Hi Amiga, in this post, you will learn about Color Correction and more importantly why.
You hear and see videos where Makeup Artists and Influencers tell you, you Color Correct orange under the eyes but they never tell you why.
Today I will explain Color Correcting.
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In this post, you will learn how certain colors correct other colors.
Color Correction Explained
For Color Correction we use the color theory of Complementary Colors, these colors sit across from each other on the Color Wheel.
Illustrated above is the Classic Color Wheel, a handy tool for Makeup Artists. In the first lesson on my Makeup Education, I got a Color Wheel handed out, study it, and laminate it, it is good to memorize.
As you can see on the wheel Yellow sits across from Violet, Red sits across from Green and Blue is across from Orange. These are the Complementary Colors.
Above you can see the Complementary Colors, these colors enhance each other’s qualities IF seen next to each other. However, ON top of each other they neutralize each other!
This is where Color Correction comes in, meaning a Blue spot can be neutralized with Orange, a Red spot with Green, and Violet with Yellow.
This is why surgeons wear green garments in the operating room. If Red blood is spilled on the Green garment you will just see a dark spot.
Imagine the dramatic, shocking looks of a White garment in the operating room.
So this means it is very important you put an Orange color corrector ON the Blue spot because next to it, it will only enhance the Blue spot you want to neutralize.
Again a subtle application, only on the Blue skin is required. Therefore Red spots can be corrected with Green on top of it. Violet with Yellow.
Take caution when color correcting with photography, with the flash you could see your color correction product right true the foundation.
Color Correctors
Of course, you could use pure Green, Orange, Yellow to neutralize Red, Blue, Violet but a variation of the color will work too.
Color correctors nowadays contain much softer versions of complementary colors like the NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Concealer Color Correcting Palette.
You always use a Color Corrector under a foundation, I would not leave it as is.
This is a reason for me to not use Color Corrector, I rather use concealers because when this covers enough I can use it as is or use it over a foundation.
I do use an Orange/ warm undertoned concealer for dark Blue areas and Green/ Olive/ cool undertoned concealer for Red blemishes.
Color Correcting with Foundation
You can also use this color theory with your foundations.
For example, if someone just got out of the sun and the skin is extremely red, don’t panic. Grab a Green/ Olive/ cool undertoned foundation for Mac Cosmetics this is the NC range of colors.
Even applied as a sheer coverage it already neutralizes a lot of the redness in the skin.
It has saved me a lot of times when the weather gets hot and people like to soak up the sun before they come to the studio for a live-broadcasted TV show.
Works like a charm.
Using Complementary Colors next to each other is a wonderful way to have your makeup pop a bit more.
A Blue eyeshadow look with an Orange shade of lipstick pops really well. Or a peach eye look with Blue eyes, get creative.
Now you have Color Correction Explained.
Now that you have read this post you now know why we use Green, Orange, Yellow undertoned products to Color Correct. Cheers Mamacitas.
This article in Dutch: https://melaniemoutarde.nl/color-correction-uitgelegd/
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