Two pro makeup artists on how pastel makeup can be chic, elevated and anything but childish.
Cloud skin. Balletcore makeup. Coquette beauty. Today’s biggest beauty trends feature blurred edges and cotton-candy hues. They swap the eclectic for ethereal, the defined for dreamy. The end result? Looks that could have been plucked straight from a Sofia Coppola film. And at the centre of this romance renaissance is pastel makeup — think mint green, baby pink, lavender and powder blue. But after a decade of refining our razor-sharp winged-liner application and nailing sculpted contour, perhaps our soft-pastel technique could use some perfecting. After all, we’re not talking about an annual spring fling with pink blush. Pastels for winter? Groundbreaking.
“We’re seeing a shift away from makeup defined by seasons and structure,” says makeup artist Veronica Chu. “When it comes to wearing pastels, look for products that are long-lasting. Because these are softer shades, you want them to last and not fade throughout the day. Eyeshadow primers are a great way to ensure this.” To pull off the look, Chu suggests sticking to one or two pastel eyeshadows at a time. “These soft shades can easily blend together and turn into a different colour entirely.”
A common concern with pastel makeup is how quickly and easily it can go from soft to juvenile. (Remember your first makeup kit from the toy store? Pastels galore.) To ensure that the look is elevated, not elementary, opt for matte finishes, says Violette Serrat, a makeup artist and Guerlain’s creative director of makeup. “A shimmery pastel can veer toward childish territory, while a matte finish looks more mature.” For some contrast in textures, opt for ultra-dewy skin. And Serrat recommends finishing any pastel eye makeup look with mascara. “Otherwise, you can erase your features,” she says. “So, black…
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