The Tamesis
For those who are new to the playful makeup trend and want to try it for size, Edeme recommends trying bold colors first. “Pink looks great on all skin tones, so proceed with caution,” she says. “Starting with some matte pink and then gradually adding some shimmery colors always enhances the look.” Sino suggests taking it a step further and juxtaposing complementary colors. “You’d be surprised how good unexpected combinations can look. When I styled bright green and gold eyes for Zara for a show, the last thing you expected was a bright pink lip, but they ended up looking really beautiful together,” she said. In the meantime, David suggests taking inspiration from your outfit. “Try to match your eyeshadow to your outfit—let go of whether you think the color will suit you and approach it with more feel,” she says. “Let your makeup express your mood and wear shimmery eyeshadow purely because you’re attracted to the color.” David is also particularly keen on trying blue eyeshadow, calling it the right to step into a colorful look. “We’ve seen [blue eyeshadow] “This color has been popping up in pop culture for decades,” she says, “and it’s universally flattering because it’s the opposite of skin tone on the color wheel and complements all skin tones.”
If that still feels like a leap, a personalized blush offers a more approachable entry point. Take Ngozi’s looks for the likes of Cassie, Tyla and Olandria, for example. While there were some examples of playfully colored eyeshadows and shimmers, others remained absent—but one thing remained central: a blurry, soft matte blush in a bold color. “I love playing with color on dark skin and wearing blush—it’s my favorite way to create a whimsical look,” says Edeme, who considers blush her holy grail product. “I love covering my face in every possible color. If you think it’s too bright, that’s okay, there’s always a way to make it work.”
She recommends using a range of shades: one that’s close to your skin tone, one that adds a major pop of color, and one that adds a slightly lighter tone to your bold shade—by layering these three colors, she created an ombre, ethereal look. When asked about the old “if you were on a desert island” adage, Sinot has her holy grail blush color: “If I had to choose, it would be a warm, rosy coral pink blush, similar to the iconic sunburn look,” Sinot says, though she encourages experimenting with every color possible and even using eyeshadow to make the color more saturated.
Meanwhile, bold lips are another gateway. Signor often plays with dimension here, using multiple liners to outline an ombre effect, then layering it with a high-shine, almost iridescent sheen. For something moody, she flips the formula around—starting with a matte base, then pressing shimmer pigment or fine glitter into the center for a subtle sparkle. Ultimately, the appeal of this playful approach lies in its refusal to take itself too seriously. This is makeup as an experiment, with no real rules required. Likewise, David says you can’t go wrong with a warp-proof lining and a shimmery sheen on top.
