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If you notice a few spots of discoloration after applying a full face of makeup, one of the best color correctors will offset them in a pinch. Maybe the bags under your eyes are betraying a full night's rest or you're experiencing a bout of hyperpigmentation, but whatever the reason, achieving your desired complexion goals is within reach. Addressing these variations in your complexion can't always be solved with concealer or foundation, but that's where a great color corrector—and knowing how to use it properly—comes into play.
Our Top Picks:
- Best Overall: MAC Studio Fix Conceal & Correct Palette, $40
- Best for Mature Skin: Givenchy Prisme Libre Skin-Caring Corrector, $39
- The Editor Favorite: Huda Beauty #FauxFilter Color Corrector, $30
- Best Concealer Hybrid: Bobbi Brown Skin Corrector Stick, $35
- Best Luxury: Chanel Le Correcteur de Chanel Colour Concealer, $45
- Best Color Corrector Palette: Stila Correct and Perfect All-In-One Color Correcting Palette, $45
- Best Color Corrector for Redness: Smashbox Photo Finish Correct Anti-Redness Primer, $42
- Best Cream Formula: Charlotte Tilbury Magic Vanish! Color Corrector, $32
- Best Color Corrector for Dark Circles: Nars Radiant Creamy Color Corrector, $30
- Best Color Corrector with SPF: Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30, $54
Unlike a concealer that matches your skin tone, color correctors approach discoloration with color theory. "Color corrector is used to neutralize deep pigmentation, whereas concealer is great for covering dark circles and blemishes," says Mali Thomas, a global artist in residence for Bobbi Brown who has worked with Kelly Rowland, Tiffany Haddish, and more of your favorite celebrities. Consider color correctors as an advanced treatment to meet your needs when the coverage you're looking for isn't attainable through your typical complexion products.
Sure, using color corrector can feel intimidating at first, but don't fret—it's all just Art 101. To get started, read on to learn all about color theory, how to effectively apply color correctors, expert recommendations, and Allure's ultimate favorites below.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How to choose the right color corrector
- How to apply color corrector
- Meet the experts
- How we test and review products
- Our staff and testers
Best Overall: MAC Studio Fix Conceal & Correct Palette
Why It's Worth It: MAC's Studio Fix Conceal & Correct Palette is a staple in many pro artists' kits, including Jaikaran's. We've seen it on set, backstage at fashion weeks, and on celebrities being prepped for the red carpet. This makeup artist go-to can conceal blemishes, dark spots, and even tattoos, all white containing antioxidants like vitamins C and E to brighten and protect skin. It's a one-stop shop featuring four concealer shades and two correctors tailored to tackle discoloration from the inside out. You'll have the freedom to custom mix the ideal match for your skin all year round, like a true artist.
Editor Tip: Apply light layers to build up your desired coverage. "Color corrector is often the same consistency and coverage level as a concealer—which means a little goes a long way," advises Jaikaran.
Key Ingredients: Beeswax, silica, vitamin C, vitamin E | Who It's For: Anyone looking to save space in their makeup bag | Finish: Natural, demi-matte | Available Shades: 6 (Light to Extra Deep)
Best for Mature Skin: Givenchy Prisme Libre Skin-Caring Corrector
Why It's Worth It: Not only does the Givenchy Prisme Libre Skin-Caring Corrector look like luxury, but its thin, hydrating texture feels like it, too. Kirin Bhatty, a makeup artist based in Los Angeles and New York City, prefers a liquid consistency similar to this for dry and mature skin. "I choose emollient and liquid formulas so they won't settle into fine lines like a dryer, solid corrector would," she shares. Designed with skin care in mind, this lightweight formula contains glycerin to keep skin hydrated for all-day wear—sans cracking and caking. Three shades (Green, Peach, and Blue) minimize redness, conceal dark circles, and brighten your overall complexion.
Editor Tip: The lavender blue helps brighten dull complexions. "Sallow yellow skin needs a lavender to balance and even the skin out," says Jaikaran.
Key Ingredients: Plant-based glycerin, capucine extract | Who It's For: Anyone with dry skin | Finish: Natural, radiant | Available Shades: 3
The Editor Favorite: Huda Beauty #FauxFilter Color Corrector
Why It's Worth It: "If I need to fake a full night's rest, this would be the color corrector I would reach for," says Allure contributor Kat Suico. This creamy formula can be sheered out or layered to cover the darkest under eyes, or sins from the night before. Available in seven shades, founder Huda Kattan kept all undertones in mind when developing Huda Beauty's #FauxFilter Color Corrector. As opposed to other correctors, which usually only come in three skin tone options, Kattan categorized these shades as cool and warm, making the range customizable to your unique complexion needs. "Having a variety of shades available in color correctors is one of the first things I look for, makeup artist Jalessa Jaikaran points out, adding that this formula is a go-to of hers. "The shades and the texture give coverage without looking heavy," Jaikaran adds.
Editor Tip: For an even brighter under eye, try one of the newer pink-toned shade extensions, Cherry Blossom or Lychee, for a subtle pinky finish that blends seamlessly into blush.
Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, vitamin C | Who It's For: Full-coverage lovers | Finish: Satin, demi-matte | Available Shades: 7
Best Concealer Hybrid: Bobbi Brown Skin Corrector Stick
Why It's Worth It: As one of Thomas's go-to products, this portable stick acts as a combined color corrector and concealer in one swipe. Its inclusive, 12-color shade range means that a vast selection of undertones is available to camouflage dark spots. Made with coffee seed extract, it will literally wake up your under eyes, while the addition of salicornia (a type of succulent) provides moisture. For extra coverage, you can easily layer your concealer of choice on top without causing any caking or heaviness.
Editor Tip: Because this cream formula comes in a tube, it's easily portable and is fabulous for touchups.
Key Ingredients: Coffee seed extract, salicornia | Who It's For: People on the go who need a convenient way to perk up and spot-treat, ASAP | Finish: Natural | Available Shades: 12
Best Luxury: Chanel Le Correcteur de Chanel Colour Concealer
Why It's Worth It: Life's all about the little things, like how all you need is a tiny dot of Chanel's Le Correcteur de Chanel Colour Concealer to instantly conceal redness, dark circles, you name it. This tube of cream color corrector is available in four shades to address discoloration concerns without giving skin a cakey or ashy finish. Its buildable gel-texture formula sits comfortably on skin for hours on end without creasing, and each tube is filled with soft-focus pigments that give your complexion a slightly blurred, filter-like finish.
Editor Tip: Finding the right shade for your makeup routine can get tricky, so let us break it down for you. The light green shade, Vert, neutralizes the look of redness, while light pink Rose illuminates and brightens dullness. The warmer tones, Abricot and Pêche, are both made for brightening the look of dark circles, but the former is for deeper skin tones while the latter is for lighter tones.
Key Ingredients: Soft-focus pigments, glycerin | Who It's For: Anyone looking for lightweight, buildable coverage | Finish: Natural | Available Shades: 4
Best Color Corrector Palette: Stila Correct and Perfect All-In-One Color Correcting Palette
Why It's Worth It: The beauty of Stila's Correct and Perfect All-In-One Color Correcting Palette is that it features just about every shade of color-correcting concealer you'd possibly need, regardless of skin tone. This seven-pan palette features a variety of demi-matte shades, including a blendable, cream-based green color corrector for addressing redness and a translucent purple powder for neutralizing sallowness, to even out any and all of your tone and textural concerns.
Editor Tip: Wondering why there are two beige tones in this palette? The pink cream is meant to concealer under-eye circles for fair skin tones while the darker peach shade blends perfectly into darker skin tones.
Key Ingredients: Vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E | Who It's For: Anyone, regardless of skin tone | Finish: Demi-matte | Available Shades: 7 (5 creams, 2 powders)
Best Color Corrector for Redness: Smashbox Photo Finish Correct Anti-Redness Primer
Why It's Worth It: Smashbox's primers are all worth the hype and are no strangers to accolades, as a few of them (Primerizer+ Super Hydrating and Control Mattifying) have picked up a Best of Beauty Award. However, Correct is stellar for canceling out redness, thanks to its greenish hue and a soothing blend of hyaluronic acid, algae, rose, and mushroom. Plus, algae and mushroom guard your complexion against blue light and pollution. Bhatty considers this green primer a staple for correcting pre-makeup and calls it very effective—we love to hear it.
Editor Tip: If redness isn't your main concern Smashbox offers three other formulas: Primerizer+ (a triple hyaluronic acid-infused formula for dry skin), Illuminate (a radiant-finish formula that offsets uneven texture with the help of superfine peachy-gold pearls), and Control (a mattifying formula injected with salicylic acid, witch hazel, and zinc for oily, shine-prone skin). Resurface is the latest addition and contains 3.5% glycolic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid that boosts cell turnover—resulting in a brighter, more even complexion, while also providing a blurring finish and gripping power for makeup.
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, algae, rose, mushroom, Lactobacillus ferment | Who It's For: People with sensitive, irritation-prone skin | Finish: Satin | Available Shades: 5 (including the other iterations mentioned above)
Best Cream Formula: Charlotte Tilbury Magic Vanish! Color Corrector
Why It's Worth It: This beginner-friendly Charlotte Tilbury Magic Vanish! Color Corrector is a buttery-smooth formula that's portable and comes with a little mirror for touchups. "It's easy to apply and has the texture and coverage similar to a potted concealer," notes Bhatty, who keeps this in her professional kit. There are four orangish-red shades meant for light, light/medium, and deep skin tones, all of which are infused with mica for a silky-smooth finish and flavanoids to help reduce the look of under eye puffiness.
Editor Tip: This creamy formula comes in a small pan and is best applied with your own fingers, thanks in part to its buttery texture made with carnauba wax.
Key Ingredients: Flavanoids, carnauba wax, vitamin E | Who It's For: People who want to address dark circles and puffiness in a pinch | Finish: Natural | Available Shades: 4
Best Color Corrector for Dark Circles: Nars Radiant Creamy Color Corrector
Why It's Worth It: Tioseco calls the Radiant Creamy Color Corrector her "absolute favorite for the under eyes." Not only does this Nars option come in a range of red hues for all complexions, but it also includes micropowders that fill fine lines for a smoother look, which is why it's so ideal for layering makeup. Bhatty is also a fan of this formula and says "If you are a sheer-coverage person, this is a wonderful tool."
Editor Tip: Because this corrector is "thin enough to where it blends seamlessly into the skin but dries down [quickly]," Tioseco says putting concealer on top is "a breeze." We recommend pairing with Nars' Readers' Choice Award-winning Radiant Creamy Concealer.
Key Ingredients: White water lily, red spiderling flower extract, glycerin | Who It's For: People who normally wear base makeup | Finish: Radiant | Available Shades: 4
Best Color Corrector with SPF: Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30
Why It's Worth It: This green-to-beige formula, Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30, has made its rounds on TikTok time and time again, especially for those who want to skip base makeup altogether. In the long run, it treats inflammation, irritation, or discomfort that causes redness—thanks to the herbal plant extract Centella asiatica leaf water.
Editor Tip: For a more serum-like finish, Dr. Jart+'s Cicapair Tiger Grass Camo Drops Color Corrector SPF 35 is an excellent choice. Simply add two to three drops to clean, moisturized skin and watch the green-to-beige formula melt into your complexion for a dewy finish. FYI: Both Cicapair products contain mineral sunscreen filters (zinc and titanium oxide).
Key Ingredients: Centella asiatica leaf water, zinc oxide, titanium oxide, glycerin, niacinamide | Who It's For: People who want a one-and-done product | Finish: Natural | Available Shades: 1
Best Multitasking Formula: Live Tinted Huestick Corrector
Why It's Worth It: We love a product with range, especially one that glides on as easily as this does. While you could use the Best of Beauty-winning Live Tinted Huestick for dark, blueish areas, it also acts as a four-in-one eye, lip, and cheek multistick. Chock-full of hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, squalane, and vitamin E, the Huestick Corrector has a soft, semi-matte finish that won’t look cakey. It also introduces a dose of vitamin C to help brighten dark spots over time.
Editor Tip: You can blend out the pigment with your (clean!) fingers or, as associate news editor Gabi Thorne prefers, use a concealer brush. "Everyone blended out so easily and I also loved that I could control how much product I added with the stick's pointed tip," she said in her review.
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, squalane, vitamin E, vitamin C | Who It's For: People who love a true makeup-skin-care hybrid product and/or want to streamline their routine | Finish: Semi-matte | Available Shades: 5
Best Color-Correcting Primer: Make Up For Ever Step 1 Primer Color Corrector
Why It's Worth It: Make Up For Ever's Step 1 Primer Color Corrector is basically the Swiss army knife of primers. As it locks your makeup in place for up to 24 hours, this formula instantly conceals the look of hyperpigmentation, dark circles, and acne scars to create a more even canvas for the rest of your makeup regimen.
Editor Tip: Sure, this is technically a primer, but this product's color-neutralizing effects work just as well on bare skin. Feel free to apply a small amount of this formula on your no-makeup days for sheer, tone-evening coverage.
Key Ingredients: Silica, dimethicone, glycerin, panthenol | Who It's For: Anyone who wears makeup for up to 24 hours | Finish: Natural | Available Shades: 6
Best for Deeper Skin Tones: Danessa Myricks Colorfix in Carrot Top
Why It's Worth It: Thomas recommends correctors in "deep warm tones (preferably deep orange) for women of color to mask hyperpigmentation." And if you've ever spent time on Danessa Myricks's Instagram watching her mesmerizing tutorials on how to apply her Best of Beauty-winning Colorfix tubes, you know it is a workhorse of a product that can be used across eyes, lips, and cheeks. The shade Carrot Top, in particular, is extremely popular as a color corrector for deeper complexions.
Editor Tip: Since this is a fast-drying formula, you'll have to work (and blend) quickly. If you'd prefer applying with a brush or mixing the corrector with your concealer or foundation, we recommend investing in a blending palette (we like About-Face or Beautyblender's).
Key Ingredients: Carnauba wax, mica | Who It's For: Anyone with deeper skin struggling to find a match | Finish: Matte | Available Shades: 25 matte (not all can be used for color-correcting)
The TikTok Darling: Tarte Shape Tape Corrector
Why It's Worth It: We all know and love Tarte's Shape Tape family, especially the concealers, so it was only a matter of time before Tarte Tape Shape Correctors were introduced. This range of correctors boasts full coverage and a plethora of uses beyond your typical redness-canceling. For example, Yellow (pictured) offsets dullness and neutralizes mild redness, while white can be used on its own or mixed with your foundation to brighten the complexion.
Editor Tip: Use the blue corrector to neutralize orange tones in too-warm foundations.
Key Ingredients: Amazonian clay, hyaluronic acid, prickly pear, ginseng, squalane, licorice root extract | Who It's For: People who love all things Shape Tape (and a classic doe-foot applicator) | Finish: Natural | Available Shades: 9
Best Drugstore Palette: Nyx Professional Makeup Color Correcting Palette
Why It's Worth It: Six shades for less than $15? We'll gladly sign up for Nyx Professional Makeup's Color Correcting Palette, which includes a rainbow of pigments to tone down the look of discoloration concerns. Its six buildable shades can be layered to effortlessly conceal the look of a variety of concerns at once, and their flexible pigments transparently blend onto a wide range of skin tones.
Editor Tip: Got a trip coming up? This travel-friendly palette is TSA-acceptable, so feel free to throw this pick in your carry-on.
Key Ingredients: Beeswax, dimethicone | Who It's For: Anyone who wants high-quality color-correcting creams on a budget. | Finish: Natural | Available Shades: 1 (additional concealer palettes available in Light, Medium, and Deep)
Best Under-$10 Color Corrector: L.A. Girl Pro Conceal HD Concealer
Why It's Worth It: You can't go wrong with a single-digit price tag, especially when that product is approved TikTok's own Mikayla Nogueira, who uses L.A. Girl's Pro Conceal HD Concealer to address red spots. In her video, she suggests using a small, dense brush to tap the green concealer into the areas you want to neutralize, setting it with loose powder, and then going over with your regular, skin-tone concealer before applying foundation.
Editor Tip: The full range includes 33 additional shades so you can pick up a complementary concealer formula for the same price.
Key Ingredients: Beeswax, mica, vitamin E, sodium hyaluronate | Who It's For: People on a budget who still want full coverage | Finish: Natural | Available Shades: 10
Frequently Asked Questions
How to choose a color corrector
Jen Tioseco, a makeup artist behind the faces of Madelaine Petsch and Zoey Deutch, says to apply the basics of color theory when choosing a proper color corrector for your concerns. "Skip the lipstick trick you've seen on TikTok and grab a product specifically formulated for the task." Van Troung, a New York City-based makeup artist & founder of Artist Kit Company, is truly an expert on the subject. He custom-mixes primary colors (red, blue, and yellow) for his clients for perfectly tailored color-correcting shades.
His best advice for non-makeup artists? "The best approach is to take a selfie straight on in front of a window, which allows you to evaluate what you are trying to correct closely," he explains. "Then, you can refer to a color wheel and choose the opposite color," which Troung says will help you cancel out the problem area.
For example, "Using a peach corrector underneath the eye will neutralize any blue discoloration underneath the eyes that can sometimes peek through if you just use concealer," says Tioseco. "Same thing [goes] for extra redness—green is the opposite [of] red on the color wheel and will neutralize redness caused by rosacea or blemishes," Tioseco adds.
How to apply color corrector
Because color correctors come in tones of greens, peaches, and reds, the application process is not for the faint-hearted and should be applied with discretion. Gently pat your corrector onto unwanted tones after skin care but before concealer or foundation. "A common mistake I've noticed is the use of too much product," Thomas notes. "Only use color correctors in areas where there is discoloration to create a more natural canvas." Tioseco echoes the same sentiments: "When using a color corrector less is more—remember the more corrector you use, the more concealer/foundation is needed to cover it!" To avoid heavy coverage, "it's essential to use products with the right texture for the area you’re correcting," Troung advises.
For really dark under eyes, "I do a layer of corrector and then the peach or yellow-toned concealer on top," suggests Bhatty. Layering is key when covering larger areas like bruises or tattoos. "Start by using a dry sponge to press the product lightly into the skin, Troung suggests. (Brushes may move the product around, making it difficult to achieve maximum coverage.) "Allow it time to dry, then go over it again with a second layer until you are satisfied with the coverage," says Troung, before topping it with powder to ensure longer wear.
Meet the experts
- Mali Thomas, a makeup artist and global artist in residence for Bobbi Brown
- Jalessa Jaikaran, a makeup artist and content creator based in New York City
- Kirin Bhatty, a makeup artist based in Los Angeles and New York City
- Jen Tioseco, a makeup artist based in Los Angeles and New York City
- Van Troung, a makeup artist based in New York City and founder of Artist Kit Company
How we test and review products
Before reviewing any makeup, we ask questions about a number of factors: What ingredients are in it? Does the brand offer a wide shade range inclusive of consumers with all skin tones and undertones? Is it safe for readers who have sensitive skin or wear contact lenses? Is it on the affordable side or more of a splurge? Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?
For our review of the best color correctors, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and makeup artists to review the products. This ensures our testing base spans different skin tones, genders, and dermatological conditions. We considered each product's performance across four primary categories: ingredients, wear and longevity, packaging, and inclusivity. For more on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors — in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon — is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
Now, read about more makeup products we love:
- The 15 Best Skin Tints for Sheer, Glowy Coverage in Seconds
- The Best Pressed Powders to Sweep Away Shine & Lock in Makeup
- The 11 Best Bronzer Sticks for Instant Glow and Warmth
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