Have you ever put on a full face of makeup only to realize that, for some reason, your skin still looks a bit off? It could be for any number of reasons—maybe the skin under your eyes is taking on a bluish tinge, maybe your skin looks a bit gray toned, or maybe redness is peeping through. Even if you have the perfect concealer, you might be missing a key ingredient for a flawless finish: a color corrector.
Color correctors have gained quite a bit of traction on TikTok in the past couple of years, with quite a few of them going mega-viral. (We’re looking at you, Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment.) Color correctors have been staples in makeup artists’ kits for years, though. The trick to perfect color correcting is knowing how to pick the right one for you.
To understand color correction, let’s go back to the color wheel. Color correction is essentially based on complementary colors, or colors opposite each other on the color wheel. To cancel out redness, you’d go for a green pigment. To cancel out blue, you’d pick orange, and purple would cancel out yellowness. Once you understand which color to pick for the pigmentation you’re trying to cover up, you’ll be able to achieve a more even-toned complexion.
We found the absolute best color correctors to use for every circumstance, from the TikTok-famous color correctors to makeup artist recommendations to best sellers. Keep reading to choose the color corrector that’s best for you, and get ready for your makeup to look flawless.
Live Tinted Huesticks are formulated specifically with darker skin in mind. Orange pigments work to cancel out purple and blue tones that might crop up when you’re dealing with hyperpigmentation. The best part? You can use this stick on the eyes, lips, and cheeks, and it comes in a variety of colors. “Live Tinted Huestick Correctors are great for deeper tones,” says celebrity makeup artist Grace Pae. “It has the perfect orange/red shades to neutralize any discoloration or darkness under the eyes or anywhere on the face. It comes in a crayon form, which makes it so convenient to just swipe on anywhere you need correction.” Pros: Easy to use, blendable, good for all skin tones. Cons: Some find the crayon breaks easily. Customer review: “I was skeptical at first about whether I really needed to add an extra product to my makeup routine (I am all about sticking to just the essentials) but this color corrector has actually become a staple in my routine because it prevents that ashy look that can result from concealer on bare skin. I am also someone who does not like to spend too much on makeup products (I have literally never spent more than $40 on a makeup item), but I think this product is well worth the money and will last you a long time.”
This set of color-correcting concealers is a must for anyone who wants to cover common concerns. The green concealer covers redness, the yellow helps with milder types of redness like broken capillaries and dark circles, and the orange conceals hyperpigmentation and dark circles on darker skin tones. Pros: Easy to use, blendable, good for all skin tones. Cons: Some find the crayon breaks easily. Customer review: “I was skeptical at first about whether I really needed to add an extra product to my makeup routine (I am all about sticking to just the essentials) but this color corrector has actually become a staple in my routine because it prevents that ashy look that can result from concealer on bare skin. I am also someone who does not like to spend too much on makeup products (I have literally never spent more than $40 on a makeup item), but I think this product is well worth the money and will last you a long time.”
If you’re always switching between concealers, this palette has four different concealer shades and two color correctors for a skin-like finish. Celebrity makeup artist Christine Cherbonnier says she finds herself reaching for this palette most often. “The colors in these palettes are so gorgeous, especially when working with deeper skin tones, and they blend easily under most concealers,” she says. Pros: Easy to use, blendable, long-wearing. Cons: Professional palette may be too much for beginners. Customer review: “If you’re thinking about color correcting and contouring then this is the all in one product. The size may seem small but it goes a long way if used where needed only. “
“This is a staple in my kit,” says makeup artist and groomer Janice Kinjo. “The buildable, highly pigmented shades can cover any dark circle, hyperpigmentation, and discoloration under your makeup.” Pros: Easy to use, blendable. Cons: Lighter coverage. Customer review: “This is my new favorite color corrector/complexion product! You can barely tap the palette with a finger or brush, and get the immediate payoff. It really doesn’t take much product to work its magic and sits so beautifully, and lightly on the skin. I’ve used this entire palette to give myself a perfect complexion and that’s saying something as I have tons of redness from acne, and blue under my eyes.”
Four different peachy shades varying from light to nearly red help conceal dark circles on a wide variety of skin tones. Kinjo and Cherbonnier both swear by this color corrector. “I love the consistency of these. They are easy to blend but still a matte finish, so it doesn’t add any extra oil or shine to the skin,” says Cherbonnier. “I also love the red-based colors in the correctors. They add amazing coverage under eyes, helping to cancel out any blue or green discoloration.” Pros: Easy to use, blendable, luminous finish. Cons: Some say it doesn’t last all day. Customer review: “No more dark circles. Product quality is really good. Does not dry undereyes.”
“YSL Touché Eclat is a classic corrector and brightener,” says Pae. “I’ve used these for years, and they’re the perfect balance for a no-makeup makeup look. These are great for on the go when you don’t have time to do a full makeup look but just want to look more polished and awake.” Pros: Blendable, buildable, brightening. Cons: Lighter coverage, some don’t like the applicator. Customer review: “I have very fair skin and primarily use this to cover up under eye circles. It’s expensive but lasts a long time and has a good texture for under eye. I would definitely recommend it.”
This two-toned corrector is a staple in Pae’s kit. “One side corrects discoloration and darkness under the eyes, then the other side brightens the under-eye area,” she explains. “It has great coverage and is also very moisturizing, so it melts into the skin like butter.” Pros: Easy to use, moisturizing, brightening. Cons: Only one shade option. Customer review: “Amazing coverage that is long lasting. Also work perfect for people who experience dark blue circle around their eyes.”
This innovative SPF is tinted green to cancel out redness, and the addition of cica helps calm skin. The best part about this treatment is that you can use it with or without makeup. A friend was dealing with redness, so we let him test-drive this SPF, and now, he won’t leave his house without putting it on. It makes his skin look filtered and even all by itself. Pros: Protects skin from the sun, conceals redness. Cons: Can feel oily. Customer review: “This product works! I love it on the days when I’m not wearing anything other that sunscreen and moisturizer. It really helps even out the pinkness I have around my nose and cheeks.”
This drugstore concealer palette doesn’t crease or feel heavy on skin. Use it to cover just about every concern you can think of, like redness, blue tones, hyperpigmentation, and sallow skin. Pros: Easy to use, blendable, highly pigmented, affordable. Cons: Too light of coverage, some find it settles in creases. Customer review: “I’ve been wanting to learn more about color correction and this is the first palette of this kind I found at a price point I can afford. I have light redness in several spots on my face but I hate using full-coverage foundation because it covers up my freckles. My dark circles range from blue to red to purple in spots, so covering them up has been a chore. These are super buildable, blendable, and once they are set with powder they make covering up trouble spots a breeze. They stay all day.”
If you prefer multitasking makeup, opt for this all-in-one concealer. It’s packed with color-correcting pigments specifically designed to cancel out dark circles. Pros: Easy to use, brightening, buildable. Cons: Light coverage. Customer review: “I wish they’d sell it in a bigger container because I like to use it on my face in place of foundation, so I blow through it pretty quickly. It’s by far the most hydrating concealer I’ve used but it’s also on the sheer side.”
This palette is full of sheer shades that are easy to build and blend for customizable coverage. The palette also has two finishing powders to even skin tone, brighten, and set the color correctors. Pros: Easy to use, mix of powders and creams. Cons: Some find the formulas oily. Customer review: “I was skeptical at first about whether I really needed to add an extra product to my makeup routine (I am all about sticking to just the essentials) but this color corrector has actually become a staple in my routine because it prevents that ashy look that can result from concealer on bare skin. I am also someone who does not like to spend too much on makeup products (I have literally never spent more than $40 on a makeup item), but I think this product is well worth the money and will last you a long time.”
This peach-tinted under-eye corrector works wonderfully for dark-circle coverage on warm to medium skin tones. It’s also hydrating and buildable. Pros: Easy to use, good for dark circles. Cons: Some don’t like the applicator . Customer review: “It’s honestly perfect in every way for my skin type and pigmentation under the eyes. It’s a very thin, liquidy formula, yet goes on pretty opaque on the skin. It applies really easy, blends out well and I use it under concealer nearly every day because I find it’s very effective at getting rid of that ashy color and texture that some concealers tend to give on their own.”
This innovative cream works wonders against redness. It goes on green but changes to beige as you blend, so it leaves skin glowing and even toned. Not only does it correct redness, but it’s also chock-full of peptides to leave your skin hydrated and flake-free. Pros: Easy to use, covers redness. Cons: Some find the consistency chalky, leans orange-toned. Customer review: “I have skin that is always naturally red and this had great coverage. I have very dry sensitive skin and this hasn’t broken me out. It can accentuate texture so I would recommend moisturizing underneath. It’s like a thinner, more breathable, and less actually green version of the Dr. Jart Cicapair. It looks natural and not like you’re wearing foundation.”
This cream is basically a redness-reducing miracle in a jar. It goes on as a moisturizer that soothes skin, and color-correcting pigments provide full coverage for a flawless finish. Pros: Good for priming, very hydrating and soothing. Cons: Limited shade range. Customer review: “Regardless of shade, I still think this is the greatest primer on the market. Extremely lightweight, and blurs imperfections without looking like you’ve got makeup on. Worth a try!”
This multitasking stick foundation has phytosphingosine, a compound that helps calm redness and irritation while delivering moisture to the skin. Pros: Easy to use, blendable, good for all skin tones. Cons: Lighter coverage. Customer review: “Excellent coverage in a non-cakey way that doesn’t settle into pores. It feels very light, but actually covers and hides pores extremely well. Love the magnetic lid as well.”
Primers are the perfect chance to color-correct and smooth skin at the same time. Apply this primer before your foundation to neutralize redness. Pros: Good for priming, hides redness. Cons: Light coverage. Customer review: “I love how soft this product feels on my skin. It also does a pretty good job at color correcting my skin before applying my foundation. It doesn’t fully take the redness away but it does help.”
Formulated specifically for dark circles, this under-eye corrector comes in tons of different shades for seamless color correcting across a variety of skin tones. Pros: Good for all skin types, great shade range. Cons: Some find the consistency dry. Customer review: “I have deeper set eyes so dark circles have been an issue for me forever. I’ve used this corrector for years it brightens things up without looking caked on or unnatural.”
Don’t let powder foundations scare you—this one delivers a flawless finish. This formula self-adjusts to even skin tone. Pros: Easy to use, lightweight. Cons: Limited shade range. Customer review: “I love this foundation. It goes on weightless and give great coverage without feeling heavy or sticky. I love that it blurs out my fine lines and doesn’t settle into my pores. Get the foundation brush they recommend, because it makes the application effortless.”
Like Nars’s beloved Creamy Concealer, this color corrector goes on seamlessly and doesn’t crease or cake under makeup. Pros: Easy to use, blendable, radiant finish. Cons: Some find it doesn’t stay all day. Customer review: “It’s an enhancement, not a replacement! Light as a feather and transfer resistant! This product works much better with a fluffy eyeshadow brush than with a sponge, or powder puff or your bare fingers. You want to gently fluff and blend this product out. Also, be aware that this product has a quick dry down and a short working time unlike the concealer, so once it dries it stays in place. You’ll also notice that it has little tiny light-reflective particles in it. Don’t mistake if for glitter. What it will do though is bounce light off that area and add to the illusion of bright skin. “
Make Up For Ever has a line of primers specifically made to color-correct. Choose from a variety of colors to target dullness, redness, hyperpigmentation, or sallowness. Pros: Easy to use, blendable, good for all skin tones. Cons: Strong smell. Customer review: “I was pleased that it neutralized my redness without covering up my skin. It doesn’t turn me orange, does not add coverage, and is actually a great primer! Looks good on its own too. Versatile.”
Use this color-correcting cream on any part of your face that needs unwanted tones canceled. It comes in five different shades that work wonders against discoloration. Pros: Easy to use, blendable, good for all skin tones. Cons: Light coverage. Customer review: “I absolutely love this camo color corrector! It is the perfect color for my skin and blends so well. I loved it so much, I went back and bought two more of them!”
This lavender-toned face primer does wonders for brightening skin. Pros: Easy to use, blendable, lightweight. Cons: Some don’t like the container. Customer review: “This product is so good! It’s perfect for evening out the redness in my skin without covering my freckles, which is something that’s really hard to find. it also feels so nice on the skin and I will 100% buy this again.”
This article was originally published at an earlier date and has been updated.
