Double takes are commonplace with the striking look of fair skin adorned with the perfect color. There are simple rules for pulling it off, lest you outright fade away. Next time you go shopping for a light-colored dress, be prepared by wearing the right cosmetics.
Contrast is Queen
To rev up your beauty in champagne clothing, use a contrasting cosmetic color to add a regal dimension. It can be in the form of a dramatic lipstick balanced with dark brows and lashes, or a peachy-pink cheek and rose-bitten lips. For light hair and fair skin, you will need extra eye shadow -- like brown, charcoal, plum or navy -- to achieve the same contrast. Think Gatsby and you're on your way.
Warm Champagne
The formality of the dress makes a difference in your makeup and the balance of the intensity you wear, along with where you place it. With shimmery gowns, try stronger smokey eyes and pale lips. To keep from creating too harsh a contrast, warm up your skin tone with a sheer powder that is one level darker than your foundation, making sure to blend it properly down your neck. You can also try a spray tan for an extra glow. If a darker powder is not an option, opt for peachy-coral lips and cheeks, along with a matte bronzer you can sweep along your cheekbones and hairline. Dust your collar bone, shoulders and top of hands with bronzer too.
Blush Champagne
Champagne encompasses many hues, from a light honey-amber to a warm gold tone to a cool silvery beige. For all but the silvery shade, warm colors -- except rust -- flatter the most; the cool tone should get a beige or berry lip, with a neutral cheek. Pull off pink-hued makeup by choosing the right shade of gloss -- think dusty or rosy pink -- then graze your cheeks with a light coat of pink after a nude-tone blush. Blondes may want a double dose of mascara or lash extensions plus dark inner-eye rim liner for extra evening contrast.
Fairest Beauty
When evening champagne dresses have accents of pearls, sparkles, beads or sequins, apply a light frosted shadow on your under-eye liner or inner eyelids. The darkest trim color can be used as your shadow color. The darker your eyes, the lighter the lips should be. For stylized dresses, you can play up fair skin with sheer glowy shadow and bold ruby lips for some old Hollywood glamour.
Writer Bio
Paule McKenna is a celebrity makeup artist for print TV and film who began her career as owner of Los Angeles' first makeup studio. She has a makeup line and enjoys writing, marketing and real estate at the beach.