I have a little makeup lesson for y’all today!
One of the most important makeup lessons I’ve ever learned was how to color correct. When I say that I mean how to take away red spots, conceal dark undereye circles, mask hyperpigmentation, etc. When you create a flawless face, everything else just looks better.
I’ve heard tons of women say that they can’t find the right concealer for underneath their eyes because nothing seems to work. Or nothing covers up their redness. There could be some simple adjustments you can do to really give you some results!
In order to understand where I’m going with this, I’m going to take you back to art class and basic color theory. Let’s take a look at the color wheel, shall we?
Every color has one directly across the wheel from it. That color is it’s complementary color. For example, across the wheel from green is red. Not only do those colors look fantastic together (maybe that’s why green and red are Christmas colors), but one can cancel out the other.
Now let’s apply basic color theory and how it can help your complexion. I’m going to address some real problems you might want to fix and offer some solutions and product recommendations.
The Problem: Blue Under Eye Circles
The Solution: Peach Corrector
Product Recommendation: Bobbi Brown Corrector in one of the Peach tones (I use Light Peach)
This is me to a “T.” I have bluish under eye circles, and I was using the wrong product all along. I was using “brightening” products that were formulated with a pinkish undertone that really didn’t address the color correction I needed. As soon as I started using something with a peach undertone, it completely fixed my problem! The theory behind using these Bobbi Brown correctors is that you use it underneath your concealer to correct the color first. I find that I don’t really need to add a layer of concealer over it because it does that great of a job of masking my under eye circles. You can see another review I did of the Bobbi Brown corrector
here. This is my HG (Holy Grail) under eye concealer. I will never stray from this!
The Problem: Brown Under Eye Circles
The Solution: Pink Corrector
Product Recommendation: Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Treatment (in Brightener)
Many people don’t realize that the circles under their eyes actually have a brown-ish tint to them. Look at yourself in natural light and really analyze the color. If you see more of a brown color, you ought to go with a concealer/corrector/treatment with a pink undertone to it. I actually own this product and I feel it doesn’t address my needs of color correction. However, I find that when I use it under my Bobbi Brown corrector, it does a great job of brightening up my eye area. I sometimes use this all around my eyes for a nice brightening effect. They also make a Bobbi Brown corrector in Bisque, if you are interested in using that.
The Problem: Redness
The Solution: A Green Primer/Concealer
Product Recommendation: Smashbox Photo Finish Color Correcting Foundation Primer
Perhaps those cheeks are a little too rosy for your liking, or you are dealing with a skin issue like rosacea. Using a green primer will definitely help neutralize those problems. You can also find a green concealer for spot treatment. I have used a green concealer on fading acne scars with much success.
The Problem: Yellow-ish, Sallow Skin
The Solution: A Purple Primer
Product Recommendation: Smashbox Photo Finish Color Correcting Foundation Primer
This product will probably work best for ethnic skintones with yellow undertones. If you find yourself looking a bit sallow, you might consider using a purple primer or corrector. This does not apply to me, as I have skin with a pinkish undertone to it. However, I have used purple shampoo to cancel out the brassiness/yellow in blonde hair and it works wonders! If you have had success with purple-based primers/correctors, let me know!
The Problem: Skin Dullness
The Solution: A Yellow Powder
Product Recommendation: Bobbi Brown Sheer Finish Loose Powder in Pale Yellow
What I like about Bobbi Brown’s setting powders is that they all have a yellow base to brighten the skin. That’s one of Bobbi’s things – she really believes in putting a yellow base in a lot of her face products. While that may not work for everyone, it sure does work for me! Dusting this over your face to set your makeup will give it some extra oomph in the process! This powder is finely-milled and has lasted me forever.
Problem: All of the Above
Solution: Make Up For Ever Camouflage Cream Palette
This palette addresses just about every need you might have when you want to color correct. Maybe you just weren’t blessed with the most cooperative skin tone and coloring. That’s okay, because you can fake it! I have not used this palette, although I have used quite a bit of Make Up For Ever’s products (including concealers) and I trust the quality and color payoff of their products.
So there you have it!
If you have any additional tips or product recommendations for color correction, please leave them in the comments! I would love to hear your input!
