Do you know your true skin tone?
The first thing that should be looked at closely before any make up is purchased, is the skin shade. Why do you need to know this?
Knowing this will help you chose the right shade of makeup needed to compliment your skin.
Are you a cool or warm shade? This needs to be known to enable the best selection of makeup colours that will best flatter the skin tone.
These two shades have been devised by colour experts over the years to be Warm Peach and Cool Rose.
Warm Peach
Warm types of skin have a yellow or peach undertone that react to warm fiery colours, giving the skin a glow.
Cool Rose
Cool types of skin have a blue or pink undertone that react better to cool icy colours.
How to find out what shade you are.
By using a simple technique of two different coloured cards, Orange and Pink.
By looking in a mirror under natural light and holding each of these cards in turn under your chin, your skin tone will become apparent.
The right colour will light up your face and make blemishes disappear. The wrong colour will make your skin look drained and uneven.
If your right colour is orange you are a Warm Peach, if it was pink you are a Cool Rose.
Other ways of testing your skin shade without using coloured cards are
Jewellery. Warm skin shimmers in gold jewellery, cool skin looks great in silver.
The inner arm. Check the veins on your inner arm, warm people have veins that are tinged with green, cool people have blue veins.
Great! What Now?
Well, now we need to try and find out where you fall in regards to a light, medium or dark version of your shade.
Cool Roses.
Cool Roses know they are cool, but the light, medium and dark factor depends on the colour of your skin, hair and eyes, as represented by the following.
Cool Light.
Typically cool light shades have hair that is a pale blond, ashy blond or white. Eyes that are pale blue, blue-grey, cool green or hazel. The skin is normally milky white that either burns easily or goes pink when exposed to the sun.
Best Colours:
Eyes.Pale silver, aqua, sky blue and lilac.
Cheeks.Baby Pinks
Lips.Pale Pink.
Worst Colours: Apricot and gold can make cool eyes seem red and tired, while heavy Kohl pencil and black mascara can look overpowering. Bright tangerine on the lips only works if you have a tan.
Cool Medium.
Typically cool medium shades have brown or medium dark hair. Eyes are normally brown or blue, occasionally with a hint of grey or green. The skin is milky and often accompanied with rosy cheeks. they also tan slowly.
Best Colours:
Eyes.Slate grey, denim blues, cool taupe's and charcoal browns.
Cheeks.Dusky pink.
Lips.Pinks with a hint of blue (Cerise etc)
Worst Colours: Lime greens can make you look unwell and any shade of orangey brown on the cheeks or lips will drain your face of colour.
Cool Dark.
Typically Cool dark shades have hair that is deep brown or jet black hair that can glint an inky blue in the sun. Eyes are bright blue, cool grey, pale green or hazel. The skin can range from the palest of white through to the darkest black.
Best Colours:
Eyes.Black, cool purple and blue.
Cheeks.Dep pink.
Lips.Blue/red or Burgundy.
Worst Colours: Pearlescent peachy pastels will wash out cool eyes and terracotta on the lips and cheeks can make cool skin look blotchy and unhealthy.
That covers the three variants under Cool Roses, lets move on to Warm Peaches.
Warm Peaches.
Warm Peaches again can be light, medium or dark and range from pale strawberry blonds to olive-skinned Mediterranean types.
Warm Light.
Typically Warm lights have strawberry blond, golden or auburn hair that has a warm glow in the sunshine. Eyes are normally hazel, green or blue-green. The skin appears like peaches and cream, often with freckles.
Best Colours:
Eyes.Delicate colours like champagne, ivory, honey and pale green.
Cheeks.Salmon Pink
Lips.Apricot or bright red.
Worst Colours: Black can be too intense if applied heavily to the eyes, bright pinks look garish and pale lilacs can make warm skins look lifeless.
Warm Medium.
Warm Mediums are typically known as redheads. Their hair is auburn, chestnut brown or a deep brown that glows golden in the sun. Eyes are normally green, brown, hazel or blue-green. Skin is usually peachy or olive with a tendency to tan deeply.
Best Colours:
Eyes.Antique gold, earthy browns and olive greens.
Cheeks.Sheer bronzer.
Lips.Coral or golden berry browns.
Worst Colours: Clean whites, icy pastels and cool purples make eyes look puffy and tired, while fuchsia pink and burgundy are a no-no for the lips.
Warm Dark.
Warm darks are recognised by their chestnut brown, mahogany or black hair. Their eyes are either brown, hazel or green. The skin is is either olive, Asian or African Caribbean.
Best Colours:
Eyes.Bronze, warm chocolate brown, leafy green or aubergine.
Cheeks.Deep terracotta.
Lips.Flame reds or nude glosses.
Worst Colours: Silvery metallics look washed out on the eyes, while blue-pinks stand out rather than sit comfortably on the lips and cheeks.
I am hoping that this has enabled you to understand your skin colours a little more. This article is one of many useful pieces from the Essential Guide to Beauty from Eaglemoss publications.
