How To Pick And Use The Right Colour Correctors

One of the things we absolutely love about makeup is that it is always evolving – innovations in techniques and products make our lives easier and are so fun to try! In the past couple of years, makeup has evolved in a way that everyone and anyone who wants to dabble in it, feels included. Processes have been simplified and new product categories have been added to better improve even the most amateur artist’s makeup game. One of these innovations is colour correctors – colourful pigmented concealers that are used to blur imperfections, hide blemishes, and even add warmth to makeup looks!

Colour correctors have gained a lot of popularity, especially with lovers of minimal makeup looks. Chances are, you have already spotted celebs and influencers with colourful concealer maps on their faces. But even when colour correcting has been proven to be so effective, especially if you are going for a ‘no-makeup’ makeup look, people are still apprehensive about it. After all, applying purple concealer on your face may seem like you have lost your marbles. But we are here to tell you that colour correcting is absolutely worth trying out. But before we do that, we suggest getting your research in about everything you need to know about colour correctors.

• 1. Colour correcting – Explained
• 2. How to pick the right colour corrector for you
• 3. How to correctly apply colour correctors
• 4. How to pick the right colour corrector for your skin tone
• 5. Colour correcting tips to avoid mistakes
• 6. How to use purple colour corrector for brightening skin
• FAQs about colour corrector

1. Colour correcting – Explained

As seen above, colour correcting is a concealer technique which uses an array of colours to cover-up acne and blemishes, conceal under-eye dark circles, blur hyperpigmentation, brighten up dull complexion and help sculpt your face for a more natural-looking contour. The technique uses the principle of different colours being able to cancel each other. For instance, green concealers can cancel out the redness of inflamed breakouts; and purple concealers can cancel out the yellow in your complexion to give you a more even skin tone.

If mastered, colour correction can help conceal all of your skin sins (after all, late-night parties can show up under your eyes!). Here is how to use them the right way…

2. How to pick the right colour corrector for you

By now you must have some idea about what colour correcting is and how it is done. Let’s take a look at it in detail, starting with how to pick the right colour for your skin’s needs, here are the major categories available…

1. Green colour corrector:

Since green colour cancels out red, they are good for concealing redness, inflamed acne and rosacea. You can use this colour to cover-up any kind of redness on your face for a flawless and even foundation application.

2. Orange colour corrector:

Orange cancels out blue, which means this colour corrector can be used to cover up any bluish undertones in your skin. They are more suitable for darker complexions and can be replaced with a peach for slightly dusky skin tones.

3. Pink colour corrector:

Pink, or salmon, colour correctors are created by combining red, orange and yellow pigments. It is perfect for hiding dark under-eye circles on light skin tones.

4. Yellow colour corrector:

Yellow cancels out purple, which means it can be used for concealing any imperfections with a purple undertone to them. Bruises, visible veins and purplish under-eye circles can be concealed with a yellow colour corrector.

5. Purple colour corrector:

Purple cancels out yellow and is quite easily the most popular colour corrector to use. Since purple can cancel out yellow undertones and brighten your skin, it is often marketed in the form of primers to give your skin a bright and even base for makeup application.

You have to note that these colours are just the umbrella under which lighter and darker versions of them are available. You may have to experiment to find the perfect colour for your skin’s needs.

3. How to correctly apply colour correctors

Yes, colour correction gives great results, providing you are using them the right way. There are two types of colour corrections and here’s how to do them correctly:

1. When colour correcting dark circles, start by applying the right colour corrector shade for you on clean skin and blend it in. Top it up with a regular concealer, closest to your skin tone, and blend everything together. Follow this up with a foundation with your choice of coverage.

2. While spot correcting blemishes, you need to apply an opaque layer of the right colour corrector, on completely clean skin. Follow this up with a generous amount of your regular concealer, followed by a full coverage foundation. Make sure you are spot correcting by dabbing the products to form a thick layer. Sometimes your fingers are the best tools for that.

4. How to pick the right colour corrector for your skin tone

It is often recommended to pick the colours in your makeup according to your skin tone; colour correctors follow the same rule. Your skin tone can dictate which colour correctors are the most flattering and will work for you the best. For darker and duskier skin tones, keep the colours warm to avoid making your skin looking ashy. You can maintain the richness of dusky complexions with peach or apricot colours. As for fair-skinned girls, pinks and salmons are most flattering. For girls with gorgeous olive skin, yellow and green undertones blend perfectly with their complexion.

5. Colour correcting tips to avoid mistakes

No makeup technique is completely fool-proof and you may end up making mistakes with colour correctors as well. Here are some of the mistakes to watch out for:

1. The idea of colour correction is to keep it seamless with no cracks or harsh lines. Which is why you should be using either a concealer brush or your fingers to apply the product. The wrong tool or brush will make your concealer look patchy and uneven.

2. Sometimes, you might have more than one issue to correct and doing so with the same colour is a big no-no. You can use a mix of colours on various sections of your face to conceal and correct imperfections the right way.

3. Colour correctors are concealers at the end of the day, and should only be used in spots where you will use a concealer. Also, steer clear of the contour map as colour correction can soften up your contour.

4. Avoid using too much product at once – even while correcting blemishes. Apply, blend, and then start building up layers according to your needs. Applying too much product at once will make the colour correction look bumpy and pigmented.

5. Always use a colour corrector before your usual concealer – this helps give your skin a more natural finish and bring the use of regular concealers to a minimum.

6. Pick the right formula according to your blending skills – while cream correctors are more blendable for dry skin types, liquid formulas can take a lot of work and still end up being noticeable under a layer of makeup.

6. How to use purple colour corrector for brightening skin

As mentioned earlier, purple colour correctors can be used to instantly brighten up any makeup look. It can be used to balance yellow undertones in dull and sallow skin; and can be used sparingly on your face. Go in with a purple colour corrector on the area of your face that has an uneven skin tone underneath. Blend with a thick brush or sponge and follow up with a regular concealer a full shade brighter than your actual skin tone. This highlighting technique will enhance the luminosity of your concealer step and when followed up with a foundation, you will have an instantly brighter complexion.

FAQs about colour corrector

1) Can you use a colour corrector without foundation?

A. Yes, you can use colour correctors without foundation, granted you have blended the colour corrector with a regular concealer. Also, you can use some translucent powder or powder foundation to set the colour corrector in its place.

2) Can lipsticks be used as colour correctors?

A. Yes! Creamy lipsticks can totally be used as colour correctors if you find the right shade for your skin. Use balmy lipsticks instead of matte formulas as they are easier to blend with your skin.