Why Blue Is The Makeup Shade Du Jour
Makeup moves into moodier territory.
It’s quite predictable, really.
Every year, after summer’s fuchsia lipstick and barely-there skin tints, come winter’s fuller-coverage formulas and dramatic looks. And the reason is quite simple: where summertime humidity and heat can turn even the most painstakingly-applied makeup into a legit hot mess, the cooler temperatures mean now is the time to play with colour, texture and finish. Why? Well, for one, it will actually stay on your face.
Enter: BLUE.
After making an initial splash with powder-blue lashes at Prada’s fall/winter 2023 show, the shade took over the spring/summer 24 shows, from periwinkle eyeshadow at 3.1 Phillip Lim and denim-blue lips at Burberry, to pastel-blue cut creases at Versace. Pinterest then placed blue on its 2024 Pinterest Predicts list, forecasting a surge in Gen Z and Millennials searching for “blue glam makeup,” “pastel blue eyeshadow” and “fun blue nails” (they’re anticipating a staggering 260 per cent increase in searches for that last look). But here’s the definitive proof we’re in a blue wave: Selena Gomez, modelling icy-blue eyeshadow during Paris Fashion Week. We agree this makes it official, that this is the winter of blue, yes? OK, great. Let’s also agree that blue lips are not the easiest look to pull off IRL, but blue eye makeup and nails are. You still with me? Excellent. Now, here’s your blueprint to get in on the fun.
BLUE EYED GIRL
Editorial makeup artist Aimie Fiebig has pinpointed three specific shades to put into rotation this winter: navy with a sprinkle of sparkle, dusty matte, duck-egg blue, and cool cobalt. So go ahead and play with one of those blues and experiment with placement: along the waterline, close to the lash line, or all over the eyelid. Want to make your eyes really pop? Fiebig has some tips for you.
BLUE EYES “Your eyes will look sensational with a smoky charcoal and a just hint of blue smudged on the lids and under the eyes.”
BROWN EYES “Warmer tones, like mixing brown eyeliner with blue eyeshadow, can polish off an unconventional look.”
HAZEL EYES “Frosty silver and steel blues will make your eyes vibrant and stand out.”
When wearing blue up top, “keep the rest of the makeup fresh and light, so that the eyes are the centrepiece,” suggests Fiebig. Your skin will also need to be in premium condition; no flaking or scaly bits, so some exfoliation might be in order and you may want to load up on hydrating essences, serums and moisturisers. And by “skin” we mean your lips, too. Please and thank you.
NAIL IT
For blue tips and toes, Fiebig suggests keeping nails short and painting a pastel blue on fair skin, vibrant blue on olive skin tones, and eggplant or plummy-blue for darker skin tones. Here’s one that surprised us: “fluro blue can look amazing on all skin tones.”
A coloured mani is always a focus-puller, and just like the skin on your face is the canvas for your blue eye makeup, presentable cuticles and hands are the backdrop your blue mani deserves, so we suggest a nightly application of cuticle oil and hand cream. Please and thank you.
1. Violette_VR Yeux Paint Matte in Ciel de Nuit, $50
2. Max Factor Masterpiece Kohl Kajal Liner in Azure, $24.95
3. Victoria Beckham Smoky Eye Brick in Royal, $90
4. Dior Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara in Blue, $68
5. Chanel Le Vernis in Lagune, $45
6. Essie Nail Color in Push Play, $15.99
7. Sally Hansen Good. Kind. Pure Nail Colour in Blue Moonstone, $17.95
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