No wonder! There’s a lot of info out there on how to select the colour palette that best suits your eye colour, hair colour, skin tone, etc.  Different makeup experts will tell you different things, and they all tend to group us into oversimplified categories like “blonde” or “dark skinned.” What if you happen to have dark skin and blonde hair? What then!?

To complicate things further, most colour palettes come in two sets: warm tones and cool tones. Which one is for you?

I find most colour confusion arises when choosing eyeshadow and liner. We have way more colour options when it comes to eye makeup, hence, the confusion. Every woman wants to know which shade of eyeshadow is going to make her eyes “pop” (whatever that means….there will be an upcoming post on makeup jargon).

The general consensus (derived from much reading/web browsing on the subject) seems to be that you should choose shadows and liners that contrast with your eye colour. This notion is simply based on the colour wheel–opposites attract. Blue eyed gals look best wearing browns, grays or taupes. Brown eyed girls dazzle in purples or blues, and green eyed ladies seem to get away with almost anything. Sound familiar?

That’s colour theory, and though it can be limiting and boring, it should not be completely discarded. I have found that choosing contrasting colours (I have blue eyes, and I find that shadows in the brown family, particularly bronze, yield the much coveted “pop) is a useful technique that will help you make safe choices that will look great on you. However, safe choices may not be enough. I’m speaking to all of the beauty junkies here that like to have fun with makeup and be creative, daring even.

To help you go from colour confusion to colour confidence, I have compiled a brief list of the basic principles I keep in mind when selecting eye makeup (a choice not to be taken lightly since some eyeshadow palettes cost almost as much as a week’s groceries)!

1) Be utilitarian. Try not to get too distracted by flashy packaging and trendy, novel products (I know it’s hard!), and ask yourself: will I wear this colour on a regular basis? Before you part with your hard-earned dough, think about your makeup “wardrobe,” and decide if the shadow/liner in question goes with any of the pieces you already have. Is it a colour that you’re truly lacking, or do you have a million similar shades at home already? If it’s a palette you’re coveting, ask yourself: will I wear all of the colours included? can I wear the colours in a variety of different ways? Simply put, eyeshadow is expensive. Make sure you’re getting good value for your money and that you’re investing in a product that you’re going to use, love and feel good wearing.

2) Know your purpose. Think about what you want the product to do and in what settings you will be wearing it. Do you want subtle definiton for the office, dramatic allure for a date, or an over-the-top shadow with lots of pigment and tons of glitter for a night of club hopping? Also, think about what you want people to notice: your eyes or your eye makeup? You don’t always have to stick with the colour wheel, but you have to bear in mind that there is a time and a place for experimentation. If subtlety is important, stick to the colour wheel; it’s a good way to make sure that your eyes, in all of their natural splendour, are the focus. If there’s room to go hog wild, go for whatever colour makes your heart sing. It’s okay to have days where your makeup is the focus if the setting is appropriate.

3) Follow your gut. I firmly believe that people are naturally drawn to the colours that look good on them. When I look at eyeshadow displays, I gravitate towards browns, grays/charcoals, deep purples and plums. I also like to experiment with coppers and pale pinks. The colours I shy away from are blues and greens, and, coincidentally, those are the colours that look atrocious on me! I don’t know if it has something to do with the earth’s gravitational pull or some other unknown, mystical force in the universe, but I rarely, if ever, come home with colours that look awful on me. So, if you’re at the beauty counter and a particular palette starts calling your name, you might want to follow that instinct. Stop telling yourself that “this palette is too warm for me” or “this liner clashes with my dog’s sweater” and say: I loooooove this colour, and it’s coming home with me! No risk, no gain.

Tags : Bang for your buck!
Categories : Eyes