Skin Health Magazine Issue #11 / Spring 2019 | Page 13

HOW TO...
Colour-Correct Your Complexion
R
edness, dark circles, pimples, discol-
ouration. Complexion concerns you
would rather minimise than show
off, right? If you still notice these pesky
imperfections peeking through your foun-
dation and concealer, it might be time to use
the technique of colour-correction.
Much like you did back in art class at school,
colour-correcting your skin is based around
colour theory, where different shades are used
to create a more uniform and perfected com-
plexion. Colour correctors come in many shades
and are blended into problem areas to help
neutralise and reduce the appearance of under-
tones that can make the face look blotchy and
tired. Traditionally, colour correctors come in
cream or liquid form and are blended into clean
skin before your foundation and concealer. Before
you try the technique on yourself, here’s our
cheat sheet to help you colour-correct like a pro.
Transfer this to your make-up bag and this
means that green neutralises redness in the skin,
making it the perfect colour corrector for those
prone to breakouts and inflamed skin. Ideal for
fair and light skin tones, green visibly calms
your complexion and, when paired with a good
concealer, helps to keep it looking balanced all
day and night. Just don’t overdo it as you could
end up looking a little ill.
Yellow
If you have medium skin or a warm-toned
complexion, yellow is the shade to neutralise
redness in your skin. Perfect for rosy cheeks
and angry blemishes, yellow counteracts inflam-
mation to make your skin appear even and
calm. It can also be used to brighten darkness
under the eyes, as long as your dark circles
aren’t too blue or purple in tone. For extra
protection against redness throughout the day,
pair your yellow colour-corrector with a yel-
low-toned setting powder.
Purple
Purple lifts sallow tones and counteracts dull-
ness, making it the perfect shade to use on tired
complexions. This ability to subtly brighten and
illuminate the skin is why many primers contain
lilac pigments; by illuminating the skin before
make-up, you rely less on the coverage of a foun-
dation to make your complexion appear more
youthful. When using a purple corrector, apply
it to the most sallow areas of the face, such as
underneath the eyes and on the cheeks, to awaken
the skin and hide any signs of tiredness.
Green
If you remember your colour theory lessons,
green is opposite red on the colour wheel.
Orange
Dark circles and discolouration are some of
the trickiest imperfections to hide effectively,
but an orange colour-corrector can work
wonders. Different shades of orange balance
blue and purple tones in the skin, making
them less noticeable and easier to disguise
with foundation. For light and fair skin tones,
opt for pale peach instead of a warm orange
and blend it into problem areas for instant
lift. For dark and deep skin tones, a rich
orange or red will cancel out pigmentation in
the skin, so blend it into problem areas such
as under the eyes and around the mouth for
best results.
ISSUE #11 | 2019 | SkinHealthMagazine.com 13