My face just doesn't suit colour 😕

[MargaritasForever]

Hi,

I don't know what it is, but I just don't. Thing is, I do feel like I need some these days. Starting to look a bit dull and grey, but if I try to inject a bit of colour into my face, regardless of the colour it seems, I look bloody awful!

I would love to be able to go for a bold lip or eye, but I end up looking like I'm playing dress up iyswim. I wear make up every day, but play it very safe with a nude lip and black wing liner. Every. Day In the evening I'll maybe pop on a gloss, but again, a nudey one and maybe some shimmer on my eyes, with a very very muted pink/purple tone maybe...if I'm feeling wild!

I've had friends try to take me out my comfort zone and insist I'll rock a red lip for example and then they'll see me try it and are like "oh....yeah, you really can't can you"

I understand about undertones and have tried all sorts, but nope. Can't even some to do blusher or bronzer.

Is this a thing? Are some people just better to just stay away from colour?

This is definitely a thing! My face suits no colour and I look like a drag Queen when I attempt to wear any colour on my eyes or lips. I stick with nudes and neutral colour palettes and have just accepted it’s the way I am! I always make sure my hair colour looks fresh and interesting to try and make up for the fact my face is very plain and boring.

@LiquidGlee, can I ask what skin tone you have?

I'm also starting to get quite a bit of grey now, which isn't helping. Especially given my natural hair is so dark, but I don't want to just cover up with more harsh dark. If I could inject some cour through my hair I would, but not sure my hair could take all over bleach. I already have some mid lengths to ends (balayage) and it's quite dry and knackered. I think if my hair could take it, I'd go all over blonde.

I wouldn’t suggest this usually but would you have your ‘colours’ done?

Going from entirely neutral make up to a full red lipstick look is a big jump and unsurprising that it jarred, looked out of place or felt weird. A lot of those colour people show you make up as well as clothes that work for you. There are a couple of women who run a studio online or you can see them f2f if you live near/can get there, they aren’t affiliated with a big MLM franchise thing like HoC or CMB. Let me see if I can find them.

I, personally, find application on lipstick makes a vast difference with strong colour. I put a lip balm on and just dab the colour on. This gives a nice wash but does not look too intense. Another good way of adding brightness is with a blusher, pink or coral can add a pleasing brightness. With eyes you may find a coloured eyeliner just on your waterline might suit.

Do you have low colour contrast in your facial features? If so then that may explain it. This link might help insideoutstyleblog.com/2014/11/how-to-find-your-ultimate-contrast-your-three-step-process.html

No, that thing about there being a red lipstick for everyone is bollocks, I’ve tried every shade under the sun and they all look terrible. I do find though that a medium browny-pink neutral shade is strong enough on me to have the same effect, so if I want strong lips I use that. I also find that very full-on smoky eyes just look bruised on me and very dark colours make my quite nice green eyes look weird and horrible. But in the same way, it just takes less to get the smoky effect- a softer brown, or a medium grey rather than a really deep shade. Try that?

I agree about having your colours done. Since discovering I’m an autumn, I find myself wearing much bolder colours. I was only thinking yesterday how the pastel pinks of the 80s looked awful on me, which I wore all the time as a teen.

which season/colours

Try this quiz

lipstick finder quiz

lipstick for each season

Article about lipsticks for each season. Uses Mac lipsticks as a guide, but you can always match other brands.

I can’t wear bright lipstick or do colourful eyes either it just looks like I’ve been playing with my mums makeup. I tend to have a nice dewy foundation and quite a fresh look and perhaps a more Smokey eye either greys/greens little shimmer or dark golds as I have really big eyes and quite dark lids. Then a decent quality nude lipstick - Chanel boy or Cecilia are the 2 I wear they are really nice & moisturising.

@BalladOfBarryAndFreda, I never thought I needed to tbh, but maybe it would help. How does it work exactly?

@ToManderleyAgain, that's a really interesting link actually. Thanks.

Thank you for all your tips

[quote MargaritasForever]@BalladOfBarryAndFreda, I never thought I needed to tbh, but maybe it would help. How does it work exactly?

@ToManderleyAgain, that's a really interesting link actually. Thanks.

Thank you for all your tips [/quote]
I’ve never had it done and I’m not trained I’m it, so I’m afraid I can’t offer any real insight beyond what ive read/ seen. The person doing it looks at your eye/skin/hair colours (including base tones - cool/warm, deep/soft etc) and then tries a load of fabric swatches against your face to see what works and what doesn’t. Some will make your features glow, others might make you look sallow or dull. I don’t know how helpful it is in general but your dilemma just struck me as the sort of thing this is perfect for.