make-up

What is my skin tone?

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Okay, so following my last post I have been asked how to determine whether your skin is warm or cool toned.

It is important to know what skin tone you are as it will give you a better idea of what colours will look best on you. It is important to know which shades will enhance your skin colour as certain colours on the wrong skin tone can make you look ill. There are many tests that can be done to determine your skin tone and these should be done in natural light to get accurate results. There are exceptions but the main thing to remember is that if you like a colour and feel comfortable in it, then wear it 🙂

The Vein Test

With your palms facing upwards, clench your fists and have a look at the veins. If they appear to be blue you are cool toned, if they are green you are warm toned.

The Fabric Test

Take a piece of fabric in the following colours – black and brown or white and off-white, looking in a mirror hold the fabric against your skin, if black and white look better against your skin you have a warm skin tone, if brown and off-white look better then you have a cool skin tone.

The Jewellery Test

Take a piece of gold jewellery and a piece of silver jewellery, while looking in a mirror hold the jewellery against your skin (one at a time), if the silver looks better you are cool toned and if the gold looks better you are warm toned.

Genetic Factors

There are many genetic factors that can determine your skin tone but please note, there are some exceptions so this method should be used as a guideline in conjunction with the above tests.

HAIR:

Ash blonde, dark brown, or black. (With blue or silver tones) = cool skin tone
Golden or reddish brown (think chestnut), golden blonde, red, strawberry blonde, black. (Yellow, orange, golden, red undertones) = warm skin tone

EYES:

Amber, golden brown, hazel, or green = warm skin tone
light blue, grey, dark brown, or black = cool skin tone

So what difference does it make?

Warm skin tone
If you have a warm skin tone your foundation should be yellow based and earth tones like olives, brown, and rusts probably look amazing on you. Blushes should be peachy and makeup, like your skin should have gold and yellow undertones.

If you have a cool skin tone you foundation should be pink based and jewel tones like blues, violets  and emerald green should look amazing on you. Blushes should be rosy and makeup, like your skin should have blue and rosy undertones.

There are some people who have a neutral skin tone and can basically wear any colour they want, however most people with a neutral skin tone tend to sway favourably one way.

I hope that has helped you understand what colours will best compliment your skin tone to allow yourself to look like your best gorgeous self 🙂

Question?

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Question/

I have never really used lipstick before but now I would like to a bit when I go out clubbing and stuff. I looked around and found them to be quite a bit of money so I want to be sure the lipstick is going to work before I buy some. That’s why I’m here!

I would like a red but I’m not sure what shade to go for, is there one that will work best with my face? What’s brands are the best? Also I have a winter ball to attend this weekend. I have a red dress for it. Should the lipstick match the colour of the dress or not?

Thank you! Xxxx

Answer/

To chose the right colour red for you, the first thing you need to do is figure out what skin tone you have (alabaster, fair, medium, olive, brown or black) and whether you have a warm or a cool complexion. (Warm tones tend to look better in gold jewellery and cool tones tend to look better in silver jewellery)

As a general rule;

Alabaster and fair skin tends to suit red with blue undertones and corals. (blue based reds should have no hint of orange or pink and is similar to what Dita Von Teese usually wears)

Medium and olive skin tends to suit orange based reds. Blue based shades can also work but as orange based reds tend to be more vibrant they can really pop against medium skin tones.

Darker skin tones tend to suit burgundy or purple based red lipsticks as the darker shade of red is more flattering to the skin tone.

Warm skin tones tend to suit wine reds and cool skin tones tend to suit blue based reds.

The above is just a general rule and like most rules there are exceptions so the best thing to do would be to go to your local shops and have a play to see which ones look better against your skin tone and how they feel (some can feel quite dry or waxy so the best brand is more a personal preference). As red is a colour that tends to bleed, make sure you use a matching or nude lip liner to keep edge defined. Also, if you feel that the red is too bright try add an extra layer of mascara or darken your eye makeup slightly as this will draw attention away.

Remember the most important thing to do is not be afraid of experimenting and have fun trying the different shades out until you find one you are comfortable with 🙂

Haley x