Analyzing Color Schemes

This is an analysis of the makeup I did during a photo shoot a few months ago. I had the easiest time prettifying my already beautiful model Paola. To make a pleasantly shocking turn from her preppy style, I did a colorful variant of the Arabic makeup.  I don’t know how to call it exactly but the photographers gave me the liberty to work my thing and this is how it turned out:

Going back to our lesson in color theory, the eye makeup popped out with the right choice of color combinations. The main color in this design is hot pink ( a tint of red) which is accentuated by adding its complementary color, green, in the outer corner of the eyes. Yellow, which is analogous to green, further adds to the drama.  The white was meant to add a gradient effect to the hot pink by blending it upwards. White is not a part of the color wheel as it is produced by the absence of colors.

To balance the outrageous eyes, I chose a pale pink lipstick using Nyx Strawberry combined with Nyx Paris.

Here are the eyeshadows for the curtain call:

• Ben Nye Azalea (hot pink)
• Elianto Green
• Shu Uemura ME Yellow
• Mac Gesso (white)

This is an addition to the previous article on examples of color schemes.

Hope you enjoyed this look.

Color Theory

A very basic concept in makeup artistry or any form of art, is the color theory. Understanding the principles will help you know what colors make a good combination for the look you’re driving at.

Let’s go back to basics and revisit the color wheel.

The Primary Colors are those colors that can’t be produced by mixing 2 other colors: Red, Yellow and Blue.

The Secondary Colors are colors created by mixing 2 of the primary colors:
Green= yellow + blue
Orange= yellow + red
Violet= red + blue

The Tertiary or Intermediate colors are achieved by mixing an adjacent primary and secondary color in equal amounts
Chartreuse= Yellow + Green
Turquoise= Green + Blue
Plum= Violet + Red

Black and White are not considered as colors. In fact, Black is the absence of light. All the wavelengths of light are absorbed, which means there is no reflection of light or color. White, on the other hand, is the total reflection of lights, wavelengths and colors. Gray is produced by mixing black and white.

Color Value

Tint- higher color value. any color plus white
example: red + white= pink; thus pink is a tint of red
Shade- lower color value. any color plus black.
example: red + black= burgundy; thus burgundy is a shade of red.

Color Combinations

These are the schemes on the color wheel

1. Monochromatic- one color with variation of lightness or darkness.
example: pink, red, burgundy

2. Analogous- colors that lie next to each other in the color wheel
example: red, red-orange, orange

3. Triadic- three colors that are of equal distances on the color wheel
example: green, violet, orange

4. Complementary- two colors directly oppsite of each other
examples: red-green, orange-blue, yellow-violet
When complementary colors are placed one on top of the other, it neutralizes. When beside each other, the effect is intensified.

5. Tetradic- are any four colors with a logical relationship on the color wheel, such as double complements. Example is the scheme I chose on my model, using 2 pairs of complementary colors: Blue- Orange and Yellow- Violet.

Photography by: Maurice/ PP by Ronald Ares Duque
Model: Natasha Mills
Makeup by: Grace Pamparo-Bandoy