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.
TEXTURE, TEXTURE
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When it comes to achieving monochromatic make-up, Mac’s artistry director Ashley Rudder suggests you follow one main piece of advice: play with texture. She advises using “a mix of matte, metallic, frost or glitter finishes to create more interest and dimension to your look.”
To do so, take Emily Blunt’s rosy pink lip from the Mary Poppins Returns premiere as your inspiration. Make-up artist Jenn Streicher used Chantecaille’s Lip Veil in Honeypot on both the actress’ lips and eyes, but her trick was to also apply Mermaid Eye Colour in Starfish (a darker pink shade) across the eyelids to add definition and the slightly more pigmented Cheek Gelée in Happy for a healthy cheek flush.
So, however you choose to embrace the monochromatic trend, make sure to experiment with an array of products in similar shades and finishes. We’re already planning on putting the whole Mac collection in our shopping baskets…
