Fashion

What You Need To Know About Color Correctors

by Jessica Willingham

Blotchy, discolored skin can be one of the most irritating and frustrating skin problems any of us face. Plenty of products claim to fix the issue, but do color correctors work? Here's what you need to know.

Acne, Rosacea, poor diet or just a long night out or up studying can cause skin discoloration. Once a month, most of us experience some skin difficulty (thanks, Flo). For a long time, skin tone-colored concealers were our only solution for anything from zits to dark circles. Thankfully, our options have expanded: We now have primers, concealers, and powders in green, pink, yellow, orange, red, and all skin tones. Having a lot of options is great, but how do you know what's best for you?

At its most basic, color correcting makeup is all about the color wheel. You learned in art class that opposite colors cancel each other out, and that same basic principle applies to color correcting. For example, orange is opposite of blue on the color wheel. If you have dark, blueish-purple under eyes, an orange-based concealer will work best for you. Because red is opposite of green on the wheel, a nasty bright red zit can easily be covered with a green concealer. Easy!

Here's what else you should know about color correcting.

1. Dull Complexions Look Bright In Lavender

Cover FX Correct Click, $18, Sephora

If your skin is dull and yellow, reach for a purple, lilac, or lavender product. Purple is opposite of yellow on the color wheel, so this color will brighten dry and mature skin.

2. Reach For Peach/Salmon Concealers For Tired Eyes

BECCA Under Eye Brightening Corrector, $30, Amazon

Long night? Red, yellow, and orange combine to create salmon and peach colors, which is the go-to antidote to bluish-purple under eyes on any skin tone. If your dark under eyes are super intense, apply a color corrector underneath a pink-based concealer.

3. Hide Bruises With Yellow Concealers

Sephora Collection Bright Set Pressed Finishing Powder, $16, Sephora

If you are light complected, the best solution for blueish skin issues (like bruises, pronounced veins, or dark circles) is a bright banana powder. Don't have one handy? Grab a yellow matte eyeshadow and dust on top of your concealer.

4. Darker Skin Tones Look Great In Orange

Black Up Concealer Palette, $31, Sephora

If you are light skin, you want to stay away from orange. However, orange-based concealers are perfect for medium to deep skin tones that are experiencing dark spots.

5. Depth Of Color Matters

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer in Adjust, $33, Amazon

Not all greens, salmons, yellows or oranges are created equal. The darker your skin tone, the more intense your color correcting pigment should be.

6. Palettes Are Perfect For Combination Skin

Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Wipeout Color-Correcting Palette, $45, Sephora

If you have combination skin that experiences a wide range of problems depending on the day, opt for a palette that has a range of color correctors.

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Images: @tarte/Instagram; Courtesy of Brands