As a die-hard neutral girl myself, I can appreciate a good warm-toned brown eyeshadow palette and a nude lip. However, since diving into the YouTube beauty world about a year ago, I’ve been wanting to experiment with more color in my makeup routine. I don’t know whether it’s fear of judgment or lack of faith in my color theory knowledge that’s holding me back, but I can’t seem to break out of my beauty comfort zone. Read on for advice from some of the Internet’s best color-loving, creative makeup enthusiasts on how to incorporate more color into your daily makeup routine, no matter your skill level.
Add an Easy Punch with a Bold Lip
If you’ve done your time wearing expected bold colors like red and hot pink, it’s time to move on to truly unusual lip colors. YouTuber Mariah Leonard’s favorites include Maybelline Color Sensational Powder Matter Lipstick ($8) in Concrete Jungle, which is a smoky violet gray, and Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Kale ($26), which is a blackened green alternative to a classic vampy lip.
If you have always been a nude lover and anything brighter than beige is intimidating (and we’ve all been there!), try out a bolder color with a technique approved by YouTuber Jkissa. Add a bright lipstick like Colourpop Ultra Blotted Lip ($6) in Bit-O-Sunny just to the center of the lips and diffuse it toward the edges with your finger or a lip brush for a soft, popsicle-kissed look. If you find yourself wanting more definition, just add a nude lip liner at the edges and blend both colors together.
Keep it Simple with a Lower Lashline Pop
This is a much-loved and much-tutorialed technique for a reason—it’s one of the easiest and least intimidating ways to add a pop of color to your makeup routine. You can keep the whole upper lid as neutral as you like, so it’s wearable anywhere. YouTuber Casey Holmes suggests pressing a deep purple or blue shadow like Makeup Geek Signature Eyeshadow in Wisteria into the roots of your lower lashes with a pencil brush, and then blending down with a detailed blending brush so that the color is visible. Add a corresponding colored eyeliner like Make Up For Ever Aqua XL Eye Pencil Waterproof Eyeliner ($21) in M-92 in your waterline if you’re comfortable.
Hide Away Some Color In the Inner Corner
While an inner corner highlight shade is usually something light and neutral like a champagne or white shadow, this area is the perfect place to tuck a pop of color. YouTuber Kelly Gooch likes using this placement multiple ways: just a little bit of color close to the tear duct for brightening, or swept all the way up to the inner third of the eye on the top and bottom. Her favorite colors to play with here are Colourpop Pressed Powder Shadow ($5) in Tiki and the mint green shimmer in Juvia’s Place Douce Eyeshadow Palette ($21).
Throw In an Unexpected Highlight Shade
As YouTuber Livloveshermakeup puts it, there’s something so ethereal about a colored highlighter. Unlike a neutral highlighter that you might want to be extremely pigmented for the most intense shine payoff, it’s actually better when a highlighter in a fun shade is more on the sheer side so that you don’t end up with a purple or blue stripe on your cheek. For her, the Anastasia Beverly Hills Moonchild Glow Kit ($40) fits the bill.
Mariah Leonard uses NYX’s Duo Chromatic Illuminating Powder ($8) in Snow Rose highlighter almost like an extra-glowy blush, applying it to the apples of the cheeks and blending it into a lighter highlight shade on the tops of the cheekbones.
Go Bold with an All-Out Colorful Lid
This look isn’t for the faint of heart, and I must be fainthearted because I have never managed to leave my apartment with blue or purple all over my eyelid. To take that step out of the door, YouTuber Angelica Nyqvist suggests pairing a jewel-toned shimmer shadow, like Coastal Scents Hot Pot ($3) in Sage Sensation, on the lid with a warm neutral crease to keep the look grounded and wearable.
With slightly more comfortable brights like yellow and pink, Jkissa packs Sugarpill Pressed Eyeshadow ($13) in Buttercupcake onto the lid and diffuses it up toward the crease with a fluffy blending brush. There’s nothing quicker than a one-color look, and this one could have the added benefit of pushing you out of your makeup comfort zone.
What colorful makeup looks are you loving? Let us know in the comments below!
Opening image by @n.axoo.
