How to Tackle the Monochromatic Make-Up Trend

Say goodbye to focusing on either your eyeshadow or your lipstick. The trend for bold, monochromatic make-up is back.

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In case you're unfamiliar, monochrome make-up is the art of matching the shades you wear on your eyes and lips, and can sometimes mean wearing the same colour blush as well. It's particularly popular on the red carpet when celebrities want their make-up to complement their gowns, with everyone from Rihanna to Margot Robbie embracing the tonal trend.

The increase in the popularity of the monochromatic look is also likely to be the result of demand for multitasking products, as everyone searches for easier and quicker make-up application to fit in with their busy lives. And, while in the past we've been advised to define just our eyes or lips, the trend allows you to do both; whether that's subtly or boldly is up to you.

Our favourite hardworking products include Giorgio Armani's liquid A-Blush, RMS Beauty's Peach Luminiser and Nars' The Multiple, though we're also not immune to just applying our favourite lipstick to our cheeks too.

In excellent timing, Mac has now launched an entire monochrome collection, which means us mere mortals might never have to struggle to find complementary eye and lip colours again.

The range, inspired by the autumn/winter 18 runway shows, sees the brand's six Powerful Lipsticks joined by lip glosses, blushes and eyeshadows in identical colours, so you can achieve shade-perfect monochromatic make-up every time. 

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Rihanna also created a monochromatic make-up look for her first Fenty Beauty make-up tutorial – a surefire suggestion that the look is cool again. The singer-turned-entrepreneur’s icy, high-shine purple make-up was created using the brand’s Killawatt Foil Freestyle Highlighter Palette, which was applied not just across her cheekbones but as an eyeshadow too.

The palette is a winter limited edition, so we’d suggest using the Match Stix Shimmer Skinstick in Unicorn if you miss out. Applying the Mattemoiselle Plush Matte Lipstick in One of the Boyz, instead of Rihanna’s statement purple lipstick, would also provide a more wearable hint of lilac to your pout.

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