Unlock Your Best Look by Understanding the Psychology of Color in Makeup

There’s an eye-catching reason we love sunsets! Though our “feel-good” responses vary from person to person, we share a commonality on the emotional effects of the colors of sunsets. So, naturally, the mix of warm colors and vibrant hues from sunsets will evoke feelings of awe and joy – the same feelings from choosing the right color choices in makeup.

Just like sunsets can have a significant psychological impact on people, there’s a power to pigments or color psychology in makeup that impacts makeup choices. It’s not just the sunny yellow shade or fiery red hue. Color is not just about aesthetics but can influence emotions, perceptions, and personal style.

In this makeup color guide, we’ll explore the psychology behind different makeup colors and offer tips to help you select shades that will enhance your look, mood, and style. While feelings fade after sunsets, your confidence in makeup colors will go on.

The Psychology of Color – How Colors Influence Emotions and Perceptions

"Colors, like features, follow the changes of the emotions," the artist Pablo Picasso once remarked. 

The use of blue tones in hospitals or red in big retailers is not by accident – color was strategically used to influence customer behavior. Hospitals use blue to convey calmness, trust, and stability, while retailers and fast-food chains use red and yellow to create a sense of urgency and energy.

Colors can have a significant impact on how people feel and behave, and can influence mental health and well-being. Different colors can evoke specific emotions and influence our perceptions. Are you feeling blue or you’re red with urgency or anger? There’s even a ‘code’ behind the color choice of roses; red is love, and yellow is friendship. There’s a mutual psychological impact of color among us – and there’s a hue-g reason why.

The fundamentals of color psychology embody how the associations through the influence of color are deeply ingrained in our culture. It can impact how we interpret and react to information that the eye receives and transmits to the brain for processing. This influences our decisions and behaviors on just about anything, from clothing design and house décor to beauty and personal care choices. It is precisely why once you understand the effects of colors, you can make more intentional and impactful makeup choices.

How Colors Influence Emotions

Color is closely associated with emotions. It even ‘colors’ our language—we say we are ‘feeling blue,’ ‘seeing red,’ ‘green with envy’ or ‘in the pink. In fact, individual or grouped colors can be used to evoke specific emotions.

The “warm” colors like red, orange, and yellow are generally associated with feelings of excitement, energy, warmth, and passion. A blue yoga studio might calm your mood, while a dozen pink roses might lift your mood.

The “cool” colors like blue, green, and purple evoke feelings of calmness, tranquility, and relaxation. Whether it’s blue skies or green grass, it’s easy to understand how cool colors can influence emotions by creating a calming and soothing effect, often associated with feelings of peace, relaxation, and tranquility.

Perception and Personal Style

Certain emotions from colors can stem from cultural interpretations or from particular traits and the visual qualities of each color, influencing how we perceive them and the emotions they evoke. In color psychology, red is commonly associated with passion, excitement, and strong emotions like love and anger, while pink is often linked to femininity, softness, and tenderness, and purple is frequently connected to creativity, royalty, and luxury.

When it comes to makeup, it’s not only about enhancing features or covering imperfections - the choices we make in makeup can reinforce these impressions. Everything from the vibrant red lipstick to the stark blue hue of an eyeshadow is associated with certain traits and perceptions. Red, for instance, is often associated with vitality and sensuality and can exude confidence and sophistication, making it a popular choice for glamorous and seductive makeup looks. Purple, often associated with creativity, adds a unique and stand-out look when used in makeup.

Understanding color psychology in makeup can unlock a world of creative possibilities and help individuals make informed color choices that enhance their beauty.

Choosing Lip Colors Based on Color Psychology

Lipstick color isn’t just about enhancing women’s beauty. The color of lipstick chosen makes or breaks a statement, and it all goes back to color psychology. By now we’re familiar with how the feelings evoked from certain shades like bold, fiery red to flirty, feminine pink hues can affect not only appearance but also emotional presence and personal style.

Red-y or not, let’s cover how lip colors based on color psychology affect emotions and personal style.

Red Lipstick for Confidence and Boldness:

Red lipstick is the ultimate power color. As Marilyn Monroe’s signature color, she knew how to work a red-hot lip. Red is a bold and confident color that is often associated with strength and assertiveness, leading to its connection with power, passion, and desire.

Red lipstick is bold and feminine, yet daring and powerful shade, making it an ideal choice for situations requiring confidence. As a timeless favorite, our Cocoa Butter Matte Lipstick in Blood Orange creates a classic, bold look. With just the right amount of rust, brick red, and dynamic berry, this fruity hue perfectly embodies the flesh of its namesake fruit.

Nude Tones for Subtlety and Sophistication:

We’re well aware a lot of lips would pucker up to nude-tone lipsticks. Is there any occasion that isn’t suitable for a nude lip? Whether glossy or matte, a nude lip is a power move that exudes desire and style through simplicity. While some prefer a nudes-only color palette and others like a mix of everything, we can all appreciate the range in tones that this natural lip color category offers.

Nude shades are a perfect neutral option that gives a polished, understated look that complements natural beauty. Our Fruit Pigmented® Pomegranate Oil Anti-Aging Lipstick in Calendula is a great way to enhance your look with subtlety and sophistication. This coral pink nude is made with pomegranate oil and shea butter to keep lips soft, supple, and kissable.

Pink Shades for Playfulness and Warmth:

Romantic and sweet, pink lips make for the perfect natural lip color. As a classically feminine and playful shade, pink lipstick can evoke feelings of gentleness, warmth, and kindness. These shades work well with both casual and elegant looks and wardrobe choices. Pink lipstick is a great choice if you want to spark up a sense of youthfulness and innocence. The lighter shades of pink can also convey a sense of playfulness and fun.

It’s great that our pink tones evoke friendliness and femininity, making them perfect for casual outings or lighthearted events. Our Lip Glaze in Elderberry ticks these fun boxes and more with a deep, pink mauve that is made with real fruit pigments, plus avocado and cocoa butters to give lips a light, nourishing wash of natural color with a hefty dose of playfulness and fun.

Dark Shades for Mystery and Elegance:

Rich, vibrant, and daring, berry shades range from soft strawberry to deep plum. Amazing for any skin tone, berry lips not only make an excellent natural lip color but add a touch of mystery and elegance to your look.

Our Cocoa Butter Matte Lipstick in Currant is perfect for an elegant evening look. Married hues of rich, warm pink and juicy raspberry make this festive berry red and are also perfect for holidays or nights. This sophisticated shade can be layered up for a mysterious edge or worn glossy to intensify the look.

Eye Makeup Colors and Their Impact

There is a reason why eyes are often hailed as the most captivating feature on one's face. For many, enhancing their attractiveness involves the masterful stroke of eyeshadow and eyeliner. Yet, in this pursuit of allure, we find ourselves navigating the sensitive terrain of which eye makeup colors will have the most eye-catching impact.

Different eyeshadow and eyeliner colors can enhance eye shape and color by strategically placing lighter and darker shades to create depth and dimension, while also influencing overall expression and mood through color psychology, with brighter shades appearing more playful and darker shades conveying a more dramatic look.

Embracing the uniqueness of our eyes goes beyond just appreciating their color; the shape plays a crucial role too. Different eyeshadow and eyeliner colors can enhance eye shape, color, and overall expression, as well as influence mood and style.

Let's dive into how different eye shapes can be complemented with the right eye makeup colors.

Brown and Earth Tones for Warmth and Natural Beauty:

Eyeshadow in brown and earth tones creates a grounded, natural look because they are considered neutral colors that closely mimic the natural tones of the eye area, allowing for subtle definition and blending without appearing overly dramatic; by using various shades of brown to shade and highlight, you can achieve depth while maintaining a soft, everyday appearance.

Brown and earth tones create warmth and natural beauty in the eye area and are versatile for both daytime and evening looks. Our Fruit Pigmented® Eye Shadow in Quartz and in Mink is a dynamic eyeshadow duo that’s perfect for creating anything from sultry smokey eyes to subtle nude eye makeup looks. Quartz is a sparkly copper brown mauve, while the Mink shade is a medium plum brown for a soft, warm finish.

Black and Charcoal for Bold, Defined Looks:

Black and charcoal create intensity and drama, perfect for smoky eyes or defined eyeliner. These eye styles can add depth and dimension to the eyes, making them appear larger and more defined, creating a dramatic or alluring look that can be easily adapted to different occasions, while also allowing for a wide range of color options to complement different eye colors and personal style.

Black and charcoal are versatile ways to draw attention to the eyes and enhance facial features. For super-defined eyeliner, our Long Last Liquid Eyeliner in Black Tea uses rich pigment from black tea leaves to line and define your eyes with deep, dramatic color. This nourishing formula is water-resistant, smudge-proof, and long-lasting for all-day wear and bold definition.

Blush and Bronzer Colors to Enhance Natural Beauty and Mood

Blush and bronzer have been rescuing dull complexions and flat makeup looks for the past few centuries. For the seemingly simple job that blush does, it’s actually a big master mimicker! It can enhance your appearance by mimicking a natural flush on the cheeks – a task not easy to do. Blush enhances natural beauty by creating a look of health and wellness and evokes feelings of youthfulness and vitality.

Speaking of imitation, bronzer is another master mimicker! It can quickly add warmth and dimension to the face, mimicking a sun-kissed glow, essentially making you look more awake and healthy, while also subtly sculpting the features by adding depth and warmth to areas where the sun would naturally hit.

It’s important to use the correct blush and bronzer shades that complement your skin tone while enhancing your natural glow and emotional presence.

Pink and Peach Blush for a Fresh, Youthful Glow:

Pink and peach blush are often considered ideal for a fresh, youthful glow because they mimic the natural flush of color on the cheeks, adding a subtle radiance and a hue of warmth that looks like a healthy complexion. These soft, warm tones tend to brighten the face and create a more youthful appearance without appearing too dramatic.

We are well aware of how pink and peach tones add warmth and softness, creating a youthful and vibrant look. Our Fruit Pigmented® Blush in Chiffon is a soft pink with anti-aging rosehip oil and nourishing cocoa and avocado butters that softens skin while you wear it for a natural, fresh finish.

Coral and Orange Tones for a Playful, Energized Look:

Coral and orange blush tones often look good on the skin because they complement warm undertones and evoke feelings of playfulness and energy. Coral shades add a natural warmth and glow to the face, and they exude energy and fun, making them ideal for a cheerful, lively look. The mix of yellow and red in these shades can mimic the natural flush of the skin, creating a healthy appearance. 

We love playing up any makeup look, and our Fruit Pigmented® Blush in Cherry is a bright, true pink that creates a bright, playful glow on any skin type.

Bronze for Sun-Kissed Sophistication:

Bronze creates a sun-kissed warmth on the skin by mimicking the natural browning effect of sun exposure, adding subtle warmth and depth to the complexion by being applied to areas of the face where the sun would naturally hit, like the cheekbones, forehead, nose, and jawline, giving the illusion of a natural tan without sun exposure. 

Our Cocoa Pigmented Bronzer is perfect for subtly sculpting facial features and providing a sun-kissed warmth with a hint of elegance to create a polished, healthy look. Your complexion looks more radiant and healthy.

Tips for Using Color Psychology to Elevate Your Makeup Routine

It’s no wonder color analysis tools have soared on social media. All it takes is uploading a photo and viola – color us happy! Incorporating color psychology in your makeup regimen is a bit more than having a tool suggest colors that would complement your complexion. There are other factors to take into consideration.

Check out these practical tips to help you incorporate color psychology into your daily makeup choices to enhance your personal style and adapt to different situations.

Choose Colors Based on Occasion and Mood:

To incorporate color psychology into your daily makeup choices, consider the occasion and emotions you want to project. Select colors that align with your goals for the day and choose colors that align with those feelings, like using bright, warm colors like red or orange for a confident, energetic look for a meeting. You could opt for calming blues and greens for a serene appearance or nude for a natural look on a casual day; always keeping in the forefront your skin tone and personal style to find the right shades that flatter you while conveying your desired mood and occasion.

Mix and Match for Unique Color Combinations:

If you want makeup choices tailored to your own preferences, you can mix and match shades for unique color combinations. Understanding the principles of color mixing and matching is essential for achieving harmonious and flattering looks that complement your features.

When experimenting with color combinations to create a balanced look on skin, the key is to pair warm and cool tones together, which can be achieved by using complementary colors on the color wheel, like pairing a warm orange with a cool blue, or a warm yellow with a cool purple, to create visual interest and prevent a one-dimensional appearance. You can also add a pop of color with eyeshadow to enhance creativity.

Adapt Colors to Personal Features and Skin Tone:

When experimenting with color combinations to create a balanced look, it’s important to pair colors to your skin tone. Select shades that complement natural skin undertones and personal features to achieve a harmonious, flattering effect.

The main skin tones are fair, light, medium, and dark. Fair is the lightest skin tone; people with fair skin often have blonde or red hair that burns easily in the sun. Light is similar to fair skin but with a warmer look and a tendency to tan instead of burn. Medium is a light beige color with possible gold undertones; people with medium skin often appear tanned. Dark is rich in melanin pigment, appearing brown or darker in hue.

Recommended 100% PURE Products for Your Color Psychology-Inspired Makeup Collection

Are you ready for products that align with color psychology in makeup? We’re making it easy to choose makeup colors to create looks that boost mood and confidence. Check out our best beauty products for your color psychology-inspired makeup choices!

100% PURE Cocoa Butter Matte Lipstick in Blood Orange

Are you tired of traditional red lipsticks that are loaded with synthetic chemicals and feature a mundane red hue? Say hello to our natural, classic brick red lipstick; a matte, opaque, and long-wearing lip product that is loaded with nourishing ingredients and vibrant color. Pigmented with natural fruit and vegetable extracts like pomegranate and raspberry, this bold red shade is perfect for a classic, confidence-boosting lip color.

100% PURE Fruit Pigmented® Blush in Chiffon

Pink and peach tones add warmth and softness, creating a youthful and vibrant look, and it’s precisely what we wanted from our blush. The soft pink shade brightens the face and creates a fresh, more youthful glow that adds vibrancy to any look. It features anti-aging rosehip oil and nourishing cocoa and avocado butters to soften skin while you wear it for a natural, fresh finish.

100% PURE Long Last Liquid Eyeliner in Black Tea

Black is versatile, easily draws attention to the eyes, and enhances facial features. This eyeliner creates bold, defined eyes that add intensity and drama to any makeup look. For our super-defined eyeliner, we use rich pigment from black tea leaves to line and define your eyes with deep, dramatic colors. This nourishing formula is water-resistant, smudge-proof, and long-lasting for all-day wear and bold definition.

100% PURE Cocoa Pigmented Bronzer

This bronzer is perfect for subtly sculpting facial features and providing a sun-kissed warmth with a hint of elegance to create a polished, sophisticated finish that enhances natural beauty. Your complexion looks more radiant and healthy.

FAQ

How do I choose makeup colors that suit my skin tone?

To choose makeup colors that suit your skin tone, you can consider your skin's undertone and how your skin reacts to UV light. For your undertone, look at the color of your veins in natural light. With a cool undertone, veins appear blue or purple; with a warm undertone, veins appear green or greenish blue; and with a neutral undertone, veins appear blue/green or match your skin color.

What colors are best for creating a natural, no-makeup look?

For a natural, "no-makeup" look, the best colors to use are neutral, earthy tones like beige, taupe, soft brown, light pink, peach, and nude shades, which closely mimic your natural skin tone and provide subtle definition without appearing overly made-up; these should be applied lightly on the eyes, cheeks, and lips. 

Can certain colors help me look more awake or refreshed?

Yes, wearing lighter colors around the eyes can help you look more awake and refreshed. Choose lighter cream eyeshadows, like champagne or beige, which can help open the eyes. You can apply a light shadow to the inner corners of your eyes and along your brow bone to open the eye area. Add a pop of blush to your face to enhance youth and health. 

How can I use color to boost my mood?

Bright, warm colors (reds, oranges, yellows) stimulate energy and happiness while cool, subdued colors (blues, greens, purples) are soothing and calming. Bright, warm colors are best in rooms for entertaining like dining rooms or kitchens, while cool colors work best in relaxing spaces like bedrooms or even bathrooms. To really boost your mood, choose bright colors like yellows and pinks for happiness.

Are there colors to choose for specific skin undertones?

For a warm undertone, consider using warm colors like peach, coral, gold, or amber near your face, or a cool undertone, opt for cool colors like lavender, mint green, silver, or icy blue near your face. Neutral colors can also be great options for warm undertones. For cooler undertones, avoid warm yellows and oranges that clash with your cool undertones; instead, go for shades of blue or purple that will match your complexion perfectly.

Conclusion

Understanding the powerful role of color in makeup is a gateway to endless possibilities. By delving into color psychology, we can make informed and creative choices that enhance our beauty and express our unique style. Whether you're a novice or a pro in color psychology in makeup, the world of pigments invites you to explore, experiment, and embrace the transformative power of color and makeup choices.

Colors can have a significant impact on how people feel and behave, and can influence emotions and well-being. Different colors can evoke specific emotions and influence our perceptions. Are you feeling blue or you’re red in anger? There’s a mutual psychological impact of color among us and we encourage you to use this knowledge to express yourself, enhance your mood, and elevate your look.

Selecting colors with intention can transform your makeup routine and boost confidence. It is precisely why understanding the effects of colors is important to making intentional and impactful makeup choices. Whether it’s Blood Orange-red, Chiffon pink, nude Mink, or Berry burgundy, each shade has its own unique connotations and meanings. So, the next time you reach for your makeup, take a moment to consider what message you want to send and what psychology says about your color choice.

Not to be too cyan-timental, but color – like sunsets - is not just about aesthetics; it can influence emotions, perceptions, and personal style but on a longer timeframe. While feelings fade after sunsets, your confidence in color psychology in makeup will go on.