What color covers dark circles under eyes

You’ll want to kick things off by applying makeup primer. A primer will give your skin a smooth and even base for a seamless makeup application, and it can help the rest of your makeup last longer. Since you won’t want your dark circles to be uncovered later in the day, this is pretty important.

2. Color Correct

While you may think that using concealer and foundation is the be-all and end-all to covering up dark circles, you’ll need to get acquainted with color correcting. Not sure exactly how it works? Let’s take a trip down memory lane. Think of the color wheel from your middle school art class: colors that are opposite each other on the wheel can cancel each other out.

Apply this color theory to your makeup, and consider that since dark circles tend to have a purplish-blue hue, an orange or peach-toned concealer could be just what you need to neutralize their appearance.

To start your dark circle disappearing act, reach for the L’Oréal Paris True Match Color Correcting Crayons. Use the peach pencil for fair to light skin tones, bisque for light to medium skin tones, and orange for medium to deep skin tones. Select your color corrector match, apply it in a dot pattern under the eyes, and blend until even. Keep in mind a little goes a long way, so use it sparingly.

3. Reach for Concealer

It’s finally time for your concealer. You want to use a flesh-tone offering that works to mask your color corrector and brighten your under-eye area for an even and natural finish. Try the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Full Wear Concealer up to 24H Full Coverage, which works to conceal and correct the appearance of dark circles. 

Apply the cream concealer directly to your under eye area and blend, preferably with a brush or blender. Like your color corrector, apply in a dot pattern under the eyes, and extend toward the temple for a lifting effect.  apply the concealer in an upside-down triangle shape for the most coverage.

4. Apply Your Foundation

Once your concealer is in place, it’s time to create an even base. Remember, you should always use a foundation that suits your skin type and addresses your skin care concerns. 

If you have dry skin, try a lightweight foundation, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible 24 Hour Fresh Wear Foundation. Breathable with up to 24 hours of staying power, this ultra-thin liquid goes on smoothly and leaves your skin with a fresh, healthy-looking complexion without clinging to any dry patches.

If you have oily skin, reach for a matte-finish foundation, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Up to 24H Fresh Wear Foundation in a Powder. This formula keeps excess oils at bay to reveal a smooth and clear complexion.

If you want full coverage, grab the L’Oréal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Foundation. Formulated to cover dark spots, blemishes, scars, and hyperpigmentation, this foundation matches both your skin tone and your undertone for a perfect finish.

Whichever foundation you choose, apply it with a makeup blender, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Blend Artist Foundation Blender, using quick dabbing and rolling motions until you reach your desired level of coverage.

5. Set It Well

Once your makeup is perfectly in place, it’s time to lock it all in. After all, you don’t want your hard work to go to waste. Reach for the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Sweep & Lock Loose Setting Face Powder to set your concealer.  To bake, apply the powder directly under your eyes with a makeup brush, and let it set for five to ten minutes before dusting away the excess. After finishing the rest of your makeup, follow it up with the L’Oréal Paris Pro-Spray and Set Make-Up Oil-Free Setting Spray ,misting it over your face in  ‘X’ and ‘T’ motions. 

When you have a stubborn breakout or dark bags under your eyes from a night of tossing and turning, sometimes it seems like no amount of foundation or concealer can hide them. And even worse, as you pile on more product in an attempt to cover them up, it only seems to exacerbate the issue, drawing more attention to the area that you're hoping to conceal.

If that scenario sounds at all familiar, you might benefit from adding color correctors to your beauty routine. You may have seen a few of the brightly hued products pop up on your social media pages. Staples like L'Oréal’s green BB cream and this blue foundation tint have recently gone viral on TikTok.

While it may seem counterintuitive to put a colorful cream on the area you want to cover up, we spoke to three makeup artists who said that they both regularly use color correctors to help with a range of issues.

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What are color correctors?

“Color correctors are makeup or skin care [products] that you can use to correct discoloration, like sunspots or dark under-eye circles,” said celebrity makeup artist Andrew Sotomayor. “And the benefits of color correctors are that they have the opposite color of the discoloration. That means they reduce the amount of coverage that you need in terms of a concealer or a foundation.”

The great thing about color correcting is that you're using one color to cancel out a particular tone on your skin. To understand how they work, just look at the color wheel, said makeup artist Jonet Williamson: “Opposite colors cancel each other out.”

For example, because green sits on the opposite side of the wheel as red, the color can be used to tame the appearance of blemishes or red spots. Orange, on the other hand, is opposite to blue, "so [it] will help to eliminate blues in the skin such as bruising and dark circles," shared makeup artist, Morgan Leigh. "In addition, purple helps to diminish the appearance of yellowish spots," she added.

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What are the different types of colors correctors?

• Green: You’ll typically find green used in color-correcting primers, Williamson said. “They're used to balance redness in the skin,” she added. “So [they're for] someone with fairer skin or a medium complexion that has a lot of redness or pinkness to the skin who wants to tone it down, so it matches the rest of their body." You can also sometimes find the color used in spot treatments, to cover redness from breakouts or other small, inflamed areas.
• Blue: A blue color corrector can be used to adjust makeup that's too warm, Williamson added. Say you have a foundation that you bought right after your most recent beach vacation but have since lost some of your tan. You can add a couple of drops of a blue color corrector to neutralize and tone down the orange hues in the formula so it better matches your skin.
• Orange and red: While Sotomayor said that he uses color correctors often on clients, he added that he only uses shades of peaches, pinks and reds. "Pinks and peaches and reds are the three most useful," he said. The colors fall on the opposite side of the color wheel as blue, green and purple, so they can be helpful for covering up darker areas of discoloration. "Peach and orange are really good on the eyes," he said. "If you've got a medium to light skin tone, a peach or a pink is good under the eyes at the inner corner, where we tend to get a little bit of blue." For those with darker skin tones, deeper orange or red shades can help counteract the hyperpigmentation in the area.
• Yellow: Unlike other color correctors, which are typically applied before foundation or concealer. Sotomayor said that yellow color correctors can come in handy after you apply your base makeup. "Yellow is really great if you've picked up a little bit too much tan or you have a bit of a sunburn, or if you have sort of an uneven pigmentation," he added. "You can do your foundation and can take a yellow color corrector afterward and apply it across your cheekbones, down the bridge of the nose in the center of the face, and use it like a highlighter. It'll bring out your bone structure, and it'll neutralize hyperpigmentation."
• Purple: Purple is on the opposite side of the color wheel as yellow. But because the color is made from a combination of blue and red, a purple or lavender color corrector could have similar effects but may be easier for non-professionals to use, since it's a softer version of a red or blue, Williamson said.

With that in mind, here are the best color correctors, according to professional makeup artists — plus, a few other trending and top-rated options we recommend. Want to browse by category? Click on the links below.

Best liquid color correctors | Best stick color correctors | Best color corrector palettes | Best color correcting creams | How do I apply a color corrector? | Concealers vs. color correctors | Meet our experts

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Best liquid color correctors

Even Better Clinical Radical Dark Spot Corrector + Interrupter

Even Better Clinical Radical Dark Spot Corrector + Interrupter

Clinique

Ulta

Kohl's

If you have melanin-rich skin that is prone to pigmentation, this color corrector evens out dark spots. The formulation includes vitamin C, brightening agents, salicylic acid and more, which all help to minimize discoloration. According to reviewers, this lightweight product aids in minimizing acne marks. However, it is important to exfoliate your skin for better results.

Smashbox Photo Finish Correct Anti-Redness Primer

Photo Finish Correct Anti-Redness Primer

Ulta

Sephora

When it comes to green color correctors, Williamson said she likes Smashbox's primer. The formula is said to neutralize redness while smoothing skin and protecting it against damage. It's made with soothing and nourishing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, algae, probiotic extract and vitamins.

Make Up For Ever Step 1 Primer Color Corrector

Step 1 Primer Color Corrector

Makeup Forever

Nordstrom

Sephora

If redness is your main concern, Leigh recommends this color corrector from Make Up For Ever. The formula instantly neutralizes discoloration and evens out skin tone for 24 hours. Customers love this product because it's not cakey or pore-filling.

Nyx Professional Makeup Studio Perfect Primer

Nyx Professional Makeup Studio Perfect Primer

Amazon

Ulta

Nyx's affordable color-correcting primer has racked up more than 7,000 five-star reviews from shoppers who say that it helps reduce redness and create a smooth makeup look. "My makeup NEVER used to stay on all day," one reviewer wrote. "Now, when I get home from work, my face looks the same as when I left."

L.A. Girl Pro Matte Mixing Pigment

Pro Matte Mixing Pigment

Ulta

TikTok user Rose Siard went viral after she shared how she uses this blue pigment to neutralize the warm tones of an orange-heavy foundation, and viewers were amazed by the hack. Reviewers online agree, saying that it's great for those who struggle to find the perfect match.

"I have light/fair skin, so it's hard to find exactly the right shade for me, but with this, I can make my own perfect shade," one shopper wrote, adding, "It's such a game changer, I will definitely be purchasing more in the future/recommending to others."

Best stick color correctors

Live Tinted Huestick Corrector

Huestick Corrector

Ulta

Amazon

If you're looking for just one shade, Williamson likes Live Tinted's color correctors. "They have these color corrector sticks that are really easy to use. It's like a crayon that you dot on, blend it out really easily, and you're set," she said. Along with its color-correcting abilities, the brand says that the Huestick can also be used to add color to your cheeks, lips and eyes.

Best color corrector palettes

Bobbi Brown Under Eye Corrector

Under Eye Corrector

Sephora

Ulta

The Bobbi Brown Under Eye Corrector is the same formula as the brand's concealer, but it has a pinker base, Sotomayor said, so it works to help cover dark circles. It comes in 16 peach and pink-based shades and is said to be waterproof and sweat-resistant to stand up to all-day wear.

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Vanish

Magic Vanish

Charlotte Tilbury

Nordstrom

Saks Fifth Avenue

Cheat your way to a flawless-looking complexion with this corrector from Charlotte Tilbury. This peach color will counteract any blue or purple discoloration under your eyes and works well on different skin tones. The creamy formula is easy to blend and has a brightening effect, thanks to the mica ingredient.

"It covers dark circles under my eyes and sunspots [well]. It has a lovely soft and moist texture, and it melts into the skin very well," shared one customer with combination skin.

Tarte Colored Clay CC Undereye Corrector

Colored Clay CC Undereye Corrector

Tarte

Kohl's

Macy's

This undereye corrector offers a crease-free complexion and great coverage. It has a thicker formula than other color correctors and helps reduce the appearance of those fine lines with a quick touch. If you suffer from dark circles due to lack of sleep, the mix of invigorating ingredients will give you a bright look. The formula is waterproof and contains squalane, rose clay to soothe skin around the area and mica to soften the wrinkles.

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Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Underpainting Palette

Ultra HD Underpainting Color Correction Palette

Sephora

Sotomayor said Make Up For Ever's HD Underpainting Palette in medium is one of his favorites because it includes peach and pink color correctors. According to the brand, the formulas combine pigments, powders and emollient oils to "provide a second skin, seamless look and feel."

MAC Studio Fix Conceal and Correct Palette

Studio Fix Conceal and Correct Palette

MAC Cosmetics

Williamson said that she uses Mac's Conceal and Correct Palette both on herself and on clients. "It's nice because they go by complexion, so it's light, medium, deep and dark," she said. Each palette has two color correctors and multiple concealer shades that can be used individually or combined to help hide any problem areas.

Best color correcting creams

L.A. Girl HD Pro Corrector Concealer

HD Pro Corrector Concealer

Ulta

Amazon

Walmart

With a creamy and lightweight texture, this inexpensive corrector is built to camouflage your blemishes while contouring your skin. The lavender tone corrector helps in neutralizing unwanted yellow undertones and sallowness. It also lasts for six to seven hours without fading and is a budget-friendly product to minimize redness.

Bye Bye Redness Neutralizing Color-Correcting Concealer Cream

Bye Bye Redness Neutralizing Color-Correcting Concealer Cream

Ulta

Sephora

Amazon

For a full-coverage finish, this color-correcting cream is the way to go. It's formulated for people who experience redness, hyperpigmentation, skin irritations and scars. The product contains colloidal oatmeal, which helps to reduce irritation, along with a mix of other key ingredients like collagen, aloe and peptides. With a thin layer of this product, you will conceal most of the blemishes on your skin, according to the brand.

Nars Radiant Creamy Color Corrector

Radiant Creamy Color Corrector

Nars Cosmetics

Kohl's

Neiman Marcus

Neutralize the look of your dark circles and dark spots with this creamy color corrector. What makes this formula efficient is the radiant finish which helps to give you that flawless complexion. The creamy texture doesn't feel heavy, and you can easily skip the concealer for a natural effect.

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How do I apply a color corrector?

The key to an even complexion when applying a color corrector is having well-moisturized skin. "Gently press the color where needed and top with foundation and/or concealer. I'd do this using a blending sponge to ensure a seamless application and coverage," shared Leigh.

What's the difference between a concealer and a color corrector?

According to Leigh, the difference between a concealer and a color corrector is that the former is used to match with your skin tone, which helps cover up blemishes and other imperfections. "Depending on the severity of these imperfections, it's often enough on its own and on a good day, even a tinted moisturizer can do the trick!" she explained.

Alternatively, she added, "As a professional makeup artist, I'd recommend a color corrector where there is more intense discoloration, such as severe rosacea or extreme darkness around the eyes, and similarly bruising."

What color hides dark circles best?

How can I disguise dark circles under my eyes?