Understanding The Use of Color Theory in Makeup
Let’s take it back to high school art class. What exactly is color theory? Color theory is the knowledge of how different hues interact and can be used together to create the effects you want. In the world of makeup, understanding color theory can be used to play up certain parts of your look. At the most basic level, the primary colors in painting and color theory are red, blue, and yellow. When combined, these three colors create the full-color spectrum that makes up the classic color wheel.
Knowing where different colors fall on the wheel and how they relate to one another as complementary, analogous, or contrasting shades allows you to strategically pair and layer beauty products to play up your features. You might choose a blue-red lipstick to make your teeth look whiter or a gold-toned highlighter to brighten the high points of your face.
Mastering the color wheel and the relationships between shades is a surefire way to elevate your makeup from basic to beyond.
Using Color Theory for Foundation & Concealer
Want to use color theory to find the right foundation and concealer shades for your skin tone? By understanding your shadeplace on the color wheel, from warm, cool, or neutral undertones, you can find foundation and concealers that seamlessly blend into your skin for a flawless finish.
Cool-toned complexions look best in foundations with blue or pink undertones, while warm skin benefits from yellow or golden-based shades. Neutral skin can pull off either warm or cool tones. You can also use color theory to neutralize or correct redness or dark circles. Green color correctors help neutralize redness, while peach-toned correctors help with dark under-eye circles.
Morphe created this Shade Finder Quiz to help you find your perfect shade.
Applying Color Theory to Eye Makeup
Applying color theory to your eyeshadow game can alter and enhance your eye color – while being so fun to play around with. Here is a rundown of what shades you should try out based on your eye color.
Blue eyes: Choose soft, neutral tones like champagne, taupe, and silver to bring out your icy blue hue, or deeper shades such as copper, bronze, and brown to bring out more contrast. Choose the Morphe 35MI Magic Mirror Artistry Palette and the Rich & Foiled Artistry Palette- Going Platinum.
Green eyes: Pick earthy tones like warm golds, deep oranges, and olive green to bring out the mossy green of your eyes and bring warmth to your eyeshadow look. For a pop of contrast, go for purples and plums so appear brighter. Go for the Morphe 18WT Matte Essential Artistry Palette or the 35XO Natural Flirt Artistry Palette.
Brown eyes: Oopt for earthy tones like warm caramels, deep greens, and golden hues to bring out subtle flecks in your eyes, or a smokey look in deep shades to make the brown look darker. Choose Morphe’s Rich & Foiled Artistry Palette - Gold Seeker or the Matte Essentials Artistry Palette.
Hazel eyes: Ggo for shades of rich browns, deep greens, and shimmering golds, or browns and warm gold eyeshadows to play around with the bevy of shades in hazel eyes, as found in the 35U Gilded Desert Artistry Palette and the Nude Ambition Eyeshadow Palette,
Choosing Eyebrow Shades Based on Color Theory
You might think that color theory doesn’t apply in your brow game, but similarly, as to your foundation, it can be utilized here.
Using the color wheel as a guide, you'll want to choose a brow product that complements your natural hair color. For example, those with cool-toned black or dark brown hair may find that a taupe or ash-based brown brow product is most flattering, as it avoids creating too harsh of a contrast.
Warm redheads, on the other hand, will want to lean into reddish-brown or auburn brow shades to harmonize with their ginger tones. Blondes or those with lighter hair should opt for soft browns with golden undertones.
How to Use Color Theory in Lip Makeup
The undertones in a lip product can really bring out and complement your skin’s undertones, eyes, and hair color. We believe anyone can rock any lip shade, but give the color theory method a try.
Cool-toned complexions: Try blue-based reds, plums, and deeper berries. We love Morphe’s Soulmatte Velvet Lip Mousse in Compatible and First Kiss.
Warm-toned complexions: Choose orange-red, coral, or terracotta shades. We love Morphe’s Soulmatte Velvet Lip Mousse in Wifey and Dripglass Glazed Lip Gloss in Raspberry Reflection.
Neutral-toned complexions: can pull off all of the above, so go ahead and try them all.
Blush with Color Theory
Similar to lips, we believe every blush shade can look epic on anyone. But if you want to see how utilizing color theory plays up your features, here is what can really make your cheeks pop.
Cool-toned complexions: Look for shades that skew fuschia, pink, or berry, like Morphe’s Hot Shot Blush Drops in That Girl or Huephoric Rush 3-in-1 Silk Blush in Energized.
Warm-toned complexions: Peach or cCoral- hued-shades really bring out warm-toned skin tones, like Hot Shot Blush Drops in Power Drip and Huephoric Rush 3-in-1 Silk Blush in Addicted.
Neutral-toned complexions: Mauve tones are gorgeous on neutral-toned complexions, like Hot Shot Blush Drop in Flex Symbol and Huephoric Rush 3-in-1 Silk Blush in Hypnotized.
