How to Find Your Perfect Makeup Contrast, According to The Experts
Celebrity makeup artist Jaleesa Jaikaran and Neen’s Jeanine Lobell tell all.
If you’ve spent any time on TikTok, you’ve probably run across the “contrast makeup” trend — a beauty movement that’s all about working with what you already have and finding cosmetics that work with your features and not against them. Instead of hiding your natural skin, hair or eye color, the idea of “contrast makeup” is to accentuate the natural contrast in your features to create a look that feels uniquely you.
We caught up with two experts — Jaleesa Jaikaran, celebrity makeup artist and Ulta Beauty pro and Jeanine Lobell, the founder of Stila Cosmetics and Neen — to get their take on how to find your own “contrast makeup.” From subtle, barely-there looks to defined glam, these pros told us more about what contrast makeup actually entails and shared their secrets to making the most of your natural beauty.
Whether you’ve got dark hair or bright eyes, here’s how to tailor your makeup to make your features stand out in the best way possible.
What’s the “Contrast Makeup Trend” all about?
Both Jaikaran and Lobell agree — contrast makeup is all about working with the natural visual differences between your skin, eyes and hair— essentially, using the natural contrast in your features to create a balanced, flattering look. Jaikaran explains it like this: “It’s about enhancing what you already have [your natural contrasts] and building a makeup look that cohesively highlights those features.”
Lobell takes a similar approach: “The contrast makeup theory is a trend that breaks people into three categories — low, medium and high contrast — based on how much difference there is between your skin, hair and eye colors. Then, you adjust your makeup to work with those contrasts.”
The idea is simple, find your contrast level (low, medium or high) and play with your makeup to soften or emphasize your features, depending on your choice.
@sarahpalmyra Someone please tell me is this a contrast makeup issue or something else? Is it the lip color? #contrastmakeup #contrastlevel #lowcontrastmakeup #makeuproutine #coloranalysis ♬ original sound – Sarah Palmyra✨
Breaking Down the Three Contrast Levels
“Low-Contrast” — Soft and Subtle
If you have fair skin, eyes and hair, like Taylor Swift or Emma Stone, you’re in the low-contrast group. For this category, makeup should feel gentle and natural. Jaikaran suggests keeping things harmonious: “With low contrast, you want to keep the tones soft and subtle. Think neutral tones, nothing too dark. A peachy blush, a nude lip and a wash of soft shadow are the way to go.” Her top product for this look is the Ulta Beauty Collection’s 12-Pan Eye Shadow Palette in “Everyday Faves.” It’s perfect for that natural, monochromatic look that keeps everything feeling balanced.
“For low contrast, think ‘no makeup, makeup.’ You want to enhance your natural beauty without looking too made-up. Soft pastels for your eyes and a pink or peach lip will give you that fresh, radiant look,” says Lobell. For deeper skin tones in this category, she recommends using shades like plums and purples to prevent looking washed out. Her go-to product? The “Pretty Shady” Cloud Trio from Neen. It’s light but still adds a subtle pop.
“Medium-Contrast” — Balanced and Defined
If your features have a little more variation — like darker hair with lighter skin or hazel eyes with a medium skin tone — you’re in the medium contrast group. Think of Angelina Jolie or Maya Jama. Here, things become a little more interesting and you can start to introduce dimension without it feeling too sharp. Jaikaran calls this approach “a perfect in-between.” She says that “medium contrast lets you add some definition without breaking the harmony. A soft smokey eye or a defined lip adds depth, but everything still feels cohesive.”
“For medium contrast, you want to work with monochromatic tones. If you have darker hair, taupes and chocolates will work wonders. For caramel or lighter shades of hair, go for nutmeg or warm brown shades,” Lobell states. If you have lighter hair, beige golds with a nude peachy cheek are your go-to. She loves Neen’s “The Pretty Shady Zen Trio” for those with dark hair and “Pretty Shady Toasty Trio” for those with caramel-toned hair.
“High-Contrast” — Intense and Dramatic
High contrast is for those who have dramatic differences between their skin, hair and eyes, like Anne Hathaway or Selena Gomez. Think pale skin with dark hair or light eyes with deep skin tones. For this group, makeup is all about emphasizing that natural contrast in a striking way. “High contrast makeup is where you can have fun. Play with glamorous eyes, defined brows and rich lips — just make sure everything still feels balanced,” Jaikaran says.
Lobell suggests a darker lip to balance out your high contrast: “A berry or raspberry lip will really draw attention to the lower part of your face and balance out the strong contrasts in your features. Add a soft flush of color on the cheeks to keep it fresh.” For high-contrast beauties, go for dramatic with dark, defined eyes or rich lips that enhance your natural features. Jaikaran loves a smoky eye with defined brows, while Lobell recommends a more neutral eye look paired with a dark lip, like the Ulta Beauty Collection “Weightless Water Lip.”
While you’re here, check out our interview with the new face of LOEWE perfumes, Sophie Wilde.
