How to Find the Right Makeup Colors for My Skintone
Makeup works by enhancing facial features and covering up imperfections. By finding makeup colors that work for a specific skin tone, the makeup is able to do both of those jobs correctly. Finding the right makeup, just like finding the right colors of clothing, will mean trying on a variety of options before making a final decision. Once you have an idea of which colors work with your skin tone, you can start mixing and matching colors to come up with looks for the day, evening and special occasions. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Determine your skin tone. Look at the inside of your wrist. Undertones of olive or brown indicate a warm skin tone; pink or blue shades indicate a cool tone; beige indicates a neutral tone.
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Visit a makeup counter at a cosmetics store, department store or drug store. Your face must be a clean slate while trying on makeup, so don't wear any makeup.
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3
Pick out three shades of foundation which you believe to be the closest match to your skin tone. Dab each one onto a separate sponge and apply the makeup to small patches of skin along the jawline.
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4
Look at the results in a mirror and notice which foundation looks the best indoors. Go outside and use a compact mirror to see the foundations in natural, outdoor light. The right foundation for your skin tone is the one that blends, undetected, with the skin.
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5
Test blush directly on the cheek when choosing a color of blush. Warm to neutral skin tones should try on golden or autumn colors of blush; cool to neutral skin tones should try on pink tones. Dust a large, round blush brush over the blush powder and sweep it over the apple of the cheek.
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Ask a member of the sales staff for clean, unused samples of lipstick you want to try on. If clean samples aren't available, swipe the lipstick onto a white sheet of paper; the white of the paper will bring out the undertones of the lipstick. Warm to neutral skin tones should try on lipsticks with berry or brown undertones; cool to neutral skin tones should try on lipsticks with pink and orange undertones.
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Pick eye colors that complement but do not match the skin tone. Warm to neutral skin tones should try on rich jewel colors, like garnet and emerald; cool to neutral skin tones should try on sky colors, like blues and greys. Sweep a small round brush into the eye shadow and apply a small patch of color at the outside edge of the eye to see how it looks with the skin tone and eye color.
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Tips & Warnings
Some cosmetic stores give free consultations and will help to match makeup to your skin tone.
A professional makeup artist will also be able to give recommendations for day and evening makeup looks based on skin tone. They will charge for the consultation.
Never apply an open, used sample of lipstick to lips.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Pixland/Pixland/Getty Images
