When we talk about beauty trends, we’re usually referencing ones you can clearly see — like electrifying blue eyeliner or velvety matte-red lips. But there’s a new craze that’s been sneaking up on our radar — one that's not quite visible to the eyes (if you're doing it right, that is). We’re talking about color correcting. This trend throws it back all the way to elementary-school art class, using basic principles of color theory. By applying unconventional makeup shades like bright red, mint green, and Easter-egg yellow (colors that are complementary to concerns such as redness or dark circles), you can neutralize your complexion, create radiance, and more. And when applied in teeny-tiny doses, these shades provide an even canvas, so you can use less concealer and foundation. Major win, right?
To get you started, we broke down the color-correcting basics you need to know with the help of makeup artist Sophie Haig. Her goof-proof tips coupled with key product picks (all found at the beauty-lover’s version of heaven: Sephora) are all you need to become a true artiste.
Bright Eyes
Maybe it's from late nights at the bar office or simply genetics, but dark circles can creep up unexpectedly and stay there. Fight your instinct to load up on concealer; it can give your skin a weird grayish cast and actually enhance the look of dark undereyes. Instead, try neutralizing and brightening the area.
First, choose a shade that's right for your skin tone. Color-correcting products in light pink are best for fair skin, peach shades work well on medium complexions, and reds are ideal for deeper tones. Opposite from blue on the color wheel, these shades will camouflage any evidence of your restless night. Here, we used YSL’s Touche Éclat Neutralizer in Bisque, an apricot shade with subtle shimmer that instantly brightens. (This one has an easy-to-use pen tip, but you can also use a palette, like this one from Tarte, with a mini Beauty Blender.)
Paint the product in lash-like strokes (or dots) beneath both eyes. Next, use your ring finger to lightly tap the product into your skin. This eliminates unnecessary tugging on the delicate skin around your eyes and also helps warm up the product, so it sinks into your skin as opposed to sitting on top, says Haig. Then apply the rest of your base makeup as you would normally, making sure to pat around your undereye area so you don't shift the apricot base. Finish with a fuchsia lip, and you’re ready to take on the day.
Topshop top, Justine Clenquet earrings, Gabriela Artigas ear cuff, Vita Fede bracelet, Bleecker & Prince bracelet, Lillot spiral ring, Miansai single ring, Diaboli Kill double ring.
Perk Up
On days when your complexion is tinged with red (like when you've been blowing your nose for a week straight or when a pesky blemish decides to appear), applying concealer on its own is basically pointless. Consider trying to paint a colorful wall white. You need a base layer to truly hide that bright shade. So apply the same concept here.
Start by dabbing on a green color corrector, like Sephora's Bright Future Color Corrector in Green, where redness naturally occurs, such as around the nostrils. Next, blend it out with your fingers. (Don’t worry if it leaves behind a green cast— you’ll be covering it up in a moment.)
For more mild areas, try a creamy yellow corrector. The one in Stila’s Correct & Perfect Palette is great for countering spots that might not be intense, but could still benefit from some coverage. Apply a few swipes right on top of your cheekbones or anywhere your complexion looks a little red, then blend them out using your fingers or a stippling brush. Pat on your usual base makeup, again taking care not to shift the color-correcting layer, and finish with the look of your choice.
Topshop top, Lillot hoop earring, Marshelly's Jewelry bar earring, Vita Fede bracelets, Diaboli Kill spiral ring and cross ring, Miansai single round ring, Shahla Karimi cutout ring, Colette Malouf cutout ring.
Break Even
Whether you're dealing with hyperpigmentation, post-acne scarring, or an uneven skin tone, an orange-based product will even out your complexion. The key here is to choose the right shade for your skin, says Haig.
Start by dabbing your color-correcting product (we used Becca Backlight Targeted Colour Corrector in Papaya, an orange-red shade meant for deep skin tones) over any uneven spots. Then, blend in the product using your fingers or a brush. (Again, don’t worry if you see a reddish tint afterward. Concealer and foundation will cover it up, says Haig.) You can also opt for a palette that contains both color-correcting and concealer shades, like this one from Make Up For Ever. One you’ve smoothed on your base, round out the look with a wash of gold cream shadow on your eyes and a touch of gloss on your lips.
Tibi top, Lillot earrings and bracelet, Diabolo Kill necklace, Bleecker & Prince bracelet, Miansai square ring and single round ring, Carrie K spike ring, Georg Jensen square ring.
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