12 Best Green Concealers and Color-Correctors for Masking Any Type of Redness
Including rosacea, angry zits, and even sunburn.
You have options when it comes to covering up acne. You could just dab on a little concealer. Or maybe stick on a pimple patch. Leave it be. Or you could do as I do and go the full nine yards, dotting it first with green concealer to neutralize redness, then cover that up with a few thin layers of full-coverage concealer in your skin-tone shade. It’s more work, but damn, does it hit the undo button on whatever raging, angry zit you’ve got.
Green is the opposite of red on the color wheel, so when applied to areas with redness, green concealers help cancel out those unwanted ruddy tones. However, I’ll admit: This trick only works if your green concealer is good. And as a beauty editor, I can admit that I’ve tried a lot of pretty meh ones. But the right green concealer feels lightweight and makes redness disappear without adding a cakey layer on your pimple, only making it even more noticeable. Need some recs? I gotchu.
Our top picks for the best green concealers:
Keep reading for all of my top picks, tested by Cosmo editors with acne-prone skin. Tons of them don't just cover acne and redness, they also have built-in skincare ingredients that simultaneously help soothe and nourish inflamed skin. Then, I’m giving you a step-by-step guide to applying green concealer for the most flawless skin of your life.
Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Color Corrector
Pros
- Pairs well with all concealers, but especially the OG Tarte Maracuja one
- Thin brush is super easy to work with
Cons
- Like most color correctors, you'll need to apply a regular concealer on top
Why we love it: This camouflaging formula is our fave for breakouts—I mean, it won a Cosmo Acne Award for the best color corrector for a reason. It never looks cakey when layered with concealer or foundation and just one tiny dot (which is easy with the thin brush applicator) fully neutralizes the look of an angry, red breakout. (It also comes in four other shades besides green too, FYI.)
| Formula | Liquid |
| Finish | Natural |
One Cosmo editor says: "Tarte's Marucaja Creaseless Concealer is the product I've relied on for my under-eye bags since I first tried it last year, and the corresponding color corrector did not let me down. The green blends out really nicely and the precise applicator is great for covering up my sporadic hormonal acne or getting in the crevices of my nose." —JASMINE HYMAN, BEAUTY EDITOR
Why we love it: Why lose out on all the redness-reducing powers of a green concealer if it’s just gonna fade after a few hours? Part of MAC’s long-wearing Studio Fix line, this green concealer mimics the performance of all of their formulas: It’s medium to full coverage, has a natural finish, feels lightweight, and helps conceal redness all day long.
One Cosmo editor says: "I have chronic redness around my nose and this is by far the fastest and easiest way to camouflage it. I do a few quick dabs, blend with my fingers, and then layer on my skin tint and my skin looks more even-toned and less blotchy in seconds.” —LAUREN BALSAMO, BEAUTY DIRECTOR
| Formula | Liquid |
| Finish | Natural |
Maybelline New York Eraser Color Correcting Concealer
Pros
- Non-comedogenic
- Blends into the skin so easily
Cons
- Sponge applicator is tough to get into small crevices with
Why we love it: The viral Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Concealer is a cult favorite for a reason. It seamlessly hides dark circles and pimples with its creamy, blendable formula, and the green color corrector version delivers the same type of coverage but targets redness instead. Plus, the formula doesn't have any pore-clogging ingredients, so it's ideal for acne-prone skin and neutralizing blemishes.
One Cosmo editor says: "One thing about me, I'm constantly running any makeup products through an acne ingredient checker to make sure I'm not putting anything on my face with a bunch of pore cloggers. I was shook to find out that this Maybelline corrector was acne-safe, so it doesn't exacerbate my breakouts as I use it to cover 'em."—JH
| Formula | Liquid |
| Finish | Natural |
Typology Color Corrector for Redness
Pros
- Non-comedogenic
- A little bit goes a long way
- Has hydrating benefits
Cons
- Glass bottle is a bit tough to travel with
Why. we love it: This green color corrector doesn't just cover redness, it also treats it. The formula is chock-full of skincare ingredients like niacinamide and seaweed extract to soothe and minimize redness. It's also packed with hydrating glycerin, so the formula doesn't dry down patchy on the skin.
One Cosmo editor says: "This is my favorite color corrector for all-over the face. When I'm recovering from a facial or a treatment and fighting redness, I just swipe this on to mask any irritation."—JH
| Formula | Liquid |
| Finish | Natural |
Hero Cosmetics Rescue Balm + Red Correct
Pros
- A tiny dot of product goes a long way
- Makes for makeup-optional skin
Cons
- Takes a moment or two to fully blend into the skin
Why we love it: If you're looking for a color corrector that prioritizes skincare ingredients in its formula, the Hero Cosmetics Rescue Balm will be your best bet. It's packed with peptides and vitamin E to promote overall skin health, and soothing allantoin and panthenol. Plus, it neutralizes redness so well that when blended out completely, you don't need to top it off with a concealer or foundation.
One Cosmo editor says: "Sooo I never really considered this a concealer, because it's chock-full of so many soothing ingredients for acne. But when I think about it, it's actually fab for helping to hide the redness of a pimple while also healing it at the same time. And it actually blends into my skin, so I don't really have to go over it with another concealer to hide the green tint." —BETH GILLETTE, BEAUTY EDITOR
| Formula | Lightweight cream |
| Finish | Natural |
Givenchy Prisme Libre Skin-Caring Concealer
Pros
- Great for dry skin types
- Works well with other makeup including powders
Cons
- A little more sheer than other options on this list, but it's buildable
Why we love it: Yes, it's on the pricier side, but hear me out: this formula is worth it. A lot of color correctors are matte, and that can end up looking cakey, especially atop of acneic skin. But this one delivers the most natural, radiant finish, leaving your skin looking super even in terms of texture and tone.
What shoppers are saying: "This is wonderful, buildable, and dries down so it doesn’t move when topped with a tiny bit of concealer to even out color then foundation. I used after Botox and filler and it totally covered the red spots."
| Formula | Liquid |
| Finish | Radiant |
Tarte Shape Tape Corrector
Pros
- Doesn't feel drying on the skin
- Comes in a bunch of color-correcting shades
Cons
- Need to put concealer or foundation on top because the green tint is prominent
Why we love it: Another one from Tarte! The brand's OG Shape Tape is iconic for a reason, so when they came out with a Shape Tape color corrector, we knew it was going to be good. It's filled with hydrating glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and squalane, so it won't dry up or leave creasing that you run into with a lot of other high-coverage color correctors.
| Formula | Liquid |
| Finish | Matte |
One Cosmo editor says: "Wowowow, I'm so impressed with how well this concealed my red acne scars. Even a full-coverage foundation usually can't make my skin look so even. I tapped this on with my fingers, then blended on my go-to concealer on top with a brush (the formula is quite pigmented, so it leaves a green tint to my skin). And my skin looks low-key flawless."—BG
NYX Pro Fix Stick
Pros
- Stick packaging makes application a breeze
- Comes in a bunch of other color-correcting shades
Cons
- Not the most buildable option
Why we love it: The green Pro Fix Stick from NYX is a game-changer for neutralizing redness and uneven skin on-the-go. Its green undertones help calm irritated spots like acne or redness, and its stick format blends easily for a smooth finish. The cream formula also helps your makeup stay put all day.
OneCosmo editor says: "I exclusively used this concealer all throughout college when my skin was a hormonal wreck. It's surprisingly pigmented, hiding even the most inflamed breakouts fueled by midnight Papa John's and too many vodka crans."—BG
| Formula | Cream |
| Finish | Natural |
L.A. Girl HD Pro Corrector Concealer
Pros
- The brush-like tip is great for pin-pointing acne and pimples
Cons
- Reviewers say the amount of product in the tube looks misleading, and there's not a lot
Why we love it: As if the price tag wasn’t tempting enough, the pigment on this concealer is next-level. If you’re dealing with cystic acne or rosacea, this formula is super pigmented, full-coverage, and completely combats deep redness with ease. And the best part? It doesn’t feel heavy or suffocating on the skin, so you can wear it all day, every day, without compromising on comfort.
One Cosmo editor says: "Back in the early YouTube beauty vlogger days, the L.A. Girl HD Pro Corrector Concealer was the OG hyped-up product. Flash forward to today, and, IMO, it still holds the coveted spot as one of the best green concealers."—SIENA GAGLIANO, FORMER ASSOCIATE EDITOR
| Formula | Lightweight cream |
| Finish | Natural |
E.l.f. Cosmetics Camo Color Corrector
Pros
- Melts into the skin and play well with other makeup products
- Only $4...you can't beat it!
Cons
- It's not as full-coverage as some testers hoped, so you may need to build it up
Why we love it: If you're new to color correcting and searching for an affordable green concealer that actually delivers, look no further than E.l.f. It's incredibly lightweight, which makes it a dream when layering with other products. This true green shade works wonders for fair to medium skin tones, no matter your undertone. The best part? It dries down to a natural finish, making it perfect for layering with other products. Oh, and did I mention it's also a CosmoHoly Grail Award winner?
One Cosmo editor says: "I'm an E.l.f stan, and the fact that this color corrector is less than $5 makes it one of the best finds from the brand. It rivals the formulas that are more than triple the price, and it's great at covering redness and pimples."—JH
| Formula | Liquid |
| Finish | Natural |
Exa High Fidelity Balancing Color Corrector
Pros
- Comes in several color-correcting shades
- Works on a bunch of skin tones
Cons
- Make sure to wear a hydrating primer with it, because it gets a bit dry on its own
Why we love it:And here’s another former Cosmo Acne Award winner you’ll want for all your redness needs. The milky pigment makes it super easy to blend (no patchiness here), and it plays well solo or layered under your fave concealer or foundation.
One Cosmo editor says: “Realistic-looking color correctors that melt into your skin? Obsessed. This creamy formula comes in six shades to help you neutralize your zits regardless of your skin tone. Just tap it on, layer with concealer, and live your life.” —CHLOE METZGER, FORMER DEPUTY BEAUTY DIRECTOR
| Formula | Liquid |
| Finish | Natural |
What skin tone is green concealer for?
In general, green concealer works best on lighter skin tones with redness. Though some darker formulas can work on tan-to-olive skin (see: concealers with muted-yellow pigments), they usually look most natural on fair-to-medium skin.
"We usethe opposite color on the color wheel to correct redness, acne, pimples, rosacea, red areas around the nose, and scars," says makeup artist Claudia Betancur. "Red and green are directly opposite of each other on the color wheel," she adds, meaning these two shades will cancel each other out.
Do you put green concealer under or over foundation?
Most makeup artists prefer to apply green concealer underneath foundation to first neutralize redness, so you don’t need to pile on as much foundation afterward. But experiment and see what works best for you. For example, if you have a bright-red cystic zit that needs more opaque coverage even after applying foundation, tap on your green concealer, let it set, then dab your regular concealer on top to cover.
How to choose the best green concealer:
Consider the formulations
Like any concealer, green concealers come in a range of formulations and finishes. If you have oily skin, opt for a matte finish, whereas if you are on the drier side, a natural finish should be your go-to. Typically, the creamier the consistency, the fuller coverage a concealer will be, however, a liquid concealer may be more buildable.
Make sure you've got the right color
Makeup artist Sir John has explained to Cosmo that you need to identify a few things before you begin color correcting: (1) where you need to correct, whether that’s under your eyes, around your nose, etc.; (2) what you need to correct, like dark shadows, yellow tones, or redness; and (3) the right shades to use to get the job done. A green concealer will only neutralize red tones and will not work for dark circles or shadows.
Meet the expert:
Claudia Betancuris a Miami-based celebrity makeup artist whose clientele has included Camilla Cabello, Alessandra Ambrosio, Sofia Carson, and more.Sir Johnis a celebrity makeup artist famously known for creating some of Beyonce's most iconic looks. Sir John has spoken to Cosmopolitan in the past regarding color correcting.
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmopolitan and she has more than three years of experience writing about everything from sunscreen sticks to perfume trends. For this story, she spent days testing the best green concealers, including picks Cosmo's beauty awards and other editors.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with more than seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing makeup stories.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.
Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.
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