Embrace Coral Makeup: Tips to Master the Trendy Look!

Every year, specialists from the Pantone Color Institute travel around the globe to identify the new color trend that will influence various artistic fields—from cinema and fashion to design, and even beauty. This year, “Living Coral” was selected to represent 2019, a vibrant and sunny coral shade softened by hints of gold.

Celebrities Love This Color

As early as September 2018, Allure magazine in the US highlighted its influence in makeup, featuring Bella Hadid on the cover with a matte coral lip. In May 2019, Harper’s Bazaar spotlighted Rihanna’s eyes, adorned with matching coral eyeshadow and mascara for its special beauty issue. This spring, the enthusiasm is palpable: “Coral is the quintessential warm-weather color!” exclaims Tom Sapin, Global Senior Artist at MAC, “It’s a timeless beauty staple that continually reinvents itself. It returns each season in a unique way.” Whether it’s a total look at Marc Jacobs, a blended blush at Michael Kors, a radiant halo around the eyes at Leonard, or glossy lips at Blumarine, the coral wave has indeed swept this year’s Fashion Week. “Unlike previous seasons, coral is being reimagined: it’s now worn more on the eyes and cheeks than on the lips. From a purely summery and somewhat understated aesthetic, it has taken a much more artistic turn,” comments Tom Sapin.

Add Zest to Your Daytime Makeup

Beyond the runways, coral also finds its place in everyday life: “It’s a color we’ve always used in makeup for its fresh, glowy look,” says Sophie Thibout, Makeup Artist at NARS. “It creates a healthy, almost ‘no makeup’ effect, especially in a gloss version on the lips.” For those intimidated by the intensity of the color, fear not: “The beauty of coral is that it’s easy to use and wear,” assures Joséphine Bouchereau, Ambassador and Makeup Artist France at Bourjois, “It’s very flattering and suits all skin tones. Its apricot, rosy, peach shades immediately brighten the complexion. It has a luminous quality that is even more enhanced in a satin or pearlescent texture.” Her favorite trick? “Apply a cream liquid blush to the apples of the cheeks, then blend up to the eyelid. It ensures a fresh look!”

Coral Makeup Guide

Our three professionals agree: coral pairs perfectly with all eye colors, but especially with light eyes. “However, since it has red undertones, it can quickly highlight tiredness or make the eyes appear redder,” warns Tom Sapin. “To avoid this, moisten the eyelids with a tinted fixative close to your skin color. Then apply a cream-based primer to smooth out any imperfections. Finally, add a beige kohl pencil inside the eye.” For the bold, Sophie Thibout suggests trying a total coral look, like singer Selena Gomez in her latest music video “I Can’t Get Enough”: “What’s trendy right now is the monochrome look: choose a strong focus like coral lipstick, then echo that on the cheeks and perhaps also on the eyes. You can use a multi-purpose product for these three areas: it’s very convenient for the warmer months!” To take it a step further, why not try Living Coral hair color? After that, there’s no doubt you’ll be seeing life in -almost- pink…