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.
