BellaSugar

Happy Hues: Everything You Need to Know About Color-Correcting Makeup

Lizzie Fuhr — Wed, 16 May 2012 03:34:00 PDT

Over the last few weeks, we've featured five happy hues with tips and tricks to make the most of each color option. Missed out on all the action? Have no fear. Click through to get your fix on how five different-colored concealers and primer shades will make a world of difference in your beauty routine.

Source: Thinkstock

Why You'll Love to Use the Color Wheel in Your Makeup Routine

Jessica Cruel — Mon, 14 May 2012 04:10:00 PDT

The color wheel is used by professional makeup artists time and time again to help disguise discoloration on the skin, as well as find the best shadows for any eye color. Learn how to use this tool at home to raise your application skills to megastar status.

Emphasis: Color theory can be used to bring out your best colorful feature - your eyes. When you arrange two colors from the opposite side of the wheel next to each other, it makes them both pop. So blue-eyed beauties should look to orange and golden-toned shadows and liners. Green-eyed girls look to purple or rosy shades for an extra bright look. And for the brown-eyed babes, practically every color can work for you.
Corrections: If you're looking to reduce the appearance of a mark, dark spot, or pimple, turn to a colored primer or concealer to balance out the area. So, if you're attempting to shade in visible blue under-eye veins, reach for an orange concealer. Have rosacea or a red-toned pimple? Dab on a bit of green primer to erase it. Just remember: put an unwanted color in its place by looking to the opposite side of the wheel to find its balancing match.

Source: Flickr User glovsky225

Orange You Glad? 5 Ways to Use a Carrot-Colored Concealer

BellaSugar — Tue, 08 May 2012 03:30:00 PDT

Orange might not look good when it's streaked across your skin à la a bad self-tanner incident. But when used for color-correcting the complexion, the warm hue is perfect for balancing out unwanted cool tones in the skin. There's more to this carrot-y shade than that, though; find out more when you keep reading.

Feelin' Blue: When to Use a Cool-Toned Concealer

BellaSugar — Mon, 07 May 2012 03:35:00 PDT

You can try to grasp the purpose of each and every shade of color-correcting concealer on the market until you're blue in the face. But why do that to yourself? Speaking of blue, it turns out the icy hue doesn't have to leave you looking like an extra on The Smurfs. So what can blue do for you? Let's first look to the color wheel for guidance. Oh color wheel, tell us your magic ways.

Not only does blue add radiance to the complexion, but it also assists in reducing the appearance of minor imperfections. And if you have deeper skin tones, blue might be your cure to quelling under-eye circles. Another cool tip is that blue, the opposite of orange, can also help to neutralize overly Oompa Loompa-esque pigments caused from self-tanners.

In addition, purple, lilac, and mauve shades (which are somewhat close to the blue color family) can neutralize sallow, yellow tones. Hues of purple also can brighten olive skin and balance out yellowish blemishes on most skin tones. Try: Make Up For Ever's HD Microperfecting Primer in Blue or Mauve ($34), Givenchy's Mister Mat Mattifying Foundation Primer ($33), or Signature Club A by Adrienne's Anchorwoman Blue Dark Circle Cover ($16).

Source: Flickr User Linzi Clark /

How to Make Yellow Concealer Work For You

Jaime Richards — Sun, 06 May 2012 06:00:00 PDT

A few weeks ago, Kim Kardashian posted an Instagram of herself getting her makeup done, complete with yellow streaks over her entire face. The reason? Yellow primer is a complexion-brightening corrector that helps even out the tone of the skin prefoundation. But that's not all. Now that we have you covered (heh) on the benefits of green correctors and pink correctors tones, let's take a closer look at the warming, brightening capabilities of yellow.

You glow, girl: A yellow powder or primer can add an instant glow to the skin, create a lightening effect, and help to erase the signs of fatigue. How can you not love that?
Get the red out: Yellow helps to soften and balance out pink tones, and it's also great to use for neutralizing pink-toned blemishes and fading out under-eye circles. Yellow correctors, when blended onto the eyelids, create a clean slate on which you can apply your eye makeup.
Try: Benefit's Lemon-Aid ($20), Nyx's Hi Definition Photo Concealer Wand in Yellow ($5), or Napoleon Perdis's Mighty Concealer Pen in Mellow Yellow ($29).

Source: Flickr User Linda Cronin

Pretty in Pink: When to Use a Pink Concealer

BellaSugar — Fri, 04 May 2012 05:00:00 PDT

When it comes to makeup shades, pink is one of the most flattering hues on the eyes, cheeks, and lips. But when it's a pink concealer or corrector palette, however, just how does it fit into the mix exactly? Get the scoop when you read more.

It's Easy Being Green (If You're Talking Concealer)

Jaime Richards — Thu, 03 May 2012 11:59:00 PDT

Ever been confused by the multicolored concealer palettes you see at the stores? The confusion stops here. Over the next few days, let's explore the art of these color-correcting concealers, starting with green. Wicked Witch of the West? Don't think so, my pretties. When it comes to color correcting, it's all about using the color wheel to figure out a balance.

Green, for instance, is opposite of red on the color wheel. In theory, it will neutralize any unwanted red hues from things like acne, rosacea, birthmarks, port-wine stains, ruddiness, pimples, and even scars. But do green correcting sticks, powders, and primers work? When it comes down to it, yes, but to find out a few ways to avoid looking as if you've been hit with a bad case of food poisoning, just read more.

Never Have Cakey Concealer Again

Jaime Richards — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 03:05:00 PDT

Cake on the face may be a party-time shenanigan, but when it comes to makeup, cake on the face isn't quite as amusing. Clarins' Pati Dubroff (who has worked with actresses like Julianne Moore, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Naomi Watts), says that the key to preventing cakey makeup from happening underneath the eyes is to think sheer layers. "It's like layering a cake," Dubroff explains. "You wouldn't just slap the frosting on."

To keep under-eyes bright and smooth, Dubroff recommends using a concealing pen, sweeping it on in a light, delicate layer. Follow by gently tapping it in with your fingers, and then repeat the sheer layering process until you reach your desired coverage amount. Finish by setting your work with an finely milled loose powder applied with the tiniest of makeup brushes. As for the cake, save that for birthdays and weddings.

See How to Conceal Undereye Circles With This Step-by-Step Tutorial

BellaSugar — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 03:02:00 PDT

Whether your undereye circles are the result of a late-night outing or passed down from genetics, there's no need to fret over them. Why? Because there's always a way to conceal them using the right makeup and application tips. That's why we turned to Smashbox Cosmetics Makeup Pro Lori Taylor to find out what tricks of the trade are necessary to hide dark circles and bags under the eyes. See how she does it in this video.

This Drugstore Concealer Is Twice as Nice

Miriam Lacey — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 11:22:00 PDT

I like my concealers to have a few qualities: good opacity, nondrying formula, and excellent wear. And happily, I can say that Revlon's PhotoReady concealer SPF 20 ($10) matches all those criteria nicely. It's a lot like another drugstore favorite of mine, Maybelline Cover Stick ($6), but it's a little less cakey and the colors blend more smoothly into my skin.

I bought two different shades, Light and Light Medium, to use on different parts of my face. I use Light on my forehead and cheeks and use Light Medium under my eyes and along my jawline. It's something I wouldn't have been able to do if I were purchasing a more expensive product, but I think the look is much more natural, since the skin under your eyes is generally a little darker. I do recommend wearing under-eye primer with it, because, like all concealer, it settles into the folds a bit. Other than that, though, I've been very pleased, and I feel slightly less impoverished by my beauty habit.