The skin's undertone
is the same for every one irregardless of the surface color; it is either warm,
cool, or neutral. Knowing whether your undertone is warm, cool
or neutral is the key to ensuring that your foundation matches your skin and
color products look natural. This will help you avoid purchasing makeup in the
store that looked like the right color in the package but looked odd once
applied only because it had the incorrect undertone for your skin.
There are several ways
to determine your skin tone:
The Vein Test
Probably the most widely used, the vein test is an easy way to determine your skin tone. In natural light (during the day, stand by an open window), make a fist and examine your inner wrist. What color are the veins? Veins that are mainly blue are a sign of cool tones, while green veins are a hint that you are warm toned. If your veins are a mix of blue and green, it could be a sign that you are neutral toned. Lucky you!
Probably the most widely used, the vein test is an easy way to determine your skin tone. In natural light (during the day, stand by an open window), make a fist and examine your inner wrist. What color are the veins? Veins that are mainly blue are a sign of cool tones, while green veins are a hint that you are warm toned. If your veins are a mix of blue and green, it could be a sign that you are neutral toned. Lucky you!
The Silver/Gold Test
It's a little known fact that warm and cool and gold and silver go hand in hand. If you can, find a piece of silver fabric (an alternative would be either a blue or pink fabric) and piece of gold fabric. Stand in front of a mirror in natural light. Hold each piece of fabric next to your face, one at a time and examine. If the silver makes your face light up, you are most likely cool toned. If the gold makes you look fresh and alive, you are probably warm toned.
It's a little known fact that warm and cool and gold and silver go hand in hand. If you can, find a piece of silver fabric (an alternative would be either a blue or pink fabric) and piece of gold fabric. Stand in front of a mirror in natural light. Hold each piece of fabric next to your face, one at a time and examine. If the silver makes your face light up, you are most likely cool toned. If the gold makes you look fresh and alive, you are probably warm toned.
If you still are unable
to determine your skin tone, you could be neutral toned. Neutral toned people can
wear just about any color and look great. Some neutral skin tones pull towards
warm or cool. If you're a neutral pulling warm, you look best in warm but can
pull off cools and visa-versa for neutral pulling cool. Still Unsure? Don't fret, it's not always an
easy process. No one's skin is exactly the same and individual coloring can be
a task to determine on your own. Most makeup counters can help determine your
skin tone and help you find good color matches, if you ask.
Cool
If you fall under this category, try sticking to jewel-toned
makeup and clothing, including blue, purple, blue-green, green, magenta, and
bluish-red shades. For foundation, you'll probably look best in formulations
with a bluish or pink undertone. And be sure to reach for the black mascara
when it comes to eye makeup; it's sure to make your eyes pop.
Note: These
skin tone/foundation suggestions are a guideline and are based on a
broad-spectrum of ethnicities and eye/hair/undertone combinations. Many women
find that they can wear several different foundation shades, while others find
that finding the perfect singular shade and/or "tweaking" that shade
with another foundation of a varying tone is required.
