This document provides an overview of color theory concepts for makeup application including: - Color terminology like hue, tint, shade, tone, value, intensity - How to determine a person's color temperature (warm, cool, neutral) by examining the wrist and palm - The use of complementary colors for eyes based on eye color (e.g. orange for blue eyes) - How texture in makeup like matte, shimmer, and shine can be used to draw attention or minimize features - The importance of understanding these color theory concepts when applying makeup to suit different skin tones, eye colors, and hair colors.

1. Level 2
Makeup Color Theory

2. AGENDA
• Color Theory
• Color Contrast
• Color Temperature
• Texture in Makeup
• Review

3. COLOR THEORY TERMINOLOGY
HUE - Name of color
TINT - Made by adding white to a color
SHADE - Made by adding black to a color

4. COLOR THEORY TERMINOLOGY
TONE - Temperature of a color (warm/cool/neutral)
COOL COLORS - blue, purple, blue-green;
are said to recede.
WARM COLORS - red, orange, yellow;
come forward or pop-out at.

5. COLOR THEORY TERMINOLOGY
VALUE - Lightness or darkness of a color
INTENSITY - Vibrancy of a color

6. LIGHT & DARK THEORY
MEDIUM TO DARK COLORS tend to recede, push
back, define, shape, or make a feature look
smaller.
LIGHT COLORS advance, make a feature look
larger, or draw attention to a feature.
SHINE OR SHIMMER (referring to texture) will
make whatever it touches stand out and bring
attention to a feature.
MATTE will tend to ground or minimize, shape,
contour, or pull back a feature.

7. The Coloring DVD
The Laws of Color

8. LAWS OF COLOR
PRIMARY COLORS
Red, Yellow, Blue
• Can not be created by
using any other colors
• All other colors are
created by mixing
primary colors in
varying amounts

9. COLOR MAP
• What is a primary color?
• What are the three primary colors?
• What are secondary colors?
• What are tertiary colors?
• Why is it important as a makeup artist to
understand the color map?
• Why is it important to understand
complimentary colors?
By the end of today’s class you will understand
the importance of warm colors, cool colors,
and neutral colors

10. COLOR THEORY ACTIVITY

11. COLOR CONTRAST
Applying makeup at an individuals contrast
level according to their personal features
and contrast level will achieve the most
pleasing result.
Each individual can be characterized into
three main groups using their features.
1. Hair
2. Eyes
3. Skin

12. LOW CONTRAST
• Light eyes, light skin, and
light hair
• Medium eyes, medium skin,
and medium hair
• Dark eyes, dark skin, and
dark hair

13. MEDIUM CONTRAST
• Light and medium values in any
combination of skin, eyes, and
hair
• Medium and dark values in any
combination of skin, eyes, and
hair

14. HIGH CONTRAST
• Light and dark
combination in eyes, skin,
or hair — no medium

15. COLOR CONTRAST ACTIVITY

16. COLOR TEMPERATURE
• Warm colors of the sun have a yellow undertone
• Cool colors of water have a blue undertone
• Neutral colors have equal amounts of warm and cool
undertones
• Refer to Color Temperature Handout

17. COLOR TEMPERATURE
Steps to determine an individual s color temperature:
• Two components determine the color temperature of the
skin: the wrist and the palm of the hand. See below:
• Check the inside of the wrist for color undertone and
observe the vein colors: (Blue vein = cool) (Teal vein =
warm)
• Check the palm of the hand and observe the color:
(Pink palm = cool) (Red or peach palm = warm)
• When there is a combination of surface color or
undertone in the wrist and palm (for example: cool wrist,
warm palm), the color temperature is considered neutral.

18. COLOR TEMPERATURE
Hair Temperature
• Cool Hair — Absence of gold or golden highlights, or ash
• Warm Hair — Golden or warm highlights
Eye Temperature
• Cool Eyes — Absence of gold tones in blue, green, or
brown eyes or a brown eye or dark eye without any color
• Warm Eyes — Golden flecks in the eyes; amber
dominates the eye color
Neutral temperatures
• If coloring is naturally warm and cool, choose from both
warm and cool color hues.
• Four areas of the eye to consider: the base, rim, fleck,
and ray of colors

19. COLOR TEMPERATURE ACTIVITY

20. TEXTURE IN MAKEUP
It is important to understand what texture is in
relationship to makeup.
Texture is matte, shine, shimmer, light, and dark.
Each aspect is important to understand when
choosing makeup to enhance or define the face.

21. TEXTURE IN MAKEUP
MATTE
• Absence of glow; absorbs light
• Longer lasting
• Denser coverage
• Works best with smokey eyes
• Oily skin loves matte
• Strategically place on mature
skin

22. TEXTURE IN MAKEUP
SHIMMER
• Draws attention to anything it
touches
• Mirror reflects light in various
directions
• Apply to features you feel
good about
• Gives youthful look
• Use on cheekbones, center
bottom lip

23. TEXTURE IN MAKEUP
SHINE
• Soft, natural- looking glow
without shimmer
• Will refract light back to source
• Semi-matte
• Dewy look, slight glow
• Buff into mature skin

24. TEXTURE IN MAKEUP
DARK
• Absorbs light makes area
recede, add depth and
intensity
• Use on areas to minimize
• Use to define lips and eyes
• Dark colors give dramatic
effect
• Create sultry smoky eyes
Bling Bling Blonde
Every girl loves platinum. Channel your inner diva with a platinum

25. TEXTURE IN MAKEUP
LIGHT
• Will reflect the light to cause
area to appear larger
• Make area pop, draws attention
• Light colors give softer feeling
• Use on center forehead, brow
bone, corner eye, above
cheekbones, around lips, center
chin

26. TEXTURE IN MAKEUP ACTIVITY

27. COLOR INTENSITY
The intensity of the color
determines its impact.
• Dark colors such as green,
purple, burgundy, give a hint of
seduction
• Pale colors are soft, ethereal,
and innocent
• Color wash- thin layer of sheer
color
• Neutral colors are safe, brown,
beiges, creams, whites and
grays

28. Complementary Colors
are best for eyes.

29. EYE COLOR
BLUE EYES
• Orange is the complementary
color for blue eyes
• Shadows to use:
Gold, warm brown, peach
copper, red brown, warm
plums, taupe and carmel.
• All neutral colors

30. EYE COLOR
GREEN EYES
• Red is the complimentary
color for green eyes. Pure red
shadows may make the eyes
look tired.
• Shadows to use:
Brown based reds, red orange,
red violet, copper, rust, pinks,
mauves, and purples.
• All of the neutral colors

31. EYE COLOR
BROWN EYES
• Brown sits in the middle of
the color map and can wear
most any color
• Shadows to use:
Blues, gray, green, peach,
gold, silvers
• Neutral colors

32. WHERE DO I START?
Refer to the Color Map
• Warm colors- yellows,oranges, reds
• Cool colors- blues, greens, violets
• Neutrals- browns, gray, black, beiges
Review color selection:
• Determine the skin level: Light/Medium/Dark
• Determine the temperature: Warm/Cool/Neutral
• Determine the eye color: Blue, Green, Brown
• Determine the complementary colors.
• Determine the hair color: Warm/Cool/Neutral
• Choose an eye shadow color based on the complementary colors or
contrasting colors.
• Coordinate the cheek and lip color within the color family:
Warm/Cool/Neutral

33. 1. Understand the basics!
2. Learn the rules!
3. Apply the rules!
4. Expand the rules!
HAVE FUN!

34. REVIEW
• What do dark colors do?
• What light colors do?
• What is color contrast? how do we use this?
• What is color temperature?
• What is texture in makeup?
• What is it important to understand texture in
makeup?

35. Level 2
Makeup Color Theory