Fabia Shahzadi
Sometimes a full night of shut-eye just isn’t enough and covering up those humongous dark under eye circles can feel like a losing battle – especially if you’ve somehow managed to escape the beauty world’s latest buzzword in skin-tone perfection; color correction.
Many of you have probably heard of CC creams, an alliterative term short for color correcting cream, but recently a new spin on the trend has seen a wave of pastel hued iterations hit the market. Based on color harmony principles, this trend has a lot to do with understanding the basics of the color wheel where shades directly across from one another become neutralized. It might sound a little fiddly at first but color correcting really can be your saving grace. First of all you just need to learn how to pick the right shades for your particular concern which will also match with your skin tone.
Green
When you find yourself coming face to face with an unsolicited spot, green concealer will be your best companion. The color camouflages redness and is great at removing flushes of color from your skin. It also helps if you suffer from rosacea, broken blood vessels, acne scars or blotchy areas by creating an even toned base which you can then go on to apply your usual foundation.
Lavender
Purple sits directly opposite yellow on the color wheel so it’s great for eliminating any unwanted yellow undertones on your skin. If you suffer from discoloration or sallow skin, using a violet product will correct your complexion leaving behind a beautiful dewy glow.
Pink
These colors are ideal for brightening around the eye are and masking signs of fatigue. The mixture of red, orange and yellow hues sit across from green, purple and blue making them the best remedy for banishing those dark under eye circles you created while chatting all night or entitling yourself as a sufferer or insomnia. The specific shade of pink that you use is dependent on your skin tone though; for fair skin opt for pale pink, peach for medium complexions and orange-pink for darker skin tones. They’re also great at covering up bruises and unsightly veins.
Yellow
This works well for most skin tones and is great for evening out your complexion and any areas of general concern. Yellow hues will help to provide a bright base for your foundation and can also be a great tool for canceling out dark patches or under eye circles on olive skin.
The trick with this color correcting method is not to get overzealous. It’s important to remember that these are just shadows that you’re covering so start lightly by patting them on with your fingertips and build where needed. It might be tempting to pile on but if you work slowly and with the natural warmth of your skin you’re more likely to get a super-natural looking finish.