BY: KIZZY COURTNEY
Concealers are without a doubt one of the most important must-haves you carry in your makeup bag, they can help to cover dark spots or even brighten up your eyes giving you a more rested look. However, if you are dealing with more severe skincare concerns such as rosacea, acne scars, rashes, or skin discolorations then a color correcting concealer applied before your foundation will do the trick. Like highlight and contouring, color correcting is a beauty trend that has become widely popular recently due to social media, however, the color correcting technique has been used for years by professional makeup artists. The idea of color correcting is essentially using contrasting makeup shades to neutralize spots and blemishes on your skin.
The color wheel is a great reference tool to refer to when you need reminding of which corrector is best for whichever skin concern that ails you. So, if your problem is redness take a gander at the color wheel and find the color you wish to conceal, then look directly across from it. If you use this rule of thumb, then to conceal your redness, you will need to use a green concealer as it is directly opposite the red color on the color wheel. Pretty neat, huh! Color correcting concealers come in many different shades that address the different skin concerns you may have. If this concept is a little out of your comfort zone here’s a simple guide to help you choose which color corrector works best for you.
- Green – Neutralizes intense redness on all skin types. Perfect for covering rosacea, mild sunburn, acne, birthmarks, and rashes
- Yellow – cancels purple/blue tones (from bruises or broken capillaries) and corrects mild redness on all skin types
- Purple/Lavender – Cancels dark under-eye circles and brightens dullness (by neutralising dull yellow undertones) on light to tan/olive medium skin
- Pink/Salmon – Covers dark under-eye circles, age spots, sun spots and brightens dullness on pale, fair to light skin
- Peach/Apricot – Cancels dark under-eye circles and covers hyperpigmentation, dark spots, acne scars or bruises on light to medium skin
- Orange – Cancels dark under-eye circles & covers brown spots, acne scars or (blue) bruises on medium to deep skin
- Cancels dark under-eye circles and darks spots on very deep skin
- Blue – Neutralizes sallowness & hyper-pigmentation on fair skin
Using a color correcting concealer is simple before you apply your concealer make sure to start with a clean face that is moisturized and primed. Once you’ve got your color correcting shade, remember, less is more! With your finger or a brush start by applying a little bit of product to your trouble spots and if more is needed, use a little bit. Once you’ve blended out your concealer allow it to set into the skin for a few seconds then apply your favorite foundation or concealer on top. This will give you a very even one-dimensional look so I suggest you follow that up by applying some contour, blush and highlight to bring some color back to your look. Many brands (from drugstore to high end) have their own color correctors for you to choose from. I personally can’t live without my orange corrector from L.A Girl Cosmetics for my dark circles.
So, what do you think of color correcting? Do you think it’s something you would want to try out for yourself? Color correcting is not for everyone and certainly not necessary for everyday use, and yes it may seem like extra work but if you’re seeking perfection then this method corrects imperfections that your average concealer or foundation just can’t cover. So maybe you’re busy and just don’t have time and that’s ok, but I do love that this is an option for you for a special occasion like a wedding or for a night out. I feel like it’s worth the extra effort.
