How to Apply Color Correcting Concealer
June 8, 2016 • Look Good / Beauty
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. 🙂
Thank you. This was sooo helpful
Aww you are most welcome!
Over this link you will get to know about how to apply color correcting concealer. This article gives us proper details about this issue. Such content must be made more and more available. Great blog indeed, will visit again future to read more!!
Dami always a pleasure and glad to hear that enjoy our blogs!
Thank you. I have been confused about which colors to use. This was very informative.
You are most welcome and glad it has helped you!
So i have allwrgies that make me have reddish spots in some places and i always look like i woke up from a 30 year nap.. What color correvter should i use????
Hi Vev, Colors that are opposite of one another on the color wheel cancel each other out. Green concealer cancels out red zits so this would be your ideal choice. I hope this helps 🙂
Thanks a lot this article is the best, it has helped me and had made my confusing at ease. Splendid
Thank you Daniel, we really appreciate that! 🙂
I love this article. Very helpful
Thank you Adelyn, glad you liked it! 🙂
I have some yellow and fair skin so which color to apply for acne and dark circles ?
We would recommend the Purple Concealer to counter out the yellow tones. 🙂
I read thru this article, which was filled with excellent information, so thank you for that. However, I’m still trying to find out if I can/should use a powder foundation over a cream/liquid green color corrector?
I have Rosacea, photosensitivity, and also the red face that often accompanies Fibromyalgia. The redness is all over both of my very full cheeks, across the nose and over/on both eyebrows (which I already have to fill in because they are incredibly sparse and light colored). The day cream I wear is slightly tinted, but not enough to cover all of the redness that occurs. To add insult to injury, the redness turns into a deep, purplish/brown color when I when I get too warm, any sun hits it, or I get stressed. And to top it off, I’m a very fair skinned woman.
PLEASE HELP ME!
Hi Alicia, Sorry to hear regarding your skin complaints and of course I understand you are looking for a solution. I would recommend you follow these a simple basis to help but I would also consult your dermatologist who would recommend a good brand that is designed for very sensitive and reactive skin types. I hope this helps 🙂
Magnifico really loved your article, all very well explained.
Dear Lirian, You are most welcome and glad to hear this has helped you.
I am Caucasian , so dark skin, because of increased ferritin in my blood, I have dark patches in eyebrow area& forehead& parts of neck
When I put foundation it becomes blacker& worse
Is there a way out?
I tried dark foundation, concealers to no avail…
Dear Maha, I would recommend that you use the color wheel and match the color of the patches and then use the opposite color on that wheel to help with camouflaging those patches. I hope this helps 🙂
Thanks for this amazing article. I really love it
You are most welcome Louis and glad you found it helpful 🙂
This is a perfect article. Most video’s just show how to utilise the common green and salmon colour correctors . Many thanks
You are most welcome Penny and glad that this article has helped you select the correct concealer!
! I have a mid skin tone not so fair and not so dark … I have dark area around my lips and under eyes dark circles which shade should i use?? I have dry skin so after sometime fine lines began to appear due to concealer
Hi Armish, Thank you for your post! I would recommend using the colour wheel to see where the colour matches the most to the areas that you wish to cover. Regarding the issue with fine lines its recommend using a concealer that is not too heavy on the skin and is highly moisturising. Also, pat the concealer in the area and do not rub in. I hope this helps
Thanks for the article! I have a dark tan skintone. I’ve tried to hide the dark circles under my eyes. So i should be using the yellow concealer.
Ymara, Thank you for your post. We would recommend that you have a look at the colour wheel and compare the skin tone. Once you find a match then use the opposite colour to conceal. Hope this helps
ladies , I fell and fractured my nose , its been 7 weeks , i have healed but the dark circle from the trauma and blood are still there. help me what can i do?
Oh Terry! We hope you are ok now and on the road for recovery! Bruising like this will take some time to heal so please use the colour wheel according to the colour of your bruising to see what is the best way of counteracting the colour. Hope that helps 🙂
Hello,
Great article, very informative. But I was just wondering, I bought a color correcting makeup pallet and it doesn’t have purple, but it does have a light blue. What would light blue be used for? Also, how do you apply green color correcting concealer to acne scars all over your face? My face is red all over due to this, and almost looks like rosacea. Lastly, for cream concealer, do you use a cream foundation? Can you use powder compact foundation? Any information would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
Hi Angela, Thank you and you are most welcome! The blue is to cancel out the orange tones in your skin. However, if you are suspecting that you have Rosacea then it would be best to consult your dermatologist regarding this and also may recommend a suitable colour correcting palet for your skin that would not aggravate your skin further. I hope this helps and good luck!
Great article! I’m scared to try these color-correcting concealers. Gladly I found your article. Thank you for sharing!
Hi Merlyn, thank you for leaving your comment! We are happy you enjoyed it 🙂
This Article was definitely helpful.. Can I use this red clay concealer to hide my dark circle? Im brown
Hi there! Glad to hear you liked the article! Given the fact the dark spots and circles on brown skin have a blue or purplish tone, we suggest using orange, red and peachy coloured concealers to cancel the dark spots out. Red clay concealer should do a nice job covering those dark circles for you 🙂 give it a try and let us know!
Thanks for an informative article! I struggle finding good products for this though
Dear Filippa, thanks for your support! Glad to hear you liked the article 🙂 I completely understand, as we all struggle to find the best products for our skin type. According to the customers reviews, Urban Decay (Naked Skin Color Correcting Fluid), NYX Cosmetics (Color Correcting Concealer), Maybelline (Master Camo Color Correcting Pen and Cover Stick Concealer) and Tarte (Colored Clay CC Undereye Corrector) have the best color correcting concealers on the market. I suggest to give one of those a try and let us know what you think 🙂
Started wearing man makeup and this site helped me a lot and understanding the color wheel. Now I need to find the right makeup for me.
Dear Axel, we’re so happy this article helped! Definitely check the colour wheel to choose the right shade for you and if you have any questions, we’re here for you! Best regards 🙂
Hi,
i have vitiligo.. can you please help me to choose correct color to correct it. I have a wheatish skin tone. Please help
Hi dear! To cover-up vitiligo, the best choice would be a green color corrector. There are also some brands whose concealers and foundations are designed specifically to cover vitiligo, whether it is a small or a large area of your face. Hope this helped! Check them out and take care 🙂