It's a Monday morning, and signs from your late night Saturday and TV binge Sunday are showing on your face. Dark circles, red patches and blemishes are all on show, and it sure doesn't help your Monday morning mood. Tackling dark circles and an uneven complexion can sometimes seem like an art form, especially when staring down at a collection of concealers and correctors. Which one is best to apply to my blemish? Which shade should go under my eyes? Why on Earth would I ever need a green corrector? And this, ladies, is where we introduce the art of color-correcting.
Color correcting concealers may look more like a pretty rainbow of pastel shades, but don't be alarmed - they all have a solid purpose. When applied under foundation to the right places, you can completely neutralize and bring to life the areas which looked a little bit flat with your go-to-beige. The key is to understand what colors you should be applying and where, so we have made it simple for you with the little informative guide...
Yellow Concealers Don't be scared of using a yellow based concealer. Many people assume that using one will create that frightening look of jaundice - but believe us, it really wont when used right! Yellow tones work wonders for muting out any redness and blotchy patches, and also tackle the purple/blue tones that can be present around the under eye area. To cancel out any dark circles, use a warm yellow toned concealer to conceal any redness whilst warming up cool tones. The Colorescience Eye Camouflage is a great option, with its yellow color to cover and correct, helping to maintain vascular health of skin. It has added smoothing and moisturizing properties, with beneficial quantities of Beta Carotene and Vitamin K. An ideal product to pop on any pesky red spots too! Another great option is the Dr Michelle Copeland Ageless Under Eye Concealer in Light, which is packed with anti-ageing properties to firm up the skin as well as cover.
Green ConcealersSimilar to yellow but a little more powerful, green is the key color to mute out harsh redness or signs of inflammation. Green sits on the opposite end of the color wheel from red, which makes this perfect for cancelling out angry skin. Green concealers are a favorite for acne sufferers, where it can multitask to conceal particularly inflamed breakouts and scars left from previous breakouts. If you're a little too afraid to start using green on your skin, start with using a specialized spot corrector which works to fade the appearance of redness, breakouts, scars and discoloration. We personally love the Peter Thomas Roth De-Spot Skin Brightening Corrector, which features a hydroquinone-free patent pending formula to dramatically reverse the appearance of spots and discoloration. Alongside angry spots, it's great to use as a base for skin prone to aging, sun damage, and post-acne discoloration. Another favorite is the Miracle Skin Transformer Vanish Instant Imperfector Corrector, which features a mix of imperfection blurring optical diffusers to make the skin's surface appear completely flawless.
Pink ConcealersPink toned concealers are best avoided by those with ultra pale, porcelain complexions, as they will give your skin an un-natural pink tinge. The beauty of pink concealers is to even out fair to medium skin tones, as the pink hue cancels out purple under eye circles on fair skin. They can also enhance warmer complexions, giving that flush of color to pink undertoned skin. Try a concealer in a Bisque shade, such as the CoverBlend Concealing Treatment Makeup with SPF 30. If your skin has any light blue tones (usually caused my broken capillaries or extreme tiredness), this pink toned bisque concealer cancel them out, along with diminishing blemishes, age spots, acne, uneven pigmentation, birthmarks, and even rosacea. CoverBlend concealers are also loved as they include clinically proven Polyhydroxy Acid, which helps strengthen the skin whilst fading out the appearance of lines and wrinkles. For a more hydrating option, opt for the Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Concealer in Golden Tan, which hydrates and plumps the skin along with adding a warm pink tone.
Orange ConcealersOrange based concealers are popular for their abilities to cancel out dark spots, pigmentation and sun damage, and are usually preferred by those with dark/olive skins. If you have an olive skin tone or darker, you'll possibly be familiar with dealing with dullness, since the usual brightening staples — luminizers, highlighters, illuminators — can appear too frosty or shimmery on top of your darker tones. This is where orange can work some magic, bringing out the warmth in your skin for a glowing, flawless look. The warm tones blended together blur any brown patches, giving a smooth, fresh finish. Dot an orange based concealer under your eyes and along any dark spots, such as the Jane Iredale Amazing Base SPF 20 Mineral Concealer in Amber. It's mineral rich formula provides excellent coverage and leaves you with a creamy, luminous look with the fresh feel of silk. Another great option, and again using mineral properties, is the bareMinerals Correcting Concealer in shade Tan 1.
Peach ConcealersPeach is a shade which when used for concealing, works in a very similar way to orange. However, it is that little bit more versatile, working on a range of skin tones. When a peach tone concealer is used on darker skin tones, it tackles the deep discoloration from hyperpigmentation, age spots and sun damage, cancelling them out. Peach is the right mix of yellow and orange to both conceal and brighten the spots, providing a flawless finish. When used on more medium skin tones, the peach blends with the natural skin shade to slightly warm the skin, and reduce any visible darker spots. For the brightest, full coverage concealer, opt for a quality liquid concealer such as the Dermablend Smooth Liquid Camo Concealer in Nutmeg. This easy-to-blend liquid formula has the ability to give flexible camouflage that instantly makes dark circles and any localized imperfections disappear, as well as adding a touch of warmth. We also love the deep peach shade of this Jane Iredale Enlighten Concealer in Shade 2, which comes in the cutest little pot to keep in your handbag.
If color correcting seems a little too advanced for you at this stage, you could always start by getting yourself familiar with some hero concealing products and tools, before stepping up your correcting skills. The below products are super star serums, creams, concealers and correctors which even out the skintone and provide a sheer, flawless base. They all work to effectively conceal under eye circles, spots and pigmentation. Not forgetting a range of expert brushes to use for precise application!
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