Warm or Cool, Which is Best for You?
Posted in Beauty Tips on Apr 5th, 2007
WARM OR COOL, WHICH IS BEST FOR YOU?
By Julie Kalin (Copyright, All Rights Reserved, Julie Kalin 2004)
Spring is in the air, and soon pinks, greens, and yellows will dominate many wardrobes. Choosing the right colors for your skin tone can help you look and feel you best, but how do you know which colors are right for you?
First, determine your skin color. This may not be as obvious as it seems. There are several different skin colors, and they each have a wide range of variations. Let’s examine the most common skin colors.
Fair or Ivory Skin: Light, creamy skin with slight, pink undertones.
Golden Skin: Light golden skin has a definite yellow undertone, and tanned golden skin has a definite golden tone.
Pink Skin: Ranging from slightly pink to florid, pink skin has definite pink or red undertones. Ruddy skin (flushed with redness) may be pink skin as well.
Tan Skin: Ranges from light to dark brown. Tan skin may have red, yellow, or brown undertones.
Olive Skin: A dull, yellowish green color. Olive skin may also be a slightly brown skin that is slightly yellow green.
Brown Skin: Typically classified as clear brown, light, medium or dark brown. Brown skin usually has red or yellow undertones.
Dark Skin: Ranges from dark olive, dark brown, deep yellowish or reddish brown to ebony.
Once you have identified the skin color that most closely matches your own, it will be easier to determine whether or not you have “warm undertones” or “cool undertones” in your skin. “Warm undertones” means you have more yellow, red, tan or brown than pink in your skin. “Cool undertones” means that you have more pink than yellow, red, tan or brown undertones in your skin.
If you desire a natural look then choose colors that match the undertones in your skin. If you have warm undertones in your skin, then wear warm colors. If you have cool undertones, wear colors with cool undertones. For a more dramatic look, wear the opposite, but be consistent. If you are wearing warm colored clothing, then choose warm colors for your cosmetics. Slight variations from this rule should be fine, but dramatic contrasts may make your appearance unbalanced.
Questions regarding color choice and warm vs. cool undertones top the list of most frequently asked questions. Here are a few:
Question: I have been told that I have “warm undertones” in my skin, does this mean I should not wear cool colors?
Answer: Absolutely NOT! Most people can wear both warm and cool colors. The common mistake they make is not keeping to one or the other. You will achieve a more balanced, natural look if you are consistent within one look. Warm clothes warrant warm cosmetics, cool clothing warrant cool cosmetics. This does not mean that you must match exactly, just stay within a similar range of warmth or coolness.
Question: Do I have to match ALL of my color cosmetics to my clothing undertones?
Answer: No. When choosing shades is to wear, lip color and cheek color should have the same undertones. Cool cheeks with cool lips, warm cheeks with warm lips. This will keep your face balanced.
When putting your look together, remember that “warm” and “cool“ do not have to be absolutes. Don’t be afraid to try different combinations. Experiment and find colors and combinations hat make you feel confident and radiant!
Feel free to email me with questions. If I do not have the answer, I will do what I can to find it for you. I look forward to hearing from you! Julie