The Purpose of Color Correcting Makeup and How to Use It

Color correcting makeup conceals skin imperfections and helps your face look flawless. There are different shades, so find out which one matches your complexion best. Today's article will also give you some tricks to get the most out of it.

Color correcting makeup details and highlights the natural beauty of a face. Simple makeup helps, although there are often insecurities due to pimples, blemishes, scars, dark circles, redness, and other obvious “imperfections.”

This kind of makeup camouflages them by pigmenting the parts of the skin that require extra coverage. For this purpose, there are concealers in stick, liquid, cream, or powder form with which to attain a homogeneous skin tone. They vary in shade and the choice depends on the result you’re after.

The function of each color correcting makeup

There’s a color corrector for every situation; the secret is to select the opposite of the condition you’re trying to cover.

You’ll see ranges similar to your skin or lighter or darker, with which, apart from “perfecting,” you also illuminate and contour. There are other colors known as pre-correctors; cosmetologists use these before applying the foundation to even out the skin tones.

The application begins with the preparation of the skin, which should be clean and moisturized to better assimilate the products. Distribute the concealer with light touches and then apply the foundation.

Don’t use too much as these products have high covering power. Just spread it with your fingers or with sponges and brushes. These work best with liquid or powder, while sponges are better for creamy products.

Choose the texture of the concealer to your liking. As for color, check out the palette below and learn what each one is for.

1. Green

No, coloring your face green isn’t crazy, especially since no one will ever notice it! This color is a complement of red in the color wheel, so it’s the strongest candidate to diminish it.

For instance, it conceals redness due to sunburn, acne, or some other condition. Its results are particularly favorable on lighter skin, especially under the nose, cheekbones, center of the forehead, and around the nostrils.

Apply it directly to the desired area and then blend it with precision so it’s no longer noticeable. Then, apply the foundation over it. Also, you can even out extreme redness with a green primer.

2. Orange

A concealer of this color is appropriate for marked veins, bruises, blemishes, freckles, and grayish dark circles. It blurs bluish or brownish shades, common in the eye area. It’s a great range for darker and medium-toned skins.

Blend it gradually until the discoloration is imperceptible. Then, move on to the foundation. Don’t overuse these products, however, as the orange concealer covers enough. Too much of it, along with the foundation, will create a thick layer that’ll end up cracking.

3. Yellow

This color hides blackheads, light redness, purple marks, sun, and age spots. Makeup artists recommend it to illuminate the face, and it also conceals varicose veins.

Spread it directly to the area you want to even out, always before the foundation. The yellow concealer can be used to highlight dark skin when paired with a golden undertone.

4. White

The purpose of using this color is to illuminate the face. It doesn’t mask imperfections but fills in expression lines. You can use it to give volume to the upper part of the cheekbone and the arch of the eyebrow.

The application guide is similar to that of other concealers: carefully, without abuse, and using the appropriate tools.

5. Purple color correcting makeup

Purple concealers balance yellowish shadows. They mattify lightly tanned complexions and improve the olive appearance.

Professional makeup artists agree that this color revitalizes dull tones and thus, contributes to the warmth of the skin. The way to use it is to blend a little bit of it over the blemish. It stays under the foundation and you can use it in any area of the face.

6. Blue

Similar to purple, turquoise blue disguises orange and yellow flaws. Cosmetologists usually apply it around the eyes, on pale complexions, and over medium skin tones. Its effects are pleasing when you go a little overboard with your tan.

Place the blue concealer on the area of your choice and then, spread it, and seal it with foundation.

7. Pink

Pink concealer is great for neutralizing greenish veins, dark circles, and bruises on yellow skin. Men use it to conceal the ashen appearance of their stubble.

Also, it illuminates the eye contour and enhances the face overall as it gives it a relaxed and healthy appearance. It pigments the area to be concealed, expands it, and completes with the foundation before the application of the makeup.

8. Peach

This color hides dark spots in deep skin tones. They’re a mix of red, yellow, and orange, so they correct discoloration with a tendency to purple, blue, or green, frequent in olive or tanned complexions. Apply it with a pink pre-base for a glowing complexion.

9. Brown

This tone adds depth to the contours of the face. Its effects are great as long as it matches natural concealers and highlighters. Fill a brush with the product and circle the face. Then, blend it and apply the foundation.

10. Natural tones

These are the most popular and are used on areas previously neutralized with a color. For example, you can blend green concealer on a burn and then complete it with a natural-toned concealer.

This range illuminates and gives volume. The magic is to choose a shade that’s slightly lighter than your skin tone.

Can you mix color correcting makeup?

The answer is yes. People with different skin conditions often mix several shades, starting with a pre-corrector, then moving on to foundation, and finally using a natural tone.

It’s normal for two colors to harmonize. Take yellowish skin with violet under-eye circles and blackheads for instance.  How do you solve it? Well, apply a peach concealer under the eyes, green on the pimples, and finish it with a foundation.

Recommendations for choosing color correcting makeup

It’s easier to choose the right product for each case once you know the range and its effects. However, keep the following in mind:

• Consult the store consultants at the time of purchase to select an alternative that integrates better with the foundation, shadows, blush, and the rest of your makeup
• Opt for long-lasting, there are many brands and their quality varies, hence the importance of asking for advice
• Find out if they contain any components to nourish the skin (Vitamins B3, C, and E are specified on the labels and so is collagen)
• Look for concealers that offer solar protection and provide a defensive layer against ultraviolet (UV) rays

Color correcting makeup and self-esteem

This kind of product is great for hiding skin imperfections that affect self-esteem. Makeup indeed enhances appearance, although it sometimes goes beyond aesthetics and even works as a therapeutic tool. Thus, you can camouflage it if it makes you feel better.