We know it sounds superstitious, but reading our zodiac forecasts is a must at the start of every Lunar New Year. In fact, it feels even more crucial now since 2020 was a major letdown, and we’ll all looking forward to a brighter, better 2021.
To bump up your luck for the upcoming Chinese New Year, we suggest sporting a couple of auspicious colours based on your zodiac sign. If you’re new to this, wearing your lucky colours can supposedly ward off bad luck and energy for the year ahead. And when it comes to good luck, there’s no harm in having more, is there?
Keep reading to find out the lucky colours for each Chinese zodiac sign, and have a look at the makeup you should wear this year to look and feel good in 2021.
- Zodiac colours for Ox: Blue and black
- Zodiac colours for Dog: Green and copper
- Zodiac colours for Rat: Gold
- Zodiac colours for Goat: Red and orange
- Zodiac colours for Monkey: Blue, pink, red
- Zodiac colours for Rooster: White and yellow
- Zodiac colours for Snake: Purple and pink
- Zodiac colours for Rabbit: Brown and gold
- Zodiac colours for Pig: Blue and green
- Zodiac colours for Tiger: Orange and pink
- Zodiac colours for Dragon: Gold and silver
- Zodiac colours for Horse: Green and brown
Zodiac colours for Ox: Blue and black
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Of all the eyeshadow colours you’ve sworn off in your favourite palette, blue is one of the most surprisingly universal and complimentary. With an eclectic array of colours from ranging from teal to navy, to baby blue and cerulean, it’s possible we’re not giving credit to this hue where credit is due.
Go for a smokey eye look to amp up the drama or give your look a pop of colour with some bright gel eyeliner. All you have to do is top off a blue eye look with a bold winged liner or lashings of mascara for a dose of black.
Play with stunning shades of blue using the four-pan Dior Diorshow 5 Couleurs Eye Palette in Denim (left). Creating a blue smokey eye has never been easier. You can also try the Stila Suede Shade Liquid Eyeshadow in Something Blue (centre), as seen on celebrity makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes.
If you prefer working with an eyeliner, give the Sephora Collection 12HR Contour Eye Pencil in Peacock Blue (right) a try. Its shimmery turquoise hue is waterproof and lasts for 12 hours, so go ahead and create all kinds of graphic eye looks.
Zodiac colours for Dog: Green and copper
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Green might not be the first colour you gravitate to when creating everyday eyeshadow looks, but you definitely should this year. We can’t get enough of Selena Gomez’s metallic green eyeshadow look created by makeup artist Hung Vanngo. The wash of pistachio just makes us want to wear coloured eyeshadow every day, hoping we glisten in the sunlight just like her.
Lime Crime’s Venus XL 2 Pressed Powder Eyeshadow Palette is the perfect palette to help you merge shades of green with copper. Try the colours “Myth”, “Sage”, “Laurel”, “Ivy”, “Obscure”, and “Locust” from this palette for a beautiful variation of greens.
A pigmented copper highlighter adds warmth to the face and gives your skin that gorgeous, post-vacation glow too. Try the Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Soft Light in Golden Copper (left), a highlighter that gives a natural and lustrous glow to your skin. Or try By Terry’s Glow-Expert Duo Stick in Copper Coffee (right), a two-in-one hybrid stick to sculpt and illuminate.
Zodiac colours for Rat: Gold
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There’s nothing more luxurious than gold makeup, but there are a few tips you should heed before you attempt to put it on your face. While gold shimmer is chic, looking like a gilded Oscar statuette is not. The eyes are the most obvious place to start, so you can go subtle or paint on a bold stripe of gold.
Ease your way into shimmery gold shades with the Urban Decay Naked Honey Eyeshadow Palette. It features 12 shades of gold, amber, and rich chocolate brown, which makes it easy to weave into your everyday makeup look.
You can also dip your finger into the Pat McGrath Labs EYEdols Eyeshadow in Gold Standard (left). This eyeshadow is a beautiful cream-infused powder, so you can expect smooth and ultra-blendable pearlised pigments that give you a seamless finish.
If you prefer sporting the shade elsewhere, the Barry M Cosmetics Molten Metal Nail Paint in Golden Hour (right) will give your nails a chrome effect that’s mesmerising and lasting.
Zodiac colours for Goat: Red and orange
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Red lipstick is a shade for any occasion, if you ask us. And in the long history of the powerful colour, there are certain red lipstick shades and formulas that have become so iconic, you can probably list them by name.
Apart from MAC Cosmetics’ classic Ruby Woo, the brand’s Powder Kiss Liquid Lipcolour in Devoted to Chili (left) is equally stunning. This liquid lip colour has a whipped, mousse-like texture that feels oh-so-light on the lips. It delivers matte, comfortable colour for up to 10 hours, which is exactly what we need for mask-wearing days.
Another lippie you should pick up is the Dear Dahlia Sensuous Matte Lip Suit Liquid Lipstick in Passionate (right). This ultralight liquid lipstick glides on effortlessly for a smooth, matte finish.
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The Koreans have shown us how easy and natural-looking it is to wear an orange blush. You can wear a light wash of tangerine on the apples of your cheeks, or even do a duo-toned cheek colour by mixing in a bit of pink to create a peachy shade.
NARS Blush in Taj Mahal (left) is a warm, burnished orange with fine flecks of gold iridescence, while Clinique’s Cheek Pop in Poppy Pop (right) creates a flattering coral flush that’ll brighten your complexion.
Zodiac colours for Monkey: Blue, pink, red
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Just like the oxen, those born in the year of the monkey can also count blue among their lucky colours. And what’s better than one shade of blue you might ask? Two. Cerulean and lapis blue paired together make for a memorable makeup moment, so have some fun experimenting with various hues of blue.
Consider the Colourpop Blue Moon Shadow Palette (left) your blue eyeshadow starter kit. You can ease into it with softer hues and turn up the intensity with bolder, shimmery sapphires and cobalts. If you prefer to make a statement with a single shade, try MAC Cosmetics’ Eye Shadow in Triennial Wave (right).
If you’re sporting a bright blue eye makeup look, add a natural flush of pink on your cheeks. The right shade can add a healthy glow, take years off your face, and even create the illusion of high cheekbones. Em Cosmetics’ Color Drops Serum Blush in Rose Milk has a lightweight liquid formula that’s infused with hyaluronic acid and antioxidants, making it a unique hybrid of makeup and skincare that looks natural on your cheeks.
Besides swiping on red lipstick, you can also wear a red shade on your eyes – it’s a surprisingly wearable trend we’re taking on this CNY. We have tips and recommendations on how to pull off a red eye makeup look effortlessly, in case you’ve missed it.
Zodiac colours for Rooster: White and yellow
White and yellow may be unconventional makeup shades, but you can take it as a creative challenge to push boundaries and step out of your comfort zone. Take a page from Euphoria’s makeup artist, Doniella Davy, and go for a vivid, high-octane white and yellow eye makeup look, such as the one she created for Hunter Schafer’s character, Jules (pictured in the middle).
To recreate this look, you’ll need a whimsical palette like Claropsyche’s Sketch Paint, watercolours for your face and body. Trust us, you’ll have plenty of fun with this palette. Create a graphic eye or add paint on a hint of yellow and white on the inner corners of your eyes for an unexpected pop of colour. You’ll want to keep the rest of your makeup clean and simple for this loud eye makeup look.
If you prefer to wear both shades individually, you can also try Urban Decay’s 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Yeyo (left) and Fenty Beauty’s Flypencil Longwear Pencil Eyeliner in Grillz (right). Both eyeliners go on smoothly and pack a punch of pigment, ideal when you want your colour to really pop.
Zodiac colours for Snake: Purple and pink
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With an eclectic and impressive array of shades, purple is just as fun to wear as it looks. It doesn’t need to be arduous. You can keep it simple with one shade of eyeshadow to the lid or dial it up by experimenting with a few different shades. Just make sure you don’t go overboard with the glitter, or you might end up looking like this Vine meme.
Viseart’s Liaison Eyeshadow Palette (left) gives you endless options with its nine-pan palette, from shimmers to mattes. Start with the neutral shades and build up your colours to create a gorgeous purple eye look. For extra iridescence, pat some of Fenty Beauty’s Match Stix Shimmer Skinstick in Unicorn (right) on your eyes and cheekbones.
Add a light flush of pink to your cheeks with Kjaer Weis’ Cream Blush in Blossoming (left), the perfect rosy hue for a glowing, fresh-faced look. Top it all off with Bobbi Brown’s Extra Lip Tint in Bare Pink (right), a pH-adjusting formula that brings out your best natural shade.
Zodiac colours for Rabbit: Brown and gold
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There’s nothing like a blend of brown and gold to give your skin that coveted glow. It sparks your natural warmth and adds a little “zing” to your face and skin any time of the year.
Too Faced’s Chocolate Gold Soleil Bronzer (left) is a delectable bronzer that’s infused with cocoa and gold to leave you glowing like a goddess. You can also swipe on Becca Cosmetics’ Sunlit Bronzer in Bali Sands (right) to look like you’ve just got back from a relaxing afternoon by the beach.
Zodiac colours for Pig: Blue and green
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When you whisk blue and green together, you get show-stopping shades like teal and turquoise. These shades are perfect for our warmer weather, and they look ultra-chic when paired with any ensemble.
Marc Jacobs Beauty’s Highliner Matte Gel Eye Crayon Eyeliner in Whirlpool (left) gives you intense colour payoff in a bold, matte finish. Or, dip your brush into Natasha Denona’s Mono Eye Shadow in Deep Teal (right), a metallic eyeshadow with a pearlised finish and rich colour. For a sultry look, go a little extra with the undereye shadows and blend it out into a subtle cat eye.
Zodiac colours for Tiger: Orange and pink
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Orange makeup has had its moment for a couple of years now, and it’s easy to see why it’s still trending. We’re convinced it’s one of the most universally complementing shades, making all skin tones and most hair colours pop. When you introduce pink into the mix, you get a lovely coral hue that suits practically everyone. Plus, it’s perfect for our upcoming CNY celebrations.
To create an eye makeup look with both shades, you’ll need a palette with all the right hues, such as MAC Cosmetics’ Art Library Flame-Boyant Eyeshadow Palette. This 12-pan palette contains some of the most pigmented shades in a variety of textures and finishes.
For a monochromatic makeup look, mix two of Tower 28’s BeachPlease Tinted Balms: Magic Hour (left), a rosy nude; and Golden Hour (right), a sunkissed tangerine. Apply it on the apples of your cheeks for a sheer wash of luminous colour.
Zodiac colours for Dragon: Gold and silver
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Sparkly and shimmery, gold and silver highlighters are the show-offs of the makeup world, designed with magpies in mind. When faking a glow, it’s not just the texture you should consider – positioning is crucial too. Highlighter should be placed where light naturally hits the face – the cheek, top of the cheekbone, brow bone, Cupid’s bow, and chin. You don’t want to overdo it, lest you want to look like The Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz.
Go for gold with Fenty Beauty’s Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter in Trophy Wife (left). This weightless, longwear cream-powder highlighter can be used on your cheekbones and as an eyeshadow.
MAC Cosmetics’ Moon Masterpiece Extra Dimension Skinfinish Highlighter (right) is another beautiful highlighter we’ve coveting at the moment. Its longwear, liquid-powder formula is embossed with goldfish to symbolise prosperity for the year ahead. Swipe it across the high points on your face to get that candle-like glow.
Zodiac colours for Horse: Green and brown
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Like those who were born in the year of the dog, your lucky colours for 2021 include green and brown. There’s plenty to play with when you have these two shades. Go for a minty eye makeup look and warm up your complexion with a buttery bronzer – this combination will help you take the year on with ease.
Pixi’s Liquid Fairy Lights Eyeshadow in PixiGreen (left) is a shimmery mint shade that lights up your eyes. Simply swipe some on your lids and blend it out. For more variety, try Huda Beauty’s Emerald Obsessions Palette (right). This palette unites a spectrum of nine pigment-packed powders, from golden olive to peacock green.
Sculpt your face and give it a sunkissed glow with Charlotte Tilbury’s Airbrush Bronzer (left) or Marc Jacobs Beauty’s O!Mega Bronze Coconut Perfect Tan Bronzer in Tantric (right). Both have blendable, matte formulas that’ll make you look divine.