Which Color Looks Best On Your Skin Tone

Hey everyone! Happy Friday! I have been talking to a few followers recently about which colors look best on you, are you a cool tone or a warm tone…and it got me to thinking. I decided to research this topic and use my cosmetology background to give this topic a more thorough look. Hope you enjoy today’s post about color tones and finding out exactly what color looks good on YOU! If you have any input to this topic, please feel free to write a comment below. We can all learn more from everyone adding things that has worked for them! Happy reading!

Let’s Talk Colors and Color Tones!

Have you ever tried on a blouse or a shade of lipstick that makes your skin, eyes, and face come alive, only to try another one that’s almost exactly the same shade but makes you look tired, washed-out, and just generally off? The first one probably matched your skin’s surface tone and undertone perfectly, while the second shade may have a totally wrong undertone.

What’s that? You kind of understand, but don’t really know the difference between surface tone and undertone? Join the club. When it comes to fashion and beauty, there are few buzzwords as prevalent as “cool undertones” and “warm undertones” In fact, we’re always hearing that identifying which category we fall into is integral to our overall attractiveness, but finding out where we fall is still shrouded in confusion.

The first step in grasping the concept? Understanding that our skin’s surface tone is the color you’d describe yourself as having (ivory, light, medium, tan, dark, etc.) Your skin’s undertone is the color underneath the surface. You can have the same skin color as someone, but a different undertone, which are broken down like this:

Cool (pink, red or bluish undertones)

Warm (yellow, peachy, golden undertones)

Neutral (a mix of warm and cool undertones)

One big misconception: That pale girls can’t be warm-toned. In fact, many fair-skinned women have warm undertones (Nicole Kidman is one of them!) and dark-skinned women have cool tones (supermodel Alex Wek is a cool tone.)

So, how can you determine which category you fall into? Read on!

1. Check Your Veins

Push your sleeves up right now and look at the veins on the inside of your wrist.  Are they blue or green? If they look more blue, you likely have cool undertones. If the veins look greenish, you’re warm. It’s worth noting, warm girls, that you’re veins aren’t actually green—they look it because you’re seeing them through yellow-toned skin (yellow + blue = green.)

2. The Good Old Jewelry Trick

Think about whether you look better in silver or gold jewelry (Not which you like more, but which actually makes you look more radiant, glowing, and awake.) Typically, girls with cool undertones look better in silver and platinum metals, and warm-toned women look better in gold.

3. The Neutral Test

Think about what neutral shades flatter you best. Does your skin, eyes, and face look better in bright white and black hues, or ivory, off-whites, and brown/tan shades? The former means you’re probably cool-toned, and the latter, warm.

4. Eye and Hair Color

Your natural eye and hair colors can help figure out your coloring. Customarily, cool people have eyes that are blue, gray, or green and have blond, brown, or black hair with blue, silver, violet and ash undertones. Conversely, warm-toned women usually have brown, amber, or hazel eyes with strawberry blond, red, brown, or black hair. Their hair tends to have gold, red, orange, or yellow undertones.

Let’s Look A Little Deeper Into The Color Wheel and Your Skin Tone

WHICH COLORS LOOK BEST ON COOL-TONED SKIN?

How to determine if you have cool-toned skin

If you have cool undertones, your skin will lean pink, red, or blue. The easiest way to determine if you have cool-toned skin is to take a look in the mirror or check those veins ladies! Double check if you have to, because this is an important step in figuring out which tone you are! Do you have blue eyes and pale skin? Check. Do you burn easily in the sun? Check. Do you have blue-ish veins rather than green? Check. You’re a cool-toned gal.

A quick checklist to determine if you’re cool-toned. (An overview from above)

  • You have lighter hair (light brown, natural blonde).
  • You have grey or blue eyes.
  • Your skin tone is fair or pale.
  • You have pink skin undertones.

Best colors to wear with cool undertones

Take your inspiration from the cool end of the spectrum. Think: sky blues, cobalt, frosty purples, emerald greens, light grassy tones and anything pastel. If you like to wear warmer colors, try lipstick reds or super-pale yellows. Avoid palettes that are too orange or bright yellow—they’ll overpower you.

WHICH COLORS LOOK BEST ON WARM-TONED SKIN?

How to determine if you have warm-toned skin

If you have warm undertones, your skin will often feel like it has more yellow, peachy, or golden tones to it. And, just like your cool-toned counterparts, the easiest way to determine if you have warm-toned skin is to ask yourself the following questions: do you tan easily in the sun, are your veins more greenish, do you have dark hair and dark eyes? If the answers are a resounding, “YES!” Then, you might just be warm-toned. 

A quick checklist to determine if you’re warm-toned. 

  • You have darker hair (black, dark brown, auburn).
  • You have brown or brown-hazel eyes.
  • Your skin tone is dark, olive or golden in tone.
  • You have yellow skin undertones.

Best colors to wear with warm undertones

Take inspiration from the warm end of the spectrum. Think, fiery reds, oranges, rusty tones, creams, camel, and all things earth tones. If you love cool hues, opt for warmer versions of the cool color families like olive, fuschia, violet, and orchid.

WHICH COLORS LOOK BEST ON NEUTRAL-TONED SKIN?

How to determine if you have neutral-toned skin

Those with neutral undertones will have difficulty discerning whether they are warm or cool based on the guidelines above because they’re typically a hybrid of both! But, lucky you, most colors will look great on your skin tone.

A quick checklist to determine if you’re neutral-toned skin: 

  • It’s difficult for you to discern if your veins are blue or green.
  • Your skin tone can burn in the sun (or not!) 
  • You have neutral undertones or a hybrid of both cool and warm.

Best colors to wear with neutral undertones

Because you’re a mix of both warm-cool you have access to the entire spectrum—consider yourself lucky! Because your complexion is neutral you can play up and down the color wheel, just avoid things that are too neon—they will throw you off balance.

WHICH COLORS LOOK BEST ON EVERYONE?

When in doubt, reach for these three colors that look good on literally everyone. The secret formula? They’re a perfect blend of warm and cool and will suit everyone’s skin tone to a T.

These three colors look great on everyone’s skin tone!

Blush 

The most flattering shades for everyone are colors that are neutral like millennial pink, or blush. Not only does it flatter all skin tones, but it gives you that #glow no matter who you are and pairs well with everything!

Red

If your sartorial style is bolder, reach for reds. While not all reds look good on everyone, find the shade that works for you—there’s really a red for everyone.

Black

Everyone’s favorite neutral, there’s a reason why the world’s most stylish women reach for this again and again. It’s ultra-slimming reputation and ability to play well with all colors makes this our “nothing to wear” go-to. 

Which colors will you be adding to your wardrobe now? Tell us what your skin tone is and what you’ll be wearing in the comments below!

I am a Neutral-Toned girl, I consider myself to be pretty lucky here! What color tone are you?

We are off to take a few pictures today and another lunch date with are Rae Rae (that’s what Brooklyn cause her Aunt Raegan lol). What are you girls up to today? Happy early weekend!!

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10 Comments

  • sandy

    You did a lot of research here Beverly and LUCKY you that you are neutral and that makes sense why EVERYTHING and EVERY color you model looks so good on you!!! Since I just had my color analysis done in February, she said I am a “cool” summer(there are 4 seasons). So…I look best in smokey blues and pinks. Black is not in my pallet(even though that’s all I use to wear) and I only have one really light shade of yellow. That made sense b ecause I never did like me in yellows or greens. Seagreen was the shade she liked on me the most. It is amazing how this process is done. She puts a white drape around you and then one by one she takes color swatches and puts them under your face and you can actually “see” how your face transforms if you have the colors that go with your undertones. My face popped when she put the pastel and navy blues on me but when she put the royal blue..ugh…it was much too bright on my. No wonder my sister always accused me of having only blue in my closet. As much as I like brown…there are only two shades that look the best on me and I because of having this done, I put a dress on Tuesday when I was shopping and I knew when I took it in that it was more yellow toned but I liked the style and length. Oh man….right away I could see how pale my face looked in it. Before I had the class done, I would have bought the dress and looked sickly every time I wore it but now I try to be mindful of the colors I buy. And, with that being said…I have to admit that I’m not sure it has made shopping easier for me because I get out my wallet of colors and hold it up to a garments to see how close they are. This is still a learning process for me as shopping has NEVER been easy for me nor do I enjoy it. I have also told myself that if I find a piece of clothing I like and it fits well, that won’t stop me from buying it IF it doesn’t drain the color out of my face too bad. Beverly you mentioned Reds…it is amazing how many shades of red there are and I didn’t realize how different they were until after I had my colors done and I have only one shade(cherry) in my color wallet because it has a blue undertone to it. However, since we are the HUSKER nation, I’m not going to get real sticky on that color. Have fun with the photo shoot. Another beautiful day here and I’m off this afternoon to see my parents and my brother and family from AZ to visit with them. (sorry followers for the long post…hope you just stopped reading 😉 )

    • Beverly

      We were talking about this and I’ve been researching ever since! I even got out my books from school lol!! A few colors don’t look that well on me, but most are ok. I’m like you, if I really like it, I’m buying it anyway ha!! I remember years ago, about 30, a girl did this in s town I was working in and a lot of girls were getting their colors done. I think they had a party but it’s been so long I can’t remember. You inspired this post 😘😘 Have a great day!!

      • sandy

        Awe…how sweet of you Beverly but look how much time and research you had to do 🙂 I think it’s ok to follow “colors” to a certain extent, but I have to tell myself not to let it over-whelm me or restrict me because it will drive me crazy. And besides…who’s really going to know if you have “your colors” on…for me…only the gal that talked me into doing it…LOL You have a great day too.

  • Kelly Palmer

    Good Friday morning! This post was very informative but I am a bit confused to what category I fall into because I seem to have attributes of both. I feel as though I may be a neutral. My hair is red, my eyes are kind of bluish gray and some days look more green, my veins look bluish and I am light skinned. Well, I am off to run some errands with Troy this morning then this afternoon we will be back home to hopefully get a few small projects done around here. Have a wonderful day!!!

  • Victoria Elliott

    Good morning! I love this information, thank you. So much so this is my first time to leave a comment. I have always leaned toward foundation with pink undertones. Looks like I was right on the money. Green has never been my color. It actually reflects in my face and makes me look like I am ill. I am blonde with blue eyes and I normally wear neutral eyeshadow for everyday but love doing a smokey blue with white eyeliner for night out! Have a wonderful weekend.

    • Beverly

      Thanks for commenting!! I’m so glad you did!! I love it when you girls interact!! I do the white eyeliner too!! I wear neutral colors on my eyes during the week too. Don’t you love a Smokey blue? Have a great day and thanks for the comment!!!

  • Johnna

    Happy Friday. I had my colors done similar to Sandy. I’m a warm tone so look best in tones of orange, dark red, brown, etc. But I have to me some blues and aquas in there too. So I keep it in mind but don’t live by it. The info about the color of your veins was new and very helpful. I know that I’m definitely wam-toned now. I never have looked good in pastels and I guess that’s why. Now I have to back to work. Have a good day.

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