We all saw it was coming—bright, vivid colours were expected to make a comeback as much-needed respite from the pandemic-induced fatigue. But did you expect magenta? Pantone's 'Colour of the Year' – Viva Magenta – has seen a steady rise in popularity over the last few seasons. From appearing in décor, makeup, fashion, and design in general, this vivid shade of pink even found its way to dedicated fashion collections like Valentino’s Pink PP. Moreover, the buzz around Margot Robbie’s about-to-release movie, Barbie, has reignited our love for a hyper-feminine aesthetic and all things pink. Pantone describes the shade as "powerful and empowering. It is an animated red that encourages experimentation and self-expression without restraint; an electrifying, boundary-less shade that is manifestly 'out there' and is a stand-out statement."
Think of it as an unrestrained expression of joy—and what better way than makeup as a medium to flirt with this colour. Celebrity makeup artist Kritika Gill guides us with beauty tips to dabble with in this vibrant shade of pink.
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Think pink
It turns out out magenta flatters most Indian skin tones, particularly those with olive undertones. "It looks especially eye-catching," shares Gill. "Since we are such a large country, our skin tones vary greatly, so it's hard to generalise. But we tend to have more yellow, olive and red undertones, unlike the pink undertones of European or Caucasian skin. This is barring people from the northern-most regions of India like Punjab, Kashmir and Uttarakhand, which tend to have a mix of yellow and pink undertones."
Face facts
So now that we've established this bright and bold shade will do wonders in our makeup kit, how do we wear it? "The best place would be the cheeks," advises Gill. "You can wear it very sheer or build it up according to your personal preference, giving the skin a flushed-from-within, in-the-pink-of-health kind of look." While plum blushes have been making their presence felt recently, Gill feels a magenta blush has a stronger impact while also being easier to pull off. "I find magenta a lot more flattering."
Eye spy
Magenta's pink and red mix is extremely flattering for most eye colours, especially brown. If you're wary of flaunting such a wild pop of colour, an easy and subtle way to dabble with this bold shade is with a tinted winged liner. "On the eyes, I pair magenta with warm sparkly purples and sometimes a periwinkle blue to create a dramatic look. It also works great with warm sienna browns and sunset tones," says Gill.
Lip service
"A magenta lip is so impactful," says Gill. "It's such a nice change from the classic red lips. You can wear it glossy or matte, as a full-on saturated colour or as a sheer tint. It looks good every single time." The versatility of this lipstick shade allows for it to be seamlessly incorporated into your regular makeup looks, whether you prefer to amp up the drama or keep it simple. "My favourite formulation is a cream. I also use it a lot on the lips to give them a wine stained/bitten look,” shares Gill. Looks like it’s time to skip nude lipstick shades and grab your berry lipstick for a fresh look, topped off with some lip oil or gloss.
Run with it
At first glance, magenta seems daunting to play with. After all, it's an unapologetic colour, out to make a statement. But it's also a surprisingly versatile player, happy to be toned down or amped up, depending on your mood and personality. "I love using magenta on really deep skin tones. "I've used it in many ways on film sets, especially to create natural-looking redness on the skin and not make the makeup look too made up. It has never failed to impress," says Gill.
If you're looking to experiment with magenta, "keep it more on the warm toned spectrum rather than going cool (avoid a shade with a lot of blue undertones), because you'll find it to be way more flattering”, shares Gill. Create freckles on bare skin with it or a smokey eye with the colour in the centre of the eyelid to make it pop.
Cover Image: Instagram/@kritisanon
Article Image: Instagram/@denisaalbumakeup
