Cool or Warm Skin Tone?

Do You Have Cool or Warm Skin Tones?

When selecting not only your foundation shade of mineral makeup, but also your blush, lip colors and any all-over face colors, you need to know if you should purchase cool or warm colors.

This is based on the undertone of your skin - look at the underside of your arm. If your veins appear bluish you are cool toned, if they appear greenish you are warm toned.

Why is this important?

With the correct colors (in cosmetics and clothing):

• Your skin tone will appear radiant and glowing
• Your eyes will appear brighter and clearer
• Your hair will reflect highlights
• You will hear compliments - such as "You look great"!

With the wrong colors (in cosmetics and clothing) :

• Your skin tone will appear tired and drained
• Your eyes may appear shadowed, dark circles
• Even your teeth can appear with a slight yellow hue
• You will hear comments - such as "You look tired” "Do you feel OK?"

If you aren't sure if you have Cool or Warm Skin Tones, these comparisons should help:

Cool	Warm
You look best in these colors:	You look best in these colors:

Includes "jewel tones" - blues, greens, pinks, purples, blue-greens, magentas, and blue-based reds.	Includes "earth tones" - yellows, oranges, browns, yellowish greens and orange-based reds.
Foundation is pink based	Foundation is yellow based
Looks better in pure white than ivory	Looks better in ivory than pure white
Can easily wear black	Looks washed out with black worn close to the face
My skin is: Very dark brown with reddish or blue undertones Brown with pink undertone True olive (most Asians and Latinos) Medium with no color in cheeks Medium with faint pink cheeks Pale with no color in cheeks Pale with pink undertones Ruddy-pinkish red Brown or bronze when I tan	My skin is: Very dark brown with golden undertones Brown with golden undertone Medium with golden undertones Pale with peach or gold undertones Golden brown, when I tan
Notable examples - Elizabeth Taylor, Cher, Jaclyn Smith, Marie Osmond, Princess Caroline, Liza Minnelli, Marlo Thomas, Catherine Zeta Jones, Oprah, "Snow White', Jaclyn Smith, Barbara Bush, Elizabeth Hurley, Gloria Estefan, Cindy Crawford, Angela Bassett, Michelle Kwan, Winona Ryder, Sophia Loren, Sharon Stone, Charlize Theron, Michelle Pfeiffer, Meg Ryan, Vanessa Williams, Courtney Cox, Elizabeth Taylor, Katie Couric, Demi Moore	Notable examples - Nicole Kidman, Kathie Lee Gifford, Sarah Ferguson, Reba McEntire, Gillian Anderson, Molly Ringwald, Hilary & Chelsea Clinton

If you can't decide between Cool or Warm Skin Tones - Cool coloring is much more common than warm. You probably know if you are warm. More & more companies are adding "neutral" colors - if your coloring is more balanced you may want to try colors designated as neutral. If most foundation looks too pink or too yellow, definitely try a neutral (or balanced) shade.

Still not sure of your coloring? Take this quiz to determine your Mineral Makeup shade and your most flattering blush, eye and lip colors. Visit the PurMinerals Makeup Planner.

More on Color Analysis - Color Seasons - Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall?

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