The 12 Best Green Concealers to Hide Pimples and Redness
Say goodbye to your angry red zit.
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If you were to look at a color wheel, you’d see that red would be right across from green, making them complementary colors. When dealing with any sort of redness, whether active acne, rosacea, or sunburns, we don’t have to reach for our most full-coverage concealers and foundations immediately. Instead, we can use the color wheel to our advantage and employ one of the best green concealers to neutralize the unwanted rosiness of our complexions. You may balk at applying a green product, but don’t worry—you won’t turn into Wicked's Elphaba. As the verdant hue interacts with the redness on our skin, they cancel each other out, so you won’t see a hint of red or green once blended.
“If you need help covering a super red breakout, I would reach for a high-coverage green concealer and spot conceal as needed—first layering the green concealer, then topping it with your foundation. Any discoloration that still peaks through can easily be covered with your normal concealer. If you need to neutralize a larger area of redness, a primer or tinted green moisturizer may be a better option,” says Aliana Lopez, a New York-based celebrity makeup artist. She emphasizes that less really is more in this case, so start with a thin layer and build as needed for the most natural-looking result.
Top picks for the best green color correctors in 2024
Although it is an extra step, these handy formulas can help reduce the overall amount of product you have to use; it’ll take way less foundation and concealer to conceal even the angriest of breakouts. By speaking to our expert, experimenting with a couple ourselves, and poring over customer reviews, we were able to produce this master list of the 13 best green concealers for erasing unwanted redness in a flash.
Pros
- Creamy texture
Cons
- Product can separate in jar
For that healthy, glowy look devoid of redness, look no further than Dr. Jart’s Color Correcting Treatment. What's more, the formula offers an incredibly crucial layer of SPF 30 protection.
Key ingredients: Centella asiatica, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide
Size: 1.7 fl. oz.
Sephora rating: 4/5 stars
An ELLE editor says: “I have a friend who has rosacea, but I didn’t believe her for the longest time—her skin appeared so even and flawless, and it didn’t look like she had a stitch of makeup on. As it turns out, her secret was this magical jar. When I tried it for myself, I was suspicious of the green cream, but I became a believer the instant I blended it out and saw how well it worked on my rosacea, too.” —Carol Lee, ELLE.com associate beauty e-commerce writer
Pros
- Blends out easily
Cons
- Can crease
Exa’s green color corrector is loaded with skin care ingredients, like brightening marshmallow root and kaolin clay, which absorbs excess sebum. The product melts into the skin, and a little goes a long way. There’s also a yellow version, which may be better for neutralizing redness on fair skin.
Key ingredients: Marshmallow root, rice bran, licorice, kaolin clay
Size: 1.7 fl. oz.
Credo Beauty rating: 4.6/5 stars
An ELLE editor says: “It’s hard to choose an absolute favorite product in any beauty category, but if you were to twist my arm, I’d blurt out the name of this one. I find that green is the ideal shade for me; it’s perfectly balanced and not too green if that makes sense. The formula blends like a dream on top of red patches and blemishes alike and doesn’t make any of the makeup I put on top look cakey.” —Carol Lee
Neutrogena Prep + Correct Primer for Redness Correcting
Pros
- Soothing formula
Cons
- Shade may not be suitable for everyone
This pick from Neutrogena is for anyone who isn’t interested in spot concealing or correcting and just wants an even layer of color correction. The primer also brightens the skin as it evens and has a non-greasy finish.
Key ingredient: Seaweed extract
Size: 1 oz.
Amazon rating: 4.3/5 stars
An ELLE editor says: “I’m a makeup snob, but I also can’t deny that the drugstore has some real hidden gems like this one. I use way less makeup when I use it—in fact, I skip foundation entirely and spot conceal any dark spots or stubborn redness that shines through.” —Carol Lee
Givenchy Prisme Libre Skin-Caring Corrector
Pros
- Non-comedogenic
- Hydrating
Cons
- May not be as effective on severe redness
Givenchy hit it out of the park with this formula, which features glycerin for hydration and capucine extract to add a glow. Thanks to its redness-banishing hue, it acts like a magic eraser for irritated spots and angry blemishes—no concealer or foundation necessary.
Key ingredient: Glycerin, capucine extract
Size: 0.37 oz.
Sephora rating: 3.8/5 stars
A Sephora reviewer says: ““I've stopped wearing foundation. This is all I need. I’m shocked every time I put it on. It covers the redness and leaves my skin looking smooth and bright.”
Pros
- High coverage
Cons
- Can be hard to blend
A top Reddit recommendation, this wonder product can neutralize red areas in just a few swipes. And let’s be honest—at such an affordable price, what do you have to lose?
Key ingredients: Beeswax, chamomilla recutita extract
Size: 0.28 oz.
Amazon rating: 4.3/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “I am about a light medium with warm/olive undertones. What I dislike about most color correctors is that they tend to have too much white pigment, so it lightens my skin with a slight green tinge. This one is more green and is easy to blend out. It doesn’t break me out or sit in my pores. I have had no problems putting skin tints/foundation over it. I would recommend.”
Maybelline Cover Stick Concealer
Pros
- Affordable
Cons
- Can feel greasy
Eliminate redness with the swipe of the hand. Apply a small amount of concealer and easily blend the hypoallergenic formula with your fingers. Bonus: It’s waterproof.
Key ingredients: Kaolin clay, talc
Size: 0.16 oz.
Amazon rating: 4.5/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “I’ve used this product for years. Dependable quality.”
NYX Professional Makeup HD Concealer Wand
Pros
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- Can crease
If you’re looking for a wallet-friendly product that’ll get the job done, may we suggest NYX’s HD Photogenic Concealer? Some with olive-toned skin even add it to foundations and tinted moisturizers for a greener undertone.
Key ingredients: Coconut oil, glycerin
Size: 0.11 fl. oz.
Amazon rating: 4.3/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “I have always had redness on my face near my nose. I have seen others use the green concealer to help with that. I just use a very small amount and blend it in with my fingertips. It does a great job.”
Teint Idole Ultra Wear Camouflage Color Corrector
Pros
- Only need to use a small amount
Cons
- Thick consistency can be hard to blend
Use this all over your face if you’ve got ruddy tones that need some evening out. It can also be applied for on-the-spot coverage.
Key ingredients: Matricaria flower extract, cucumber fruit extract, sage leaf extract
Size: 0.41 oz.
Macy’s rating: 3.9/5 stars
A Macy’s reviewer says: “This camouflage corrector worked very well for me. Only a very small amount is needed, and it is easy to apply. The coverage lasted all day!”
Pros
- Oil-free
Cons
- Can feel drying
Swipe away any redness with Neutrogena’s velvety color-correcting concealer. It’s oil- and fragrance-free, giving you the coverage you need without the cakiness.
Key ingredient: Niacinamide
Size: 0.24 fl. oz.
Amazon rating: 4.2/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “I have a couple large dark spots on my face. This product has great coverage to even out my skin tone and cover the dark spots.”
Pros
- Contains SPF
Cons
- Pricey
Velvety, hydrating, and blendable, Erborian’s CC Red Correct is the epitome of lightweight color-correcting coverage that makes your skin look and feel good. The formula also features SPF 25, which is always a plus.
Key ingredients: Titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, centella asiatica extract
Size: 1.5 oz
Ulta rating: 4.6/5 stars
An Ulta reviewer says: “My nose has a perpetual pink tint to it for some reason, probably from burning by the pool too many times as a kid. Regardless, this dreamy creamy tube of fix-it glides on to undo the pink before I put on my makeup. It’s lovely and does the job!”
Pros
- Four colors included
Cons
- May not be suited for dry skin
This L’Oreal product has your back. The different shades neutralize redness, discoloration, dark circles, and dullness, and they come in one travel-friendly compact.
Key ingredient: Kaolin clay
Size: 0.17 oz.
Amazon rating: 4.3/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “This is my third repeat purchase. It works well to cover up and camouflage discolorations and flaws, and it is not expensive like some other brands I’ve tried.”
Pros
- Thin
- Only takes a little
Cons
- Harder to blend
One of America’s favorite concealers has been reborn in a color-correcting format. The thin, matte potion balances out redness across your face so your base looks more even.
Key ingredients: Kaolin clay, squalane, mango seed butter
Size: 0.2 fl. oz.
Tarte rating: 4.3/5 stars
A Tarte reviewer says: “This product allows me to wear minimal makeup by just covering up my red spots. It is a little thicker than expected but still very nice and does the job!”
How does green concealer work?
It’s color theory! Colors across the color wheel from each other cancel each other out. So green will help to neutralize any red pigments showing up on the skin.
How do I use green concealer on a zit?
“First, layer the green concealer, then top it with your foundation—any discoloration that still peaks through can easily be covered with your normal concealer,” Lopez says.
How do I use green concealer to cover a rash, hickey, or inflammation?
“If your needs are for neutralizing a larger area of redness, a primer or tinted green moisturizer may be a better option,” Lopez says. “The best thing to keep in mind is less is more, so thin layers of the product will result in a more natural, seamless look.”
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Pros
- Easy to blend
Cons
- May need to reapply
ULTA knows a thing or two about what makes a great beauty product. You’ll see what we mean when you try this waterproof Color Correcting Liquid Concealer. After all, it is a spinoff of their best-selling Full Coverage Liquid Concealer. Expect creamy, lasting pigment.
Ulta rating: 4.2/5 stars
An Ulta reviewer says: “I have an olive complexion and wear glasses so I have the worst dark circles. Concealer only does so much so the color corrector is fantastic because it covers them and gives me a flawless base around my eyes before I apply the rest of my makeup.”
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