The Complete Guide to Color Correcting Any Skin Issue You Have
Photo: Getty Images1/12Color correcting is such a big deal lately that Sephora has devoted an entire category to it. And for a good reason: It’s awesome. Since these correctors use the power of the color wheel to neutralize every skin issue from redness to dark spots to sallowness, you need less than you normally would with a concealer. (Ever try to hide an acne scar with concealer? It takes a bucket.) Consider this quality over quantity.
Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs2/12Pink
On lighter skin tones, dark spots tend to have a blue cast to them. That’s why any old concealer might not do the trick. Instead, a pink and lavender one both brightens fairer skin and counteracts the blue, so that you get an even canvas. Plus, the deodorant-like stick is a cinch to swipe on.
Photo: Courtesy of Becca Cosmetics3/12Red
It was through a Youtube tutorial that the trick of blending red lipstick under the eyes first gained traction. It’s one of those things you don’t think really works…until you try it yourself. It works best if you’re of an olive skin tone or darker (fair-skinned girls, continue reading for your own dark circle corrector).
Photo: Courtesy of YSL4/12Peach
On darker skin tones, hyperpigmentation (or dark spots) tend to show up as a deep, almost-black eggplant shade, so not just any color can cancel them out. Peach is the right mix of yellow and orange to both conceal and brighten spots.
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Photo: Courtesy of Smashbox5/12Orange
If you have olive skin tone or darker, dealing with dullness can be close to impossible, since the usual brightening staples — luminizers, highlighters, illuminators — can read as frosty or shimmery. Enter orange, which brings out the warmth in skin for a lit-from-within look.
Photo: Courtesy of Sephora6/12Yellow
Highlighter can do a lot of things, but it won’t always give your whole face a healthy, sun-kissed glow. There are other ways to cut down on dullness, the best being a wash of yellow (the effect is similar to candlelight). Bonus: This also contains skin-brightening ingredients like ceramides, which hydrate and repair skin.
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Photo: Courtesy of Bare Mineral7/12Gold
Some people try to cover up dark circles with highlighter (which actually gives them a gray cast), while others go for concealer, which gives them a flat, pancake-like look. A gold primer has enough yellow in it to neutralize the purple-ish shade of under-eye circles, but still gives the area dimension so it doesn’t look obvious.
Photo: Courtesy of Lancôme8/12Green
On the color wheel, red is opposite pale green — which is why this is the perfect solution to dealing with a bright red breakout. Since the cushion controls the amount of product on the included sponge, you don't have to worry about piling on too much — which is usually a dead giveaway when it comes to concealing zits.
Photo: Courtesy of Algenist9/12Blue
Technically, blue is opposite orange on the color wheel, but redness in skin (from rosacea or sunburns) can read as a little paler than the can’t-miss-it red of an inflamed zit. Plus, these drops spread like a serum, so it’s easy to cover larger areas, like your cheeks.
Photo: Courtesy of Givenchy10/12Purple
Sallow skin is, in a word, yellow. (Think that weird, waxy look your skin has when you haven’t seen the sun or have been living on junk food.) Purple is opposite yellow on the color wheel, so this pale lavender primer is like a wake-up call for your skin.
Photo: Courtesy of Stila11/12All Over Issues
You’ve got the occasional breakout, a few dark spots, and under-eye circles — it’s a pretty standard lineup even if you have the best beauty habits. A palette that offers enough color correctors to tackle a host of issues is a good alternative to caking on full-coverage foundation.
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