The Best Makeup Colors To Wear With Gray Hair

When your hair goes silver, your makeup doesn't need to be second place. In fact, going gray is just an excuse to add a little more color to your life, and also invite you to rethink your palette. Not all colors will work the same way they did before, and some might be doing you more harm than good. The wrong tones might leave you looking washed out, but the right ones will leave you wanting to show off your gray hair. Soon enough, you'll be rocking it with confidence.

Los Angeles-based makeup artist Kim Paige believes the key is keeping things soft and fresh. "For the skin, the goal is to keep it fresh and healthy, avoiding heavy foundation and powder," she exclusively tells Women.com. Paige recommends swapping out full-coverage formulas for light concealer and a tinted moisturizer. One of her favorites is Black Radiance's $8 miracle in a bottle: True Complexion Tinted Moisturizer — a hydrating, SPF-suffused formula with a diverse shade range. Lightweight coverage, she says, will help to achieve "a bright, refreshed look, and avoid accentuating wrinkles and fine lines."

A silver crown deserves a colorful court. Now your hair is effortlessly cool, the rest of your makeup routine will thank you for infusing it with the right kind of warmth. Kim Paige recommends keeping things soft and neutral to create that feels harmonious.

When it comes to eyes, she steers clear of overly dark shades, warning that anything too deep can create an unintentional harshness. "Brown is the darkest I would recommend choosing," encouraging a shift towards softer, more flattering hues. She suggests reaching for an eyeshadow palette packed with a variety of versatile neutrals — beige, warm browns, and a few subtle shimmers — tones that, as she puts it, "are ideal for achieving a natural look" and " look amazing on mature skin."

For the cheeks and lips, Paige champions the soft rosy and pink spectrum, shades that infuse just the right amount of color without overwhelming the visage. She swears by mineral-based blushes that blend seamlessly into the skin for a subtle, natural, finish. She said: "Softer neutral colors are key, nothing dramatic and intense" — lest your colors clash with the steely tones of gray hair.

Ultimately, making makeup work with gray hair is all in the balance. In welcoming warm, neutral tones to your features, you can enhance your natural complexion whilst letting your gray hair shine and stun.