High Contrast Makeup Looks To Make Your Features Pop
If you have a high contrast face, you’re working with a striking mix of bold features. Your eyes, skin, and hair have clear, defined differences in color, which creates a natural drama that you can play up beautifully with high contrast makeup. In this post, we’ll go over how to enhance that natural contrast and make your features truly pop.
We covered the basics of this concept in our main post, "How to do Your Makeup According To Your Contrast Level," which includes tutorials from a French makeup artist who brought the idea to life. If you want a deeper understanding of the levels, check that out before diving in.
Let’s get into how to nail high contrast makeup for a bold, standout look!
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What is High Contrast?
High contrast means there’s a strong difference between your skin, hair, and eyes. For example, someone with dark hair, light skin, and bright eyes is the perfect example of a high contrast face. Your features naturally draw attention, and the goal with high contrast makeup is to enhance this rather than mute it.
If you’ve got high contrast skin, you can really play with more intense makeup colors that wouldn’t work on low contrast faces. But keep in mind, just because you have a high contrast level doesn’t mean you can’t experiment with softer looks, it’s all about finding what makes you feel your best!
How to Master High Contrast Makeup
When working with high contrast level makeup, you can embrace bold, defined looks that highlight your features. This is where you can let your makeup be more dramatic without worrying about it overpowering your natural beauty.
So, How do you do your makeup if you have high contrast level?
Here’s what you need to focus on:
Foundation should be a perfect match to your skin tone + you can contour
Dark eyeshadows (deep blacks, dark browns, jewel tones, and metallics will all work beautifully)
Black waterline (optional, for some looks)
Black mascara
Blush that is a more intense than your skin tone (go for darker blushes)
Bold lips (bold reds, berries, and deep plum shades are perfect)
If you are Low or Medium contrast, check out:
Now that you know how to enhance your high contrast level, let's check out a few looks that show just how versatile this makeup style can be. While bold eyeshadows and dramatic lips are popular, you don’t have to go all-out with dark shades every time. Some looks focus on definition with a sharp black eyeliner instead of bold eyeshadow, keeping the intensity while maintaining a sleeker finish. For the lips, a soft nude shade can also work beautifully, offering contrast without overwhelming the rest of your features.
Meghan Fox is a prime example of high contrast level beauty. Her striking dark hair, light eyes, and fair skin perfectly show how bold contrast can enhance natural features. You can always look up some of her iconic makeup looks for inspiration
Another great example is the stunning Emily Ratajkowski (Emrata). In this look, she pairs her light skin and dark hair with a smoky eye, light brown lips, and a blush that has just the right intensity to tie everything together. The result is a perfect balance that creates harmony while still showcasing her high contrast level features.
Try the Italian Makeup Look for High Contrast
Before we dive into the high contrast makeup tutorial, there's a quick video on the Italian makeup look that perfectly complements high contrast features. This style focuses on defined eyes and lips, making it a great option if you’re aiming for a bold, sophisticated vibe. It’s a simple but striking look that works beautifully with high contrast skin.
Now that you’ve seen different ways to enhance your high contrast features, it’s time to see it all come together. This tutorial will guide you through creating a stunning high contrast makeup look.
Are you High Contrast with Light Eyes? Watch this video!
High contrast makeup is all about embracing your bold features and letting them shine. With the right techniques and a bit of creativity, you can create stunning looks that highlight your natural beauty. Try out these tips, and let us know what works for you, we’d love to hear how you’ve mastered your own high contrast style!
And as always, Thrive in Style💄
