Getting the right colour for your skin

What colours are perfect for your skin tone? Before talking about colours that suit your skin tone, I’d like to give a brief run down of how to determine your skin tone. Many of us choose to wear clothing according to fashion trends and seasons rather than picking out clothes based on our skin’s natural complexion. This isn’t doing you any favors, and it can make your skin look washed out or appear to blend in with your clothes. Choosing clothing that will complement your skin tone is not that difficult, but it does require some basic knowledge of colour theory and the ability to determine your skin’s undertones. Choosing the right shades of colour for your wardrobe will help you look great, feel confident, and need very little make-up or accessories to look fantastic. Instead of choosing clothes based on popularity, choose them based on how well they complement you.

How to Determine Skin Tone
Before you can choose your ideal clothing colors, you’ll need to determine your skin tone. Skin tones vary from warm (yellow/green-based) to cool (pink/blue-based), and some people have a neutral skin tone that works well with both warm and cool tones.

Below are the tests you should carry out to determine your skin tone:

Using Foundation
Be sure that you don’t wear any makeup before doing this test. Go to a department store and look for the makeup section or your makeup customer. Use the makeup tester to check your skin tone. Look for a shade of warm color, neutral color, or cool color. Apply a small dab of the foundation makeup to your wrist or on your face. Choose the color that best complements your natural skin tone.

Using Metal
Be sure that you don’t wear any jewelry or nail polish before doing this test. On your left wrist or hand, try on a bracelet, wristwatch, or ring in gold material. On your other wrist or hand, wear a silver bracelet, wristwatch, or ring. A white metal like silver will complement a person with cool skin tone, while the gold metal will look better on a person with a warm skin tone.

Using Paper
Before doing this test, again, be sure that you aren’t wearing any nail polish or jewelry. Use a plain, white piece of paper and place your palm and hand on it. Turn over the paper to see your palms and arms. Check if there is a distinctly blue or pink cast. If you see one of those colors, then your skin tone is cool. If you see an orange or yellow cast, then your skin tone is warm.

Using Color
Be sure that you aren’t wearing makeup. Tie up your hair and put on a white scarf or white shirt to cover your hair. Use different fabric colors then drape them over your chest and shoulder – you could use a colored shirt, scarves or towels. Observe how this color reflects on your complexion while facing the mirror. Cool skin tones will look beautiful with colors like gray, blue-green, purple or blue. On the other hand, warm skin tones will be more attractive with colors like brown, orange, yellow, and yellow-green.

Using Comparison
Comparing your skin tone to others’ skin tones could be very helpful. Ask a friend to stand in front of the mirror. Compare each complexion. Skin tone that looks pinker compared with the others has cool skin tone. Next to the others, a person who looks more golden probably is one with a warm colour tone.