Beauty is, of course, subjective and while we’re all for embracing our own unique skin type, texture and tone, we’re also here for those days when you want to use make-up to help boost your confidence in any way you can. And if you’ve ever tried to conceal a blemish before, you’ll know how difficult it can be to knock out any angry red hues or dark grey tones coming through underneath. 

The same goes for under-eye circles – no matter how much concealer you might pack on, sometimes you just can’t counteract the purple or brown shadowing. If this sounds all too familiar, let us introduce you to the art of colour correcting – the genius make-up artist-approved trick for balancing uneven skin tones. 

The theory works by using the colour wheel (primary school flashback), meaning contrasting colours can be used to neutralise each other, allowing a more even base for you to then build upon and conceal with foundation or concealer. 

But, in recent years, colour correcting has become a lot more mainstream – meaning there’s no need for an A-level art qualification to balance the tones in your skin. Gone are the lime green concealers and scary purple primers; now, formulas are being subtly infused with colour-correcting pigments that do all the hard work for you.

But, despite the products taking on the brunt of the work for you, it does pay to know which hues to look out for, depending on your skin tone concern. 

For example, green colour correctors help to knock out redness from the skin. Purple-toned colour correctors can help boost radiance, counteracting any dull, sallow tones in the skin; and red, peach or bisque-toned correctors are great for neutralising the deep blue and purple shadows that grace under-eye circles and blemishes in darker skin tones.

We spoke to TV and celebrity make-up artist Bryony Blake to find out how to utilise colour correctors in your everyday make-up routine and which are the best formulas she uses on her clients.  

“I believe that colour correcting can change your life when it comes to your make-up,” says Bryony. “For dark circles and shadowing, a pink, peach or red-toned colour corrector will take away any darkness and allow your under-eyes to look bright and awake.”

For pale skin tones, opt for a creamy peach shade. For darker skin tones, look for formulas with more red and orange hues. 

“For redness, a green-toned colour corrector will help bring the warmth down and allow your make-up to sit beautifully on your skin. There are many skincare products that have a green tint to them that can be really beneficial to add into your morning skincare routine before applying make-up.”

“A purple-toned colour corrector helps to reduce yellow and sallow tones in the skin. Using a lilac or lavender shade under your make-up will help to lift and brighten any unhealthy-looking tones.”

Images: Getty; courtesy of brands