The One Unexpected Color You Absolutely Need In Your Makeup Bag
My friend sifted through my lipstick drawer, picking up a Lorac Alter Ego lipstick and a Lipstick Queen hue. My two favorites, they were bright and unapologetically purple.
Lorac Alter Ego lipstick, $18, Amazon
“Don't you have any normal colors?” she demanded, holding both tubes up.
I was kind of offended. “Define normal?” I asked her.
She put the lipsticks back in the pile, reaching for a pale pink Marc Jacobs shade.
“I mean, not purple,” she suggested. “I feel like only Rihanna can pull that off, you know?"
That's where I disagree. Look, purple isn't an easy color to pull off. It is, however, one of the most versatile. Purple isn't just a great lipstick color. The hue works for your entire face, from dreary undereyes to cheeks and hair.
Don't believe me? Take a look.
A hint of purple brightens the eyes.
If you're over black liner or craving a shade that's more forgiving, opt for purple. It's universally flattering, but I particularly love it on medium-skinned girls and those with hazel or blue eyes.
Anxious about trying out the color? Opt for an almost-black warm purple. For a night out, a metallic shade goes a long way. I like using it to line my lower lash line, with tons of mascara on top.
Not much of a liner gal? Use a shimmery orchid shade on your inner corner to look like you slept an extra couple of hours last night.
Not-quite-black shade: No. 7 Stay Precise Liquid Liner in Bohemian, $9, Target Night-out metallic: Urban Decay Glide-On Eye Pencil in Rockstar, $20, Sephora Orchid: Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Color in Orchid, $29, Sephora
A smokey eye doesn't have to be black or brown.
One of my favorite tricks is to apply a violet smokey eye instead of basic black. It's every bit as sexy, trust me.
After applying primer, brush a shimmery violet all over your lid. Add depth by swiping on a darker purple in your crease. Then, use a matte shade to blend the two together.
Add a bright lilac in your inner corner for a look that's anything but basic. For extra brownie points, wet a liner brush with water and use the crease color to line your eyes.
All-over shade: Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Fishnet, $19, Urban Decay Deep purple crease color: KIKO Water Eyeshadow in eggplant purple, $14, KIKO Matte hue: No. 7 Trio Eyeshadow Palette in New Romance, $9, Walgreens Inner corner: Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadow in Glitter Rock, $21, Sephora
Purple can do wonders for your undereye game.
If your undereye area looks about as bright as a slush puddle, don't dab on nude concealer in hopes it'll cover them up. Instead, brighten them.
A purple correcting fluid will counteract any sallowness in your skin, infusing light into the area. It's all because of the color wheel. Purple counteracts yellow because they're opposites, also called complementary colors.
Bright-eyed must-have: Urban Decay Naked Skin Color Correcting Fluid in Lavender, $28, Sephora
Purple nail polish is a tan in a bottle.
Nail polishes with a white base, like the two Deborah Lippmann shades above, have a way of making your hands look like you've spent days at the beach.
If you're not a huge pastel girl, opt for an orchid shade. Better yet, try the orchid on your toes and the pastel on your hands.
Pretty pastel: Deborah Lippmann Gel Lab Pro Nail Polish in The Pleasure Principle, $20, Net-a-Porter Out-there orchid: Deborah Lippmann Nail Polish in Good Vibrations, $18, Blue Mercury
Purple is the new red lip.
Let's go back to that situation with my friend. She thought the only person who could pull off a shade that vibrant was Rihanna. I don't know whether that's because of the star's skin tone or often-outrageous sense of style, but she's wrong. Anyone can pull off the color.
For the office, I like a muted, pinky-purple shade. It's vibrant, but still neutral enough so you don't have to constantly reapply. Dates, however, call for doe-eyed lashes, strobed cheeks and dark berry lips. Instead of your typical matte red, go for a winged eye and a pop of violet.
Office crush: NARS Audacious Lipstick in Dominique, $34, Barney's Date-night essential: Laura Mercier Velour Lovers Lip Color in Voyeur, $28, Sephora Club-ready violet: MAC Lipstick in Violetta, $17, Nordstrom
Purple is a blonde's best friend.
A blonde girl's worst nightmare is going brassy. Combat it by introducing purple into your haircare routine.
Purple-toned shampoos and conditioners fight the yellow tones in your hair (again, it's color wheel science) and infuse some brightness back into your locks.
If you don't want to go for a straightforward purple shampoo because you're afraid of it drying out your hair, opt for a reviving balm or toning treatment. Whichever one you choose, they're sure to keep your hair perfectly cool in-between salon appointments.
Balm du jour: Shu Uemura Cool Blonde Shades Reviving Balm, $58, Barney's Holy-grail treatment: Redken Blonde Idol Custom Color Tone Color-Depositing Daily Treatment, $32, Ulta
A purple blush brightens complexions.
Like we've gone over before, purple brightens up your eyes, lips and even hair. It can also brighten the f*ck out of your cheeks.
Don't shy away from a vibrant violet blush. The trick for working with something so highly-pigmented is to use as little as possible so you only leave a hint of color on your cheeks.
Very gently pat a fan brush into the shade and blend onto the apples of your cheeks. A fan brush won't deposit a lot of color, so it's perfect.
Poppin' flush: Lorac Buildable Blush in Ultraviolet, $23, Amazon
If all else fails, bathe in glitter.
I did. It was fun.
Believe it or not, glitter is crazy versatile. Use it as an eyeliner by dipping a dampened liner brush into the pot and rimming your eyes with it (just use a really sticky base, like Too Faced Glitter Glue). Use it to add a bit of punch to your eyeshadow, too. I personally like to sprinkle it on the back of my neck and on my collarbone for a bit of sexy sparkle when I'm headed to a dance party or a concert.
Wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am glitter: MAC Glitter in "Amethyst", $22, MAC
