How To Colour Correct Your Complexion Like a Pro
August 22 | 3 minute read
Words by MECCA Memo
Using the basic principles of makeup colour theory, you can strategically place contrasting hues to neutralise unwanted tones. The best part? Targeted colour correcting means you’ll be able to keep your complexion fresh with minimal product, making it perfect if you prefer a skin-like finish to your base.
Here are some handy hints and tricks to help you colour correct with a professional makeup artist’s finish.
Strategic colour correcting
If you have lingering dark spots, there are ways to hide it beyond traditional concealer. By neutralising unwanted undertones first, you’ll save time and need to use less concealer or foundation over the top – meaning less chance of creasing, too!
Try Kevyn Aucoin Face Forward Colour Corrector Wheel, which contains a trio of pigments that target dark circles, redness and pigmentation.
Bobbi Brown’s Skin Corrector Sticks have a creamy, emollient-rich formula that blends into skin for 12 hours and layers seamlessly under or over foundation. If you want to correct greenish-brown tones, pick a golden peach shade, and to conceal bluish-purple tones reach for pink-hued shades. The light-reflecting formula of NARS’ Radiant Creamy Concealer also helps instantly brighten the area where it’s placed.
All over colour correction
To neutralise the entire face, try a colour correcting primer. It can be worn on its own for an even complexion or layered with your favourite foundation or tinted moisturiser on top.
Colour correcting primers come in a few different forms. If your concern is uneven skin tone, reach for a green-based primer like the MECCA COSMETICA Complexion Perfection Anti Redness Primer.
To neutralise dullness and sallowness – or if you want an even-looking canvas all over – Stila One Step Correct is a must-have. This do-all product contains three colour correcting pigments designed to even out your complexion, and is an excellent choice if you’re a ‘no-makeup makeup’ person.
Prefer the feel of a powder? Lightly dust Stila One Step Correct Brightening Finishing Powder over your moisturiser to seamlessly even out and brighten your natural skin tone.
Finally, if you consider yourself a bit of a colour correcting pro, give the Stila Correct And Perfect Palette a go. It’s all your colour correcting needs, wrapped up in one. Think: peach and orange creams to combat blue and purple tones, and green to neutralise redness, plus lilac and lemon setting powders to brighten.
Choosing a colour corrector for your skin tone
To really nail your colour correcting routine, it’s important to pick the right shades for your skin tone. And with eight powerfully pigmented colours in the range, the MECCA MAX Life Proof Camo Colour Corrector has (almost) all complexion concerns covered.
When correcting under the eyes, fair skin tones should opt for yellow or peach-based hues, while those with medium or olive-toned skin could try a purple-based corrector. On deeper skin tones, use a bright orange or red first, followed by a neutral or yellow-toned concealer. The aim, regardless of your natural skin tone, is to cancel out any greyness, which is created when a standard concealer is layered over shadowy under-eye circles.
For colour correcting all over, follow a similar formula. Those with fair skin can opt for pastel tones of peach, green and violet to help neutralise discolouration or uneven skin tone. Medium or olive-toned skin? Try warmer hues of peach and violet. For deep skin, reach for richer, more pigmented tones of orange and ochre.
