Mastering Medium Contrast Makeup: A Step-by-Step Guide
Welcome back to the Subtl blog! If you’ve been scrolling through social media lately, you might’ve seen a buzzworthy trend making waves in the makeup world: low, medium, and high contrast makeup. It’s a game changer for so many people—but let’s be honest, it can be a little tricky to wrap your head around at first. That’s why we’re diving into the medium contrast makeup look today, inspired by a French makeup artist who created a TikTok filter to help you determine your personal contrast level.
We’ll break it all down for you—what contrast levels mean, how to identify yours, and how to create a stunning medium contrast look using Subtl products. Plus, we’re testing out some of our newest shades along the way. Let’s get started!
What Is Contrast in Makeup?
Contrast levels refer to the difference between your skin tone, hair color, and natural features. Understanding your contrast level helps you choose makeup shades and techniques that flatter your unique coloring.
- Low Contrast: Features blend softly, and a no-makeup makeup look works beautifully.
- Medium Contrast: There’s a balanced level of contrast that benefits from defined features with subtle pops of color.
- High Contrast: Features have a striking difference, often enhanced with bold, defined makeup.
If you’re not sure where you fall, there’s a TikTok filter that can help. You can toggle between contrast levels to see which matches you best. For me, it was tricky deciding between low and medium, but I ultimately landed on medium.
The Medium Contrast Makeup Look
Medium contrast makeup is all about balance. You don’t need overly bold features, but a touch of definition and color will bring your look to life. Here’s how to create this look step by step:
1. Prep Your Lips
Start with a hydrating lip balm—I'm obsessed with Subtl’s Chocolate Cherry Lip Balm from our holiday collection. It smells as dreamy as it sounds, adding a hint of color that livens up your lips right away.
2. Foundation & Concealer
For a flawless base, I like to use the Cream Concealer all over as a replacement for foundation. I love mixing 003N and 004N from Subtl to create my perfect shade.
For cream bronzer, I use Cream Concealer in shade 015C. Apply it to the hollows of your cheeks, the sides of your nose, and anywhere you’d like a soft contour. Blend with a stippling brush for a seamless finish.
3. Cheeks: The Star of the Show
This is where the magic of Subtl’s latest collection comes in. I used Bordeaux on the Go Lip & Cheek, a stunning warm red shade that’s sheer, buildable, and perfect for medium contrast looks. Apply it to your cheeks and nose for a soft, wintery flush. It looks bold at first but blends out beautifully for a natural, tinted finish.
Pro Tip: If you love layering, add a touch of Guava Getaway on your cheeks for extra depth and dimension.
4. Brows
Medium contrast brows need definition without looking too bold. Subtl’s Brow BFF is a game changer—it combines a pencil, spoolie, and gel all in one. Use light strokes with the pencil to mimic natural hairs, then set everything in place with the gel. I switch between Medium Brown for more defined looks and Taupe for softer days.
5. Eyes: Soft but Defined
The shimmery burgundy in the Eyeshadow Duo Flight works perfectly for medium contrast eyes. Start by applying it close to your lash line, blending upward for a subtle gradient. Add the matte shade on the inner corners for balance, then softly blend everything together. Finish with a touch of mascara to open up your eyes and make them pop.
6. Lips: The Finishing Touch
For the lips, I used Guava Getaway Lip & Cheek as lip liner with Chocolate Cherry Lip Balm to create a beautiful, hydrating finish. The combination of these two shades adds just the right amount of contrast for a medium look. You can also dab a bit onto your cheeks for a cohesive finish.
Finding Your Contrast Level
Still unsure whether you’re low, medium, or high contrast? The key is to focus on how your features relate to each other. If you have balanced differences in your skin, hair, and eye color, medium contrast is likely your best match.
Medium contrast makeup is all about enhancing your natural features with a little extra definition and color. It’s subtle yet striking—the perfect balance! I loved recreating this look with Subtl products. If you try this look or figure out your contrast level, let us know in the comments. Are you low, medium, or high contrast?
Thanks for reading, and don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more tutorials. See you next time!
