12 Best Color Correctors for 2023

If dark circles or facial redness manage to peek through your most heavy-duty concealer, then a color corrector might be the exact upgrade your makeup routine needs. 

Color correction is a concealing method based on the premise that colors opposite each other on the color wheel cancel each other out. Green cancels red, orange cancels blue, and so on. With the best color corrector for your needs, you can use much less product while still hiding unwanted tones.

Best color correctors overview: 

• Best overall: LA Girl HD Pro.Conceal
• Best budget: E.l.f. Camo Color Corrector
• Best palette: Stila Correct & Perfect All-in-One Color Correcting Palette
• Best for undereye bags: Smashbox Becca Under Eye Brightening Corrector
• Best drugstore: NYX HD Photogenic Liquid Concealer 
• Best primer: Make Up For Ever Color Correcting Step 1 Primer
• Best for pros: MAC Studio Fix Conceal And Correct Palette
• Best for redness: Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30
• Best stick: Live Tinted Huestick 
• Best pressed powder: Florence by Mills Call It Even Color-Correcting Powder
• Best loose powder: Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Setting Powder
• Best for intense correction: Make Up For Ever Palette 12 Flash Color Case

How we chose the best color correctors

To compile this list, we researched manufacturer specifications, including shade ranges, formulas, coverage levels, and more, to create a short list of the top color-correcting concealers. Then, we combed through detailed swatches, product descriptions, ratings, and reviews to find the best color correctors for each category.

Our picks for the best color correctors

This super-affordable color corrector wins our best overall spot, and rest assured it’d still be here even at five times the price. 

This range has 10 color correction shades — the most extensive selection we’ve seen from any brand. You’ll find green and peach as well as lighter, deeper, and more saturated shades to account for every skin tone. 

The finish is natural to suit most skin types, and the coverage is medium to full. This means you can sheer it out when you need a light tint or build it up when dealing with more prominent discoloration. The only drawback worth noting is the built-in brush applicator that can get a little grimy with repeated use.

Shades: 10 | Type: Cream

You can’t go wrong with E.l.f. when you’re on a budget. This color corrector range is a new, exciting release. The formula is infused with hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin and includes all standard color-correcting shades, such as yellow, green, peach, and orange. 

The real standout shade is blue, which can help cancel out warm tones in a mismatched foundation or hide yellow discoloration when you have a deeper skin tone. 

All of the shades in the line are more saturated and pigmented than the average color corrector, so we recommend mixing them with your usual concealer instead of applying them at full strength.

Shades: 5 | Type: Cream

This versatile palette covers the most common color correction needs, like dark undereye bags, sallowness, and redness, using five cream correctors and two tinted setting powders. The cream correctors have a natural finish and sheer to medium coverage, perfect for diffused discoloration. That said, the overall color story leans toward light-to-medium skin tones, with the exception of the saturated orange corrector.

Shades: 7 | Type: Creams and powders

When Becca closed its doors, many shoppers were distraught at the idea of losing this concealer. Thankfully, it was added to the Smashbox range instead of getting discontinued. 

Why the hype? It’s a unique undereye corrector with a peachy tint and a hint of radiance that brightens and diffuses imperfections. The expanded range includes four shades of varying depth to suit all skin tones. It offers full coverage, so a little goes a long way — be careful not to overapply.

Shades: 4 | Type: Cream

This accessible and affordable concealer makes it easy to precisely correct minor blemishes or marks. The range includes three color-correcting shades: green, lavender, and yellow. The only color we’re missing is orange for brightening deeper skin tones and dark undereye circles. 

Dot your chosen color using the applicator and blend with the tip of a sponge or even your finger. The medium coverage and natural finish make it easy to use all over the face, no matter your skin type.

Shades: 3 | Type: Liquid

A color-correcting primer is an ideal choice for light, all-over coverage. This range includes six shades to address every kind of discoloration. The formula is spreadable and hydrating, providing the skin with a touch of glow.  

It’s less pigmented than the average concealer, so it’s better for adjusting undertones rather than covering spots. Some reviewers mentioned they could even wear the primer alone without needing foundation on top.

Shades: 6 | Type: Primer

MAC has cemented its place as a trusted professional brand, and palettes like this are proof as to why. The brand offers a range of six palettes for different skin tones, each holding six pans of concealers and color correctors. 

The shades are more skin tone-like but with cool or warm tints that allow for subtle color correction, highlighting, contouring, concealing, and more. We do wish a few of the lighter palettes included a green corrector, though.  

Shades: 6 | Type: Cream

This Dr. Jart+ color corrector that’s famous on Tik Tok is a multi-tasker. It has a greenish tint ideal for camouflaging all-over redness, like in cases of rosacea. It transforms into beige as it blends into the skin so that you can wear it alone. The corrector also offers some skin benefits, thanks to its soothing Centella and SPF 30. 

Unfortunately, the shade it comes in will only work for those with fair-to-medium skin and reddish discoloration. The finish and coverage are quite natural, offering a bit more versatility, but considering the unique benefits of this formula, we wish it were available in more shades.

Shades: 1 | Type: Cream

The range was designed with deeper skin tones in mind. It currently includes variations of orange, red, and peach, all of which are classic brighteners that address blue or purple tones under the eyes. The only drawback is that the formula might be a little too dry, according to some reviewers.

Shades: 5 | Type: Cream

This multi-colored powder is a sheer and non-greasy alternative to cream correctors. It’s made with a blend of green, yellow, peach, and lavender pigments to adjust for every kind of unwanted tone and leaves the skin looking velvety smooth. 

You can wear it alone or over your foundation, but unfortunately, it only comes in one shade that’s geared toward those with light-to-medium skin.

Shades: 1 | Type: Pressed powder

Though it’s primarily recommended as a setting powder, this sheer formula also works beautifully to color correct and brighten all skin tones. The Banana shade can help add warmth or camouflage redness, Cashew can correct blue tones under the eyes, and Lavender can correct sallowness. 

Instead of using a cream color corrector, just layer your powder of choice over your everyday concealer or foundation. Used alone, the powder perfects and lightly mattifies the skin. That said, if your skin is dry, you may find it too matte. Some reviewers also noted that the packaging, while beautiful, was a little awkward to use.

Shades: 8 | Type: Loose powder

This multi-purpose palette is a makeup geek’s dream. Pick it up if you want to dive into the very depths of color theory. With just a bit of mixing, you can create nearly every makeup shade for any purpose. 

The red and yellow combine to make the perfect saturated orange corrector while adding a bit of white to the pink shade will create a lavender-pink that effectively counters sallowness. Shades like mint and peach will work on their own to counter redness or blue circles.

Add a bit of gold or silver, and you can suddenly enjoy a highlight effect, too. The formula is a little oily, so setting it with powder is a must.

Shades: 12 | Type: Cream

Don’t conceal — correct!  

Color correction hides a lot of concerns without making it seem like you’re wearing too much makeup. Our top pick, the LA Girl HD Pro.Conceal, is the quintessential color-correcting concealer, with buildable coverage and a lot of shade options. 

That said, color correction can go beyond the average concealer or foundation. Think outside the box and consider all colors and formulas before making your choice. 

How to pick the right color corrector for you

Learning how to color correct is as much an art as it is a science. It’s rooted in basic color theory, so here are the main factors to consider when deciding on the best color corrector for you. 

Shade

• Green. This is the classic shade for hiding redness. Green correctors are often light or minty, making them ideal for those with lighter skin tones, but some deeper options exist too.   
• Orange. This shade cancels out cool blue tones and adds an overall warmth to the skin. It’s frequently used under the eyes and can also help camouflage stubble, which can register as blue against the skin. 
• Red. Red can cancel out green discoloration and can sometimes do a better job neutralizing blue discoloration in those with a deeper skin tone. 
• Purple. Purple neutralizes yellow or sallow tones. Most purple color correctors are actually lavender, so they can also brighten the skin. 
• Pink. Pink is a mix of red and white, so it cancels out yellow and greenish tones in the skin and can also add some brightness since it’s just a lighter version of red. 
• Yellow. If your undereye circles are more purple than blue, a yellow corrector is the right choice. It can also minimize red tones, although not as dramatically as green would. That said, it often suits those with very yellow or olive undertones better than other correctors. 
• Blue. This shade neutralizes orange tones. It’s not common, but it’s a good choice if you have a cool, deep skin tone and need to neutralize warmth. It’s also useful as a mix-in if your foundation is too orange. 

Coverage

• Full. Heavily pigmented correctors like E.l.f.’s Camo Color Corrector can adjust spots of vivid discoloration, like pimples, bruises, or very purple dark circles. A little goes a long way, and you can also dilute them in regular concealer or foundation. 
• Medium. This is the most common and versatile coverage level. Blend it out for a more subtle or diffused tint, or add more layers if you need more coverage. 
• Light. Sheer correctors like Make Up Forever’s Color Correcting Primers are ideal for subtle, all-over color adjustment. 

FAQ

What color corrector should I use? 

Choose a color corrector based on the specific tones you want to neutralize — we explain how to do that above. You may only need one color corrector, or you may want to choose a few to adjust various tones. 

What’s the best color corrector for dark circles?

Since dark circles usually have a blue or purple tint, a peach or orange color corrector like the Smashbox Becca Under Eye Brightening Corrector is ideal. 

What cancels out brown?

Brown is a combination of all three primary colors, so you’ll want to adjust based on your skin tone. A concealer that’s a touch lighter than your skin may do the trick. If you have a brown tone that seems a little dull or gray against your skin, choose an orange or pink corrector to offset it.