How To Wear Pop Star-Approved Chrome Makeup

A part of the #Nowstalgia trend, chrome makeup finally jumped off the Y2K bandwagon and defined this year’s mainstream pop culture like never before. But for make-up maven Mitesh Rajani — check out his work for Sabyasachi Mukherjee and Clinique — the colour’s recent popularity lies in throwback value. “It seems like we are bringing back another era, but in a more informed way. It’s all about frosty eyeshadows and bling.” Shows served inspiration in every intensity — inner eye corner highlights at Christian Dior and Alter, silver nails at Markarian, solid metallic chunks at Gucci, and a dust of chrome shimmer all over at Diesel.  

“Try a silver liner or a subtle chrome highlight on your cheekbones,” recommends celebrity make-up artist Mitali Vakil, the woman behind Alaya F’s stellar looks. “For more glamour, I love using a nude eyeshadow, blending in a bit of satin silver pigment in the centre of the eye (as seen at Tommy Hilfiger) and then adding tiny crystals.” For a chrome-forward face, Mitesh suggests going all out with a swipe of silver eyeshadow on the eyes, without worrying about perfection, and following up with lots of mascara. 

Consider your skin’s undertone when choosing a colour. Mitali suggests using warm silver for yellow and neutral undertones and cool silver for olive and pink undertones. Also, when wearing a colour you haven’t used before, pick a texture or formula you’re most comfortable with. Here’s our edit: