Tiktok viral: How to do contrast makeup

If you’ve been anywhere in makeup tiktok you know there are new trends popping almost every month and the most recent addition to the mix is contrast makeup. This theory created and popularized by french makeup artist and content creator @Alieenor, explains that you can enhance your features and achieve a more harmonized look by doing your makeup based on your contrast level.

But, what is contrast makeup?

Contrast refers to the differences in lighting and tones. Applied to makeup, this theory centers around “the difference of contrast between your face, eyes, eyebrows and hair according to Aliénor. Therefore, if there is little difference you would be low-contrast while if there is a big difference you would be high contrast, and if you’re in the middle you would be medium contrast.

If you are not sure of your contrast level, Aliénor created a simple tiktok filter to help you determine your contrast level. First you select your skin tone and tend compare between low, medium and high contrast, as this guide can apply to any skin tone. 

@alieenor My favourite glow up tip is playing with contrast to get more confidence ✨ #contrastlevel #mediumcontrast #highcontrast #emmawatson ♬ son original – Alieenor 🧡

Low contrast makeup:

Low contrast means there is little difference between the shades of your skin, hair and eyes. Your features are “soft and dreamy” and in the “same gray scale” according to Aliénor. For this type of contrast, because your features are not competing with each other and it already looks harmonious, the best makeup is no-makeup-makeup or using little makeup altogether. Aliénor recommends natural looks as with low contrast “you can see the whole face and not the makeup first” which should be the overall goal.

Medium contrast makeup: 

If you’re medium contrast, it means that you have some difference between your hair, face, eyebrows and eyes but not too intense to be considered high contrast. “Sometimes you have to add a bit of intensity to make it look more natural “ says Aliénor.

The key for medium contrast makeup is to lower the harshness in transition between your face and hair. Aliénor recommends “a very good lipstick in the right intensity…some blush action or a soft smokey eye”. It doesn’t have to be too saturated but in a shade slightly darker than your skin tone. This way we lower the contrast and the makeup looks more effortless and natural.

High contrast makeup:

For high contrast, it means that there’s a lot of difference in the values of your hair, eyes, face and eyebrows. According to Aliénor, “If you have high contrast, you are going to see the dark first, or the light first, depending on if there is more dark or light.”

Similar to medium contrast, the goal is to lower the contrast to achieve a more harmonious look. Therefore, high contrast people can apply smokey eyes or darker lipstick shades. However, this doesn’t mean you can only do bold makeup, you could also use “medium intensity lip and cheeks to soften the contrast” says Aliénor and she also mentions the italian or french makeup are great styles for high contrast.