Thanks to Instagram, we've been introduced to a bunch of different beauty trends (non-touring and strobing, anyone?). And while we'll leave the clown contouring and baking to the pros, there is one big 2016 beauty trend we're willing to get behind: colour correcting.
Colour correcting is essentially using different concealer shades to neutralize or camouflage skin imperfections. It's based on "colour harmony" principles wherein opposite colour hues cancel each other out.
But colour correcting isn't anything new — it's a technique that's been used by makeup artists and beauty pros for quite some time now. However, it's now making its way into the mass market at a much grander scale.
According to Adi Lando, Sephora's Pro Lead in Canada, colour correcting is a quick, extra step to "ensure a flawless, even skin tone."
"Colour correcting products are designed to pinpoint and neutralize common skin imperfections such as blemishes, discoloration, hyper pigmentation, and dark circles, in order to better prep your skin for a concealer," Lando told HuffPost Canda Style via email. "When using a concealer to cover a blemish, for example, the redness surrounding the blemish might still show through the concealer, because the base colour has not been neutralized to match that of the rest of the skin.
"By prepping with a colour corrector, you are ensuring that you are starting with an even base, and that your foundation and concealer can do their jobs more effectively."
If you're looking to camouflage redness or blemishes, opt for a green colour corrector. Yellow is great for combating a dull complexion, while purple counteracts the sallowness of the skin. And if you're looking to brighten up your skin, opt for peaches and pinks if you have a lighter skin tone, or caramel shades to conceal hyperpigmentation and combat dark spots on darker skin tones.
It's important to note, however, that colour correcting products are not specifically designed to fix the problems long-term. (If you are looking for a long-term fix, Lando recommends Sunday Riley Tidal Brightening Enzyme Water Cream to even out dark spots and hyperpigmentation, or Ole Henriksen Truth Sugar Glow Polishing Mask, which uses ingredients like sugar, rose hips, and pomegranate seeds to polish dead, dull skin and naturally brighten and boost radiance.)
If you want to try colour correcting, simply use the proper colour corrector that suits your needs (ie. redness or dull complexion) and apply to the target area. Once you're done, continue on with the rest of your makeup routine as you normally would.
Ready to try out the trend? Check out our fave colour correcting products below:
