This Color Correcting Cheat Sheet Makes It Easy To Have Glowy, Even Skin

Whether you're a beauty newbie or a makeup pro, some dark corners of the industry can feel a little mysterious to everyone. Color correcting products fall squarely into that category.

I searched the web high and low for as many color-correcting guides, infographics and smart sources I could find. Then I cross-referenced that info with my own experience and knowledge. Most pre-existing guides dived right into color theory, telling you purple will neutralize yellow or pink offsets yellow and green, which can be a bit confusing.

My approach is a little different, focusing on the beauty concerns themselves. Hopefully it's a little more relatable for those who may be new to the ins and outs of color correcting.

Let's dive in a little further, beginning with purple.

The most common cause of hypopigmentation (the loss of skin color) is acne scars, but it can also result from a variety of other problems, such as melanin depletion or trauma to your skin like burns or infections. Purple can also be applied to fair skin tones to brighten the complexion.

Pale pink does wonders for fatigue.

We've all experienced sleepless nights and periods of stress or times when our diets are down the drain (maybe because of the sleeplessness and the stress).

Regardless, those dark circles that appear in the under-eye area can be tough to conceal with everyday products. This is when you'd bust out a pastel pink cream to brighten those bruise-like shadows.

Yellow evens out everything.

Yep, hickeys are a drag, and let's be real — no one ever wants that to result from some good old fashioned lovin,' but it happens, yo! Fear not — ditch your excuse of the curling iron run-in and grab a yellow pigmented product that will act as your first line of defense in the battle of hiding that hickey.

Tap the product into your skin, and then gently cover that with your normal concealer.

Orange means an end to hyperpigmentation.

Orange is typically a go-to color for ladies with darker skin. The orangey undertone will help brighten under-eye circles for those deeper complexions.

Caramel covers dullness.

Another hue that works best on deeper skin tones is caramel. Compared to orange, this is a more subtle way of approaching an all-over dullness, much like using a light purple complements fair complexions.

Green makes acne invisible.

Green tends to be the most universal color-correcting goodie. It works on most skin tones to correct redness.

Remember, if it feels intimidating, just relax, trust your instinct and play. Try it out — you can always wipe it off and try again!