All Things Pink: Cheeks, Eyes & Lips

Pink isn't a colour I wear very often. I'll always gravitate towards peachy, warmer tones when purchasing colour cosmetics, as I feel they suit my darker hair and brown eyes better. Lately though, seeing as it's Spring, I've been widening my makeup horizons and wearing all shades rose, raspberry and blush. And you'll never guess what - I've been getting lots of compliments on my pink-er look. 

Swatches L-R: Benefit High Beam, Illamasqua Lies, Tom Ford Love Lust, Hourglass Luminous Flush, Nars Deep Throat, Bourjois Rose Tender & Becca Dragonfruit

Cheeks

To amp up the glow for Spring, I've been mixing the classic, highlighting liquid, Benefit High Beam, with my foundation to create a soft-focus radiance to my complexion. Then, I've been following up with Illamasqua Lies, a super intense, frosted-pink cream highlight. Patted on to the high points of the face, it creates a striking, wet-look gleam, yet looks more natural than a powder version.

For blush, I've been easing myself into wearing pinker tones with Tom Ford's Cheek Color in 01 Love Lust. Strictly, this is more of a peachy/coral shade, but there is a hint of pink in there, I promise. As expected from such a luxury brand, this blush is seriously pigmented and buttery soft, allowing you to gradually build the intensity to your desired level. Another perfect pink for the cheeks, comes in the form of the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Luminous Flush. Combining swirls of hot pink and champagne, the marbled powder creates such a flattering, lit-from-within glow. Nars Deep Throat is another pink blush shot through with finely-milled golden shimmer, that lifts the complexion as soon as you sweep it on. 

For anyone that prefers a cream-to-powder finish, then I couldn't recommend the Bourjois Cream Blush in 03 Rose Tender enough. More of a cool-toned, candy pink, this is slightly more out of my comfort-zone, but I adore the texture. So smooth and silky, these blushes glide on to the skin and last that little bit longer, as they dry to a powder. For a second-skin finish and natural-looking flush, Becca's Beach Tint in Dragonfruit is gorgeous. A bright, poppy pink shade, it's a colour that looks so fresh. The non-greasy, water-resistant creme dries down to a sheer stain, but the colour layers well and lasts all day, ensuring you apply enough to start with. I'm often wary of using stains as they can look patchy, but Becca's tints blend so easily (with or without a brush) for a streak-free finish.

Swatches L-R: MAC All That Glitters, Expensive Pink, Naked Lunch, Gleam & Laura Mercier Rose Gold

Swatches L-R: Chanel Mystic Eyes Quad & Loreal Nude Lingerie Quad

Eyes

Pink can be a difficult colour to wear on the eyes. To avoid them looking sore and irritated, you need to pick the right tones and add lashings of liner and mascara. Of course, the Queen of eyeshadow is MAC and there's a plethora of pink tones to choose from in their collection. My favourites have to be All That Glitters (a pink-beige with metallic, golden pearl), Expensive Pink (a bright, golden pink with duo-chrome shimmer), Naked Lunch (a soft, cool baby-pink with subtle shimmer) and Gleam (a light pink with chunkier, golden glitter). Whenever I'm feeling adventurous, I adore Laura Mercier's Metallic Creme Eye Colour in Rose Gold. A true rose-gold shade, this colour can be quite intimidating to wear at first and it's guaranteed to make a statement, but it's truly stunning. The cream formula is so pigmented, that a tiny dot of product is more than enough for one application. But, the colour can be sheered out to give a wash of pink, or layered for an opaque finish. Once set, these creams will not budge, trust me!

If you can't handle jumping in at the deep end, you can always pair pink shadows with neutrals and there's plenty of palettes that incorporate rosy tones. A gorgeous, high-end option, is the Chanel Les Ombre Eyeshadow Quad in 14 Mystic Eyes. Comprising of a shimmering, milky pink and three, neutral tones to use together, this compact offers a wearable look that will ease you into wearing pink. The shadows are baked, so they feel weightless and blend easily. An affordable alternative to create a soft, ethereal effect, is the Loreal Color Riche Les Ombres Quad in Nude Lingerie. The star of the show is the warm, rose shade, but you also get an oyster, mink and purple-brown to use alongside it. These shadows are well pigmented, but the shimmer is quite chunky and they do kick up a lot of dust when used, so take a little more work to look perfect.

Swatches L-R: MAC Subculture, Clinique Pink-A-Boo, MAC Ultra Darling, Soap & Glory Charm Offensive, YSL Opera Rose & Estee Lauder Wildly Pink

Lips

By far, the easiest way to incorporate pink into your makeup look is to wear it on your lips. MAC's Subculture Lipliner is my go-to when I want an understated hint of pink. I'll either use it alone, all over for a defined, matte look, or as a base for another product, to prolong longevity and create a fuller pout. Stepping up the gloss and keeping the colour subtle, we have the Clinique Colour Surge Butter Shine Lipstick in Pink-A-Boo. Just as the name suggests, this lipstick melts on to the lips and feels so comforting. A baby pink with gold shimmer, the shade is brightening and makes your pout look so smooth, perfected and plump. Another glossy option is MAC's Sheen Supreme in Ultra Darling, a juicy, yellow-toned pink with an intense, high-shine finish. Again, this has a moisturising, balmy feel, but the formula is richer and more pigmented than Clinique's lipstick, making it last a little longer. 

If you want a full-on, liquid lipstick texture, I love the Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Lip Shine Lacquer in Charm Offensive. In one quick sweep of the wand, you're left with an opaque coat of colour that feels hydrating, yet lasts for hours. Although the formula is glossy at first, it dries down to more of a satin finish after a while. One of the boldest pinks in my lipstick collection, has to be YSL's Rouge Volupte Lipstick in Opera Rose. These ridiculously luxurious, iconic lipsticks have the most beautiful texture and decadent packaging. Merging radiant colour with a creamy, luscious feel, they're a joy to wear and the colour lasts so well. Plus, they smell and taste amazing! For a deeper, fuchsia hit, I always turn to Estee Lauder's Pure Color Lipstick in Wildly Pink. Having a thicker, richer consistency and a satin finish that stains the lips slightly, this lipstick barely needs to be re-applied throughout the day. Lauder lipsticks also have a mouth-watering, fruity scent to them, which I'm literally obsessed with!

Are you a fan of wearing pink tones during Spring?

AGB X