Trend Spotting: Monochromatic Makeup
Monochromatic makeup is all about using the same color family for your eyes, cheeks, and lips. Having just a single group of shades to pick from makes application so much easier as you no longer have to worry about which colors blend well together, or how to match your eye makeup to your lips.
The colors don't have to be exactly the same, however. For example, you can have a dark purple eyeshadow with burgundy eyeliner, lavender blush, and lilac lips. It’s simple, elegant, and easy to pull off even for beginners!
Lady Gaga wears rose gold on her lips and lids at the 2016 Academy Awards. (Getty Images)
There are a few simple guidelines to follow when creating monochromatic makeup, so you don't end up looking like you only own one product that you used all over your face. Here are our tips!
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Know your undertone.
Aside from picking shades that are actually wearable (greens and blues on your lips aren't exactly an everyday affair), knowing whether you have a warm or cool tone will help maximize the monochrome effect. The colors should brighten your face and flatter your natural coloring. If it washes you out or somehow looks off, try a different shade. If you’re on the cooler side, choose blue-based reds or pinks while warm tones look fab in peaches and browns.
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Avoid using loud or vibrant shades on both your eyes and lips.
It looks great in photo shoots, but not so much IRL. Just like how artists recommend keeping the focus on just one feature, monochrome makeup looks best when the most striking shade is is exclusive to either the eyes or the lips. Making a double statement can be overkill, and is really difficult to pull-off. Strike a balance by pairing with a pastel tone or playing with gradients.
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Mix different textures and finishes.
Monochromatic makeup may limit the colors you use, but you are definitely encouraged to use shimmers, metallics, and mattes! It will make your makeup look more dynamic and keep it from looking flat. Try shimmery eyeshadows with a satin lip, or dewy cheeks with a matte pout.
Dig through your makeup collection!
Probably my favorite thing about this trend is that you can raid your stash for the products to recreate the look. There's absolutely no need to go out to get a new blush for this trend (great for those on a budget!) Lipsticks can be layered to create a more opaque and vibrant color, sheered out for a more muted tone, and applied to the cheeks to double as a blush. You can also mix different products to create a new eyeshadow, blush, or lip color. It's also a good way to repurpose duds like patchy lipsticks, poorly-pigmented shadows, or overly sparkly blushes. Get creative!
Do you like how monochromatic makeup looks? What shades would you want to try it with?
