Our eyes are often said to be the windows to our souls, which is why it’s no wonder that coloured contact lenses have become a key part of many people’s beauty routines.
Available in a wide range of patterns and vibrant colours, coloured contacts offer a fun and simple way to change up your look and highlight various aspects of your beauty.
But just like clothing, glasses frames, and makeup shades, coloured contacts can look different on everyone. To steer clear of an unflattering or slightly eerie look, it’s crucial to think about your features and personal style when picking the right pair of lenses.
Keep reading this guide to discover the various styles and colours of contacts you can choose from, ensuring your eyes convey more than words ever could.
Understanding Common Terms
Here are the usual terms you’ll see in any contact lens description. Knowing these can make it a lot easier to choose the right lenses.
- Diameter: The overall diameter/size of the contact lens.
- Graphic Diameter: The diameter/size of the contact lens’ design.
- Base Curve (BC): Measures the curvature of the back surface of the lens. A contact lens’ BC should match your eyes for optimal comfort, with 8.4 to 8.7 fitting most people.
- Water Content: The percentage of water in the lens material, typically ranging from 30% to 80%.
- A common misconception is that the higher the water content, the better. However, those with dry eyes will experience more comfort wearing low water content lenses (40% and under). This is because lenses with higher water content (45% and above) tend to draw out the natural moisture in your eye.
- Material: Contacts are commonly made with Hydrogel or Silicone Hydrogel.
- Silicone Hydrogel is the popular pick for lenses, with higher oxygen permeability than other materials, and is suitable for those with dry or sensitive eyes.
- Hydrogel is the most affordable material and is suited for those with moist, insensitive eyes.
Disposal Period
Choosing contact lenses based on wear periods, budget, and eye condition can enhance your experience.
Daily Lens
Dailies are the most convenient and comfortable, but also the least affordable option. You can choose dailies if you:
- Experience dry, sensitive eyes
- Wear contacts occasionally
- Value low upkeep
Monthly and Yearly Lens
Monthly and yearly lenses are a popular option for frequent wearers due to their affordability. Choose either if you:
- Value affordability
- Frequently wear contacts
- Don’t mind upkeep and diligent cleaning
- Have moist, insensitive eyes
Regardless of the kind of contact lenses you pick, maintaining good hygiene and caring for your eyes is crucial. Daily lenses need to be thrown away after each use.
Monthly lenses should be tossed out one month after you open them. For six-month lenses, it’s best to replace them after four months of use, and yearly lenses should ideally be discarded after eight months.
Choosing a Colour
With so many colours, shades, and brightness levels available in contact lenses, it’s really important to think about how a pair can enhance your natural features rather than draw attention to things you might not want to highlight.
Dark vs. Light
Even though it might be appealing to choose a pair of light-coloured contacts for a bold look, you should take your natural features into account as well.
Lighter lenses can really make your eyes pop against the rest of your face, highlighting features like your nose or any blemishes. Plus, light colours can give the illusion that your eyes are further apart. If you have balanced features and your eyes are close together, light-coloured contact lenses are a great choice.
On the other hand, darker lenses create a low-contrast look with your eyes, face, and hair, which helps to focus attention on your eyes instead of your face. But keep in mind, dark colours can make your eyes seem closer together.
Therefore, dark-coloured contact lenses are best for those with wide, prominent noses and wide-set eyes.
Warm vs. Cool
When picking out coloured contacts that match your skin tone, think of it like choosing makeup shades for a unified look.
Colours can be split into two groups: cool tones (like grey, blue, and purple) and warm tones (such as brown, gold, hazel, and green). To find the perfect lenses, start by figuring out your skin tone and then select options from the matching category.
Also, take into account your hair and makeup colours to make sure everything looks balanced and avoids any jarring contrasts.
In the end, confidence is crucial for rocking any style; with the right picks, you can create a stunning appearance no matter your natural skin tone.
General Colour Impressions
Not sure which shade to start with? This quick guide breaks down the impression each colour gives off. By picking according to your personality and style, you can enhance your beauty tenfold.
- Brown: Friendly, warm and natural. Great for daily wear and appearing approachable.
- Grey: Chic, cool, and modern. Great for daily wear and making a stylish statement.
- Black: Dolly, mysterious, neutral. Tends to have an eye-enlarging effect.
- Hazel/Beige: Vivid, charming, chic. Adds dimension to the eye with various shades.
- Blue: Striking, tranquil, mysterious. Creates a striking, attention-grabbing look suited for special events.
- Pink: Playful, youthful, sweet. A good choice for date night and other romantic occasions.
Selecting a Design
Most contact lenses can be split into three categories of design patterns.
Flat Pattern
Flat-patterned contact lenses generally have a uniform tone with little colour variation and no bold patterns. They don’t feature a dark outer ring, which lets them cover the iris for a subtle colour change without making the eyes look bigger.
These styles usually have smaller graphic diameters, between 12mm and 12.9mm, and they exude a fashionable, trendy feel.
Dewy Kristin Basic in Brown by Hapa Kristin (S$30 or ~RM99 for monthly) is our recommendation for a natural brown lens.
Ocean Velvet Grey by Olens (S$21 or ~RM69 for 10 dailies) is our recommendation for a glamorous yet natural grey hazel lens.
Gradient Pattern
The modern gradient pattern is one of the hottest trends in coloured contacts right now, and it’s not hard to understand why. These lenses are super versatile, offering everything from a subtle enlargement ideal for everyday use to striking, doll-like eyes that give off a youthful vibe.
The design showcases a dark outer ring that smoothly transitions through one to three colours. Lenses with a thicker, darker ring are especially effective for creating that eye-enlarging look and are a go-to choice for any event where you want your eyes to pop.
You can usually find these lenses in a wide variety of sizes, ranging from 12.9mm up to 14.5mm.
Bean Kristin in Medium Brown by Hapa Kristin (S$24 or ~RM79 for monthly) is our recommendation for a medium natural-looking gradient lens.
Ponytail by SIE. (S$23.95 or ~RM79 for 10 dailies) is our recommendation for a glossy, eye-enlarging brown-grey lens.
Bold Pattern
The bold pattern is a timeless design seen in coloured lenses, enhancing the eyes for a memorable look. These designs usually showcase striking stripes and intense halftone effects, using three or more colours.
Typically found in Japanese brands, these lenses are usually crafted to make the eyes appear larger, with sizes from 13mm to 14.5mm, resulting in a charming and enticing vibe.
Koisuru Bambi by Flurry (S$19.24 or ~RM63 for 10 dailies) is our recommendation for a golden-brown, dolly bold-pattern lens.
Caramel Glow by Loveil (S$22.80 or ~RM75 for 1 monthly) is our recommendation for a dramatic pink, bold-pattern lens.
