged as a product that is super moisturizing and brightening, as it blurs the look of dark circles, hyperpigmentation, and fine lines.

With the product’s accessible price point and the brand’s great sustainability certifications, I was excited to put this product to the test.

About Well People

Founded in 2008, Well People has been one of the pioneering brands in the clean beauty space for almost two decades. They were founded by a dermatologist and makeup artist, and have continued to evolve over the past two decades — from their beginnings making clean makeup before it was trendy to the high-quality, science-backed formulations they’ve refined today. They were acquired by e.l.f. in 2020, showing that their whole “clean beauty” thing isn’t just a trend.

Today, they remain fully committed to the sustainability aspect. The brand is Fair Trade certified, meaning their sourcing and manufacturing are ethical to both people and planet, and almost all of their products are EWG-certified. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a coalition of scientists and policymakers working to ensure total transparency regarding the ingredients that go into our everyday home and cosmetic products, helping consumers make more informed choices.

“The brand is Fair Trade certified, meaning their sourcing and manufacturing are ethical to both people and planet, and almost all of their products are EWG-certified.”

Like most Well People products, Gleamstate is EWG-verified, along with Fair Trade-certified, cruelty-free, and Sorette-approved for motherhood.

Testing the Gleamstate concealer

On to the test! I tried out the concealer in their lightest shade, 1 – Fair Cool, which was admittedly a touch too light for me. I like a concealer that’s a shade or so lighter than my foundation to help with brightening dark under-eye areas or spots of hyperpigmentation, so their next shade up, 2 – Fair Neutral, I think would have been perfect for me. As a reference, I wear a shade 16 – Light Neutral in the brand’s Skinforia Serum Foundation.

The packaging is simple, attractive, and compact, meaning it travels well. And the doe-foot applicator made it easy to apply the exact amount of product I was going for.

A hand holding a tube of Gleamstate brightening serum concealer.
A hand holding an open tube of Gleamstate brightening serum concealer with the applicator wand extended.
The concealer comes in a simple, easy-to-use tube with a doe-foot applicator. Just remember that a little goes a long way!

But the first time I applied the product, I used a bit too much, making my under-eye area noticeably a couple shades lighter than the rest of my face. I was able to buff the product out without issue, and since I was straight off a red-eye flight to Italy for a wedding, I really did need some extra under-eye help!

The concealer had a creamy, hydrating consistency, but it wasn’t too oily or dewy on application — that’s how I could tell it would be relatively long-lasting. It did cling to the dry skin under my eyes after the red eye, so some exfoliation before application if you have any dryness might be in order. Overall, I was super happy with how it was easy to apply and how it gave a natural-looking medium coverage with slight pink undertones that counteracted my jetlag-induced dark circles.

How does Well People’s concealer hold up throughout the day?

I used the concealer all weekend with much success — it even lasted through a 12-hour wedding with only a bit of creasing that was easy to wipe away. 

The days when I applied more concealer and/or had a thicker moisturizer or foundation underneath were the days when I noticed more creasing, so if you’re doing a full face of makeup, I’d recommend a setting spray or powder for increased durability.

But for everyday use, when I applied just a bit of concealer over a lighter tinted moisturizer or SPF, the concealer works well — its hydrating but not oily consistency gives it staying power and combats cakiness and creasing.

A person with a dark bob haircut wearing a grey sweater, looking directly at the camera.
A person with a short dark bob haircut posing for a selfie in a car.
On left: Full face of makeup in the morning. On right: No creases at the end of the day!

My final thoughts

My final verdict: This is a great everyday concealer. It has a medium coverage that sort of melts into your skin to blur imperfections without looking too unnatural, and it was comfortable enough for everyday wear, not sliding around throughout the day.

“It was comfortable enough for everyday wear, not sliding around throughout the day.”

Note that I have combination skin that’s become more normal the older I’ve gotten, so I can’t speak to how this concealer interacts with super dry or super oily skin types — only you know your skin best. But as someone who doesn’t typically wear concealer (or any remotely heavy face makeup), I can honestly recommend Gleamstate. It got me through a red-eye and day-long wedding festivities, after all, so imagine what it can do as a daily driver.

A person holding a tube of Well People lip product.
A woman with a dark bob haircut looking toward the side.
The concealer held up against travel and wedding skin-stress, so I know it will perform well for a regular day.

THIS PIECE IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR FRIENDS AT WELL PEOPLE

Natalie Gale is a Boston-based freelance journalist. Since 2022, she has been reviewing the top sustainable home, wellness, fashion, and beauty products, sharing her honest opinion on the best finds. When she’s not writing about art, food, or sustainability, you can find her biking to the farmers’ market, baking, sewing, or planning her next Halloween costume. Say hi on Instagram!