If you’ve been in any Sephora in the past six months, you’ve likely noticed the mysterious tubes of lavender, green, yellow and peach flooding the shelves. Color correcting is a trend that brings out the true and brilliant science of makeup. For the most part, color correcting is preparatory, and comes prior to makeup application (remember, perfect makeup starts with a perfect canvas). This is why many color corrector’s double as primers, like the ones by Smashbox which are all over Instagram. From redness to dullness, dark circles to dark spots-color correcting is all about discovering your formula. Which color targets your problem? We’ve, once again, got you covered with a breakdown of which color corrector is best for which flaw-and which product actually gets the job done right.
Color Correcting 101
Facial Flaw: Dullness
Color Corrective: Lavender
Unlike a stubborn dark spot, dullness is often a characteristic of the skin that comes and goes. Its usually a symptom of fatigue, dehydration, or just eating crap. The point is, you don’t need a $600 dollar facial to cure tired skin-just an awesome color corrector (and when time allots, more damn sleep). We love the purple-tinted the color correcting in “don’t be dull” by Smashbox. It’s infused with Vitamin E to keep skin soft, and the pencil-like tip makes for super-precise application.
Facial Flaw: Dark Spots
Color Corrective: Peach
So you know those dark circles that you just can’t hide? Of course you do. You head to the office bathroom every 30 minutes to re-layer your most full-coverage concealer, but you just can’t cover those suckers up. We’re kind of obsessed with Becca’s Backlight Targeted Colour Corrector in peach. With one of these in your beauty bag, you can binge watch until the sun goes up and nobody in Monday morning’s meeting will ever know. Use it under your concealer like a primer to look awake and fresher than just-brewed coffee (even if your totally counting sheep on this inside).
Facial Flaw: Redness
Color Corrective: Green
Redness is probably the most stubborn of complexion troubles. Not to mention, the more conscious of and stressed you are about your redness, the redder you get. Thanks, mother nature. Aside from attempting relaxation, a green-tinted color corrective does wonders for neutralizing, concealing and soothing redness…so there’s nothing to blush about. We’re in awe at the power of the Camouflage Cream Pot Color Corrector for Redness by Makeup Forever. Just a little goes a long way.
Facial Flaw: Dark Spots
Color Corrector: Orange
If you’ve got dark spots and they bother you, orange you glad you’re reading this right now? But seriously, the idea of applying bright orange on your skin may seem circus-level crazy, but trust the formula. Aside from dark spots, orange is also more suitable than peach for covering under eye circles when it comes to darker complexions. We’re really digging the Correct Click Color Corrector by FX in orange.