How to wear purple!

How to wear purple: The colour purple is enjoying a renaissance these days. The royal shade is suddenly a best-seller in lipsticks, eyeshadows and gloss. (I have a friend who carries 17 purple lipsticks in her bag with her at all times.) And while the shade used to be challenging to pull off in a modern way, cosmetic scientists have improved the pigments so much that the colour can be flattering on almost all skin tones. Lancome’s National Makeup Artist Myles Sexton is a big fan of the shade and shares his pro tips on how to wear purple in a modern way.

Marc Jacobs Spring/Summer 17 fashion look

“Purple has been a color that has come in and out of fashion for many years now. Right now, the beauty industry is moving into a modern 80’s inspiration when it comes to makeup.  This is a very exciting time because the 80’s were famous for bold pops of color,” explains Sexton. He says wearing purple might seem intimidating but you don’t need to cover your whole lid with it. “I recommend adding pops of color in strategic places.  Use pale purples in the corner of the eyes as highlights for medium-to-deep skin tones, or add a bold purple lip for soft ivory skin.”

Lancome National Makeup Artist Myles Sexton

Dave: What shades of purple work best on different skin tones?

Myles: Purple is actually one of the few universal colors that actually compliments all skin tones.  The only restriction I would say is when you get into the pale lavender shades on medium-to deep skin tones, use them as brow highlighters instead of all-over lid colors. Women with fair skin tones may want to try a more blue-based purple over a red-based one so it does not bring out your natural flush.  I particularly like Lavender Grace Eye Shadow palette.

Lancome eye palette in lavender grace

D.L: How do you wear purple eyeshadow for day?

M.S.: For daytime wear, I love layering brown and purple. I apply the brown on the lid and add a pop of color in the center of the eye as a color pop that you only see when you blink.  Another look that is very fun is to layer a purple liquid eyeliner over black or brown. This creates a subtle effect.  I love the Lavender Girl single shadow from Lancome.

Lancome Eyeshadow in Lavender Girl

D.L.: How do you wear purple eyeshadow for night?

M.S.: Nighttime makeup can be more adventurous.  One of my favorite looks is to create a dark smoky eye and then smudge a bold purple under the bottom lashes.  Try Lancome’s Miss Sweetheart single shadow for this look.

Lancome eyeshadow in Miss Sweetheart

D.L.: How do you make a purple lip look great?

M.S.: If you’re fearful of trying a purple lip, maybe choose a purple that has more pink or red undertones as they will be softer and less bold. 

I think one of the most important things to remember is have one focus. If you are doing a bold purple lip, have a very soft eye and clean skin so the entire look compliments the lip.

 

D.L.: What is the secret to wearing purple mascara?

M.S.: One of my favorite secrets to wearing purple mascara is doing just the tips of your eye lashes with purple or doing just the bottom lashes with purple and the top lashes with black.

D.L.: What should you avoid when wearing purple?

 

When you are wearing purple, I would avoid having too many other bold colors paired with it. Let purple be the focus of the look and choose neutral shades to go with it.

D.L.: How do you like to work with purple gloss?

M.S.: Purple gloss is beautiful on its own but it is also amazing to layer over your favorite nude lipstick to create a soft glossy lip with a touch of color.

 

D.L.: What purple looks good on dark skin tones?

M.S.: Something with a more blue or pink undertone. I would avoid anything with too much red as you don’t want the eye to look swollen or bruised from afar.  Lancôme purple pumps eye shadow looks amazing on deep skin tones.

D.L.: What purple looks best on social media pics?

M.S.: I love a bold strong purple for social media. You want something that really will pop in your selfie. Lancôme Grandiose Liner in Purple or Amethyst Glam Color Design Palette are perfect choices to make a statement on social media.

Lancome Grandiose Liner in Purple

Lancome is available in Canada at Hudson’s Bay stores and thebay.com