The new year is right here and what time is better for a change. So you want to dye your hair and buy more makeup, great! Obviously, you need enough spare money to treat yourself but did you know that you should also be wary of your skin tones and undertones?
If certain popular makeup products look grey on you and some hair colors make your face dull then you were not as mindful of your undertone as well as your complexion.
This article discusses how you can find out about your skin tones and undertones so that you can dress to impress and always look amazing.
What are Skin Tones?
Skin tones are the surface skin color that you use to describe your complexion.
It is different from your undertone.
The undertone is beneath the surface, the hue that does not change.
The amount of melanin in your skin’s upper layer determines what complexion and tone your surface of the skin will be.
Thus finding out what your skin tone is usually not an issue. This is the complexion that others and you see. It is also subject to change due to tanning, sun exposure and hyperpigmentation.
There are 4 main skin tones:
While these are the 4 main ones, your tone can be unique to you. The tones can be further divided into very light and very dark.
A fair tone is when you have the lightest complexion which also gets burnt easily.
People with a light skin tone usually have a slightly warmer undertone than those with a fair complexion.
Hence, their skin can also tan in the summers or by getting enough sun exposure.
A medium complexion is usually tan.
However, the olive and warm golden undertones differentiate it from a dark complexion that is the deepest of all.
So now you know about these several tones but how do you determine which one is yours? Let’s find out about that below!
Finding Yor Skin Tones
Checking Through Your Jawline
If there is one part of your face that is not as affected by sun exposure and changes in skin color it is the jawline.
Moreover, it is not usually affected by any skin conditions. Thus you can get an idea of your real surface color by examining the freshly washed face under sunlight.
You will be able to differentiate between light and fair, medium or dark.
Go to Your Local Beauty Store
Make use of new technology and opportunities to know your skin tone through professionals.
Some beauty stores give you the option to find your perfect match of foundation by examining your skin tone.
This skin tone and matching foundation test will not only help determine your complexion but you will also leave with a good foundation in hand.
Ask People Around You
Get a second opinion through your friends about what your skin color looks like.
If you can’t differentiate between fair and light, they can point that out for you.
Similarly, dark and medium can seem similar too.
If they tell that you look tan then you have a medium complexion. However, if you gel pale in winters and tan during the hot months then your tone is dark.
So, the best way is to ask the people around you to help you decide what complexion you are.
However, the quest for knowing your tones does not end it.
Beyond the skin tones, there are undertones. These determine how certain hair dyes and lipstick colors will look on you.
So what are undertones and how can you determine which one is yours? That is a little more complicated than finding out your skin tones. More on that below!
What’s an Undertone?
Unlike your skin tone, your undertone never changes whether it is subject to sun exposure or other skin conditions such as skin brightening.
This color hue comes from beaneth your skin’s surface.
You may have heard about the warm, cool and neutral undertones from your favorite makeup guru.
There are many ways to learn about undertones however, there is a popular misconception around it.
Are you one of those who think their fair people have cool undertones while dark people have warm ones?
Well the, you are totally wrong!
Peoplw ith any skin tone can have any undertones. It doesn’t matter whether you are light, fair, dark or medium.
A dark toned person can cool undertone while those with a fair complexion can have a warm undertone.
The three main ones are:
Cool Undertone
Your undertone will be cool depending on how your overall complexion and tone look like.
If there are pink, red and blue hues then your undertone is likely cool.
Warm Undertone
Just like a cool undertone, a warm undertone has a certain set of colors hues that are more apparent on your skin than the rest.
So, your undertone is considered tp be warm when there are yellow, golden and peach hues in your skin.
Neutral Undertone
There is a chance that you see neither of these colors.
Neutral undertones are not cool nor warm.
People who are darker may show an olive hue which represents a neutral undertone.
Besides the hues apparent on your skin and face, there are other ways to determine what undertone you have.
These are usually more complex than finding your complexion.
However, these help you determine the makeup products that will suit you, the colors you should wear and the hair color that goes well with your complexion better than skin tones.
Identifying Your Undertone
Check Your Veins
One of the most popular ways to find out your undertone is to look at the veins on your wrist.
The veins are more prominent on the underside of the wrist. Their color determines which undertone you have.
- Cool: The veins are blue or purple
- Warm: Olive or green veins indicate a warm undertone
- Neutral: Having bluish-green or being unable to decipher what color the veins are
Using a White Paper
Hold a blank white paper against your face out in natural sunlight.
Check what your skin looks like.
- Cool: If your skin appears more pink
- Warm: If your skin looks more yellow
- Neutral: Green or grey appearance indicates neutral
Hence, get a good look at what your skin color looks like.
Testing Through Jewelry
You will be surprised to know that your jewelry can also help find out the undertone.
Pick out each piece of gold and silver jewelry like an earring and wear it on each ear to see which one looks more flattering on you.
- Cool: Silver jewelry will suit you more
- Warm: Golden jewelry will suit you more
- Neutral: Both silver and gold look flattering
However, remember that you should only choose silver and gold jewelry rather than other forms such as rose gold.
Checking the Colors of Your Clothes
Well, we already told you that undertones affect what colors look good on you.
So take out all of your clothes, stand in front of a mirror and ensure that the room is well lit, though using daylight is the safest option.
Either wear all of the clothes and check them one by one or at least hold them next to your skin to see which one flatters you more.
- Cool: The cool colors will compliment you more. These include blue, black, purple and white.
- Warm: Colors that will look better on warm-toned people are peach, brown, yellow and olive.
- Neutral: If all colors look great on you, then you are among a lucky few and probably have a neutral undertone.
Reaction to the Sun
Notice how your skin usually reacts to the sun.
- Cool: Your skin burns and turns red in color.
- Warm: Skin tans when exposed to the sun.
Wear a sunscreen for face whenever you are outside no matter what skin tone and undertone you have.
Eye Color
This does not necessarily indicate the your exact undertone but could typically work.
- Cool: Blue and grey colored eyes signal a cool undertone
- Warm: Green and brown eyed people usually have a warm undertone
Hence, by carrying out all of these tests you can find out about your specific undertone.
By doing so, you can now choose items that perfectly match your skin tones.
Purchasing Items that Complement Skin Tones
Makeup
Makeup is no longer the same for everyone. If you know your undertone and complexion, you can get one that fits your rightly.
You can pick the correct foundation, eyeshadows and lipstick colors that will suit you.
Choosing warm colors for warm tones and cool cones for cooler tones that compliments your complexion.
Clothes and Hair Colors
Your wardrobe and hair color can change according to what looks more flattering due to knowledge on your undertone.
For clothes, warm toned people wear warm colors while cool toned people wear cool colors.
On the other hand, hair colors are the opposite. Cool colors suit warm toned people and warm colors suit cool toned people.
Finally,
Your undertone is not subject to change however, your skin tones can change thanks to external factors.
For instance as you age, hyperpigmentation and dark patches due to sun exposure can increase or your tone can brighten up due to skin treatments.
That said, you do need to know enough about your body tones so that you can wear your best clothes and makeup even if there are some changes later in life.
