How to Apply Color Correcting Concealer
Truth: putting green concealer on your zits can do wonders.
If you follow makeup artists on Instagram or turn the pages of any beauty magazine, chances are you’ll find a tutorial on color correcting, a much buzzed about new trend that involves wearing concealer in every shade of the rainbow. Turns out putting purple concealer on your face isn’t an act of madness but rather an ingenious way to hide blemishes. Here’s how to apply color correcting concealer to hide your perfectly cute imperfections.
What is color correcting?
Color correcting is a concealer technique that professional makeup artists have used for years and that went mainstream after social media got wind of the trend. Here, the color wheel determines which color of concealer will work best on your blemish.
Colors that are opposite of one another on the color wheel cancel each other out. Green concealer cancels out red zits, purple concealer minimizes yellow spots, and orange concealer takes care of blue dark circles. If you apply this theory, then you can make your concealer work better for you.
The Basic Rules
Use the appropriate hue to cover blemishes, then lightly pat your foundation on over the color. When covering dark eye circles with orange or pink, apply your regular concealer over the bright pigments, then tap the makeup down with a beauty blender.
Green Concealer
For redness, acne and rosacea
Green is opposite the color wheel from red, so it’s perfect for hiding any redness on your face, like pimples and acne scars. If you have rosacea, a color correcting green primer will help hide unwanted redness and give you an even base for applying foundation.
Orange Concealer
For people with darker skin tones who have dark circles under their eyes
Orange is opposite from blue. If you have darker skin with blue dark circles, orange will work to help conceal the uneven undertones. People with lighter skin should avoid orange and instead use a peach color corrector.
Pink Concealer
For people with lighter skin tones who have dark circles under their eyes
Pink concealer is usually salmon or peach in tone and is created from a mix of red, orange, and yellow hues. Since these colors are opposite from blue, green, and purple on the wheel, this corrector is best for hiding dark eye circles on lighter skin tones.
Yellow Concealer
For dark purple bruises, veins, and under eye circles
Yellow color correcting concealer can be used to cover up any blemish that’s purple in tone. Bruises, veins, and under eye circles can be hidden with a yellow spot concealer.
Purple Concealer
For yellow skin tones and combatting dull complexion
Purple is best for combatting yellow undertones and brightening skin. Use a purple primer to remove yellow tones from your entire face or use a spot concealer to hide yellow spots.
The Dos & Don’ts of Applying Color Correcting Concealer
- Do choose the right hues for your skin. The effectiveness of color correctors depends on finding the right tone to match your blemish. Remember that orange is for dark skin and peach is for light skin.
- Do apply thin layers! A thick layer of corrector may show through your foundation.
- Don’t use colors that you don’t need. Color correcting concealer is meant to be used only on blemishes that are strong in appearance. For smaller less noticeable blemishes, a regular concealer will do.
- Do utilize a makeup sponge or beauty blender to pat the coverage into the skin. Don’t brush the colors all over your face. This will undo all the hard work you’ve done by moving the pigments into the wrong areas.
- Do remember that makeup should enhance your skin not hide it! So think of color correcting concealer as a fun extra step that’s to be used sparingly and don’t forget to let your natural face shine.
Just read the colour correcting article and it was so helpful thanx. The only thing I wasn’t impressed with was how did I not know about this site sooner
Well thanks Gemma, you definitely put some colour into our cheeks! 🙂
Thank you soooo much!!!!! This article has really helped me a lot!!!
So glad to help!
It’s a really nice article and very helpful too. But I wanted to know which colour should be used for covering stretch marks which have turned off white over the course of time
Since they’re white, a colored concealer may not be the best option. Try applying self-tanner with a cosmetic brush or just a concealer that matches your skin tone to help camouflage them.
Wow!!! Am just from reading these piece.. Seriously I Have learnt a lot and I know it’s going to really help me in my makeup journey. Thanks alot!!!!!
thank you so much
Love the instructions, simply put.
Thanks
Cindy
Nicely explained how to use colour corrector on your skin.
So far this is the happiest part of my day!
I have “Vertiligo”, it’s onset came in my late 30’s. Gradually affected my face. I’ve always been a very secure and confident person, comfortable in own skin.
At 52, I now want beauty! The heck with comfort. Well, do you know how difficult it is to find makeup for people like me? (Vertiligo)?
My skin seems to change from one day to another. I’ve spent $ thousands $ and yet to find a resolution.
Prayers and faith is what it takes!
Today I read your article and knowing I’ve had a few concealer pallets, I followed your advice.
Yeppeeeeeee!………
This solved one, if not the most important part of the application process.
Not a single so called certified makeup technicians ever tried or showed me this.
Regardless, they may have made plenty of commission of me but you get the credit.
Thank you and blessings.
Beauty my be in the eye of the beholder but now the beholders eye is the same as the beautiful. I feel pretty.
P.S. Tips for people with “Vertiligo’ would be greatly appreciated.
What an AWESOME day!
thank you so much this helped alot! now I know what color I watched a YouTube video then googled how to know what color you use and BOOM I’m here
Being an older Native American Indian woman, there are so few articles to address dark circles, age spots and yes, freckles. Having taken watercolor class, color correction made sense. Glad there is makeup to address the issues we face as we age. Thank you for your article. It was fun to see results.
This article was so helpful..
much love from Sri Lanka
[…] rules of color correcting can be explained by looking at a color wheel ( I like this one from: https://www.foreo.com/mysa/how-apply-color-correcting-concealer/). You simply look across the color wheel when determining what color to use. For example, if you […]
First time reading this and most definitely going to try. I’ve spent so much $ trying to find something that hides my dark brown circles not even the makeup technician could cover it up. I feel so insecure and don’t want to go out because I get asked if I’m hurt.
Im a light skin African American female with dark circles. Do I use peach to cover up the dark circles?
Hi. Does this rule apply when you are 30+ , is a better application technique or shade you need to be aware of?
thank you in advance
The rule indeed applies when you are 30+. 🙂
You can choose any application technique that fits you.
Good First time reading this and most definitely
Let us know if you have any tips and tricks to share with us. 🙂
Thanks for your color story. Fabulous. I can’t wait to try em out. How would I cover under eye bags. Would pink be used for that, also?
Hi Ilene, you should definitely go with the Yellow Concealer for under-eye bags. 🙂