In the modern realm of beauty, trends are known to wax and wane. Some are more susceptible to the ebb and flow of #BeautyTok’s temporary whims, whilst others are reliant on increased product knowledge and the illusion of its accompanying desired effects. Case in point? Hailey Bieber’s exceptional marketing tactic; the launch of her beauty brand Rhode and its highly-coveted Peptide Lip Treatment came hand-in-hand with her viral ‘Clean Girl’ look in the summer of ‘22. Then came underpainting and latte make-up—before we finally arrived at the most customisable beauty trend or more aptly, practice yet: personal colour analysis, a trend increasingly popularised by the K-beauty space.
Beyond knowing what shades of the colour wheel your wardrobe should be composed of, a beauty-targeted personal colour analysis also determines your undertone—which is ideal for figuring out the colours you should be painting across your eyes, cheeks and lips. And for those of us who would prefer not have to figure out how to mix-and-match what goes on our miens, this lends itself to being the perfect everyday solution. Once you’ve figured out your undertone, it’s also easy enough to create a complementary look, more commonly known as a tonal or monochromatic make-up look. “With a few staple colours, you can choose to dress a look up or opt for a more laid back vibe, without the guesswork of having to match colours on your own,” offers professional make-up artist Kenneth Chia. Visually, this might involve using similar shades of coral or a synonymous pink or red hue all throughout the face.
There’s also no denying the influence of South Korean idols whose aspirational looks often inspire a certain desirability in the masses. So whilst older iterations of the monochromatic make-up look involves more matte finishes, more recent renditions that have been spotted on the likes of K-pop stars Minnie of (G)I-DLE, Yunjin of Le Sserafim and Aespa’s Winter are all pointing to tonal looks that incorporate a more dewy finish as well. Looking to achieve the look? Look no further, as Vogue Singapore speaks to Chia on some top tips for how to achieve the monochromatic look—wet or matte.
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What makes a monochromatic make-up look so appealing?
“Monochromatic looks make people look effortlessly cool, while using colours that are easily wearable. They’re also probably colours you already own or have in your make-up pouches. With just a few staple colours, you can choose to dress a look up or opt for a more laid back vibe, without the guesswork of having to match colours on your own,” offers Chia.
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As opposed to a typical matte look, recent times have seen it get a wet update. What are your tips for achieving this effect?
Singapore’s climate is notoriously unforgiving on more dewy looks, so Chia advises us to take our cues from our favourite Kpop idols’ longer-lasting stage makeup. Think about starting with a matte or more natural foundation, and finish off with products such as Nudies Matte + Glow Core All Over Face Blush or Chanel’s Baume Essentiel that have a balm-like texture to amp up on the glow. A shimmering powder highlight like the Illuétte Highlighter Palette can be added beneath for an extra pop of glitter.
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What sort of colours are best suited to deeper skin tones?
According to Chia, the rule of thumb is that the lighter your skin tone, the lighter your shades should be—and vice versa. It is less about the colour itself, than the intensity and saturation of the hues you pick. “It’s also good to consider the undertone of your eyes or the colour of your contact lens if you have coloured ones,” he says.
“For deeper skin tones, I really love a sculpted all-brown supermodel look, or hues that would beautifully complement a wine-hued lip,” remarks Chia.
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What is the most important tip for creating a monochromatic look?
For Chia, the key to delivering a monochromatic look in any colour is to actually know what colour flatters your undertone—which is where personal colour analysis might be helpful. “It’s also important to remember that a tonal look isn’t about using one shade all over, but creating harmony between complementary hues,” he reminds.
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How do you add additional dimension to the look?
“Play with your textures and don’t use the same texture across the whole face. In essence refrain from using just a matte lip paired with a matte eye, paired to a matte base. Instead, add some shimmers or some eye glitter, or team a matte eyeshadow with a glossy lip in the same shade. That way, you’ll create a seamless blend of colour with lots of dimension,” Chia suggests. Alternatively, choose one feature and completely set it apart from the rest—like a bold red lip against softer lilac hues.
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What other alternatives can be adopted to deliver a full-on monochromatic look?
A top tip? Tint your brows or even consider matching your make-up to your hair colour. “Monochromatic make-up is based on low visual contrast between your features, so a tinted brow—which you could achieve with something like Hince’s Signature Brow Shaper—is the perfect accent for ultimate It-girl impact,” offers Chia.
