Colour correction is one of those makeup techniques that sounds complicated but is actually straightforward once you understand the basics. The idea is simple: opposite colours on the colour wheel cancel each other out. So if you have redness, you apply green. Dark circles? You apply orange or peach. Sallowness? You apply purple or lavender. In this guide, we break down every colour corrector, what it does, and how to use it seamlessly before your concealer and foundation.
What Is Colour Correction?
Colour correction is the step that happens before concealer and foundation. It uses tinted pigments in specific hues to neutralise discolouration on the skin. Once the discolouration is neutralised, your concealer and foundation sit more evenly and you need significantly less product to achieve a flawless finish.
Think of it as priming your canvas before you paint — the right base makes everything on top perform better.
The Colour Wheel: The Foundation of Colour Correcting
The key principle: colours opposite each other on the colour wheel cancel each other out.
- Green cancels red
- Orange/Peach cancels blue and purple (dark circles, bruising)
- Purple/Lavender cancels yellow and sallowness
- Yellow cancels purple and blue tones on fair skin
- Pink brightens dull or ashy fair skin
Green Colour Corrector: For Redness and Acne
Green is the most widely used colour corrector because redness is one of the most common skin concerns — whether from acne, rosacea, post-inflammatory marks, or general flushing.
How to use it:
- Apply a small amount of green corrector directly to red areas only — not the whole face
- Tap gently with a finger or the tip of a Concealer Brush to blend edges
- Do not rub — this moves the product and reduces coverage
- Apply concealer on top once the corrector is set
- Finish with foundation and set with powder
Best for: Acne marks, rosacea, broken capillaries, general redness
Orange and Peach Colour Corrector: For Dark Circles
Dark circles are caused by the bluish-purple pigmentation visible through the thin skin under the eye. Orange and peach correctors — which sit opposite blue and purple on the colour wheel — neutralise this pigmentation before concealer is applied.
Which shade to choose:
- Deep skin tones: Use a true orange corrector — the deeper the skin, the more pigment you need to cancel out
- Medium skin tones: Use a peach-orange corrector
- Fair skin tones: Use a light peach or salmon corrector — orange can look too intense on very fair skin
How to use it:
- Apply a small amount under the eye using a Small Concealer Brush for precision
- Tap (never drag) to blend into the skin
- Set lightly with translucent powder before applying concealer on top
Purple and Lavender Colour Corrector: For Sallowness and Dullness
Sallow skin — that yellow, tired-looking tone that makes skin appear unwell — is neutralised by purple and lavender tones. This corrector is especially popular for brightening fair to medium skin that looks dull or jaundiced.
How to use it:
- Mix a tiny amount into your moisturiser or primer for an all-over brightening effect
- Or apply directly to dull areas (forehead, around the mouth) and blend with a Blending Brush
- Follow with foundation as normal
Best for: Sallow, yellow-toned, or dull skin. Also excellent for brightening fair to medium skin tones overall.
Yellow Colour Corrector: For Bruising and Purple Tones on Fair Skin
Yellow correctors work similarly to orange but are better suited for lighter skin tones with mild bruising, veins, or subtle purple discolouration.
- Apply directly to the discoloured area and blend gently outward
- Ideal for concealing bruises from injections (lip filler, botox) or under-eye veins on pale skin
Pink Colour Corrector: For Ashiness and Dullness on Fair Skin
Pink correctors add warmth and radiance to very fair or cool-toned skin that looks grey or ashy. They work by counteracting the grey-ash tones that can make fair skin look washed out under artificial lighting.
How to Apply Colour Corrector: Step by Step
- Start with clean, moisturised skin — colour corrector applies most evenly on a hydrated base
- Apply primer — this helps everything grip and last longer
- Apply colour corrector — use a targeted brush for precision and tap to blend
- Set lightly — a very light dusting of translucent powder helps the corrector stay put
- Apply concealer — gently tap concealer on top, do not rub
- Apply foundation — stipple or press foundation over the area rather than swiping
- Set with powder — use a Powder Brush to set the whole face
Common Colour Correction Mistakes
- Using too much product — colour correctors are highly pigmented; a small amount goes a very long way
- Applying all over the face — use correctors only where you actually have discolouration
- Rubbing instead of tapping — rubbing moves the product and blends it into surrounding skin, reducing effectiveness
- Skipping the setting step — without a light set before concealer, the corrector can move and mix with the concealer above it
- Choosing the wrong shade — particularly common with orange correctors; always match intensity to your skin tone
Colour Correcting with the Right Tools
Precision is everything with colour correction — you want to target specific areas without spreading product where it is not needed. These Brittany Cosmetics brushes are ideal:
- Concealer Brush — for targeted application on larger areas like cheeks or forehead
- Small Concealer Brush — for precision under-eye work
- Eye Detail Brush — for tiny spots around the nose and inner corners
- Blending Brush — for blending out edges seamlessly
Completing Your Complexion Look
Once your colour correction is done and set, your skin is the perfect canvas for flawless foundation application. Pair your corrected base with the right complexion products for a truly seamless finish. And when it comes to the rest of your look, the full range of Brittany Cosmetics eyeshadow palettes and Magical Glow Blush will complete your flawless face beautifully.
Final Thoughts
Colour correction is a game-changer for anyone who struggles with uneven skin tone, dark circles, or redness. Once you understand the colour wheel and have the right tools from Brittany Cosmetics, you will wonder how you ever did your makeup without it.
Browse our full brush collection to find the precision tools that make colour correcting effortless.