One of the most common questions I get from clients is “What color makeupto wear;” This can apply to foundation, blush, eye shadow, lipstick and a variety of makeup products. For most consumers, there is uncertainty about which colors best match their complexion or features. To make matters worse, we now live in an age where there are more color options than ever before. The internet is full of video bloggers and web-stars using the rainbow palletsfull of technicolor shadows and blushes. Not surprisingly, we would be overwhelmed. But before you give up on your search, let me give you a basic lesson in color theory and the color wheel for makeupwhich can simplify the process.
The basics
First, we want to understand our terminology. When we choose one makeupcolor, we want to distinguish some properties about that color. Technically, color has three distinct properties: Hue, Saturation and Depth.
- Hue is what the actual color is, red, blue, brown, etc. When choosing which shade will suit us best, we first want to consider what colors we have in our skin, hair and eyes. For example, people with blonde hair and blue eyes tend to look good with gold and brown eyeshadows. If your skin is cool or pink, you will probably look good with soft pink blush and lipstick, while people with tanned skin and brown eyes look good with gray, silver and blue eyeshadows.
- Saturation is how intense the color is. Strongly saturated colors work well for dramatic looks, while low-saturation colors look softer. For example, for a natural looking, daytime pink blush, we want a blush that isn’t too saturated. While typically we want a red lipstick we wear at night to have a lot of saturation. Keep in mind that just because a color is very saturated doesn’t mean it will be dark. It will just be bright or bright against your skin tone.
- Depth, of course, means how light or dark the color is. It is important to consider the depth of your skin when choosing the depth of your makeup colors. A color that is too light may not show up, while a color that is too dark may appear more dramatic than you want.
When choosing colors that go well with our features, we usually look at our skin, eye and hair color to determine what will work best. We have the ability to use colors that are similar to our features – Monochrome, or using colors that are opposite to our feature color – Contrast. To help us understand, look at the color wheel. Colors on the opposite side of the color wheel contrast and colors that match are solid.
Let’s take a closer look at the makeup color wheelPI.Historically it was believed that blue eye shadow would make the eyes appear bluer, but in reality, we realized that the pigment of a blue shade would inevitably be bluer than thatn the eyes thus making the eye appear less blue in comparison. We realized that colors like orange, gold and copper are the best for contrast blue eyesmall to do theirthey look bluer in comparison. Also, green eyesmall appears greener when enhanced with purple. Brown eyes are often confusing, as blue is the closest opposite of brown. In fact, a brown eye looks just as beautiful when enhanced with cool colors like grey, platinum or silver. To learn more about which eyeshadows look best with your eye color, check out How to Choose the Best Eyeshadow for Every Eye Color.
With all this information mentioned, it is important to know that you do not need to wear these colors to make your eyes look beautiful. We’ve found that varying levels of flesh tones, soft browns, and neutral taupe look great on most eye colors. For example, I like to use ours Sweet Spot Eyeshadow Trio, Matt Kit of course the Day shadow kit in any eye color. These are universal pallets.
Correction before improvement
Now that we’ve figured out what our color options are, we might want to start exploring new colors. But before we get down to creating our look and choosing the colors we want, we first need to take a critical look at our face and make sure we’re properly correcting any unwanted discoloration. I’ve had many clients tell me they can’t wear purple eye shadow because it brings out their dark circles. My answer to that is “what concealer do you use?” If you don’t correct dark circles properly, no shadow will look good. This is another important point about color theory.
If we have discoloration, we don’t need stage makeup or heavy concealer to correct the problem. We work smarter, not harder – with color correcting makeup. If there is redness around your eyes or on your cheeks, such as a yellow-based concealer Circle Delete #1 or a yellow foundation like Hot Sienna it will definitely neutralize the redness. If you have grey, blue or purple circles, use a peachy concealer like this Light up 1 the Enlighten Plus to neutralize the darkness. This also works great for hyperpigmentation. You’ll be surprised how much easier you can cover discoloration. Once your skin is even-toned and your dark circles are covered, you’ll be able to choose any blush or shadow color without worrying about highlighting these issues.
If your entire face has a lot of natural redness and you don’t want to try to cover it up, apply a gold-based bronzer like Bronze 2 then the Moonglow to soften and then turn red. Likewise, if your skin is too pale or golden, try a peach or pink-based bronzer So bronze 1 the Rose Dawn. These contrasting colors can help neutralize your undertone and enhance your complexion.
Dramatic vs Natural
Another challenge I see consumers face is whether or not they can get away with the dramatic look. So many of us stick to soft, soft and natural colors because we think we can’t escape the drama. I can’t tell you how many women I’ve met who have 5 lipsticks of the same color from a bunch of different brands…. forever searching for the perfect pink brown. We wear one color once and get a few compliments and then think that’s what we should be wearing, when in reality we’re capable of a lot more variety than we think. My recommendation is to go up to the lipstick unit, close your eyes, pick a color and wear it for the day. Don’t look at yourself and compare yourself to how you usually look. See yourself as if you were a stranger you met on the street. You might be surprised! And don’t be afraid to try some red.
Never alone
We understand that having so many options can be overwhelming, but remember that you are never alone. In the Jane Iredale, we have professional partners around the world who can match your skin tone and recommend a variety of products that will work well with your skin. And if you don’t want to physically walk to any location, we have a great team of beauty consultants available for chat on your phone or computer. Do not hesitate to contact us. We hope you have fun exploring your colors!
