Makeup does more than just enhance our facial features – it allows us to express our creativity, mood, and confidence through color, texture and technique. But with so many makeup styles and trends out there, how do you find your signature style?
That‘s where understanding makeup archetypes comes in handy. Makeup archetypes categorize common makeup styles into inspiration "palettes" based on aesthetics, techniques and goals. They serve as springboards for you to experiment with and adapt into your own personal makeup vibe.
In this guide, we‘ll uncover:
- How to analyze your facial features and determine your face shape
- An introduction to the 8 makeup archetype frameworks
- Tips on experimentally with archetype techniques to find your signature makeup style
- Key makeup application techniques to accentuate your best features
- How to embrace your evolving personal makeup style over time
So grab your favorite beauty products and let‘s begin!
Analyzing Your Facial Features and Face Shape
The first step to finding your signature makeup look is getting to know your facial landscape. Evaluate your:
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Face shape – Is your face oval, round, square, heart-shaped or long? Face shape impacts which makeup techniques will be most flattering.
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Eyes – What is the shape and size of your eyes? Hooded eyes, deep-set eyes, round eyes and other eye shapes can each be accentuated differently with makeup.
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Nose – What is the size and shape of your nose? You can subtly contour or highlight your nose to balance facial proportions.
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Lips – Do you have full or thin lips? Darker lip liner and lipstick colors can make lips appear fuller.
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Facial features – What are your most striking facial features you wish to enhance? Warm bronzy tones may boost your cheekbones, while smoky shadows make eyes mesmerizing.
Experiment applying makeup while studying how colors, shades and styles interact with your facial topography. An oval face shape may suit a bold red lip, while closely placed eyes are better framed with lighter shadow. Get creative and note which applications you think boost your natural beauty.
The Makeup Archetypes Framework
Once familiar with your facial qualities, reference the makeup archetypes framework outlined in this YouTube video. Makeup artist Peachie categorizes common makeup styles into 8 archetypes:
1. Natural
The natural archetype has an effortless, approachable vibe. It embraces natural beauty with a touch of enhancement through subtle contouring and earthy, skintone-matching shades. Sub-styles include the gentle, feminine "Ladylike" look or the relaxed, fuzzy "Morikei" style originating from Japan.
2. Ingenue
The youthful ingenue archetype focuses on innocent, girlish charm featuring rosy cheeks, lush lashes and softly defined eyes. Pastel pinks, peaches and mint accent the lips and eyes.
3. Gamine
Gamine makeup leans playful and boyish with groomed yet mussed-up hair. Makeup enhances eyes and lips over base makeup for a wide-eyed, mischievous effect.
4. Elegant
As the name suggests, the elegant archetype oozes high-society polish but with soft femininity. Grace Kelly is the style‘s muse. Think winged liner, groomed brows and pinky-nude lips on a radiant complexion. Sub-styles range from French girl chic to the Korean "puppy eye" look.
5. Modern
The bold, vibrant modern archetype makes a powerful style statement with graphic liner, saturated lip colors, heavy blush and contour. It spotlights trends while emphasizing unique features.
6. Romantic
The romantic archetype enhances feminine beauty though softness – think doe eyes, flushed apple cheeks and pillowy pouts. Sensuality is the vibe over sexiness. Colors lean rosy, plum and coral.
7. Classic
Classic makeup focuses on polished balance, symmetry and following one‘s natural lines. Bold colors take a backseat to moderation. Red lips, cat eyes and chignon buns hark back to Old Hollywood.
8. Dramatic
Like classic makeup, the dramatic archetype accentuates striking features but with bolder color contrasts, sharp graphic shapes and matte finishes. Focus lies more on eyes, contour/highlight and statement lips over complexion.
While one archetype may immediately resonate with you, don‘t forget to experiment across styles. You may discover an unexpected approach brings out your best self.
Experimenting with Makeup Styles
When first testing makeup styles, relax and have fun while figuring out what makes you feel best:
Play with archetype techniques. Use the archetypes that initially appealed to you as springboards. For the French girl elegant look, test groomed brows, subtle wing liner paired with bold lashes, and touch of coral-nude lipstick.
Adapt styles to your taste. If a full Instagram baddie-style beat doesn‘t vibe with you, tone downmodern makeup techniques. Skip the heavy fake tan and try lighter, peachy blush with the graphic liner.
Merge multiple archetypes. You don‘t have to conform strictly to one archetype. For example, mix retro pinup winged liner with a peach lip tint for a playful, flirty vibe blending classic and ingenue styles.
Accentuate your best features. Use makeup to spotlight your personal strengths. Warm bronzers and highlighters boost striking cheekbones while vibrant berry lipsticks balance thinner lips.
Photograph test looks. Snap photos in different lighting for makeup style experiments. See what styles translate best on camera based on your skin undertones.
You may find one or two archetypes regularly produce your favorite makeup looks. This is likely your signature makeup style framework. Next let‘s cover how to use makeup techniques to keep accentuating your best features.
Key Makeup Application Techniques
Once discovering one or more archetype makeup styles that bring out your beauty, practice the key techniques to keep enhancing your facial topography:
Contour and bronze. Sculpt and shade the face with cooler, ashy bronzers and contours to fake shadow and mimic a slimming effect. Warm, golden bronzers awake dull skin. Suck in cheeks while applying to find natural contour hollows.
Highlight and luminize. Boost glow on higher facial points. Cream or liquid highlighters applied pre-powder foundation melt into dewy, lit-from-within radiance. Powders deliver maximum sheen. Sweep along cheek and brow bones, down the nose bridge and above lip cupids bows.
Color correct. Redness, dark circles or uneven skintones are no match for color-cancelling primers and correctors. Green tackles redness, peach camouflages dark spots and purple brightens yellow undertones. Sheer color correcting powders work wonders without heaviness.
Lips and liner. Line and fill in lips with slightly darker liner than lipstick to plump up shape and prevent feathering. Try classic bold reds, punchy pinks, rich wines, corals or deeper berry shades to flatter your skin‘s undertones.
Defining eyes. Curl eyelashes and sweep neutral transition shades through the creases to define eyes. Apply highlight brow bone shades, darker liners along upper inner rims and experiment with cat eyes, cut creases, halo eyes, underliner and floating liner.
Set it. Spritz makeup with setting spray for prolonged wear without caking, sliding or fading. Look for waterproof and sweat/humidity resistant formulas.
Don‘t forget to remove makeup fully with makeup wipes and face wash before bed for healthier looking skin!
Embracing Your Makeup Style Journey
While discovering my signature bright, graphic liner modern makeup look boosted my confidence, I also aim to relax and have fun when applying makeup. Somedays rocking bold matte lips fuels me, while other times lightly filled brows and groomed skin is my speed.
Much like other forms of self-expression, makeup can reflect our changing selves. As Peachie reminds:
"There‘s something special about curating your signature makeup style, but you shouldn‘t feel obligated to obey any rules…It should represent your visual aesthetic.”
So enjoy playing with makeup styles even if you’ve found your staples. And when in doubt, take inspo from the archetypes and techniques outlined here. Brighter days (and better makeup days) lie ahead when we embrace our natural beauty.
How will you express your signature makeup style today?