What is a color corrector? What's the difference between a color corrector and a concealer? What shade of color corrector do you need? How do you use a color corrector? I'll answer all of those questions in this week's blog.
What is color corrector?
To understand color correction let's start with the basics of color theory. Using a color wheel we see that colors opposite of each other are called complementary colors. In fashion those complementary colors can be used to create high contrast outfit combinations. But in makeup we can use complementary colors to neutralize or cancel out blemishes, under eye circles, and other pigmentation issues in the skin. Green can be used to cancel out redness, orange can cover up blue, and purple will neutralize yellow. A color corrector is a shade of liquid or cream makeup that will help you "correct" skin discoloration by visibly neutralizing unwanted tones.
What's the difference between color corrector and concealer?
As I stated above, color corrector is used to neutralize discoloration such as redness or dark circles using color theory. Concealer is a makeup product that is the same color as your skin tone and is used to cover pigmentation or marks. A concealer can also be used to highlight or brighten the skin if a lighter shade is used or contour if a darker shade is selected. Concealer can be worn alone on the skin and can be used both over and under foundation, but a color corrector should always be used with, and under, foundation.
What shade of color corrector do you need?
Yellow - Yellow color correcting concealer can be used to cover up any blemish that's purple in tone such as bruises, veins, and dark under eye circles.
Green - Use a green corrector to neutralize redness on the face such as blemishes or acne scars.
Purple - Use purple corrector to brighten dull and sallow (yellow-tinged complexion) skin and even out skin discoloration.
Orange - An orange corrector will neutralize dark spots, scars, and under eye circles on medium to deep skin tones.
Peach - A peach corrector is used for the same concerns as an orange corrector but for those with light to medium skin tones.
Pink - Similar to peach, a pink corrector may be used to neutralize dark circles on those with fair skin.
How do you use a color corrector?
In last week's blog I went over my skin prep routine. Color correctors would be applied after the final step of your skin prep and before foundation is applied. Lightly pat a small amount of the color corrector on the area you need to neutralize. Then use your fingers, a beauty blender, or a makeup brush to buff the product into the skin. Start with a small amount and add light layers if more coverage is needed. The key is to use the smallest amount of product needed to neutralize the discoloration but not so much that you can see the corrector through your foundation. After the corrector is applied to the skin you'll want to apply foundation and/or concealer. Use a brush or blending sponge to lightly tap the foundation or concealer over the color corrector so as not to disturb the coverage.
In conclusion, color corrector can be a useful tool if you're struggling with redness, dark circles, bruises, or sallowness. Try adding a color corrector to your makeup routine to neutralize discoloration, even your skin tone, or brighten your complexion.