Back to Basics: How To Use Color Correcting Concealer

A common question I get asked is “Hey Kelly, What is up with weird colored concealer like purple and green?”. We’ve all seen the mysterious creatures at the drugstore and at some point tried to imagine a world in which we had purple skin. These are color correcting concealers!

These oddly colored concealers when used properly can be incredibly powerful tools to hide those flaws and get your flawless face!

Find out how and why to use those wonky colored concealers!

 

What’s the big idea?

Color correction concealer works on the same basic color theory used by a photographer or artist.

Look at a color wheel and then move straight across to the opposite side. The color on the opposite side of the color wheel is it’s complimentary color.

Red likes to hang out with green, even when it’s not Christmas. Violet and yellow like to have tea parties when you’re not looking.

Every color has it’s complimentary partner and this is what will help you decide which color of corrective concealer is right for your problem!

 

How do you choose the right color?

The first step is admitting there is a problem! Ask yourself what you’re trying to correct, then use a complimentary color of concealer to correct it. The shade and intensity of colored concealer you should use varies based on your skin tone. It should be the right color to blend into your skin almost seemlessly while still covering it’s intended imperfection.

Here’s a handly little guide!

Green: Will neutralize reds and is great for covering things like acne, rosacea, birthmarks, etc

Blue and Purple: Will help to neutralize an orangey or yellow imperfections and can brighten many skintones. 

Yellow: Is great for brightening the pinker skin and creating a glow. It also helps to neutralize pink blemishes and hide blue veins or dark circles.

Orange: Helps to conceal more intense dark circles and also works great on freckles, age spots, or hyper-pigmentation.

Pink: Brightens skin and softens olive tones

 

How do I  use the concealer?

This is one of those situations where a little goes a long way! Similar to the application of a normal concealer keeping in mind the size and shape of what you’re covering. Apply just a dab on the problem areas with your finger or a concealer brush and blend well.

 

What product should I choose?

There is literally hundreds upon hundreds of possible options for color correction concealers. I recommend getting one that comes in a palette with several colors. You have all of your bases covered in any situation!

Regardless of what brand you choose remember, you should choose quality products particularly in the case of your base. You want your concealer to blend like a dream and cover what you need covered, for as long as you need it covered. Try out a few shades and find out what works for your skin tone!

 

What product do you use?

My personal favorite color correcting concealer palette right not is the Lise Watier Portfolio Professional Correctors palette. It comes with 5 shades (Green, Lilac, Brown, Yellow Beige, and Ivory). Of course the quality is fantastic as are most Lise Watier products I’ve tried.

What I like most about the Portfolio Professional Correctors palette is it’s versatility. In addition to the most common green, purple, and yellow color correcting concealers it also has the ivory and brown. Those two color additions make’s this palette an all in one concealing and contouring solution for me.

You can pick this concealer up for $31.00 (It lasts for a CRAZY long time!) on Lise Watier’s site at http://www.lisewatier.us

A touch of green on any acne, yellow beige on any bluish spots, a little lilac at the top of my cheek bones,  brown just under the cheekbones for some contour, and ivory under the eyes and in the corners of the nose. Apply the rest of the makeup as normal. Perfection!

Color correcting concealer is super easy to use! I think you’ll find the effect dramatic and fantastic! That silly color wheel, he knows everything!