Having Acne Taught Me This One Make-Up Trick That I’ll Never Stop Using

Growing up with acne-prone skin meant that my makeup bag had to work just as hard as my skincare routine. While I now have my breakouts largely under control, a recent flare-up—the kind where several spots arrive all at once—sent me reaching back into an old familiar habit, green concealer.

When my acne was at its worst, green concealer was my safety net. It meant I didn’t have to pile on thick layers of full-coverage foundation to disguise redness—instead, I could neutralise it from the source via a technique known as colour correcting. As celebrity make-up artist Emma White Turle explains, “Colour correcting is where you use a complementary colour to correct your skin tones. It can neutralise and balance different tones to give you a more even appearance and hide any scars or marks.”

Understanding that principle of cancelling out redness changed everything, and rather than masking my skin, I learned to balance it. Using green to counteract redness meant less product overall, and ultimately, a more natural finish. Revisiting it more recently, I was reminded that while good skincare is the long-term solution, knowing a few clever make-up techniques can be just as empowering.

Why would you use a green concealer?

Green concealer is designed to counteract redness in the skin. Because green sits opposite red on the colour wheel, it neutralises flushed or inflamed areas, making them appear more even before foundation is applied. As White Turle explains, “Green is the most used colour [for colour correcting] and is used to hide redness from spots and irritation. There are differing tones of red and hence differing greens, and so you have to experiment which shade of green works best on the redness you have. A basic guide is that if the red is purple-toned, such as with acne breakouts, then try a darker green. A light or minty green is better on broken capillaries or brighter reds like rosacea.”

In short, green concealer allows you to target redness at its source, meaning you can use less overall coverage and still achieve a balanced, natural-looking finish.

How do you use green concealer?

Application is everything when it comes to colour correction. The goal isn’t to see the green on your skin, it’s to let it subtly neutralise redness underneath your base. “When using a green corrector, or any colour corrector really, start on clean, hydrated skin,” says White Turle. “I like to allow skincare to settle for fifteen minutes or so before I start applying makeup. It does depend on the texture of the product you are using, but go lightly, and sometimes a fluffy, small brush is useful for buffing the product over the skin.”

Pat or lightly buff a small amount directly onto red areas, then follow with concealer or foundation as usual. “You want a light layer, as you can add more if you need to, but do start gently as you don’t want to be able to see the green; it should blend into the skin and neutralise the redness,” she adds.

Best Green Concealers, Tried & Tested

1. Best Overall: Tarte Shape Tape Color Corrector
2. Best for Light Coverage: Beauty Pie Superluminous Redness Corrector
3. Best Affordable Green Concealer: e.l.f. Cosmetics Camo Colour Corrector
4. Best Luxury Green Concealer: Givenchy Prisme Libre Skin-Caring Corrector
5. Best All-Over Green Concealer: Bubble Secret Agent Color Correcting Balm Redness Fix

1. Tarte Shape Tape Color Corrector

2. Beauty Pie Superluminous Redness Corrector

3. e.l.f. Cosmetics Camo Colour Corrector

4. Givenchy Prisme Libre Skin-Caring Corrector

5. Bubble Secret Agent Color Correcting Balm Redness Fix

6. Maybelline Colour Correcting Concealer

7. Erborian CC Red Correct Cream

8. Dr.Jart+ Cicapair Soothing Color Correcting Treatment

9. Sephora Collection Best Skin Ever Color Corrector

10. Isamaya Colour Correcting Serum Pistachio

11. YSL Nu Tone Corrector

How We Tested

We tested these green concealers on acne-prone skin experiencing active breakouts, post-blemish marks, and general redness. Each formula was assessed for pigment strength, blendability, texture, wear time, and how well it layered under foundation. We also considered finish (matte vs radiant), suitability for different skin types, and looked at customer reviews to ensure balanced, practical recommendations.

Why Trust Us

At Who What Wear UK, we know that beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all. Our editors have tested thousands of products, including skincare, makeup, hair and nails, over the years and work closely with trusted experts—dermatologists, make-up artists and leading industry insiders—to ensure every guide is well-researched, inclusive and relevant to you.

We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they’re affordable favourites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how and what we’d truly recommend to a friend.