Have you ever tried on makeup based on your favorite star - like Selena Gomez, Margot Robbie or Megan Thee Stallion - and thought, "Why doesn't this makeup look good on me?"
Makeup artist Aliénor, from France, may have the answer with her viral TikTok theory: Contrast makeup. To create a custom look, you just need to use its filter on TikTok and understand your contrast level. The rest will be easier to accomplish.
Theory of Contrast Makeup
If you're a regular #BeautyTok follower, you've probably seen the black and white "what's your contrast" filter (or various makeup looks inspired by contrast levels) while browsing.
This is Aliénor's job. Using this filter in natural light and without makeup, it first identifies your skin tone – light, medium or dark – and then determines whether you have low, medium or high contrast in your features.
The main purpose of this filter? To create a greater harmony with the makeup, to compliment your features and as Aliénor describes it, "to look softer, more natural and less harsh."
What does your contrast mean for your makeup routine?
The ultimate goal of finding your contrast level is to create perfect harmony between your natural features and your makeup. Although there are many nuances in application, here are some tips shared by Aliénor for every level, regardless of your skin tone.
Low contrast
If you have low contrast, where all features are within a similar tone (for example, blonde hair and fair skin), a more natural look is very easy to achieve.
"If you want to look very natural, you can try 'no makeup' makeup," says Aliénor. "A nude lip, a bit of blush - you don't need to do too much if you want to stay low-contrast. Gigi Hadid is low contrast and this kind of look suits her very well."
Medium contrast
For those with medium contrast, where the features may be slightly different from the level of skin tone, adding intensity to the makeup routine creates harmony.
"Emma Watson looks very unified. There's a bit of blush, a bit of 'intensity' on the lips, but nothing too much, a kind of smoky eye," explains Aliénor. "There's a bit of intensity throughout to make the makeup look less harsh. A good lipstick in the right shade can go a long way for contrast. You can also add blush in the same shade."
High contrast
If you have dark skin and light hair, or very light skin and black hair (like Anne Hathaway, for example) – high contrast means a big difference between skin tone and features.
"You have to add intensity and there are several ways to do that," says Aliénor. "You can use dark and intense lips - the color red can look extremely beautiful. Red is your best friend. Even the smoky eye looks nice, but you can apply it with a softer style."
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