The Ultimate Guide To Using Colour Corrector In Your Makeup Routine

By Khanak Mehta

Raise your hand if you’re somebody whose under-eye area can never seem to beat its sleep debt, or if your skin tends to randomly break out no matter how well you’re treating it. While building and following a good skincare routine can go a long way toward tackling these concerns, we all need a quick fix from time to time. This is where having a colour corrector in your makeup bag can help you.

If your everyday makeup routine reads more like the trending and minimal clean girl makeup routine, you may be hesitant on adding yet another product to it. But a few extra seconds, and you can achieve a perfected, elevated makeup look with ease. Essentially, colour correcting involves using a tinted makeup product and uses the rules of colour theory to correct specific concerns like dark spots, discolouration, and more.

If you’re looking for a cheat sheet on how to use colour corrector without having to go back to art class, keep reading because we’ve got you covered.

Green colour corrector

Products Mentioned

Orange colour corrector

Orange colour correctors are quite versatile, especially if you’ve got a medium to deep skin tone. With this, you can correct any blue or purple tones on your skin, whether it be in your under-eye area or hyperpigmentation around your mouth or nose. If you pair an orange colour corrector with a peachy-toned concealer on top, you can also expect to get double the coverage! In fact, if you’re really in a pinch, you can follow this well-known makeup hack that quite a few beauty enthusiasts love: Using a creamy orange lipstick in place of an orange colour corrector!

Products Mentioned

Watch now: Orange lipstick as colour corrector

Pink colour corrector

A pink colour corrector works similarly to an orange corrector; it helps neutralise any blue or purple areas under the eyes along with hyperpigmentation on the skin. The only difference is that this hue is recommended for light to medium skin tones, and orange colour correctors are recommended for medium to deep skin tones. This is because the orange shade can have a tendency to be too dark for lighter skin tones and not get totally covered up with the concealer. If you have a medium skin tone, you can go ahead and pick a shade of pink or orange that works for you.

Products Mentioned

Yellow colour corrector

Yellow is a more unique colour corrector shade that not a lot of people use. But if used right, it can actually be one of the most versatile products in your collection! Yellow colour corrector uses can range from covering purple and blue-ish bruises and veins, to brownish dark circles, and mild redness. Paired with a concealer that has warm tones like yellow or golden, it can help almost totally cover any of these concerns with ease. If you have very light skin and green and orange are sometimes too dark for you, you can swap them out with yellow for a more natural finish.

Products Mentioned

Discover: Makeup artist Swati Daga’s colour correcting tips

How to use colour corrector

Looking for a colour corrector guide? You’ve come to the right place! Here is a step-by-step breakdown on how you should be applying your colour corrector to give your makeup an even, flawless finish.

Step 1: Make sure that your skin is prepped correctly. Use a hydrating primer if you have dry skin, or a pore-filling primer if you have visible pores. Make sure to let the primer sink into your skin to avoid it from pilling when you add on any other products.

Step 2: Choose the right colour corrector to tackle your concerns – don't forget to give yourself a little refresh with our colour corrector guide above!

Step 3: Pick a formula that suits your skin – you can choose from both liquid and cream formulas. We suggest using hydrating liquid formulas if you have dry skin and a large area to blend over, and tackier cream formulas if you have a smaller area to blend over and oily skin.

Step 4: Use a brush or makeup sponge to place your colour corrector onto the skin and start blending. Make sure to not sheer it out too much, otherwise you won’t be able to neutralise the pigmentation in the area properly.

Step 5: Layer a concealer that matches your skin tone on top and blend it in for a perfect, seamless finish.

When to use a colour corrector

Colour corrector uses can vary depending on you and your personal makeup style. Here are some instances where you can use a colour corrector to elevate your look.

If you’re doing a full-glam makeup look for a party or event, you can go ahead and dip into your favourite multi-colour corrector palette for a flawless finish. Instead of using just one or two, bring out your inner beauty pro and use them all strategically.
If you want to take your everyday look to the next level, focus on one or two specific concerns that you just can’t seem to tackle with a concealer, and use a colour corrector on those areas. Clear, glass skin – here we come!
If your concealer seems to play a disappearing act on you in the middle of the day, or if you’re prone to zits that come out of nowhere, be sure to carry your colour corrector in your touch-up bag to tackle them with ease anytime, anywhere.

Mistakes to avoid when using colour corrector

Make sure that you use the right colour corrector for your concerns. The biggest mistake that most people make when using a colour corrector is using the wrong colour, which then gets you right back to square one.
Don’t forget to blend, blend, and blend some more. No one wants a patch of green or orange showing through their base makeup! On the other hand, be sure to also not blend it out too much, to the point that it completely disappears and doesn’t do its job.
Following that, make sure to layer on a concealer or foundation over it, instead of under it. This will help hide the hue and give you that perfect finish.

Know more: Perfect your base with makeup artist Nisha Karna

Ready, set, correct!

Now that you’ve got the ultimate guide on how to use colour corrector, you can easily take your makeup looks up a notch in no time. Don’t forget to shop our top picks to suit your concerns and explore our app to find your perfect concealer match, too. We promise you; it’ll practically be like second skin!

Colour corrector 101

Q. How do colour correctors work?

The entire concept is based on colour theory in art and makeup, where we use colours that are opposite each other on the colour wheel to neutralise each other.

Q. Can I use one colour corrector shade for everything?

While some colour corrector shades like yellow are quite versatile, we recommend using the appropriate shade for every concern to get the best finish.

Q. What brush should I use for my colour corrector?

Use a small, targeted concealer brush to apply your colour corrector, for pinpoint application.