The filter works as such: Users look at themselves through the front-facing camera and hit one of three buttons (light, medium, or deep) that best describes their skin tone. From there, they can “try on” high, medium, and low contrast looks based on that skin tone and compare them to their own faces. Whichever one is the closest match is their determined contrast level, according to the filter.
The whole goal of understanding your contrast level and doing your makeup accordingly, Dervanian tells Allure, is all “about balancing your face.”
For example, having high contrast means there’s a great degree of difference in color among your features—such as having light skin with dark hair and eyes or vice versa. Higher contrast faces, Dervanian’s rule claims, are complemented by bolder makeup and brighter colors (think bright red lipstick or an intense smoky eye). According to Dervanian’s TikTok videos, higher contrast faces need the added intensity of bolder makeup, …