How to wear purple eyeshadow – autumn’s ‘it’ colour trend
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Warm, earthy tones often dominate the eyeshadow sphere at this time of year. These shades are responsible for that soft smoked out look and will always have their moment. But for 2022, makeup pros are predicting that a new color trend—an “anti-trend”—will dominate. Enter: purple.
“I see a big return to color for this fall/winter season,” says Dominic Skinner, Global Senior Artist at MAC Cosmetics. “Of course there will always be the warm winter spices and cozy nudes — but there’s a real resurgence of real colors, especially purple,” he continues. Spotted up and down the Fall/Winter 2022 catwalk, swathes of purple shadows made an impression at Blumarine, Emporio Armani and Saint Laurent. Elsewhere, at Ambush, pops of purple metallic lit up the models’ caps.
To prove its wearability, several A-listers have also experimented with purple pigments. From Cara Delevingne’s aubergine smoky eye to Simone Ashley’s bold amethyst liner, there are multiple ways to use this trend to create your own style. Here Skinner shares how.
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Why are purples having a big moment this fall/winter?
There are always anti-trends to shake things up, and according to Skinner, this is one of them. “Typically, warm, spicy hues are the key colors in the fall/winter season as they complement the darker evenings, soften the sunlight and add a level of coziness. To shake things up, purples — as opposed to these rich, warmer colors — allow people to take a break from the norm.”
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Which shades of purple go with which eye colors?
“Purple is a really interesting color because it’s classified as a secondary color, meaning it’s made up of two primary tones,” says Skinner. In this case they are red and blue. “By mixing red and blue, purple can appear both warm and cool – that’s why it goes so well with most skin and eye tones.”
The key is to find a purple shade that will make your eye color stand out. “Purple can vary in tone depending on the amount of red and blue in the mix. When there is more red, the violet becomes rich and warm – matching green and brown eyes. When there’s more blue in the mix, the purple becomes cool, which looks beautiful with blue or gray eyes,” Skinner suggests.
- Brown and Green Eyes: Experiment with shades like plum and puce
- Gray and blue eyes: opt for lilac and violet
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This content is imported from Instagram. You may find the same content in a different format or more information on their website.
This content is imported from Instagram. You may find the same content in a different format or more information on their website.
How do you accentuate with purple eyeshadow?
Swap out a classic black and brown smoky eye for something that has a purple punch. “Start by lining a black eyeliner along the lash line before smudging with a finger or a short blending brush,” Skinner instructs. “Then, take a bright purple eyeshadow and sweep it across the eyelid from the inner corner to the outer corner of the eye, just up to the crease. Next, apply a deep purple matte eyeshadow and begin to blend the outer corner of the eye in circular motions, working your way down to the socket, just above the crease.” To finish, Skinner suggests a matte lilac on the center to squeeze your lids. “Add your mascara and you’re good to go!”
Is there a subtle way to wear purple on your eyes?
If a full purple smoky eye feels like a step too far, opt for a subtle take on this trend instead. “A great way to stay on trend without going overboard is to use an eyeliner,” says Skinner. “Apply makeup as usual, then add a small inner or outer corner line with a purple pencil. It creates enough interest to be noticed without being noticed.” If you’re feeling bold, run the pencil along the entire lash line and combine with mascara.
Another way to experiment with purple is to try different textures. “A simple touch of purple across the lids with a good stack of mascara would look so chic and effortless,” Skinner muses. His favorite product? MAC Powder Kiss eye shadow in the shade Ripened. “It’s designed to give a soft, transparent color output with a matte and slightly blurry finish.”
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How should you do the rest of your makeup?
“My vibe with this purple trend is to give it full support with the rest of your makeup,” Skinner says, “a soft natural plum lip and hint of rosy mauve blush gives you the total winter wonderland look.” ”