This Is How You Color-Correct for Different Skin Tones

Against a rich complexion, pastel hues like green or lavender can almost emphasize the appearance of a blemish, making the whole idea behind color-correcting somewhat counterintuitive. Instead, we recommend using colors like deep red, warm apricot, or even orange, all of which do a much better job at canceling out an aggressive pimple, or discoloration in the skin. Red in particular is perfect for neutralizing any green or blue hints, making the shade an ideal remedy for stubborn undereye circles.

• Try: CoverFX Correct Click in Orange, $18; sephora.com.
• Marc Jacobs Cover(t) Stick Color Corrector in Getting Warmer, $42; sephora.com.
• Becca Backlight Targeted Color Corrector in Papaya, $30; sephora.com.

In general, orange and apricot tones will neutralize just about any issue your medium complexion has, but if you want to give your undereye area some extra brightness, we recommend using a yellow shade. The warm hints will instantly lift any lingering shadows, allowing you to use a minimal amount of concealer over the top.

• Try: Giorgio Armani Master Corrector in Orange, $39; nordstrom.com.
• Japonesque Color Correcting Crayon in Yellow, $22; ulta.com.
• Algenist Reveal Concentrated Color Correcting Drops in Apricot, $38; sephora.com.

The fairer the complexion, the deeper you can dive into the pastel territory. A pale pink corrector serves as a one-size-fits-all fix to blur over dark spots, while a lavender shade neutralizes sallow, yellow areas. Both cool and warm complexions alike will benefit from a green hue, which cancels out redness—meaning the time you'd normally spend attempting to conceal a pimple will automatically get cut down by half.

• Try: Urban Decay Naked Skin Correcting Fluid in Lavender, $28; sephora.com.
• Bobbi Brown Corrector in Light Bisque, $23; nordstrom.com.
• YSL Touche Eclat Neutralizer in Green, $38; sephora.com.