Why the Right Shade of Blonde Is the Ultimate Makeunder

Gisele Bundchen
Photo: Courtesy of Gisele Bündchen

Recently, when we sat down to talk beauty with actress Clémence Poésy, she explained that when her hair is the perfect shade of blonde, it draws enough light to her face to let her get away with wearing no makeup. In person and on camera, it’s true that her color—the handiwork of Parisian whiz Rémy Faure—really does illuminate her complexion, warming it the way a bronzer might.

And it seems that Poésy is not alone in this discovery. In shades ranging from arctic to honeyed, models, actresses, and musicians are proving that striking the right skin-tone-to-hair-color balance utterly defeats the necessity for too much foundation or blush. Known beauty maximalist Iggy Azalea has channeled an ethereal glow in creating a monochromatic continuity between her skin and her long waves, resulting in a newly pared-down beauty approach in _Vogue’_s April issue. For Miley Cyrus, an acid yellow pixie has allowed her to streamline her morning routine of moisturizer and lip balm. And Rosie Huntington-Whiteley andSuki Waterhouse regularly embrace the natural contouring effects of their warm, sun-kissed highlights. Here, a look at eleven shades of blonde that will make you ditch your makeup bag and call your colorist.

Watch what happens when we give Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid a selfie stick: