Makeup Colour Theory Course

Lesson 1 • The Physics of Light and Colour

Explains how light wavelengths produce visible colour and how the eye perceives them. It establishes the physical basis needed to understand pigment behaviour.

Lesson 2 • Hue, Value, and Chroma

Introduces the three dimensions of colour using the Munsell system as a reference model. It provides precise language for describing and adjusting any colour.

Lesson 3 • Colour Harmony Principles

Covers complementary, analogous, triadic, and split-complementary schemes. It trains students to build cohesive, intentional colour palettes for any look.

Lesson 4 • Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Colours

Defines colour families and their mixing relationships in both light and pigment systems. It builds the mixing logic applied throughout the course.

Lesson 1 • Identifying Undertones

Teaches visual and comparative methods for detecting warm, cool, and neutral undertones. Accurate undertone reading is the single most critical skill for foundation matching.

Lesson 2 • Understanding Skin Pigmentation

Explains melanin types, distribution, and their effect on surface colour. It grounds skin-tone analysis in biological reality rather than subjective impression.

Lesson 3 • Skin Tone Classification Systems

Surveys professional classification frameworks used in cosmetic formulation and artistry. Students build a personal reference system for rapid, repeatable client assessment.

Lesson 4 • Depth Scales and Fitzpatrick Types

Introduces standardised depth scales and phototype classifications used in professional practice. It enables consistent communication across teams and product lines.

Lesson 1 • Identifying Common Skin Discolourations

Trains the eye to categorise under-eye circles, redness, hyperpigmentation, and sallowness by hue. Accurate diagnosis precedes accurate correction.

Lesson 2 • Corrector Formulas and Textures

Compares cream, liquid, and powder correctors and their coverage and blendability profiles. Texture choice affects both correction efficacy and final finish.

Lesson 3 • The Corrector Colour Wheel

Maps corrector hues to the discolourations they neutralise using complementary relationships. It provides the decision framework for all corrective product choices.

Lesson 4 • Correcting Across Skin Depths

Adapts corrector hue and intensity to light, medium, and deep skin tones. It ensures correction remains invisible rather than adding a new colour problem.

Lesson 1 • Custom Shade Mixing

Develops skills for blending two or more foundations to create a precise match. Custom mixing solves range gaps and serves clients with unique undertones.

Lesson 2 • Adapting Matches for Lighting Environments

Adjusts foundation selection based on the lighting conditions of the final setting. It prevents mismatches that appear only on camera or under stage lighting.

Lesson 3 • Matching Methodology

Teaches a repeatable jaw-line testing protocol under multiple light sources. Systematic matching eliminates guesswork and reduces product waste.

Lesson 4 • Foundation Formulas and Finish

Compares matte, satin, and luminous finishes and their interaction with skin type and colour. Finish choice affects how colour reads under different lighting conditions.

Lesson 1 • Eye Colour Anatomy and Pigmentation

Explains iris pigmentation, limbal rings, and how they interact with eyeshadow colour. Understanding eye anatomy informs which hues create the most impact.

Lesson 2 • Designing Cohesive Eye Palettes

Guides students in curating multi-shade palettes using harmony principles for specific looks. Palette design skills transfer directly to editorial and bridal planning.

Lesson 3 • Eyeshadow Finish and Colour Perception

Examines how matte, shimmer, and glitter finishes alter colour saturation and perceived hue. Finish selection is a colorimetric decision, not just a textural one.

Lesson 4 • Complementary Colours for Eye Enhancement

Applies complementary colour theory to select eyeshadow hues that make iris colour pop. It teaches the principle that opposite hues on the wheel maximise vibrancy.

Lesson 1 • Lip Product Formulas and Colour Behaviour

Compares how matte, cream, lip gloss, and stain formulas affect perceived hue and saturation. Formula choice changes the colorimetric outcome even with identical pigment.

Lesson 2 • Lip Pigmentation and Natural Tone

Analyses the natural hue of lips across skin depths and its effect on product colour payoff. Natural lip tone is the base that every lip product modifies.

Lesson 3 • Undertone-Aligned Lip Colour Selection

Matches lip colour temperature to client undertone for a harmonious, flattering result. Misaligned lip temperature is the most common cause of a washed-out look.

Lesson 4 • Lip Colour in Full-Face Balance

Positions lip colour within the complete look using dominance and balance principles. It ensures the lip neither overwhelms nor disappears within the total colour composition.

Lesson 1 • Integrating Sculpting Products Colorimetrically

Coordinates blush, bronzer, contour, and highlight into a unified, harmonious colour story. Integration prevents competing colour zones and ensures a polished result.

Lesson 2 • Highlight Colour and Skin Interaction

Matches highlighter undertone to skin undertone for a luminous, skin-like glow. Mismatched highlighter reads as a foreign colour rather than inner radiance.

Lesson 3 • Contour Colour Science

Explains why contour must be a cool, desaturated brown rather than a warm or gray shade. Correct contour hue creates shadow illusion; incorrect hue creates dirt illusion.

Lesson 4 • Bronzer Undertone and Depth Matching

Selects bronzer hues that warm the skin without creating an orange or muddy cast. Bronzer must read as sun-kissed, not as a separate colour layer.

Lesson 1 • Editorial and Fantasy Colour Application

Extends colourimetry into non-naturalistic looks using bold hues, graphic shapes, and colour blocking. It teaches how harmony principles apply even in avant-garde contexts.

Lesson 2 • Building a Signature Colour Language

Guides students in developing a personal colorimetric aesthetic that is consistent and recognisable. A signature colour language differentiates professional artists in a competitive market.

Lesson 3 • Colourimetry for Photography and Film

Adapts colour choices for camera sensors, lighting rigs, and post-production colour grading. On-camera colourimetry differs significantly from in-person perception.

Lesson 4 • Colour Dominance and Visual Hierarchy

Applies design principles to direct viewer attention through strategic colour intensity. Hierarchy ensures the look reads as intentional rather than chaotic.