When you read that blue make-up was trending, were you filled with immediate fear? Did you get vivid flashbacks of playing around with your mum’s – or grandma’s – most-worn eyeshadow palettes that housed varying shades of cool tones? Or does it bring memories of your early teenage years, when frosted blue hues were constantly the colour du jour?

If the answer is yes, then stick with us here, because we’re not about to tell you that you should be recreating those very looks from your childhood. Instead, it’s a whole lot cooler – and thankfully, a whole lot more modern – than that. 

According to Pinterest, millennials and Gen Z will be searching for ‘blue glam make-up’ and ‘pastel blue eyeshadow’ in a bid to find fresh new ways to incorporate the colour into their looks. But why is it having a moment right now?

“I think it’s due to the nostalgia attached to it,” says Simone Otis, 19/99 Beauty’s make-up artist. “Icy and frosted blues were big in the late 90s and early 2000s; bold blues had a huge moment in the 80s, and in the 60s, pastel blue eyeshadow was probably the most used colour on eyes.”

Even if you’re still a little bit sceptical, there’s no denying that blue is a colour that suits most skin tones, and as Otis adds, it can be worn in many ways and still have an impact. “It looks good as a wash of colour or as a bold liner,” she says.

Here, we asked Otis to break down the best ways to make blue work for you, whether you want to carefully tread the waters or go all out…

How to wear subtle hints of blue make-up

“I love a bold blue eyeliner, that way you can adjust the amount of blue to your liking – go thin and close to the lash line for a subtle look or thicken the line for more emphasis. A wash of blue over the entire lid is a nice, soft way to try blue. Or try a blue mascara – that’s a fun way to experiment with colour that doesn’t shout ‘I’m wearing colour on my eyes today!’”

How to wear blue mascara

“Blue mascara can look great with any make-up look. Try it with a brown smoky eye and neutral lips. You can keep the focus on the blue lashes by pairing with a very thin black eyeliner, dewy skin and a neutral pink lipstick, or go all out and choose a blue eyeliner to wear with it. Ensuring you keep the colour neutral or natural on the other features of your face helps to make blue around the eyes look fresh and modern.”

The best blues to suit your eye colour or skin tone

“Blue eyeshadow is more versatile than you’d think. I would try a beautiful bold blue on everybody, no matter what your eye colour and see what effect it has. Most skin tones look great with blue eyeshadows as well; it’s really just a matter of preference in most cases. Experiment with different tones and see what you think looks good on you.”

How to wear navy eyeshadow

“I have done navy smoky eyes on many clients with excellent results; it’s a nice way to play with colour around the eyes without committing to a bold blue eye. Sometimes I’ll add a shimmery blue to the centre of the eyelids or inner corners of the eyes for a pop of colour and to add a lovely reflection.”

The best blue make-up to try

Images: courtesy of brands