Finding the right colors for your skin tone can be exhaustive. Just look at any makeup aisle. The sheer number of foundation colors speaks volumes about how unique each and every skin tone is. Luckily, there are a few tried and true tests designed to help you narrow down exactly what colors will make you shine.
The Tests
Silver and Gold – Hold up silver to your skin. Next hold up gold. Which one is more flattering? If it’s silver, you have cool skin. If it’s gold, you’re warm.
Veins – Next, take a look at your veins. Are they blue? Are they green? Are they neither? Blue indicates cool skin. Green indicates warm. A perfect mix of the two means neutral.
Sunshine – As a final test, how does your skin react to sunlight? If you tan instead of burn, you’re warm. If you burn instead of tan, you’re cool.
The Colors
By now, you should have a clear idea of what your skin tone is, be it cool, warm, or neutral. Here are the colors that work the best for each of the three.
Cool – Your color scheme includes all the colors that fall under what would be considered “cool” colors on the color wheel. Blues, purples, grays, white, rich reds, and pale yellows are all extremely flattering.
Warm – Warm tones work best with the “warm” colors, including orange, red, gold, yellow, and coral. If you’re looking to compliment yourself with neutrals, the best options include creams and taupe.
Neutral – Neutral is a fantastic group to fall in because you can don any color and pull it off. Unless you’re trying to make a statement, muted versions of bright colors are preferred over bright versions. That being said, there are always exceptions to rules and bright red is yours.
Rebecca Lord is the Chief Marketing Officer at John Casablancas Modeling and Career Centers, where she leads strategic marketing to grow brand visibility. With over a decade in copywriting, social media, and ROI-driven campaigns – plus 14 years as a freelance copywriter and designer – she specializes in messaging that resonates and delivers results. She’s based in Greater St. Louis.
