Clik here to view.
Just like metallic lips and gemlights, colour correcting is one of the biggest makeup trends on Instagram right now.
Influencers, makeup artists and beauty obsessives alike are stockpiling colour correcting products, from sticks of concealer to full-blown palettes, in the hope that the myriad rainbow tones will mask various skin concerns, such as sun spots, rosacea and dullness to name a few – but getting it right can be no mean feat.
Purple or lavender shades are meant to counteract sallow tones, green is said to blanket redness, peach can potentially cloak blue hues including pigmentation, and yellow adds radiance. Whether you want to apply makeup on top is up to you, but according to the experts, they work better under a little concealer or foundation. But do colour correctors actually do anything or are they just another gimmick?
Ahead, the R29 team give their honest verdict.
Clik here to view.
Jacqueline Kilikita, Beauty Editor
Skin concern: Sallow tones
Colour corrector: Vichy Dermablend Colour Corrector in Purple, £15, available at Vichy
Clik here to view.
Verdict: I have olive skin which sometimes looks sallow around the upper lip, cheeks and chin and it shows through even under a thick layer of foundation. Lavender or purple colour correctors are meant to counteract this, though. This went on like a dream – it’s smooth, lightweight, and application is pretty foolproof with a brush or fingers. Initially, the texture was creamy but it became ever so slightly chalky on the skin. I can't complain, though, because when I applied my foundation over the top (I wear a full face of makeup every day), I looked significantly less washed out. It definitely erased any yellowness, but maybe I won’t use as much next time, because in some areas, I looked a little pink.
Clik here to view.
Nina Joyce, PR Director Europe
Skin concern: Red as hell
Colour corrector: 3ina The Liquid Concealer in 105, £9.95, available at 3ina
Clik here to view.
Verdict: Girl are you my ex-boyfriend? Because this just isn’t working. Credit where it’s due, this did immediately quell some redness, but by mid morning I was looking pretty flush again all over. I'm not sure I see much difference from just using regular concealer and the teeny tiny wand on this makes application more time-consuming. I understand the theory of the Elphaba from Wicked look, but it’s not something I’ll be rushing to try again. I do love the ethical, vegan credentials of the brand though.
Clik here to view.
Dami Khadijah, Strategic Partnerships and Client Services Manager
Skin concern: Dark circles and discolouration around the eyes
Colour corrector: Urban Decay Naked Skin Colour Correcting Fluid in Deep Peach, £19.50, available at Urban Decay
Clik here to view.
The verdict: I've never used a corrector before as I've always believed they were just another marketing ploy. Plus, I’m not a heavy duty makeup user. But after using this corrector on the discolouration around my eyes I noticed it blended in really well and I almost didn't need to use any concealer! I found it blended in better when I used my fingers. I did put quite a bit on, mind (the discolouration is quite significant) but I didn't look orange at all. It's weird – I could use this colour corrector alone and not look crazy. Another good thing about it is that I only had to use a dot of concealer after the first go, so that means I'm saving product, because the right concealer can be so expensive.
Clik here to view.
Georgia Murray, Fashion & Beauty Writer
Skin concern: Rosacea
Colour corrector: NYX Professional Makeup Concealer Wand in Green, £6, available at Boots
Clik here to view.
Verdict: I've never bothered with a colour corrector before, but since being told by a dermatologist that I have mild rosacea on my right cheek, I thought I'd give the red-reducing NYX Concealer Wand in green a go. I applied it on the most aggravated area after my skincare routine and before my coverage, but to be honest I didn't see that much of a difference. Perhaps on more severe redness it would've had an impact. My skincare routine is extensive but my makeup one isn't, so I don't think I'll be adding another step with a colour corrector anytime soon.
Clik here to view.
Casey Bird, Creative Lead Branded Content
Skin concern: Sun spots and yellow tones
Colour corrector: Dior Fix It Colour Blue, £25, available from Dior
Clik here to view.
Verdict: Having spent about four years living in the Middle East in my early 20s, my skin is now seeing the effects of sun damage. More moles on my arms, freckles on my face and sun spots have started to appear in the last year. Damn sun. There are two yellowy-brown pigmented spots on my face which I’m sure no one can actually see, but they make me feel really insecure. I tested Dior's colour corrector, which has a moisturising 'core' but it didn't really do much. The blue actually had a real silvery tone to it that instead made me look like an ice queen from a Disney movie, even though I applied a bit of concealer over the top, and it didn’t cover my sun spots as well as I hoped it would. I tried it on my upper lip where I also sometimes get yellow pigmentation but it looked the same. Oh well!
Clik here to view.
Jazmin Kopotsha, Entertainment Editor
Skin concern: Dark spots and uneven skin tone
Colour corrector: NYX Colour Correcting Liquid Primer in Peach, £10, available at Boots
Clik here to view.
Verdict: Sadly it’s no surprise to anyone when it’s uncovered that yet another beauty product doesn’t sit as well on dark skin as it does on fairer complexions. Colour correctors are a similar story and for that reason I tend to avoid them. Chalky blotches are not fun. I have a few patches where my skin tone is inconsistent and while I enjoyed the smooth, creamy consistency of the liquid (lots of colour correctors can be quite dense while this one can be used as a primer, which is great if you have wider, more generalised areas of problem skin to address), it took quite a lot of layering and blending to avoid that mismatched ashy look. Colour correcting often translates into lightening and brightening, which definitely isn’t always the answer with dark skin. Underneath my usual concealer it looked a bit better, though.
Refinery29's selection is purely editorial and independently chosen – we only feature items we love! As part of our business model we do work with affiliates; if you directly purchase something from a link on this article, we may earn a small amount of commission. Transparency is important to us at Refinery29, if you have any questions please reach out to us.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
How I Went From A Destiny's Child Super-Fan to Braiding Beyoncé's Hair in Vogue
How To Work Out Which Level Of Sun Protection You Should Be Using