For those new to the playful makeup trend, and wanting to try it on for size, Edeme suggests experimenting with bold color first. “Pink looks pretty on every skin tone so play it safe,” she says. “Start with some matte pinks then gradually incorporate some sparkle that will always amp up a look.” Sinot suggests taking it even a step further with juxtaposing complimentary colors. “You’d be surprised how good unexpected combinations can look. When I did a bright green and gold eye on Zara for one of the shows, a hot pink lip would have been the last choice you’d think of, but it ended up looking so beautiful together,” she says. Meanwhile, Davy recommends pulling inspiration from your outfit. “Try matching your eyeshadow to your outfit—let go of whether you think the color will look good on you, and approach it with more feels,” she says. “Let your makeup say something about your mood and put the sparkly eyeshadow on purely because you are drawn to the color.” Davy is also particularly a fan of dipping one’s toe into playful by trying blue eyeshadow, calling it a right of passage into colorful makeup. “We’ve seen [blue eyeshadow] show up in pop culture decade after decade,” she says. “It’s universally flattering because it sits opposite of flesh tones on the color wheel, making it complimentary to all skin tones.”
If that still feels like a leap, a statement color blush offers a more approachable entry point. Take any of Ngozi’s looks done on the likes of Cassie, Tyla, and Olandria. While there’s instances of playfully-colored eyeshadows, and shimmers, others remain absent—but one thing remains central: a blurred, soft matte blush in a bold color. “I love being playful with color on Black skin, with my blush application—it’s my favorite way to whimsy up a look,” says Edeme, referring to blush as her holy grail product. “I love covering a face in it in every shade possible. It doesn’t matter if you feel like it’s too bright there’s always a way to make it work.”
She suggests having a range of shades: one close to your skin tone, one that adds a major pop, and a slightly lighter hue to your bold shade—by layering those three, she creates an ombré ethereal finish. When asked the old “if you were on a deserted island” adage, Sinot has her holy grail flush color: “If I had to choose, it would be a warm, flushed coral pink blush that resembles that signature sunburnt look,” says Sinot, though she encourages experimenting with every color possible, even using eyeshadows to make the color more saturated.
Meanwhile, a bold lip is another gateway. Sinot often plays with dimension here, sketching an ombré effect using multiple liners before topping it with a high-shine, almost iridescent gloss. For something moodier, she’ll flip the formula—starting with a matte base, then pressing shimmer pigments or fine glitter into the center for a subtle flash of light. Ultimately, the charm of this playful approach lies in its refusal to take itself too seriously. It’s makeup as experimentation with no real no rules required. Similarly, Davy says you can’t go wrong with a budge-proof liner and sparkly gloss on top.
