Get the Correct Color! Effect of Each Color Correcting Primer and How to Use

"Think of the color wheel: Colors that are opposite from one another will help cancel the other out," says makeup artist Molly R. Stern. For example, if you're battling redness, go for a green primer. A purple one gives sallow (yellow) tones the knockout.

Purple, lavender, or lilac correctors eliminate unwanted yellow undertones in fair skin to make it significantly brighter and more glow-y.

Green primers are best for skin tones prone to rosacea and acne—they neutralize the color red. Use one all over if you have widespread redness, or dab it just where you need it to give an even-tone base for a flawless foundation application.

You're tired and overworked—and it's starting to show. Pink primers add luminosity to every skin tone and make the complexion look all-around healthier.

If you have light skin, hair, and eyes, your complexion may be too fair to hide the blue-purple blood vessels beneath the surface—especially around your eyes.

The sun, irritation, hormones—they can all cause your skin to overproduce melanin and leave you with age spots, dark circles, and patches of melasma. Salmon-colored primers won't undo the damage, but they will do a brilliant job of hiding it.