When it comes to covering up redness, discolouration, and dark undereye circles, sometimes concealer doesn’t quite cut it — that’s where colour correcting comes in. A beauty secret that’s been around since Hollywood’s heyday, when colour correction was once a technique reserved for professionals like seasoned makeup artists and those on television, it’s now found its place in the getting-ready routine of many.

In this edition of Beauty Basics, we’ll walk you through the basics of colour correcting your complexion to disguise everything from discolouration and dark circles to uneven skin tone and unwanted redness.

Let’s get into it!

What exactly is colour correcting?

The concept of colour correcting is fairly simple. Think back to the colour wheel you were taught in art class in primary school — if you take a certain colour and use the opposite colour on the colour wheel, the two shades will cancel each other out and become neutral. This same colour wheel is used in the beauty world when applying makeup.

Using this principle of colour theory, you can apply complementary makeup colours (in the form of colour corrector concealers) to visibly neutralise certain tones in the skin. Colour correctors usually come in the form of liquid and cream-based concealers and they’re available in a bunch of different colours that work to address concerns like dark circles, blemishes, and pigmentation to even out skin tone and give you a flawless base.

It might seem overwhelming at first but there’s a method to the colour correcting madness. 

Breaking down the different colours

The key to effective colour correction lies in finding the right colour for your skin concerns and skin tone. But with shades like lavender, green, yellow, and more — what shades work for specific skin concerns? Below, we’ve broken down what the different colours do.

Green

Green shades are used to cancel out redness, including acne, blemishes, post-acne marks, and rosacea. By using green, you can significantly balance out the red and create an even base. One of the best things about green colour corrector is it can be used on all skin tones.

Yellow

Yellow colour correctors can be used to conceal purple discolouration like broken capillaries, dark spots, and some undereye circles. They can also help brighten dull skin. If you have fair skin, opt for a paler, more pastel yellow, and if you have a deeper skin tone then choose a darker, more golden hue.

Peach and orange

Shades of peach and orange are perfect for balancing out blueish undereye circles, dark spots, and pigmentation. For lighter skin tones, reach for a peach colour corrector. If you have a darker skin tone, orange is better suited.

Blue

Blues can work well on all skin tones and work to help balance out any orange in the skin — think stubborn tan spots and spray tans gone wrong. If you have an overly orange complexion or any orange-hued dark spots of hyperpigmentation, a blue colour corrector can camouflage it.

Purple

Also referred to as lavender, purple colour correctors help brighten sallow, dull skin for a more vibrant complexion. Not only that, but it can neutralise unwanted yellow undertones.

How to apply colour correctors effectively

Like all makeup products, there are a few things to keep in mind when applying colour correctors.

First off, your colour corrector should always be applied after primer and before your foundation and other concealer. Instead of applying it all over your face, colour correctors should only be applied to the area of concern. Finally, it’s recommended you start with a light, thin layer before building onto it as needed.

Is colour correcting better than using concealer?

It’s not a question of whether colour correctors are better than concealers. The two are used for different purposes, so which you choose to use depends on what you want to achieve. If you want to target specific skin concerns like visible discolouration, opting for a specialised colour corrector is a good choice. For general coverage purposes, concealer works just fine.

Colour correct your way to a flawless complexion

When it comes to choosing a colour corrector, there are two things to keep in mind — the skin concern you want to target and your skin tone. The technique of colour correcting isn’t as complex as it sounds, and in the world of makeup, when you want to achieve a flawless complexion, you’ll have to master the art of camouflage.