Appropriate cosmetic colors for me-Question or Rant?
Mon, 04/06/2009 - 1:50pm
I have a question or a rant here. How do you choose the appropriate color of cosmetics to purchase? I always have trouble with this. Particularly with lip colors. I have a very fair complexion with dark brown hair and dark brown eyes. It seems that every time that I read a magazine article that outlines the so called right colors for you they are all wrong. The fair example is always someone with blue eyes and blond hair. I have time after time tried these colors and they are wrong. I feel washed out. Am I wrong to think that hair and eye color impact what colors to wear. HELP! I am sick of buying the wrong colors.
You are not wrong. I can relate to your dilemma. For me, it is because I am a mix of cool and warm tones so the compacts that are normally paired together typically don't work for me. Have you ever tried using different shades of gray or bronze for your eyes? I like Mac eyeshadows. For grey, I use the color Scene (Mac) for the crease color paired with either Rice Paper (Mac) or Shroom (Mac) as the highlighter color. For bronze colors, I love the item just reviewed for Cat Cosmetics: Smolder, it is universally flattering and very easy to apply. Another great bronze eyeshadow is Antiqued (Mac); use it as the crease color with the same highlighter color mentioned above. As a Mac fan, I was surprised when I tried an eyeshadow compact that is very pretty and can be found at any drugstore. It's made by Revlon; Color Stay 12 hour eyeshadow in Coffee Bean. It can be used for a very natural daytime look or applied heavier for a dark smokey eye. A great blush will also fix any washed out complexion. I bet a pretty coral colored blush would look great on you, like Cargo Blush in Rome or Nars Blush in Orgasm. I once read that it is best to put your blush on first, then do your eyes and end with lip color. This makes it almost impossible to over-do your eyeshadow. I am sure you know this already, but just in case: make sure if you are using more dramatic/darker colors on your eyes that you choose softer more neutral colors for your lips. For example, a smokey eye looks beautiful with a nude lip. My go to gloss for a smokey eye, is called c-thru (Mac). The opposite is also true, if you go neutral on your eyes choose a more dramatic lip. I almost always mix two lipsticks to get my perfect match. When I use the Revlon quad for a daytime look, I mix my Cargo-Plant-Love lipstick in Maria with a soft pink gloss (any soft pink should work). After the gloss, start by adding just a little of the Cargo lip color, then stand back and see if you need to make the color deeper. Keep adding until you are satisfied with the look. In fact, I think that is always good advice to start with less and keep adding color until you look great but not too made up.A bit long winded, I know. Good Luck Gorgeous!!
About hair and eye color dictating what colors you should wear: I personally experiment with everything because you just never really know and could be pleasantly surprised. I feel your pain! As a lily white skinned brunette with hazel-y brown eyes, it aggravates me to death when magazines only list the 'fair' girls as blonde haired and blue eyed. I'm so pale I'm practically a moon. :) And all my foundations say 'fair' on them, so don't I count as a fair girl? Here are some suggestions. I like berry colors, they're very forgiving and work on many skin colors, even if you tan a little bit, then the color should still work. I stay far, far away from nude lips though, I look like a corpse! Nude lips just wash me out waaaay too much (bronzer doesn't even help). I do like a shimmery nude eye though with a bright lip. I don't know what your makeup style is (if you like outrageous makeup, subtle/natural makeup, or somewhere in the middle) so I don't really know what to tell you. My makeup depends on my clothing choice for the day. Like I never wear peach blush when I'm wearing something pink. If I'm wearing an orange shirt, then I put on kind of a peach blush (my peach is laughter mixed with a little rose radiance by Bare Escentuals) Mixing the two make it is less orange and more of an orangey-pink, which works well for my skin. I then use an orangey coral lipstick (mine is Clinique butter shine lipstick in ambrosia) and whatever eye I want (sometimes a brown or a nude). If I'm wearing a pink shirt, then I use pink based colors for my cheeks and lips. I like the Clinique fresh bloom all over color in Peony for my blush and I swipe a little of the lighter parts all over for a bit of a glow. Then I use whatever pink based lip color I want (which can be a pink to a red). If you're a drugstore diva, then take a look at Covergirl. I believe they have some sort of brand where they match foundation to blush to lipstick so you "can't go wrong." So if you are fair, if a foundation color would be a 1, then your blush would be 1 and so would your lipstick. See? Take a look at those and get an idea what colors work for light skin tones. If you aren't a drugstore diva, then check out Sephora.com and find a store near you. Trust me, it's worth a commute! Or go to a makeup counter in a department store and check some things out or ask for a makeup session. Good luck and have fun!
How about looking at magazines for someone with your coloring? You sound a lot like Anne Hathaway to me. Or, I've found that if you go to a decent makeup counter, the trained people there can usually find the colors that suit your complexion. Worth a try!Judi
I expirement, alot. That's the beauty of Sephora, you can test everything before buying
God...girl...I never pay attention to what "they say" will work on me because I never know from one day to the next who I want to be when I grow up! :) I'd suggest you find the PERFECT for you foundation and go from there: once you have perfected your canvas,think of yourself as the fabulous work of art you are and just start painting...no rules,just try what strikes you in the tube,pot,or compact and the best thing about it all is you simply have to go wash your face when you're finished with your creation!Try to find a "classic look" that enhances you for everyday: maybe a liner/gloss in a not too much darker than you own lip tone (Julie Hewitt lippies are amazing as are Cat Cosmetics) and then learn to line your eyes with a grey,brown,plum or other "neutral (I hate that word,LOL!) shade with some great mascara and a swipe of bronzer or blush and you're out the door.For other times...seriously get in your stash and just start playing...I find that the tutorials and "looks" you can print out on the MAC website are amazing and fun,even if you have to call the store and request that an artist walk you through them the first time.I guess my point is,make up your own rules! I wear screaming fuschia lips and people stop me to compliment but the "rules" would have me flogged,LOL! With your coloring,I'd check out Jennifer Gardner,Angelina Jolie,and other fair-haired creamy-cheeked lasses to see what they're up to!Most of all...have fun!!! It's all smoke and mirrors! :)
I agree with mjsred. Wear the colors you love! There's so many variations on colors that if you love to wear blue eye shadow -there is one that will look good on you. I suppose this is where the benefit to upper end cosmetics comes in because, unlike drugstore brands, you can almost always try them on before you buy them. And, stores like Sephora and some department stores have generous return policies!
Katie
I suggest going to all the makeup counters and ask for a demonstration on what you should wear. Have the sales lady write down all the brands and colors she used. Go outside, do things for the whole day, try on clothes. After you have done this a few times, you will find colors that work without spending much money. You also learn how long they last. If you are made up in a higher priced brand, usually you can find an inexpensive brand that is comparable in their colors. The advantage is some of the makeup artists are so good that you learn all sorts of tricks.I also suggest going to Catcosmetics.com and look at her eye pallets for different women. She is a genius when it comes to makeup.
Beste Hilsin
Man, I hear you. Although I'm fair with blonde hair blue eyes, I still find that some of the magazine suggestions just wouldn't suit me. Either that or they just aren't as pretty as what some of the darker toned girls are wearing!My biggest problem is picking things out that *should* work for me, and then finding out that they really really don't! Now I'm stuck with a full container of something I can never really use. And its not like I have a huge budget either!
I ve got the same colouring as you though dye my hair red,style mama is right on the money with all her suggestions,Ive got the nars blush and it works (also could use a light pink blush)urban decay do a couple of light pinks that would work,ditto the bronze shadow Ialways use it(pupa do a good bronze cream shadow)also I got the new urban decay cream shadow in the shimmery peach shade and love it,the green one would work on you as well,also mac spice liner ,I just found out freeze 247have just launched a new mineral makeup collection in 3 colour kits and the fair kit looks great,you grt 2 mineral foundations ,1bronze and glow,1 cheeky highlighter,total face blush and fix it brush in the kit www.freeze247.com. Also cindy crawfords make up always looks great and she has similar colouring.
PotionPrincess♥
Girl, you sound exactly like me! Pale skin, dark hair, dark eyes... check! As most of the ladies have said, it's a lot about experimenting and finding what YOU like and what works for your skin tone. It's always frustrating because magazines lump together "fair" when there are so many variations! We fair ladies can run the gamut when it comes to undertones- golden, yellow, pink, beige... I'd go with what mjsred said and find your foundation first, since it'll help you figure out what undertones you have. Try a Sephora or an Ulta- somewhere where you can test foundation colors on your jawline- and once you figure out your foundation, then you should start playing with colors! I've found that I, personally, can pull off a lot of brighter colors and lighter colors, but dark muted tones have a tendency to make me look bruised. I stay away from cool-toned dark browns, murky dark greens, and super-dark blues, for the most part. For lips, a classic red works on a lot of fair ladies if you're brave enough to try it- but figure out your undertones first! That's the key to finding your colors- not the "fair" or "medium" or "dark" BS in the magazines!
Thanks so much for all of the great info! I knew that you ladies would give me a new and fresh prospective on the subject. As much as I love cosmetics sometimes I feel like I don't get it. I never had a mom who showed me this stuff. Mostly I figured it out on my own. So I feel that I am lacking in certain areas. That it why I love this site and all of you!!
Tell us what you try!
kellie76, Check out the Allure website www.allure.com. Click on How-To and then if you scroll down on the left there is a link for More Get the Allure Look, click on 'view the archive'. As you scroll down you will see the title Hot Lips. There is a great make-over idea featuring a deep coral lipstick (L'oreal Paris Colour Riche lipstick in Volcanic). The model in the photo has blue eyes but I bet it would look even better with your brown eyes. This site will give you everything you need to re-create the look.
Indi
Thanks Indi! I will totally check that out. I actually have been toying around with the idea of trying coral lipstick.
Thanks Gigi. This sounds like some good solid advice. I will give it a whirl. I already use BE Mineral Veil and I like it. So maybe I should try some more mineral makeup products as well. I am pretty pale. I always struggle with things either completely washing me out or being too dark. It's hard to find that happy medium. But I keep on trying!
Your hair and eye color definitely have an impact. I myself am very fair, but with red undertones. The dilemma lies in the fact that my haircolor is a bronzy red...so, according to my skintone, I should wear cool colors, yet my hair and green eyes often call for warm tones. I feel your pain! I've spent years trying things that look absolutely HORRIBLE on me only to find that I just need to stop listening to what all the magazines say and just do my own thing! As the other girls have mentioned here, you should go to sephora. They can give you a little help and show you some different products that look fab on you and how to use them properly. I'd be lost without them!
I don' t think that their is a color that anyone can't wear(the problem is the shade). It all depends on how you wear it. I suggest starting off by just applying the lip gloss just on your bottom lip and pressing them together My mom taught me this trick when using darker lip glosses.( this way it won't be so strong...maybe you are getting too much color when you to put it on your top and bottom lip then press your lips together.)