Color Correctors: How to Use Green, Peach and Lavender

Color correctors can seem intimidating: green on your face? But they work on a simple color theory idea: opposite shades cancel each other out. Used sparingly and in the right spot, they help you need less foundation and concealer. Here's which one to use and how.

How they work

On the color wheel, every color has an opposite. When you apply a thin layer of the opposite color over an area, the tone you want to hide is neutralized and gets closer to your skin tone. Then foundation and concealer finish the job.

Which color to use for what

Green: redness

Neutralizes red areas around the nose, cheeks or blemishes. Tap it on only over the redness.

Peach or salmon: bluish dark circles on fair and medium skin

Cancels out dark circles with a blue or purple tint. It's the most popular one. For the full under-eye technique, read how to use concealer for dark circles.

Orange or red: dark circles and spots on medium-deep and deep skin

On skin with more pigment, dark circles often look gray or very dark; orange neutralizes them better than peach.

Lavender: sallow tones or dull skin

Brightens areas with a yellowish cast. Use it sparingly.

Yellow: mild purples

For slightly purple dark circles or small visible veins on the eyelids.

How to apply them step by step

1. Moisturize and apply primer if you use one.
2. Pick up very little product with your ring finger or a small brush.
3. Apply only to the area you want to correct, using light taps.
4. Blend the edges without dragging.
5. Press foundation on top with a sponge so you don't move the corrector.
6. Finish with your skin-tone concealer where needed and set with powder.

Cream, liquid or palette?

• Cream: more coverage, ideal for deep dark circles.
• Liquid: lighter, for mild redness.
• Palettes: include several shades so you can mix.

Do you need them?

Not always. If your regular concealer covers everything, there's no need for an extra step. They're helpful if your dark circles look gray under concealer or if you have redness foundation won't hide. To choose your main concealer shade, read foundation and concealer shades.

Common mistakes

• Applying too much: the color shows through your foundation.
• Using green where there's no redness: skin looks grayish.
• Dragging foundation over it with a brush.
• Choosing peach on very deep skin, where orange usually works better.

For photos and events

Color correctors help skin look even on camera with less foundation. Pair them with the tips in makeup for photos and, to complete the look, a long-wear lip as we explain in matte liquid lipstick.

Shop it at BeautyRosee

Concealers, foundations and primers in our makeup collection, with options from Kevin & Coco. Prep your skin with products from skincare.

FAQ

Does it go before or after foundation?

Usually before, so foundation covers it. Skin-tone concealer goes on after.

Which color covers dark circles?

Peach on fair and medium skin; orange on medium-deep and deep skin.

Does green work on blemishes?

Yes, it helps hide redness. Use very little and cover with concealer.

Can I use lipstick as a color corrector?

It's a well-known trick with orange or red lipsticks, but correctors formulated for skin are usually more comfortable and easier to blend.

Keep reading

• Makeup Guide: Everything You Need, Step by Step
• Makeup for photos
• How to apply matte liquid lipstick