For Quick Alerts
ALLOW NOTIFICATIONS  
For Daily Alerts

Correctors – The Right Shade For Each Skin Tone

Here are details on how to choose the right corrector as per your skin tone. Read here to know all about how correctors work.

By Sindhuja Shekhawat

Makeup starts with the skin; and to make skin look effortlessly beautiful is a daunting task. To start with, no face is blemish free. Even if you are lucky not to be having a single acne scar, you are bound to have dark circles because of one reason or another.

Concealers may cover some problems but not all, especially dark circles. Those tired dark rings around the eyes find their way to peak through any amount of makeup.

When to apply correctors

How to avoid the raccoon eye? How to deal with the stubborn dark spots and redness?

Well, here is where colour correction comes to the rescue! It is a technique used by makeup artists for decades now. It is based on the colour wheel theory that the colours which lie opposite to each other cancel each other out.

Correctors are applied before putting on a concealer and foundation. It is used to hide imperfections in the skin that concealers alone cannot. We all want that flawless look, don't we? That's where correctors serve this purpose as explained below.

How Do Correctors Work

Correctors basically create an optical illusion. As mentioned earlier, the colours opposite to each other on a colour wheel offset each other. Thus, placing a pigment that lies opposite on a colour wheel, to the colour of the blemish or dark spot, creates the illusion of an even skin tone.

It is a technique that has long been used by makeup artists. Until recently, this secret was confined to makeup artistry, but now it's out and a wide range of correcting formulas are now available in the market.

Correctors According To Skin Tone

Fair Skin

When to apply correctors

Fair skin is often troubled by redness. This skin type lies on the cool side of the undertone spectrum. Blue and green correctors work best in hiding the redness. Blue goes well with cool undertones and green lies in the neutral zone. In order to deal with dark circles, people with fair skin should ideally use a pastel pink corrector, although very light, peach shades may work too.

Light Skin

When to apply correctors

Peach correctors work wonders for this skin type. Be it dark circles or discolourations, this is the go-to shade for colour correction. In order to correct redness, use a pastel orange corrector. Since this skin type leans towards the warmer side of the undertone spectrum, so anything orange based works better than something pink or blue based.

Medium Skin

When to apply correctors

Orange correctors for dark circles and green correctors for redness are recommended, although green needs to be used in moderation. Overuse of green can make the skin look ashy, especially for those that have olive undertones. Olive skin works better with yellow and orange correctors.

Dark Skin

When to apply correctors

Red covers the dark circles best on dark skin. Orange may also work. Never use a blue or a green corrector on dark skin, as it will make it appear dull and lifeless.

How To Use Correctors?

Correctors are basically applied for spot correction. After prepping the skin with a moisturiser and primer, apply the right shade of corrector on the problem spots. Follow up with a concealer and foundation.

When to apply correctors

Mistakes To Avoid When Using Correctors

1. Do not layer on the product like you would in the case of a concealer. Dab just the required amount on the problem area and blend in. Too much of it will show through the makeup.

2. There usually are different tones available for each shade of the correctors. For example, you may find a dense red corrector as well as a sheer one. In most cases, depending on the skin type and the skin issue, one will be the right choice and the other might not work. This is a common mistake that people make. Figuring out what colour to use is not enough. You need to try out a few different formulas to figure which works best for your skin.

3. What works for one person might not work for another, even though they have the same skin tone. Colour corrector is one such product which requires a considerable amount of trial and error to get right. Using the wrong shade might even enhance the problem.

When to apply correctors

Difference Between A Concealer And Corrector

Although they are used for the same purpose, concealers and correctors work in very different ways. Concealer covers the problem, whereas corrector balances it out. The advantages and disadvantages of correctors vis-a-vis concealers are as follows:

Neutralization Vs Coverage

A corrector neutralizes the problem by balancing out the colour. A concealer covers the problem. Although both work fine, colour correction does not require any touch-ups.

Application

When it comes to application, colour correction can be tricky as compared to applying a concealer. The corrector needs to be blended in right or it might make you look like you fell off a carnival float. Concealer, on the other hand, is relatively easy to apply. Even if you make a mistake in the application, your face will look blotchy which can be managed with some translucent powder.

Selecting The Right Shade

Again, quite tricky with colour correctors. A lot of hits and misses go into finding the right shades for you, whereas concealer shades can be selected easily. Moreover, a wrong shade of concealer can be rectified by layering on a darker or lighter shade, as the need be.

Finish

Correctors win this one, as they give a natural and flawless finish if applied correctly. Concealers, even after perfect application, tend to give a cakey finish.

To conclude, colour correctors are definitely a makeup essential to invest in. Once you master the application process, this technique will become an integral part of your makeup routine.

Story first published: Wednesday, May 10, 2017, 20:09 [IST]
Read more about: skin