Bold make-up colours can be intimidating but with a few key tricks, you can add pops of brilliant colour to your look without looking like a clown!
You've seen bold colours used in fashion shows, and those head-turning pots of colour at your favourite make-up counter. Now they're even turning up in your local drugstore in intriguing combinations you may think are better suited for home decorating! But you don't have to be a make-up artist or rock star to experiment with these brilliant shades of make-up. Give your look a shot of colour using these simple tips and tricks!
- The quickest and easiest way to wear bright colours in make-up is by starting sheer and building until you have the effect you want. Bright coral blush livens up every skin tone. Try a wash of copper, teal or burgundy on your upper eyelids or all around your eye. Just be cautious if you've got fair skin - pinks and reds can make you look sick if they're too close to the natural pink shades in your skin.
- The easiest way to wear bold colours on your face is with lip colour. There's nothing quite like a a lusciously fruit-coloured lip. Try a lip gloss or sheer lipstick in a bright orange, purple, red or pink - because they're so sheer the colour isn't overwhelming and your whole face will look instantly brighter! If you want to make more of an impact, layer gloss over lipstick (orange over pink, purple over red) and see what you come up with.
- Do not overdo it with colour - if your lips are bold, keep your eyes subtle. The same goes with if you're wearing bold colours on your eyes - keep your lip colour nude and soft. And apply your blush last so as not to overdo it!
- Ground a bright eyeshadow colour with black liner. Try hot pink, orange or green for a bold statement, but make sure to line your upper lashes at least with black eyeliner to show that you know what you're doing.
- Instead of black liner, try a navy, burgundy or deep green along your lash line. It'll look softer than black and highlight your natural eye colour.
- Line your eyes with black liner and use a damp eyeliner brush to paint a thin line of colour alongside the black - along the whole length or just at the ends for a splash on an otherwise simple look. Any colour works here and metallic colours are especially dramatic - so be creative!
- Eyeshadows are often sold in combinations of three or four and it's the same for bright colours. Don't be intimidated by these trios and quartets, they're designed to be worn together (or separately). The same basic rules of eyeshadow apply - the darkest colour applied along your lashline will make your lashes look thicker and define your eyes; the medium-toned shade will bring depth to the crease of your eyelid, or give you the base for a smoky eye; and the lightest shade should be used as a highlight or to blend the darker shades. But with bright colour combinations experiment a little - layer the colours and see what you come up with!
- Try a smoky eye but use colours other than black and gray for a fresher, more playful look. Try a combination of blues, coppers, golds, greens, reds or purples. Just remember to ground the colour by applying the darkest shade along your lashline and don't forget to blend, blend, blend - it's the key to a perfect smoky eye.
- It can be tricky using the same colour eyeshadow as your eyes, so go for complimentary colours and the darker shades of your eye colour. Don't use an eyeshadow the same colour as your eyes - you want your make-up to enhance your eyes, not compete with it. Green eyes will pop with burgundies, brown eyes with purples and blue eyes with oranges.
Be adventurous with colour and experiment! Your neutrals will look muddy in comparison.
The copyright of the article Add Drama With Colourful Make-up in Beauty is owned by Catherine Solmes. Permission to republish Add Drama With Colourful Make-up in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
