HOW TO COLOUR CORRECT WITH CONFIDENCE
If you’ve ever watched a YouTube or TikTok tutorial of crazy transformations chances are you’ve seen the MUAs use red, green and even purple pigments on specific areas of the face. But what is this mesmerising makeup technique? Enter: Colour Correcting.
Relying on colour theory, colour correcting is the magical makeup hack that visibly neutralise unwanted tones (hello stubborn redness, dark undereyes or skin discolouration), to create a more even looking complexion. But what is colour correcting? How do you colour correct? What tones work for your skin type? And how to colour correct correctly so you look less muddy and more dewy, even and bright? Well, to answer all your colour correcting questions, we’ve created this ultimate guide.
Paint ( read: makeup) brushes and your painter's whites at the ready – we're about to take on a Bob Ross inspired tutorial.
In This Article:
- What Is Colour Correcting
- How To Colour Correct
How To Colour Correct For Specific Skin Concerns - The Best Colour Correcting Makeup
- Colour Correcting FAQs
WHAT IS COLOUR CORRECTING
Essentially, colour correcting is the art of neutralising certain skin tones-— usually the areas under your eyes, around your nose or on dark spots, before applying your foundation or concealer. Using complementary hues, colour correcting helps to eliminate your uneven complexion without relying on heavy concealers. As such, colour correcting is a very personal and variable way of achieving an even skin tone that can change day-to-day. The best way to figure out which colours will neutralise the tones you don’t want is to use a colour theory wheel and choose the shade directly opposite your concern. For example, if you’re trying to cancel out redness, you’d pick green, because it sits opposite red on the colour wheel. We've added a colour theory wheel below to make it easier for you to visualise.
HOW TO COLOUR CORRECT: The Basics
Like a concealer, you use your colour corrector on certain parts of your skin where you have discolouration, a blemish or to cancel out dark circles. First, we suggest applying a primer that works well with your complexion. Then, after giving your skin time for it to absorb, you apply your preferred colour corrector directly on the area you want to target. Next, gently blend away the pigment using a makeup brush, sponge or even your finger. If you still notice a slight tint of colour corrector left, don’t worry – your foundation and concealer will help cover that up. We recommend starting with a thin layer of foundation first and then building up if you need more. And finally, use a concealer that matches your skin tone the same way you used your colour corrector. Finally, set everything in place with a spritz of a setting spray. Et voila! Blemishes, dark circles and dark spots have miraculously disappeared.
HOW TO COLOUR CORRECT FOR SPECIFIC SKIN CONCERNS
HOW TO COLOUR CORRECT REDNESS
Apply a small amount of green hued colour corrector on any areas of your face where you see redness and then blend it out until the red tones look less noticeable. Start with a small amount of green colour corrector and work up until your happy with the finish.
HOW TO COLOUR CORRECT DULLNESS
Unlike when your concealing blemishes, a lavender toned corrector should be applied where you want to target brightness – i.e. your chin, forehead and under your eyes for a subtle but effective luminous look.
HOW TO COLOUR CORRECT DARK CIRCLES
Choosing which shade of colour corrector for dark circles depends totally on your skin tone. For fair skin, we recommend using a peach or pale-yellow hue, while deeper orange shades work better for darker complexions. Once you find the perfect shade of colour corrector for you, apply a small amount onto your dark circles and gently blend with your preferred makeup tool.
THE BEST COLOUR CORRECTING MAKEUP
Now we know what is colour correcting and how to colour correct, let’s dive into some of the best colour correctors on our Cult Beauty shelves.
30
12.10€
Boasting six different shades of colour correctors to use, NYX Professional Makeup’s 3C Palette offers your skin the flexibility to customise your complexion based on what your skin needs. Rich, creamy and ultra pigmented, these colour correcting hues melt into skin seamlessly for a complexion that appears more even, bright and without a blemish in sight.
45.95€
Available in the shades lilac, pistachio and rust, ISAMAYA’S Colour Correcting Serum 21 is the featherweight formula that brightens, evens skin and reduces the appearance of redness with precision. Infused with colour correcting pigments and skin-loving blends of soothing Rosebay Willowherb Extract and Kazanlak rose complex, these pastel hued complexion enhancers nourish and revitalise skin for a radiant finish that doesn’t feel heavy or cakey.
281
35.00€
Ideal for concealing too little sleep and too many late nights, Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Vanish is the ultimate makeup marvel to correct and energise your complexion. Enriched with flavonoids to help visibly dimmish the look of under-eye puffiness, mica to level up luminosity and a combination of microspheres and carnauba wax to ensure seamless bendability, this compact colour corrector smooths, softens and brightens your skin so it looks like you really did get your 8 hours of sleep.
33
16.45€
Level up your glow wherever you apply with HUDA BEAUTY’S Faux Filter Colour Corrector Mini. Infused with vitamin C and niacinamide to unlock luminosity, this powerhouse potion addresses everything from discolouration and dark spots to blemishes, dullness and more, without causing creasing or feeling heavy on skin. Formulated to be transfer-proof but luminous it’s the ultimate MUA for seamless-looking skin.
82
31.95€
Neutralise skin and ensure an even base with Kosas’ Revealer Extra Bright Serum Powered Color Corrector. Supercharged with peptides and caffeine, this lightweight liquid offers a second skin finish that ensures your complexion looks revived, refreshed and firmer – all before you’ve used any foundation or concealer.
COLOUR CORRECTING FAQs
Do you put a colour corrector on before foundation?
As we discussed above, colour correcting pigments should always be used before foundation. This is because they work to neutralise any unwanted tones and offer a base for your foundation and concealer to disguise what you want with a natural-looking finish.
How do I know if I need a colour correction?
If you find that your foundation or concealer isn't fully neutralising certain tones in your skin, you may benefit from using a colour corrector. For example, if you apply your concealer on your dark circles and they still pull blue, purple or brown, you might want to use a colour corrector. The same goes for if redness is visible after foundation or your skin looks too ashy it may be time to apply a colour corrector. If you notice you’re foundation is looking heavy and you’re using too much product to conceal your unwanted tones, a colour corrector underneath will allow you to use less product overall and ensure a more natural-looking finish.
Is colour correction necessary for makeup?
No, colour correcting isn't necessary when you do your makeup, but it can be helpful depending on your complexion concern. That’s not to say everyone should be colour correcting – if your foundation looks even, you don’t have obvious discolouration and you prefer a more minimal makeup look, learning how to colour correct may not be for you. But, if you have persistent redness, dark circles that are blue or purple and have pigmentation, dullness and a complexion that looks ashy when you apply your base... then you might want to consider colour correcting.
Rina is Cult Beauty’s Midweight SEO Copywriter and has always had a passion for beauty and skin care (rich moisturisers are her obsession). What started as a love for The Body Shop and their famed Born Lippy lip balms (in ‘Watermelon’ of course!), she is now more interested in finding products with proven effectiveness instead of broken promises. A loud and proud VIEVE fan, Rina owns nearly every item of the range and recommends the brand to anyone who will listen... When she’s not intently reading ingredient lists, you can find her either immersed in multiple true crime podcasts or a fantasy romance novel, with an *extra* hot cappuccino in hand.
