How to Wear Monochromatic Makeup

Monochromatic apricot makeup

For an uncomplicated look that takes the guesswork out of your makeup application, wear just one color all over your entire face. Are you afraid that this might make you look dull and boring? Try these tips for a monochromatic look that won't leave you feeling like a plain Jane.

Things You'll Need

• Light, medium and dark eyeshadow in one basic color
• Black or gray eyeliner
• Angled eyeliner brush
• Black mascara
• Blush brush
• Blush
• Translucent powder
• Makeup sponge
• Lip liner
• Lip gloss
• Lipstick
• Lip brush

Instructions

1. Select one color you would like to wear on your entire face. For best wearability, pick one that you can see working as a blush and lip color. For instance, black may look stunning on your eyelids, but not on your cheeks, unless you're going for a specific costume party look. On the other hand, a shade like peach or brown works not just as eyeshadow but as blush and lip color as well for everyday.

2. Create an eye makeup look that has depth. Find a light, medium and dark eyeshadow in your color of choice. To freshen up your eye makeup and add oomph to it, you can pick a shimmery formula for one of your shadows. Depending on your preference, you can have subtle shimmer in either your base, your crease or your brow color. Apply lightest color from lash line to crease. Smooth the darkest one on crease. Finally the medium one goes on your brow. Blend the edges of your colors into each other to take away any hard and evident lines.

3. Define both top and bottom lash lines with a color that is either a deeper shade of your selected color or something neutral like black or gray, which won't interfere with your color choice at all. In the first instance, if the color you picked is mauve, you could use your crease color as eyeliner, making it extra dark by dipping an angled eyeliner brush with damp bristles into the color before working it as closely into the lash lines as possible. Swipe a black mascara through top lashes and ever so slightly on bottom ones for definition. If you want to add a touch of trendiness to your look, touch a mascara the same color as your darkest eyeshadow to the tips of your lashes.

4. Buff blush into the apples of your cheeks. If your chosen color is relatively deeper than the intensity of your skin tone, layer it on very gradually, starting with a small amount on your brush. You can also take the extra step of brushing translucent powder over the color if you have already blended it considerably and you still find it a tad deep for your liking. Have a clean makeup sponge handy for extra clean-up work if necessary.

5. Line and fill lips in with a pencil that is in a light nude tone if you want lighter lips. Simply top them off with a sheer wash of lip gloss in the same color you've been using all throughout. For a more pigmented look, use a lip liner the color of your lipstick instead. With a lip brush, sweep on matching lipstick in a thick, creamy consistency to finish.

Tips & Warnings

• Combine these steps with the preliminaries to stepping out with your best face forward: foundation, concealer and eyebrow pencil or powder, to name a few.

• Further define and enhance your look by adding colorless accents, such as highlighter, if you want your monochromatic makeup more dramatic.