Think back to the last time you scanned the makeup aisle. Were your eyes drawn to a rainbow of colored concealers where the flesh-colored concealers once resided?
Where there used to be various shades for each complexion, there are now greens, purples, and pinks. How do you choose between all the colors? Do they each have a purpose, or are they just pretty colors that all do the same thing?
Choosing a Color Correcting Concealer
Gone are the days of the one size fits all concealer. You no longer have to rely on a single shade to cover, acne, dark under-eye circles, rosacea, etc. However, before you haphazardly choose a gorgeous hue of purple, think about three things. One: where you need to correct (under-eye area, around your nose, eyes). Two: what you need to correct (dark shadows, yellow tones, redness). Three: the proper shades you need to use to get the job done.
After you've mentally noted problem areas during a thorough examination under natural light, head to the makeup aisle. As you walk the aisles, keep in mind that the fairness/deepness of your skin tone plays a role in which color correcting shades will work best for you. Fair skinned ladies will see maximum results with the palest shades of colored concealers. Pastel pinks, yellows, greens, and purples are your friend. Think Easter, not Halloween when you reach for a concealer. For medium to olive skin, a smidge darker than pastel compliments you the most. And finally, where a pale skinned lady would use a light pink, deeper skin tones should choose orangey-pink hues. This same logic applies to the other colors. The darker your skin, the darker the hue you need.
Concealer Art: 101
Think back to your mental evaluation of your skin. What did you notice? Dark circles, pesky acne, dull fatigue? Here’s where Art: 101 comes into play. Understanding colored concealers has a lot to do with understanding the basic nature of the color wheel. In elementary school, we learned about complementary colors- colors that sit across from each other on the color wheel. Complementary colors cancel one another out. And that’s all you need to remember from art class: colors across from each other on the color wheel will cancel out.
Green Concealers
Red and green are complementary colors. So the top-choice color to cancel out annoying acne is not a skin-toned concealer, it’s a green hue that plays well with your natural complexion. Green neutralizes red spots creating an even base for your foundation. For widespread acne, sunburn, or rosacea, a green primer is the better way to reduce redness across the whole surface of your face.
Purple and Pink Concealers
Purple, lavender, and lilac concealers are appropriate for eradicating unwanted yellow undertones. Shades of purple will brighten dull skin, yielding a youthful glow.
Pink concealers are terrific for fair skin. Think more salmon or peach than pink, but nonetheless, these colors cancel out brown and dark spots. “This particular concealer color is a mixture of red, orange, and yellow hues, which are across from the blue, purple, and green hues on the color wheel. That’s why this color is best to combat dark under eye circles.”
Yellow and Orange Concealers
Yellow concealers are the catch all color. They even out blues and purples giving your skin an even base for foundation. Yellow also covers bruising, veins, and dark under eye circles.
Lighter skin tones should stray away from orange color correctors. This color has the greatest effect on darker skin tones hiding dark circles and deep discoloration.
Applying Concealer
For small areas, apply your tinted moisturizer or foundation before dabbing on a color correcting concealer. This will decrease the amount of product you will use in the long run! If you are opting for smaller areas, apply the concealer by lightly patting it on with clean fingers. Your warm fingers will help the color blend in seamlessly with your complexion. For wider spread issues, consider using a colored tinted moisturizer. This way the color you need is applied as a base over your entire face.
A lot of work goes into choosing the right concealer for you, but once you have the right color, it is smooth sailing. You apply it like a normal concealer, so there are no new tricks to learn! Would you consider playing with these color correctors, or are you forever sticking to your tried and true skin-colored concealer?