A Key to Color Correctors

If you've been foundation shopping lately, you may have noticed something strange next to your typical ivories, beiges and mochas. Little vials of yellow, lilac, rose, and the always shocking green can only mean one thing- color correctors are back on the menu for those looking to transform not-so-perfect skin.

If you're not sure if you need a color corrector, then you probably don't. These products are best for those with prevalent discoloration, such as those with extreme redness caused from rosacea. Though certain shades of correctors are made to simply enhance skin or add a glow, I'll stick to the tricky ones.

Yellow is best for balancing out overly rosy skin, whether natural or reactive- like a flush or slight sunburn. Those that are just a touch rosier than they'd like may enjoy some of the new yellow-toned powder formulations, which are less pigmented than cream correctors and therefore easier to blend, but you can also balance pink skin tones by simply choosing yellow toned (often called "golden" or "warm") foundation. Yellow tones are also used to brighten dark complexions without creating ashiness.

If you're more than just rosy, such as those afflicted with rosacea, broken capillaries, or severe acne, green might be just what you need. While it may seem intimidating, new primer based formulations (like the ones from Smashbox and Make Up For Ever) go on sheer, so they're much more forgiving than their ancestors. Use sparingly (if you apply this color to even toned areas it will appear green) and always follow with foundation and concealer.

Pink, Lilac and Mauve tones reduce sallowness (grayish yellow tones), and brighten olive skin tones. Most lines carry both a pink and a light purple tone- some call it lilac, some mauve. The pink correctors are more subtle, they're best for balancing and brightening olive toned complexions. The mauve/lilac tones are better suited for true sallowness more common to certain ethnicities.

Color correctors can be a godsend to those who have complexion issues that simple foundation and concealer won't cover, but it's important to remember that uniqueness is beautiful too- I would never tell somebody they need to "correct" anything that they don't see as a flaw. For some, however, it is nice to know that the option is there.