Hi, beauties!
Welcome back to the second part of the Contrast Makeup Series! Today, we’re focusing on Medium Contrast Makeup—a makeup that suits most people, including me! 😊
But here’s the twist: Medium Contrast Makeup isn’t one-size-fits-all. You can customize it for a daytime look or a nighttime glam, and with a few tweaks (which I’m about to share), you can turn almost any popular makeup style into a Medium Contrast masterpiece.
So, let’s dive in and explore the magic of Medium Contrast Makeup!
What is a Medium Contrast Face? Medium Contrast Makeup Products
In the world of makeup, medium contrast refers to a balanced difference between your hair, eyes, and skin tones. It’s not too bold or dramatic but not overly subtle either—it strikes the perfect harmony.
People with medium contrast are often found in regions like North India, the Arabian Gulf, parts of the USA, and areas in the southern Mediterranean, such as southern Italy and France.
Popular Medium Contrast Makeup Styles
- Arabic Makeup: Intense eyes and soft lips.
- North Indian Makeup: Smoked rose makeup.
This makeup style is the most universally flattering. It’s ideal for those who want something more polished than natural, low-contrast makeup but without the dramatic edge of high-contrast looks. Medium contrast makeup brings the best of both worlds—effortlessly balanced and undeniably gorgeous!
Medium Contrast Lipstick: What Lip Color is best for Medium Skin tone
When it comes to low contrast makeup, your lipstick can either make or break the look. The key is to choose shades that complement the overall softness of this style. Here are some great options to consider:
- Medium Coral Lipstick
- Rose Pink
- Nude Lipstick (especially if your eye makeup is dark—perfect for evening looks!)
- Soft Browns
- Soft Red Lip Gloss
These shades add just the right amount of color to enhance your makeup without overpowering the delicate balance of a low contrast look.
Step-by-Step Medium Contrast makeup Tutorial by Aicha
The foundation of any makeup look is—quite literally—the base, and for a Medium Contrast Makeup Tutorial, it’s all about keeping things soft, natural, and perfectly balanced.
I began with a primer, and because I have oily skin, I chose the Heimish Matcha Biome Face Cream. This cream doubles as a primer, creating a smooth, oil-free canvas while keeping my makeup fresh and shine-free throughout the day. It’s a must-have for anyone looking to achieve a flawless, long-lasting look!
Medium Contrast Makeup Products
For foundation, I opted for the Sapphire Cosmetics Foundation, a lightweight semi matte foundation. I used one coat of it to give my skin the coverage perfect for Medium Contrast Makeup as it look flawless without feeling heavy for achieving a natural, medium-contrast look.
For concealing, I used one of my favorite hacks: Inglot HD Foundation in Shade 84, which is one shade darker than my usual foundation. This trick is a total game-changer! It works as both a color corrector and a concealer, effortlessly neutralizing dark circles and covering acne marks for a flawless finish.
Pro Tip: When using foundation as a concealer, choose a shade just one shade darker than your usual foundation. Anything darker may create an unflattering contrast.
To brighten specific areas, apply a touch of highlighter on the high points of your face. Once everything is seamlessly blended, I set the concealed areas with my favorite Laura Mercier Setting Powder, which locks the makeup in place while keeping the finish soft and natural.
The Key Difference in Light vs. Dark Looks
The true magic of Medium contrast makeup lies in the subtle tweaks. Now, let’s dive into the key makeup steps where the differences between Medium contrast makeup for evening and daytime look really shine! 🌸
Medium Contrast makeup on medium Skin – Day Makeup
For the day time makeup look or Medium Contrast makeup on medium skin, I went for a soft pink vibe. I selected a light baby pink shimmery eyeshadow from Paul and Joe all over my lid. Then to accentuate it, I used the eyeshadow from MAC Dark Room and used it as an eyeliner which looks extremely gorgeous and I applied just a very light amount for a soft, subtle effect.
I finished the eye look with mascara from Maybelline, and that was it—so simple yet effective.
For a daytime Medium Contrast Makeup look on medium skin, I embraced a soft pink vibe that’s fresh and effortless.
I started by applying a light baby pink shimmery eyeshadow from Paul and Joe all over my lids for a subtle, radiant base. To define the eyes without going too bold, I used MAC’s Dark Room Eyeshadow as an eyeliner. Its rich tone added just the right amount of depth while maintaining a soft, subtle effect—absolutely gorgeous!
To finish the look, I added a few coats of Maybelline mascara for fluttery, natural lashes. And that’s it—simple, elegant, and perfect for the day!
Cheeks: Soft and Glowing
For the blush, I used the same MAC Dark Room eyeshadow as a blush.
Then for the highlighter, I used one of my all-time favorites: MAC hyper real glow palette and used their softest glow. It gave me a natural glow that tied the look together beautifully.
Best Color Lipstick for Medium Skin
For the lips, I added a twist.
I started with smoked rose lip liner from Luscious Cosmetics – Toasted Rose for a matte lipstick effect, a darker pink lipstick. You can try the wet n wild lip liner too
For a glossy effect, I have chose a Manna Kadar – Smoked pink which looks absolutely ethereal and gives a more youthful vibe.
And that’s my version of a Medium Contrast makeup Look for medium skin and medium hair. It looked stunning on my skin tone too, proving just how versatile and beautiful this look can be! 💕
Medium Contrast makeup Look on brown skin – Evening Makeup
For the Medium Contrast makeup Look on brown skin or for the Evening Makeup look as this is common for people with deeper skin tones.
Eyes: Soft and Gorgeous
For the eyes for the evening makeup look, I used purple eyeshade which is a shimmering bold eyeshade from Luscious cosmetics.
And then used the silver eyeshadow from Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips which is a glitter eyeshadow on the high side of the eye. I used the silver eyeshadow on the brow bone and on the inner side of the eye and dragged it towards the middle part of the eye as well for a softer, more subtle look.
Then a coat of Maybelline Mascara completed the minimal and chic eye makeup.
Cheeks – Natural Warmth
For blush and bronzer, I used the Max Factor Facefinity Blush 55 Stunning Sienna.
Physicians Formula Matte Bronzer in Natural. It matched my skin tone perfectly, adding a subtle lift and warmth without overpowering the look.
Lips: Nude
For the night time look, I will use a dark lip color as a lip liner for Mac Antique Velvet and then used the Mac Sun blessed lipstick which goes really well with the purplish eye makeup look
This look was simple yet incredibly flattering, proving that low contrast makeup can work beautifully for deeper skin tones with dark hair.
Alternate Products for Versatility
If the core products aren’t available, here are great alternatives:
⭐Milani Conceal Foundation – https://amzn.to/4eh2ROO
- ⭐Paul & Joe | Wet n Wild – https://amzn.to/3V596he
- ⭐MAC Sunblessed | velvet teddy – https://amzn.to/4fFm5i4
- ⭐Purple – E.l.f. Eyeshadow – https://amzn.to/3Ome5GE
Why Medium Contrast makeup is a Must-Try
Medium Contrast makeup is the one kind that suits majority of the population as a lot of people have little difference between the hair, eyes and the skin tone.
One of the great thing about medium contrast makeup is that it also looks good on majority of people. You just need to use the right kind of products. I used to think that it makes me look ugly too until I tried the looks I have shown you.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Medium contrast makeup is actually the day time makeup that we normally adorn with eyeshade, a bit darker than our skin tone and so does the lip color whether you have light or deep skin tones, and which works for everyone with just the right products and techniques.
Now that we’ve covered the basics, are you ready to experiment? Share your low contrast makeup looks with me, and let’s keep this beauty journey going!
Stay tuned for the next part of the Contrast Makeup Series, where we’ll explore medium contrast makeup.
Until then, keep it soft and stunning! 🌸
XoXo
Aicha