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The Best Color-Correcting Palette

Last updated on July 5, 2022

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Flesh-toned concealers can camouflage under-eye circles, blemishes and other skin imperfections, but color-correcting concealers can work even better. You apply certain concealers to problem areas, then put on your foundation as usual.

Makeup palettes come with different color selections based on the different natural skin tones that individuals have. Although it can look strange when the various shades are first on your face, they are absorbed into the skin and are easily covered, providing a neutral canvas for makeup application.

Palettes can have just a few shades or more than a dozen, with creams and powders. Some also include highlighters, which you can use after putting on foundation, blush and face powder. Although it is fun to experiment with these palettes, there are some guidelines for the colors.

Yellow color correctors counteract pink and slightly red hues on a face and can do double duty as a brightener. These are good for neutralizing mild skin sensitivities and broken capillaries; use these around your mouth and nose. Greens are good for red spots caused by acne, rashes, eczema and birthmarks.

Blue and purple (lavender) color correctors work to hide orange and yellow hues, hyperpigmentation and dark spots. You can use peach, red and orange correctors on purple and blue areas like under the eyes, on bruises and on dark spots from sun damage.

Lastly, pink color correctors can take care of mild green and yellow patches and brighten skin; they also work on dark circles and brighten the face. If all this sounds overwhelming, many palettes come with instruction manuals. There are plenty of YouTube tutorials out there, too.

Our Picks For The Top Color-Correcting Palettes

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Product Overview
Our Take
 Top Pick

NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Concealer Color-Correcting Palette

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NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP

Concealer Color-Correcting Palette

This effective color-correcting palette has six color trays. You can strategically use it to conceal dark circles, redness and dullness in your skin that you might feel detract from a clear foundational finish.

Overall Take

Get The Runway LookYou’ll quickly become a pro at using this set and turn to it repeatedly to create a stunning complexion.

 Runner Up

jane iredale Green Tea Leaf Extract Color-Correcting Palette

jane iredale

Green Tea Leaf Extract Color-Correcting Palette

Designed to counteract under-eye circles, redness, light or dark pigmentation, Jane Iredale’s color correction kit contains yellow, peach, lilac and beige correctors, plus a slim application brush. The ingredients include avocado oil, sunflower seed oil, plus green tea leaf extract, a powerful antioxidant and natural antiseptic.

Overall Take

Good For Your SkinYou will feel good about using these high-end correctors, and your face will thank you for it!

 We Also Like

SHANY Built-In Mirror Color-Correcting Palette

SHANY

Built-In Mirror Color-Correcting Palette

As the top section of Shany’s four-part makeup kit, this 15-color cream color correction/concealer layer measures 6 1/2-by-4 1/2 inches and has all the tones you need to reduce dark spots, redness and dullness. Like all of the brand's products, it is also cruelty-free.

Overall Take

Replenish Your SetSlide this palette onto the top of your Shany makeup kit, and use it with the brand's foundation, blush and highlighters.

 Strong Contender

Maybelline New York Facestudio Duo Brush Color-Correcting Palette

Maybelline New York

Facestudio Duo Brush Color-Correcting Palette

Maybelline cosmetics have a reputation for quality, value and picture-perfect results, and their Mastercamo correcting kit is no exception. It is available in four color palettes and includes a duo brush for foolproof application.

Overall Take

A Fabulous FixPick up one of these great kits and keep it handy whenever you want to prep your face for a fabulous look.

What to Look For

  • Makeup brands usually design their products to complement one another, but mixing and matching brands can really liberate your creativity.
  • Apply color-corrector concealers in thin layers to a clean face.
  • Use a makeup brush for powders and a makeup sponge or your fingers for creams.
  • Practice using these products under your favorite foundations, and check how you look in the mirror. This is a learned skill that takes time.
  • If the colors aren’t working, you might have bought the wrong shades for your skin tone. It’s best in that case to go to a professional at a makeup counter and get a recommendation.
  • Cosmetics can produce mild, medium and severe allergic reactions in some people. If you experience symptoms, stop using the product and wash it off your face.

More to Explore

Cleopatra’s reign was in the first century BC, and at that time, Egyptian women used a wide variety of colored cosmetics. Like others of her day, the famous queen liked using a bright green paste made from the mineral malachite.

It is thought that she used this on her lower eyelids and a deep blue, gold-flecked upper eyelid shadow created from lapis lazuli stones. She darkened her eyebrows with black kohl and her lips with red ochre made from clay. Imagine what she could have done with a color-correcting palette!

More to explore