This Makeup Product Is Key for Hiding Redness—Here's How to Use It
Hiding redness can be a tricky process. You have to be careful with products because if you put on too much, your makeup can look like a cakey, unnatural mess. You also want to make sure that the products match your skin tone and that you blend correctly, so your makeup looks seamless and effortless.
One hero product that can really neutralize redness is a green concealer. Yes, green as in the color. And no, you won't look like the Wicked Witch of the West. "A lot of people get intimidated by color correctors, but learning how to apply it the right way can really change your makeup game," says makeup artist Karina Milan. "Although foundation can often help us even out our overall skin complexion, there are often tricky areas that don't seem to get covered. That's because different undertones and colors in the skin require a complementary color to camouflage them. The goal of a green concealer is to cancel out any pink or red tones in the skin that might seep through foundation." And green concealer is best used when dealing with rosacea or red breakouts, according to makeup artist Tobi Henney.
How to Use Green Concealer
Put on the green color corrector before foundation. Makeup artist Jen Tioseco recommends applying a thin layer to the area and letting it dry. Then stipple the foundation over the area to avoid rubbing it off. "Ensure you let it really dry before applying your foundation," Tioseco says. "Dusting a really thin layer of powder to set it prior will really help lock it in place and keep it from mixing into your foundation as well."
And you don't want to apply the green concealer or primer all over you face, which is a common mistake Milan often sees. "It's important to only apply the corrector on the areas that have a lot of redness. Otherwise, it'll make the areas that are not red look unbalanced," she says.
If you are dealing with a lot of redness overall, Milan recommends using products from Dr. Jart's Cicapair line, which are formulated to calm the skin and have a very light green tint to help even the skin tone.
Take a look at some of the best green concealers to shop below.
1. Chanel Le Correcteur de Chanel Longwear Color Corrector in Vert
Both Henney and Milan recommend this Chanel product. "For targeted areas like blemishes, my favorite product is Chanel's longwear green corrector. The formula is light, blends easily, and holds well underneath concealer or foundation," Milan explains.
2. Urban Decay Naked Skin Color Corrector Concealer
Henney also likes this formula from Urban Decay, which contains subtle pearlescent pigments that diffuse light. It also has vitamins C and E to condition the skin.
3. Dragun Beauty DragunFire Color Corrector in Green
"I really love Dragun Beauty's DragunFire green color corrector. The sponge tip makes application a breeze!" Tioseco says. The green tint can color-correct redness from rosacea, acne, sunburn, and broken capillaries.
4. Nyx Professional Makeup HD Studio Photogenic Concealer Wand in Green
This lightweight concealer works on all skin types. It provides medium to heavy coverage, and it's so easy to blend.
5. Smashbox Photo Finish Correct Anti-Redness Primer
This green primer not only neutralizes redness but also contains algae, rose, and mushroom extracts to soothe the skin and reduce the appearance of irritation.
6. Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear Camouflage Color Corrector in Green
Long-lasting and highly-pigmented, this color corrector works so hard to conceal redness, but it feels lightweight when you wear it.
7. L.A. Girl HD Pro Corrector Concealer
L.A. Girl's green concealer features a built-in brush tip for easy application. The formula is creamy, lightweight, long-wearing, and crease-resistant.
8. Yves Saint Laurent Nu Tone Corrector & Complexion Booster
This color corrector is enriched with verbena and vitamin E, which both work to soothe and hydrate the skin. In fact, the product provides up to eight hours of hydration.
9. Maybelline Cover Stick Concealer in Green
Maybelline's stick concealer is easy to use on any red spots. The formula is waterproof, so it will last a long time.
10. E.l.f. Cosmetics Color Correcting Stick
This color-correcting stick just glides and sinks into the skin so easily, so you can say goodbye to redness. It's also infused with vitamin E for hydrating benefits.
More Concealers and Foundations to Shop
Whenever I talk to makeup artists about product recommendations, this one almost always comes up. The foundation delivers medium coverage that is buildable and leaves your skin looking absolutely glowy.
With over 120,000 ratings and 4.5 out of five stars on Amazon, this concealer really needs no introduction. The product hides blemishes, redness, and fine lines. It contains goji berries and haloxyl to brighten any dark under-eye circles, too.
For something that's long-lasting, try this waterproof foundation stick from Hourglass. The full-coverage formula will adjust to your body temperature so it can blend into your skin effortlessly.
E.l.f.'s full-coverage concealer lasts for—you guessed it—16 hours. The highly-pigmented and thick formula leaves a matte finish and dries quickly.
This concealer pen is really good at leaving a glowy finish. It's formulated to brighten complexion, and it contains good-for-the-skin ingredients like hyaluronic acid and vitamin E.
I love this complexion stick because it's like a cross between a foundation and a concealer. It provides just the right amount of coverage for me and is perfect for that no-makeup makeup look.
This is another correcting product I love. Sometimes, I won't wear any makeup except for this product on any blemishes and redness.
Nars's concealer is a popular favorite. It provides 16 hours of coverage and brightens, corrects, and perfects. Plus, it contains a botanical blend of magnolia-bark extract, grape-seed extract, and vitamin E to nourish the skin and reduce redness.
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Sarah is lifestyle writer and editor with over 10 years of experience covering health and wellness, interior design, food, beauty, and tech. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she attended New York University and lived in New York for 12 years before returning to L.A. in 2019. In addition to her work on THE/THIRTY and Who What Wear, she held editor roles at Apartment Therapy, Real Simple, House Beautiful, Elle Decor, and The Bump (sister site of The Knot). She has a passion for health and wellness, but she especially loves writing about mental health. Her self-care routine consists of five things: a good workout, “me” time on the regular, an intriguing book/podcast/playlist to unwind after a long day, naps, and decorating her home.