Blush, pastel, salmon, rose - whatever the shade, there’s one thing for sure; when it comes to beauty, we’re thinking pink. You may remember pink from your darkest days of young makeup experimentation (we do) - sweetly sticky lipgloss and shimmery blush. Fast forward to today though, and pink is so ubiquitous it’s practically a neutral, with beauty brands like Glossier basing almost their entire aesthetic on a particular light pastel version of the colour and countless Pinterest boards centred around pink-themed images. It’s pink for grown-ups, and we’re fans!
What’s the appeal? It’s feminine, sure, but you don’t necessarily have to be a girly-girl to wear pink. Try a bold block of colour on your lids for an editorially inspired look - we love commandeering lip products for the job like Ilia’s lipstick crayon in Call Me. If pared back is more your style, a semi-matte finish product like RMS Beauty’s Lip2Cheek in Demure is a favourite of ours and can be used (as the name would suggest) on both lips and cheeks but also on the eyes. It’s all about using products in different ways to how you would usually and increasing the versatility of your makeup bag.
Pink doesn’t always have to be pale and pastel - using a brown-toned shade on the cheeks gives a tawny, Autumnal flush and berry tones are beautiful on darker skin. We think pink can be super low maintenance and wearable, like the ultimate nude but warmer - more youthful and interesting.
If you have pale skin that’s prone to redness, our go-to makeup expert Sjaniel Turrell recommends choosing a pink with a coral or orange undertone, saying “A bluer-red tone will mimic the redness in your skin and might translate as irritation rather than a fresh pop of colour or glow”. Switching up the undertone also has the added bonus of seasonal versatility, says Sjaniel, “In summer, more orange and coral toned pinks always give a fresher ‘sunkissed’ feel whereas the softer, bluer hues of baby pinks and rose pinks lend themselves more to winter time”. A year-round wearer is definitely a plus in our books!
Wondering what to pair it with? Pink partners stunningly with camels and golds - we love the peachy-copper tone of RMS Beauty’s Eye Polish in Lucky. Amp up the illumination with Ilia Beauty’s Illuminator in Sway for a one way ticket to Glow Town, and don’t be surprised when people start asking if you’ve recently been on holiday. You can thank us later. So, whether you’re a matte-ified minimalist or like any excuse to swipe lipstick onto your eyelids, no fear - we think pink’s got you covered. Click here for our favourite pink products over on Glasshouse Shop! Cover Image: Glossier Words: Rosie Herdman
