Understanding complementary colors and color groupings is a great way to start creating looks because it will help you choose combinations that look good together. Every color on the color wheel has a complementary color that is its opposite on the wheel. For example, the color opposite red on the color wheel is green, which means that if you do a green eye look, you could have a tinge of red on the eye somewhere and it would be a good blend. Yellow and purple are complementary colors and blue and orange complement each other. In addition to complementary colors there are also split complementary colors, which are the colors on each side of the complement to a particular shade (you need to get a color wheel to see what these colors are). There are also other ways to combine colors such as using two colors that are two colors apart on the wheel or using a contrast of four different shades on the wheel.
A great way for beginners to start using color is by creating what is called a monochromatic look. A monochromatic look is one that uses any shade, tint, or tone of one color. For example, you may want to do a monochromatic look using purple shades. A great way to incorporate a monochrome purple look would be to use a light lavender shade on the lid, a deep purple in the crease of the eye, and a medium toned purple to blend out the dark shade toward the brow bone. Then an even lighter pale purple can be used as a highlight on the brow bone. You can apply this color strategy to any color eyeshadow and it is a great way to start using color without getting too complicated. Analogous color schemes are ones that use shades that are adjacent to each other on the color wheel such as red and orange, orange and yellow, or yellow and green. I find analogous color schemes to be particularly beautiful when blended well.
As with ANY eyeshadow look, the tools you use are going to be key. So make sure you invest in a large flat eyeshadow brush to apply lid colors, a rounded crease brush for your crease colors, and a fluffy eyeshadow brush to blend out any harsh lines so there is a seamless transition between shades.
This is just a basic introduction to using color and I will be discussing this more in upcoming blogs. But don't be scared to try different shades besides the basic neutral/nude tones. Consider your eye and hair color and experiment with different looks! Certain shades bring out the details of your eyes and their unique color and can really make your eyes pop. You will discover that when you start incorporating color into your makeup wardrobe, your creativity will soar and you'll find yourself trying things you never imagined! Hopefully you've been inspired to try something different and take your makeup looks to the next level. Stay beautiful!!
