Your Concealer Is Working Too Hard—These Under-$12 Color Correctors Can Fix That

You’re applying concealer and have tried every trick in the book to camouflage your stubborn dark circles and under-eye discoloration. But when you blend out your go-to concealer formula, that discoloration still peeks through. Frustrating, right? While there might be the temptation to simply layer on more and more concealer, there’s a far more strategic (and natural-looking) alternative. If you’ve ever watched a makeup tutorial, this is a step you’ll see most pros take: color correcting.

Even though makeup gurus truly understand color theory and are often using prestige products, you don’t need to be a pro (or throw tons of money at a product) to master the art of color correcting. In fact, drugstore color correctors these days can work just as well as spendy, department-store favorites. Plus, most brands will give you an informative breakdown of which color corrector you should use based on your skin goals or concerns. (For example, green will cancel redness from acne spots, and orange can cancel blue, dark circles, and discoloration around the mouth.) 

Keep scrolling to discover the best color correctors you can buy at the drugstore—trust they’ll make your other products like foundation and concealer work smarter, not harder!

If you’ve sought out a color corrector, you’ve seen this one in your search. It’s top-rated and for a good reason. First, the corrector comes in nine shades to address a wide range of skin tones and conditions. Additionally, the formula is lightweight but still manages to be long-wearing.

For $3, this color-correcting quad offers four creamy shade options—yellow, orange, green, and purple—that will blur imperfections in one easy swipe without disrupting your beauty budget. 

This castor-seed-oil-infused formula is what the brand calls eight hours of sleep in a pot. You may still need a cup of coffee to wake your mind up, but this lightweight formula corrects and brightens the under-eye without the color theory guesswork. 

For brightening the skin with or without makeup, this two-in-one lightly tinted formula made with hyaluronic acid, caffeine, and color-correcting pigments plays well on bare or made-up skin. Not to mention the cushion applicator ensures super-even distribution. 

With six buildable shades packed into a travel-friendly palette (that works for all skin tones and types, BTW), this lightweight, non-creasing option is an easy pick. 

If you prefer a liquid formula, this noncomedogenic formula comes in three color-correcting shades: lavender for brightening, green for redness, and yellow for dark circles. Reviewers note a little goes a long way, so start small and add more as needed. 

For reactive skin, we want you to know this dermatologist- and allergy-tested waterproof stick corrector won’t clog pores. With this formula, you have the option to conceal blemishes, dark circles, and anything in between on both bare and makeup-adorned skin. 

For beauty lovers who enjoy clean options, Physicians Formula is known for formulating products sans over 150 plus ingredients. This hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, and noncomedogenic stick does everything from blurring blemishes to masking under-eye circles. 

Drugstore doesn’t mean the options don’t offer long wear. This 16-hour, full-coverage formula boosting a matte finish proves it. Designed with a large doe-foot applicator for even, precise application, this avocado- and kaolin clay–infused formula can be used to conceal, correct, and contour without needing a million different products.

This creamy, buildable, long-wear, oil-free formula for deep skin tones minimizes skin imperfections and neutralizes discoloration. 

Up next: Here’s Exactly How to Use Color Correctors for Flawless-Looking Skin