Many people use cosmetics to dress up their face, highlight various facial features, add to their appearance, but cosmetics (makeup) is also commonly used in theater and other entertainment venues to create a memorable look with bright, bold colors. Depending on one’s skin tone and experience, the types of cosmetics and the color selections made by the wearer often bring out unique glamour and gain attention.
Two makeup items that draw out facial features and add color and allure to the face are eye shadow and lipstick. Generally, even if different colors, a face will look more put together and symmetrical if the shades of eye shadow and the selected tone of the lipstick match.
For myself, I prefer the mix of pinks and blues, although I also find blends of purples and pinks to be charming, elegant and stylish.
Eye Shadow Fun Fact: Eye shadow is a cosmetic that is applied on the eyelids and under the eyebrows. Eye shadow is commonly used to make the wearer’s eyes stand out or look more attractive. Eye shadow can also add depth and dimension to one’s eyes, complement the eye color, make one’s eyes appear larger, or merely draw attention to the eyes.
Lipstick Fun Fact: Lipstick is a cosmetic product containing pigments, oils, waxes and emollients that apply color, texture and protection for the lips. Many colors and types of lipsticks exist. Lipstick tends to come in matte format (a more dry appearance on the lips) while lip glosses tend to add shimmer and shine (a more wet appearance on the lips).
Since purples and pinks are colors that match so well, this color combination when applied to the eyes and lips makes for a beautiful, dramatic look. The color pink represents compassion, nurturing and love. The color purple relates to the imagination and spirituality.
Positive Keywords of the Color Purple:
- Individuality
- Creativity
- Inventive
- Psychic
- Intuitive
- Humanitarian
- Mystery
- Fantasy
- Future
- Royalty
Positive Keywords of the Color Pink:
- Unconditional Love
- Romantic Love
- Compassion
- Understanding
- Nurturing
- Romance
- Warmth
- Hope
- Sweetness
- Femininity
Purples and pinks make for a gorgeous, glamorous look, don’t you think?
Eye Shadow Fun Fact: Eye shadow can be applied in a variety of ways depending on the desired look and formulation. Typically, eye shadow application is done using fingers or makeup brushes. The most important aspect of applying eye shadow, and makeup in general, is blending well. Applying a primer will limit the chances of creases developing in your eye shadow.
Lipstick Fun Fact: Ancient Americas oldest manual from the 13th century, “The Grolier Codex”, shows two Mayan women wearing lipstick. They crushed gemstones and used the stones to decorate their faces, mainly on the lips and around the eyes. Lip coloring became popular in Egypt, with the Indus Valley Civilization and with Aboriginal girls. During the 16th century, lip coloring gained popularity in England, France and the United States.
For a facial cosmetic color match that is sure to be a smash, blend purple and pink!
With various shades of purples and pinks, it is fun to experiment with different tones of these two colors, depending on the wearer’s skin tone and visual preference.
Variations of the Color Purple:
- Lavender
- Lilac
- Mauve
- Amethyst
- Plum
- Deep Purple
Variations of the Color Pink:
- Blush
- Rose
- Salmon
- Orchid
- Fuchsia
- Hot Pink
Nancy Mangano’s Fashion Tip: No matter what color scheme you choose to apply to your face, a thick coat of dark or black mascara will set off the eyes like no other cosmetic. Also, before applying lipstick, line your lip line with a pencil the same shade, or just a tad shade darker, than the lipstick. This will add oomph, contour and definition to your fabulous mouth and face.
Eye Shadow Fun Fact: Cosmetics and eye shadows have been used for as long as there has been people to use them. Face painting is mentioned in the Old Testament (Book of Ezekiel 23:40) and eye shadow was used in Egyptian burials dating back to 10,000 BC. Common ingredients in eye shadows consist of talc, mica, sericite, magnesium stearate, colorants and preservatives. Fillers in eye shadows are primarily talc. In cream eye shadow, the liquid binder is silicone. In powder eye shadows the dry binder is typically magnesium stearate.
Lipstick Fun Fact: Lipstick ingredients typically contain wax, oils, antioxidants and emollients. Wax provides the structure to the solid lipsticks. Types of waxes used include beeswax, ozokerite and candelilla wax. Due to its high melting point, Carnauba wax is a key ingredient in terms of strengthening the lipstick. Various oils and fats are used in lipsticks, such as olive oil, mineral oil, cocoa butter, lanolin and petroleum. Lipsticks get their colors from a variety of pigments and dyes. The lipstick is made by grinding and heating the used ingredients together.
No matter the ingredients used and no matter how the eye shadow and lipstick is made, I would have to give the cosmetic color combination of purples and pinks an “A” grade!
The color pink is made by blending red and white. Pink is feminine and romantic, soft and dainty. Pink is a sign of hope and represents a calmness and reassurance.
The color purple is made by blending red and blue. Purple stimulates the imagination and inspires high ideals. Purple represents the future, imagination and dreams.
Create a dream effect on the face when decorated in a mix of purple and pink cosmetics. Show off your great makeup taste!
Fashion Wise: Purple and pink tones for the lips and eyes!
“I must say that your face has of look of sheer beauty and grace.”
“It’s the blend of soft and powerful with the purple and pink shades. Fashion taste!”
“Your eyes so wide and doe like; your lips so sweet and fair.”
“The purple shadow on my eyes stands out; my pink painted lips elegant to wear.”
“I think I’ll apply those color shades of cosmetics to my face as well.”
“That’s a marvelous idea. You’ll look regal, trendy and swell.”
For a makeup color combination that is hard to beat. Purple and pink cosmetics give your face a real treat!
Watch for Nancy’s next book in her award winning murder mystery series, Deadly Decisions – A Natalie North Novel, coming to bookstores and online bookstores in February 2017.
Nancy Mangano is an American fashion journalist and author of the Natalie North murder mystery book series, A Passion for Prying and Murder Can Be Messy. Visit Nancy on her author website http://www.nancymangano.com, Twitter @https://twitter.com/nancymangano, her fashion magazine Strutting in Style! at http://www.struttinginstyle.com, and her Facebook fan page Nancy Mangano https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nancy-Mangano/362187023895846
STRUTTING IN STYLE! NANCY MANGANO'S FASHION/STYLE/BEAUTY BONANZA 