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The Best Colour Correctors For Redness, Pigmentation And Dark Circles
A useful guide on how to find the right one for you
If you find your foundation or tinted moisturiser isn't quite delivering on its skin-evening promises, perhaps it's time to try incorporating a colour corrector. They might look daunting at first glance, but a green, purple or peach-tinted cream is useful if you're experiencing hyperpigmentation or dark circles. There are also more nuanced hues to help bring out the best in your complexion.
The best colour correctors to try
- Best for multi-use: MAC Studio Fix Conceal and Correct Palette, £32
- Best for dullness: Erborian CC Dull Correct, £42
- Best for sheer base: Lumene CC Colour Correcting Creme SPF20, £19.90
- Best for redness: Dr. Jart+ Cicapair™ Tiger Grass Colour Correcting Treatment, £19.50
- Best for targeted areas: Jones Road The Neutraliser Pencil, £24
What is a colour corrector and how does it work?
Make-up artist Belinda Chatterton believes these pigmented concealers to be seriously underrated: 'Colour correcting is a really effective way to balance out discolouration on your skin,' she says. 'By using the opposite colour on the colour wheel you can neutralise things like redness, sallowness and dark circles.'
Working on the principles of colour theory, these pastel shades of concealer neutralise unwanted tones in the skin, rather than simply sitting on top of them. They’ll work on pigmentation, redness caused by rosacea or sensitivity, dark circles and even those stubborn lingering acne scars: all you need to do is choose the right hue.
How to find the right colour corrector
When it comes to under-eye bags, the aim is to brighten those grey tones that show through the skin. 'Peach brightens and cancels out darkness and is especially effective under your eyes,' says Chatterton. Deeper reddish tones will help with darker complexions.
With thread veins, spots and acne scars, the aim is to balance out the warm red tones. 'Green is great at neutralising the red in blemishes, rosacea or irritated skin, and purple will brighten and disguise any sallowness or yellowness in your skin,' advises Chatterton.
How to use a colour corrector
Always use sparingly. A tiny amount applied only where needed will do the job, as an overzealous application will leave a dull, chalky result.
Rather than replacing your concealer or foundation, your corrector should work alongside it: apply the corrector before the concealer, blend and give it a few seconds to set before using your skin base.
Who would a colour corrector benefit?
Concealers and foundations formulas have never been better at delivering stellar results, but if you're someone who has very dark circles or experience red patches from sensitivity, acne, or rosacea, a small amount of corrector can help to counteract that colour imbalance. It simply creates a more even canvas before your concealer or base goes on. You'll find that make-up artists often use correctors for runway shows, photoshoots and weddings to achieve a more perfected finish.
How we test colour correctors
Colour correctors should be seamless to blend, so an elegantly-formulated texture is key. We also look at the colour pigments, how it works with various skin tones and whether or not it truly tackles uneven colour tones.
The Best Colour Correctors For Masking Redness and Dark Circles
A classic backstage at fashion week, make-up artists rely on this handy palette to rebalance any uneven patches on the complexion - be it pigmentation, redness, dark circles, sallowness and beyond. In a pinch, this palette can be used to create definition and contour, too.
For complexions with a tendency towards sallowness or dullness, a tiny amount of this lilac corrector will help alleviate the issue. With the texture of a moisturising cream, CC Dull Correct imparts an enlivening glow. Applying too much can make the skin appear grey, so use sparingly, and only where needed, before using your concealer or base.
This CC cream performs like a tinted moisturiser, only with built-in colour-correcting pigments to enliven tired skin. It comes with the brand's signature combination of Nordic lingonberry and Arctic springwater for hydration, plus SPF 20 to protect.
Wear it solo for subtle radiance, or add some dimension to the face with a bit of powder and blush.
Dr.Jart+ Cicapair™ Tiger Grass Colour Correcting Treatment
If you prefer sticking to skincare over make-up but still have stubborn redness that you want to ditch, Dr Jart's cult Tiger Grass Colour Correcting Treatment is your perfect middle ground.
A make-up artist favourite for disguising rosacea, it works brilliantly to unify tone across larger areas of the face, such as rosy cheeks. Use the warmth of your hands to melt the dense cream into skin, and watch as the slightly worrying green tint transforms into a bright, radiant beige.
Jones Road The Neutralizer Pencil
The super creamy stick by revered make-up artist Bobbi Brown is ideal for brightening tired under-eyes and hyperpigmentation anywhere on the face.
It comes in 9 shades with true peach and pink undertones for concealing a range of purple, blue, red, grey, green and brown discolouration. Plus, the finish is natural but effective and doesn't come up ashy.
Rosalique 3 in 1 Anti-Redness Miracle Formula SPF50
This under-the-radar product is a holy grail for so many rosacea-prone people: including one ELLE editor, who wears it every single day. Those in the know simply will not be without it.
The green tinged cream is instantly soothing and contains SPF50 alongside redness-neutralising pigment. Use it sparingly across your entire face, and you might just be tempted to ditch the foundation altogether.
Fenty Beauty Bright Fix Eye Brightener
Trust Fenty to create an under-eye brightener that works on every single skin tone. The brand's Bright Fix Eye Brightener comes in a whole host of peachy tones, so there's bound to be one that balances out your dark circles. It's long-wearing and sweat-proof, so a good option for anyone that needs their make-up to work extra hard.
When beloved beauty brand Becca announced its closure three years ago, loyal fans stockpiled one product in particular: the Under-Eye Brightening Corrector.
Years on, and several brands have attempted to deliver a 'dupe' of this cult product, but in our opinion, only one has truly succeeded. Beauty Pie's Superluminous Under-Eye Genius feels undetectable on skin, yet bounces the light back out from sallow peepers to make all traces of that late night disappear. No concealer needed: simply tap this on to create a wide-awake result with minimal effort.
Givenchy has added a family of colour correctors to its stellar Prisme Libre collection – and boy do they deliver. Satisfyingly creamy and punchy in pigment, they melt into skin to neutralise unwanted tones while adding a brightening, glowy sheen.
Try the lavender for dullness, green for redness, and peach for those pesky dark circles. If you like the glossy finish of the Skin-Caring Glow Foundation, you'll love these.
Bobbi Brown's bisque correctors are designed to blend sallow skin into the background. The intensely creamy stick melts straight in and looks completely undetectable. Layer it up with the corresponding concealer for extra impact, or wear it simply alone as a subtle skin-brightener.
This punchy red colour corrector is the perfect shade for brightening skin tones as the deepest end of the spectrum. Blend it beneath your eyes and around your nose, and try it on patches of dark pigmentation too. The creamy formula manages to deliver picture-perfect results without settling into fine lines.
Medina Azaldin is the beauty editor of ELLE and Harper's Bazaar UK, working across print and digital features. She has more than seven years journalism experience and has previously written for Red and Good Hoousekeeping. When she's not demystifying the latest skincare ingredient, sniffing out the next big perfume trend or uncovering the science behind wellness practices, you'll most likely find her in Hatchards Piccadilly or watching a crime series with her cats. Oh, and she's a competitive cheerleader, too.
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