Color-correcting concealer can be daunting, but once you know how to use it, it’ll be your new best friend.
Color-correcting products can be a bit of a mystery. We already know that the purpose of color-correcting creams, or CC creams, is to, as you might imagine, correct color using different light-diffusing particles to treat complexion issues such as sallowness, redness, patchiness, dark circles, and more. Really, they’re a lifesaver if you weren’t born with perfect, even skin (so, really, if you’re a normal human person). But color-correcting concealers are different. They’re not just a neutral-toned cream you can apply anywhere. Color correcting concealers, more often than not, come in their pure color form and, as such, can be understandably daunting to even the most experience of beauty gurus.
(Related: These Are the Best Concealers You Can Buy, According to Professional Makeup Artists)
Presumably, that’s why you’re here. You want to understand how to navigate the world of green, pink, and purple concealers without walking out of the house looking like a less elegant My Little Pony. What with Yves Saint Laurent rolling out their new color-correcting makeup? The time is ripe to master these products once and for all.
Your standard color-correcting concealer shades are green, lavender, yellow, and an almost salmon-hued pink. Here’s how to use each one, broken down by color:
- Green: If you’re at all familiar with the primary color wheel, this should make sense to you: green concealer works best for covering any redness. Think blemishes, breakouts, and general redness caused by winter weather.
- Lavender: Purple concealers cover sallowness and any yellow discoloration. You can also use it all over to treat a dull, lackluster complexion, as it works well as a brightening base.
- Yellow: This works for slightly pink areas or mild redness. It won’t cover your blemishes as well as green does, but if you’re looking a little pink around the nose, yellow is your friend.
- Pink: This one’s great for covering and brightening dark undereye circles, bruises, or veins, making it my new favorite product of all time.
And there you have it! Once you’ve mastered the proper uses, just remember to apply your foundation or concealer as normal on top of it all, and your face will look better than ever. If you want to see them in action, I’ve found this particular tutorial by vlogger Heidi Hamoud to be the most helpful:
If you feel as though you’ve adequately educated yourself (you’re welcome) but don’t want to shell out for the YSL products, which can cost as much as $45 per tube, give one of these more affordable color-correcting concealers a try:
1. NYX Cosmetics Color Correcting Concealer Palette
This is the palette I have, and if you look up “color correcting concealer tutorial” on YouTube, it’s one of the most-reviewed products you’ll find. It works well for me because I’m lighter, but unfortunately, I don’t know that even the dark shade would accommodate darker skin tones. But fear not, as this isn’t the only recommended product I have for you today.
2. Essence Color Correcting Concealers
Since each Essence concealer comes in an individual crayon, you can just buy what you need to cover your own personal skin problems. Plus, Essence is highly underrated and amazingly wallet-friendly, so if you don’t know anything about the brand, I suggest you get acquainted.
(Related: This Is the Proper Way to Exfoliate Your Lips This Winter)
3. Makeup Revolution Ultra Base Corrector Palette
When we reviewed the British beauty brand Makeup Revolution back in September 2015 when it first hit Ulta, we were really pleasantly surprised. I can only imagine that their concealer palette would make us feel the same.
4. Wet N Wild Cover All Correcting Palette
Wet N Wild isn’t just for middle schoolers trying out makeup for the first time. Some of their products are real hidden gems, so if you’re looking for a tried-and-true brand that’s easy on your beauty budget, look no further.
5. e.l.f. Corrective Concealer
This e.l.f. palette is simply adorable, and it also comes in darker, more neutral shades if you don’t feel the need to go so bright.
