By technique · Sub-chapter 04
The most over-marketed technique in modern makeup. The honest version: most faces don't need it. The under-eye is the exception. Everything else is here if you do.
104 how-to's · Updated 26 April 2026 · Avg. 4 min per piece · Edited by Nelly · Beauty & Style Director
Editor's note
Color correcting is the most over-marketed technique in modern makeup. The honest framing: most faces don't need it. The exception is the under-eye, and a single targeted product. Undertone reading is a separate and genuinely useful skill.
Other techniques
What 'color correcting' actually means
Color correcting uses the principle of complementary colours to neutralise unwanted tones before foundation. A peach or orange product reduces the appearance of blue-purple under-eye shadow. A green product reduces redness. The majority of faces achieve the same result with the right foundation shade.
The beginner's path
- Undertones — what they are and how to read yours (3 min)
- Do you actually need a colour corrector? (3 min)
- The under-eye corrector — the one that earns its place (4 min)
- Foundation matching for your undertone (4 min)
- Layering corrector under foundation — the right sequence (4 min)
Everything we've published on color correcting
- Undertones — the short version, finally
- Peach vs orange corrector for dark under-eyes
- Foundation shade matching — the jawline test
- Green corrector — when it works and when it makes things worse
- Do you actually need a colour corrector? A diagnostic.
- Cool undertones vs warm undertones — how to test
- The under-eye method — step by step
- Layering corrector under foundation — the sequence
- Neutral undertones — the hardest shade to match
- Correcting hyperpigmentation on deeper skin tones