Color Correcting 101: Victoria Beckham's make-up artist demonstrates how using GREEN, ORANGE and PURPLE concealers is the key to faking a flawless complexion 

Make-up artists have been utilizing the technique of color correcting - or, camouflaging imperfections like redness, dark circles and dark spots using concealers in shades of green, purple and peach - on their clients for years. Now, the secret is finally out.

Brands like Make Up For Ever, Urban Decay and Stila have brought the concept to the masses in the form of correcting sticks, primers, palettes and pigments.

Though these products have been designed to simplify color correcting for us non-professionals, just looking at a single multi-hue palette is enough to make your head spin. To break down the trend and to find out what all of the hype is about, I consulted with top make-up artists and even got color corrected myself.

Read on for FEMAIL's definitive guide to color correcting like a pro, and to see the technique in action, check out the video below.

WHY COLOR CORRECTING? 

What can a green or yellow concealer do that a regular, flesh-toned concealer can't, you ask?

'We all have more than one skin concern,' explains Sarah Lucero, a celebrity make-up artist who often works with Victoria Beckham and is the global executive director of creative artistry at Stila. So, employing products that are formulated to target specific issues can yield better results than using a more generalized option.

She also notes that 'these products lift discoloration effortlessly.'

Instead of caking concealer on top of a blemish or dark spot, a color corrector essentially erases the imperfection, providing a flawless canvas for your foundation.

'If you use the proper colors to neutralize an issue then you will always end up using less make-up,' says Sarah. 'It's the new way to prep, prime and even out your complexion.'

How posh! Make-up artist and color correcting wizard Sarah Lucero gave Victoria Beckham, 41, a completely even complexion two weeks ago in Hong Kong

Color theory: Color correcting is rooted in the concept that shades that are positioned opposite each other on the color wheel - like green and red - neutralize each other

Trending: Color correcting products - concealers that camouflage specific types of imperfections - are all over shelves right now

And if you're wondering why color correcting products are suddenly all over the shelves, look to the Kardashians.

'I think the ubiquity of the Kardashians and their sort of paint-by-numbers aesthetic is quite appealing in the sense that it can be fun to play dress-up and transform the face's proportions through the use of color theory,' says pro make-up artist Suzy Gerstein, who regularly color corrects the under-eye areas of clients like Christy Turlington-Burns.

HOW TO DO IT  

To understand color correcting you first need to understand basic color theory.

When deciding which color corrector to use, think of the shade of the imperfection that you're trying to fix. Next, imagine what shade is positioned directly across from it on the color wheel, as these opposites neutralize each other.

For example, if you're experiencing redness due to acne, rosacea, broken capillaries or sunburn, you want to reach for a green concealer.  

If you want to minimize blue or purple under-eye circles or veins, apply a peach or orange concealer (peach for fair skin, orange for darker skin) to the area. 

And to brighten a dull or sallow complexion that appears yellow or ashy, try a lavender corrector. 

THE CONSENSUS  

Before delving into the technique, I was perhaps most skeptical about whether the results would be impressive enough to make adding an extra step to my morning beauty routine worth it.

After being color corrected by Make Up For Ever pro artist Charles McLoughlin my skin looked flawless - like Snapchat skin-perfecting-filter flawless. What surprised me was that I didn't look like I was wearing much make-up at all. I looked the same, but better - like I had gotten a really excellent night's sleep.

It turned out that once my complexion was painted with green, yellow and peach concealers, I needed only a thin layer of foundation and powder to seal the deal. 

Quick fix: Femail writer Sarah Ferguson's (above) bare complexion was color corrected by Make Up For Ever pro artist Charlie McCloghlin in order to reduce redness, minimize dark circles and camoflage dullness

Before and after: Color correcting has an Instagram filter effect - results (right) are subtle yet impactful

'Anytime I do classic, clean, make-up backstage or on my clients for the red carpet, I always spend the most time perfecting and balancing the skin, so their natural beauty stands out and makes an impact,' says artist Sarah. 'Otherwise, it may get lost and compete with dark under-eye circles, redness or uneven tones.'

That being said, obsessing over every little imperfection each morning sounds exhausting. Since mastering the technique, I've employed it when skin issues are glaring, when I have an important meeting or will be posing for pictures, but it hasn't quite worked its way into my daily regimen.

'I do not feel that it's necessary for every day. Let's see some freckles, let's see some variant tones in a face,' says Suzy. 'One Italian actress I worked with told me I could do anything I wanted but to please leave her under-eye circles as they gave her "character". That approach was so refreshing.'

The bottom line is that color correcting can be as simple as patting some yellow concealer under your eyes after a late night, or as involved as a morning art project. 

Whichever is more your speed, find the perfect product for your complexion and budget below. 

Make Up For Ever Step1 Skin Equalizers ($37 each, makeupforever.com)

Shop from left: Stila Correct & Perfect All-In-One Color Correcting Palette ($45, stilacosmetics.com) and Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Wipeout Color-Correcting Palette ($45, tartecosmetics.com)

Urban Decay Naked Skin Color Correcting Fluids ($28 each, sephora.com)

Becca Backlight Targeted Colour Correctors ($30 each, beccacosmetics.com)

Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat Neutralizers ($38 each, yslbeautyus.com)

Algenist Reveal Concentrated Color Correcting Drops ($38 each, algenist.com)

Essence Say No to Concealers ($3 each, target.com)

Marc Jacobs Cover(t) Stick Color Correctors ($42 each, sephora.com)

Smashbox Color Correcting Sticks ($23 each, sephora.com)

Cover FX Correct Clicks ($18 each, coverfx.com)