When it comes to makeup, being a redhead can be tricky. There are so many lipstick, eyeshadow and eyeliner shades that simply just don’t work on redheads’ fair, often freckly, skin. So to help you redheads make the best makeup decisions possible, we went straight to the experts. Follow these dos and don’ts to avoid any future beauty blunders.
DO use makeup with yellow undertones.
“A true redhead has a lot of golden undertones and we want to have those radiate,” says celebrity makeup artist Kenetia Lee. Use makeup with yellow undertones like peach, coral, aqua and copper.” When it comes to concealer, one with yellow undertones can help counteract the red undertones that are common in redheads’ skin.
DON’T cover your freckles.
“Don’t pack on the cream foundation and cover them,” says celebrity makeup artist Desirae Cherman. “This will make you look washed out and loose your features. Embrace your freckles and use a tinted moisturizer and spot cover with a concealer to look fresh and classy.”
DO choose one feature to highlight.
“I never allow for more than one color to dominate on a true redhead’s face,” says Lee. “It’s better to play up the eyes and let the cheeks and lips go neutral or nude or play up the lips with bold color and tone down the eyes by using a nude eye color.”
DON’T use a pink colored blush.
“It picks up the red undertones and also brings out the cooler blue undertones,” says Cherman. Your best bet is to go with a peachy coral colored blush to help brighten and warm up your skin tone.
DO wear a red lip.
“Don’t think you can’t just because you’re a redhead,” says Cherman. “For redheads with a more copper base, choose a more orangey red shade. If you have more a purple undertone, choose a true red or something with a little blue undertone.” Watch this video to see her explain how to pick the best red lipstick.