The 4 Best Color Correctors Made With South Asian Skin in Mind

The words “You look tired” have been all too familiar to me since I was 16 years old. Unfortunately, most of my South Asian friends have similar (and, oftentimes worse) stories of being bullied at a young age for the differences in their skin. 

For the bulk of my makeup journey, concealing the genetic dark circles and hyperpigmentation on my medium-toned, Indian skin was mostly about layering as many primers, concealers, foundations, and powders on top of my skin as possible. Not only did this totally clog my pores and make my acne-prone skin even more sensitive, but my face would also look cakey and oily within hours of application. To try to combat the greasiness, I would usually layer on even more powder mid-day. 

A few years ago, when I started writing about beauty and talking to South Asian makeup artists, I realized I wasn’t alone at all. In fact, some South Asian-owned brands like Sarah Shah’s Journ specialize in color correcting products. Brands like Shah’s aren’t just making products that are effective and make us feel beautiful. They’re also building a sense of community for those who have struggled emotionally due to being ridiculed for their dark circles. 

But, it’s not as easy as choosing any red corrector and dabbing it on scars or under eyes to combat their blue, ash grey color. Many correctors on the mass market cater to lighter skin tones and look unnatural on medium-toned South Asians. 

Since our pigmentation is genetic, it can be harder to treat than ever. “South Asian skin is really tricky,” says board-certified dermatologist Dhaval Bhanusali. “When it comes to hyperpigmentation, those patients need extra care.” It’s not enough to find a good color match, though. Bhanusali warns that it’s important only to use products with the most high-quality ingredients. Also, whether you have sensitive skin or not, it’s essential to be careful with the under-eye area. “The skin under the eyes is thin, so it’s extremely sensitive,” he says. “You have to be careful not to put any aggressive ingredients or treatments on it because you can actually make any pigmentation you have worse,” Bhanusali adds.

There’s still work to be done to dismantle colorism in the beauty industry, but these four Asian-owned brands lead the charge by making effective color-correcting products. I swear by each of them for their pigmentation, ease of use, and high-quality ingredients.

Meet the Expert

Dhaval Bhanusali is a board-certified dermatologist based out of New York City.

For Skincare Benefits

Vasanti Cosmetics
Liquid VO2 Undereye Color Corrector
$27.00

When Pinki Gosal moved to Chicago for her dream job (working for a supermodel-owned beauty brand), her second day was filled with the excitement of meeting her famous boss. However, the celebrity founder walked into a room filled with people and singled Gosal out by saying, “Who is this? Someone get some concealer on her!”

Gosal came back home to Canada to build Vasanti along with her three sisters with the mission of building an inclusive beauty brand that creates products that target unique skin concerns.

Their hero product, the VO2 Undereye Color Corrector, is an orange-hued concealer that has the perfect skin-like satin finish. The brightening tones in it work as a great highlighting product, too. For days I want something low-maintenance and lightweight, this is what I’ll reach for. The doe-foot applicator works great for targeted application on small acne scars. The lightweight consistency feels super breathable on my skin, so I let myself pack this when I want to prime my skin for contour and heavy highlight.

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