Have you ever worn an outfit that’s fashion forward and fits great, but somehow just doesn’t look as good as you expected? For some reason it made your skin look dull or off-color.
That’s because the clothes weren’t complementing your skin tone.
Skin comes in so many beautiful shades. Because clothing rests right up against it, what you choose to wear can dramatically impact how your skin looks. When you nail down what works best for your tone it can forever change how you choose an outfit.
Today we’re delving into color theory for our anatomy. There are a lot of ways to find your best shades, you just have to know the secrets behind color combinations.
But no matter what you wear, your skin can’t look its best if it isn’t at its healthiest. It’s important to establish a regular routine that includes cleansing, moisturizing and nourishing your skin every day. Skin care lines like Dermaclara are ideal because they contain products that work together to cover all the bases. Follow it up with sunscreen every morning and you’re good to go.
Now let’s start finding clothes that complement your skin tone!
Neutral, Warm, Cool – Which Are You?
The first step is to figure out the undertone of your skin. There are three core categories: warm, cool and neutral.
You’re a Warm Skin Tone If . . .
- · Your skin tends to look yellow, peach or golden
- · Veins have a green tinge
- · You typically tan after a day in the sun
Your skin complementing colors will most likely be earthy tones: brown, olive green, orange, red and yellow.
You’re a Cool Skin Tone If . . .
- · Your skin tends to look pinkish, bluish or red
- · Veins look blue or purple
- · You burn or turn pink after a day in the sun
Your skin complementing colors will most likely be jewel tones: purple, blue, teal, emerald green.
You’re a Neutral Skin Tone If . . .
- · Your skin can look like a combination of yellow, peach, gold, blue, red and/or pink
- · Veins look bluish green
- · Stay basically the same after a day in the sun
Your skin complementing colors are across the board – lucky you!
Knowing the undertone is the key to finding complementary colors that make clothing look fabulous instead of unflattering. Keep reading for more tests that can help you hone in on getting the right hue for you.
Finding Metals That Match
Some metals tend to look better with certain undertones, like gold with warm skin tones. But there are many variations of metals and skin color (not to mention neutral undertones can look better or worse with any metal). An easy way to find the metal that matches your skin is to do a side-by-side comparison.
For this test, you’ll need to have bare arms and polish-free nails. On one hand wear a gold bracelet and ring. On the other hand wear a silver ring and bracelet. Keeping your hands apart take a look at each option. If you’re a neutral skin tone it’s probably hard to decide which looks best, and you can go with just about anything.
If the gold warms up your skin, stick with:
- · Gold
- · Bronze
- · Rose gold
If the silver illuminated your skin better, go for:
- · Silver
- · Pewter
- · Icy Glitter
Red Lipstick Test
Red lipstick is classic, and there are so many shades that anyone can find the perfect color after trying a few options. It’s also a great way to figure out the undertones of your skin and which colors complement it best. Here’s a little cheat sheet based on your favorite shade of red lipstick:
Cherry red – Pink skin tone and cool colors
Brick red – Cool skin tone and colors
True red – Neutral skin tone and virtually any color
Coral red – Warm skin tone and colors
Pinkish red – Warm skin tone and colors
Brown red – Warm skin tone and colors
Cranberry – Cool skin tone and colors
Wine/Burgundy – Cool skin tone and colors
Maroon – Cool skin tone and colors
The Yellow Test
Yellow is one color that either looks great on someone, or it looks all sorts of wrong. Find a yellow scarf, shirt or piece of fabric. Now hold it up to your makeup-free face. Does your skin light up? Then your skin leans towards the warm side. Does the yellow make you look washed out? Then your skin leans toward the cool side.
White or Black?
Colors are great, but white and black are two of the mostly commonly worn shades. Whether you can pull off white or black usually depends on how fair or dark your skin is as well as hair color. For example, extremely fair skin and dark hair immediately goes goth in an all-black outfit. But if you have very dark skin and dark hair an all-black outfit can look too monochromatic.
Because white and black are the extremes of the color spectrum it’s all about finding balance. Warm skin tones tend to look good in white because it brings out the warmth, but if you have a fair complexion you could still get washed out. A light beige or ivory that’s just a shade or two deeper can be a better option. If you have a dark complexion white will look fantastic, and incorporating a bright color will help to balance out black.
Have you tried a few of these skin-complementing secrets? Let us know what you think and how well they worked in the comments section. Thanks for reading!