As someone with a chronic skin condition who struggles with stubborn redness on a daily basis, I know firsthand what a game changer color-correcting makeup can be. As some of you may already know, the common beauty technique (which has been around for ages) involves using complementary colors to essentially cancel each other out. So in my case, green is always the go-to hue because it does an A1 job at neutralizing redness. Seriously: When I first started using green color correctors, I was floored by how well they evened out my skin tone and made the redness almost nonexistent, even without the addition of concealer or foundation.
Color-correcting also comes in handy if you want to diminish dark circles and hyperpigmentation, or if you’re trying to brighten up dull skin. And it doesn’t stop there. You can even use the makeup method to help disguise the green tones in bruises and veins, or to cover up tattoos. Naturally, there’s an overwhelming amount of color-correcting options on the market to choose from, including primers, concealers, powders and more. So which ones are worth investing in? Well, I tapped a few makeup artists to find out; plus, I’m sharing a few of my personal favorites.
Ahead, find everything you need to know about the makeup technique and how to nail it — plus the best color-correcting products to try according to pros.
What is color-correcting makeup?
“Color-correcting with makeup begins with color theory,” explains Elisa Flowers, a makeup artist based in New York City. “It starts with the rainbow color wheel that we were all taught about in school, but focuses on the complementary colors that are directly across from each other on the wheel: Red is across from green, blue is across from orange and yellow is across from purple. But why do we need to know this for makeup? Because these complementary colors neutralize each other.”
Knowing this, you should be able to determine which color(s) will work best for you and your specific skin concerns. It’s simply a matter of looking in the mirror to identify the different tones in your skin, and from there selecting which complementary colors will help neutralize what you want camouflaged. (More on that, ahead.)
Benefits of color-correcting makeup
Color-correcting is an incredible technique that, as the name implies, allows you to actually correct different tones in your skin by neutralizing them, as opposed to just covering them up with foundation or concealer. In fact, color-correcting lets you use less of the aforementioned products because once you do your correcting, the skin will appear a lot more even off the bat, therefore requiring less coverage. It’s especially beneficial for people with perennial redness, dark circles and other skin concerns that don’t always respond to skin care.
How to color-correct for best results
How you color-correct will depend on the specific product you have on hand — however, it’s important to know which colors do what in order to get the best effect. “Choosing the correct makeup colors can enhance the look of your complexion and hide imperfections, illness and fatigue,” explains Flowers. “Green will help calm the look of redness on the skin such as rosacea, sunburns or acne, while shades of yellow, peach and orange will help minimize and conceal dark under-eye circles and other pigmentation issues.”
Additionally, lavender and blue tones will help neutralize makeup that’s too orange, while also helping to brighten the look of skin. “Just remember that with most color correctors, you have to blend them in well before applying your regular concealer or foundation on top,” says Flowers. “You want to build the pigments up gradually and make sure they blend in well. If you can see a strange colorful cast like green, start again. It takes practice but looks beautiful when done correctly.”
Now let’s dive into the recommendations, shall we?
Best overall color correctors
Flowers swears by this luxury, skin-care-infused formula from Givenchy, which comes in three pastel shades of pale green, peach and light lavender blue. “Each of these correctors has a buildable, yet sheer, serum-like coverage, is super creamy and even looks gorgeous when mixed together to create the perfect balance of pigments,” says Flowers. “I love that they’re very user-friendly and come in a tube with an applicator.”
Make Up For Ever is famed for its complexion products, and its color correctors are no exception. This palette comes with two corrector shades, along with two concealers. “This formula is super pigmented and creamy,” says Flowers of why she’s a fan. “Each of these quad palettes suits many skin tones and the shades vary, allowing the user to customize their concerns and needs based on their skin tone.”
This ultra-creamy, full-coverage formula contains hyaluronic acid to moisturize and plump skin, along with mango and shea butters for added nourishment. It comes in nine different shades for every type of complexion need and concern — including a black hue for adding depth and shadows to the face.
Best color correctors for redness
This green-tinted moisturizer from Peach Slices is a holy grail for me — it’s soothing and hydrating, and it blends in seamlessly with no detectable greenness left behind. It’s ideal for anyone with dry skin and all-over redness, as it has a dewy finish and can be applied either with a damp beauty sponge, or massaged in with hands just like a traditional moisturizer. When I wear this, I often end up skipping foundation unless I’m going to a fancier occasion.
“I love this line of color-correcting primers from Make Up For Ever because it neutralizes color underneath makeup so you don’t need to add as much product on the skin, making for a smoother finish,” says makeup artist Brianna Farfel. “It gives you long-lasting color correction and has an illuminating formula to add radiance and hydration — plus it works for all skin types.” The range consists of six different shades, including green, blue, purple, orange, yellow and pink.
I’ve been a huge fan of this multi-purpose color corrector from Erborian for a long time. I learned about it from a coworker when I worked at Allure years ago, and it completely changed up my makeup routine, making it so that I could get away with wearing less foundation and concealer. I love that it contains some sun protection and how weightless it feels on the skin, plus how easy it is to apply and go. I usually dot it all over and then blend it out with a damp sponge, and that’s it. I also typically skip foundation when wearing it because it evens out my skin tone so well.
Best color correctors for dark circles
“This is my all-time favorite color corrector because of the range of colors and how hydrating the formula is,” says Los Angeles-based makeup artist Chanel Temple. “There’s a shade for EVERY skin tone and it’s a very lightweight fluid formula that needs very little product to do its job.”
This multiuse creamy stick corrector from Live Tinted was specifically designed with dark circles and spots in mind. It comes in five buildable shades ranging from ruby red to salmon, and once the formula is fully blended in, it cancels out darkness like it’s nothing — all without looking too harsh or cakey.
Another kit essential of Temple’s, this two-in-one corrector and concealer works wonders on dark circles with blue and purple tones. “This is a great hybrid product that works kind of like a primer for your concealer,” says Temple. “It’s more tacky so it’s going to give a great hold for your concealer, and the shades are a bit more neutral and muted so it won’t be a harsh color correction, but instead have a more subtle effect.”
Farfel raves about MAC’s color-correcting and concealing palette for several reasons: It comes in a huge range of shades from light to dark-deep; the formula is super-long-wearing, crease-proof and noncomedogenic; and it’s even dermatologist-tested. “This is one of the most widely used correctors that I’ve seen on set for film and TV,” she says. “Wondering how your favorite actor or actress looks so flawless? It probably has something to do with this corrector palette.”
Specifically designed for different types of hyperpigmentation, this fan-favorite formula from NARS comes in four different shades that disguise dark spots, under-eye circles and acne scars. It’s also clinically proven to increase skin hydration, yet still dries down quickly and won’t look too dewy or shiny on the skin.
Best budget color correctors
This budget-friendly, full-coverage pick from E.l.f. comes in a hydrating, lightweight liquid formula and features five different shades designed to disguise redness, discoloration and sallow skin. Additionally, it’s made with hyaluronic acid and rose flower water to nourish and soothe skin while wearing it. Another bonus: It won’t crease no matter how long you wear it.
This wallet-friendly option from Nyx is lightweight, long-lasting and never cakey or chalky — plus, it’s extremely buildable. It comes in three color-correcting shades, including green, lavender and yellow, along with an array of skin-tone hues for concealing purposes. The formula also wears beautifully under foundation without ever looking too heavy or mask-like.
