(no subject)

[knights_say_nih]

Dear members of my flist who knows a lot about make up,


Say, theoretically, someone with a complexion approximately as pale as masking tape (but who blushes fairly easily) and has coppery hair and green eyes wanted to put on make up to go to a formal event, what sort of make up would they need?

PS, the dress is a black cocktail dress, the jewlery is thus far silver.

Comments

[wanttobeatree.livejournal.com]

I don't know a lot about makeup, but I do know a lot about being pale and having green eyes (you're on your own for the coppery hair though).

Subtle is the way to go! Greens and light browns tend to go well with green eyes, and you can never go wrong with blue. Pale, pale lavender can bring out green nicely, and looks nice with silver jewellery.

Unless you're going for the vampire look, nothing too bright on lips or cheeks. I don't know about Canada, but over here you can get colour-stains; they're a lot more natural, last longer than lippie, and can go on both lips and cheeks.

[canadabear.livejournal.com]

Well, that depends on how much makeup you want to wear. The basics, for green eyes, best eyeshadow colours are pink and browny-pinks, eyeliner in dark purple and mascara either black or dark green. Almay (which you can buy in any drug store) actually has coordinated makeup sets based on colouring and they work pretty well.

Blush is a bit trickier, but a rule of thumb is that it shouldn't be any darker than your "natural" blush and if you blush a lot naturally, I'd say even lighter. Lipsticks you're probably best staying with neutrals and again, brown undertoned pinks.

For everything, if you're not used to wearing makeup? Go light, even if it's formal. Err on the side of caution. Also, most places like Shopper's or even the Bay or Sears will have free consultations, or at least women working there who will be able to help you pick out what's best.

[viridian.livejournal.com]

Whether or not you need foundation depends on:

A. whether you like the look of your plain old skin as it is/don't feel the need to cover anything up like dark undereye circles or some redness or whatever, and B. whether or not they make foundation pale enough for you. I have trouble with B but I find that I too easily look dead if I don't cover up my eye circles.

Otherwise, I'd go for champagne colored eyeshadow, mascara, peachy blush with some shimmer/glow to it, and slightly-darker-than-your-natural-lips reddish but not TOO red.

That's what I do when I have red hair and want simple classy evening makeup with not a lot of steps.

[fightingthecage.livejournal.com]

I also have red hair and green eyes, and although I am not that wise in the ways of make up, I never go wrong with foundation approximately the same shade as my skin (covers freckles and looks natural), brownish shades of eyeshadow or sometimes greeny-grey (enhances eye colour) and bronzer as opposed to blusher because it blends better and brings out cheekbones. WORD to what Mich says about lipstick not being too red - I go for a red-brown shade of that as well, applied lightly. Simple but effective.

[rimestock.livejournal.com]

Depends, a lot, on the formality of the event.

This is also why you want to experiment a lot beforehand, so you can figure out what you like, and what you think looks good on you. This is an important step!

Meanwhile, I would vote for a sort of smoke-grey eyeliner, pale silvery-green and lavender eyeshadow, and lipstick that matches your hair, or at least coordinates. Skip the blush entirely; you'll probably end up with enough compliments that you won't need any makeup for it. ;)

(This would be on the more formal end of the spectrum for a formal event, however. Less formal, def. go with a more natural lipstick, and maybe play up your eyes more -- you really don't want to emphasize both of them, but you don't want to emphasize neither of them, either.)

[mm_madb]

Do not do not do not try to make yourself look darker. Don't. You're pale, let it be.

Wear pale, not pastel, colors. Soft green, muted brown, near-neutral pink. You're enhancing, not painting.

A rule of thumb for first-time blush: put it on until you can juuuuust barely see it, then take a tissue and lightly wipe the top layer off. You want it to be subliminal.

Either a deep color on the eyes or on the lips, and when in doubt go muted on both.

At your age, I'd say do the deeper color on the eyes. A soft brown base over the lid with maaaaybe a touch of green mixed into it, a light tan up to the brow. Then a near-invisible pink-brown lipstick or just a gloss.