How to Pick the Right Makeup Colors for Your Skin Tone

One of the most important things about makeup application is making certain that you choose the right makeup in terms of the right "type" and the right "colors." From foundation to eye shadow to lipstick choices, everything should be chosen to accent your natural skin tone.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Lighted mirror
• Tissues
• Makeup sponges
• Makeup samples
• Makeup brushes
• Soap
• Water

1. The first step in the process of choosing the right makeup is to analyze your skin to identify your skin issues and flaws. To achieve this, look in a lighted mirror to determine the "type" and "condition" of your skin, as well as to identify any other flaws. If you are uncertain about your skin type, refer to my article "How to Decide on a Skin Care System" to make that determination. The condition of your skin refers to many things. First of all, is whether or not you have any ongoing skin conditions like acne or rosacea. While it is possible to work around short term skin problems, such as break outs or pimples, more permanent conditions must be taken into consideration in choosing your foundation type as well as the appropriate color. The same applies with any other flaws you might identify, whether they are temporary or permanent. Permanent flaws like scars, lines or wrinkles will affect the type of foundation you choose. Be honest with yourself about temporary flaws like uneven skin tone so that you can make choices to solve them.

2. Decide what "type" of foundation is right for you. If your skin is uneven in tone, splotchy or hard to match, choose sheer liquid foundations that blend to even out your skin. If youf skin is dull and lifeless, perhaps exhibiting the early signs of aging with tiny fine lines, look for foundations that contain extra moisturizing ingredients. This will give the skin an extra boost of radiance, make it appear dewy and youthful, and smooth out those tiny flaws. If you have oily skin, look for foundations that are oil-free and specifically indicate that they won't clog pores. Some on the market today even contain extra ingredients that specifically treat break outs and pimples. Powders or foundations that smooth on like a cream but end up like a powder are better choices than liquids or standard creams. Some mineral makeups are also great for oily skin. If your skin is dry, you need to look for foundations that hydrate as well as those that have age-defying peptides and/or vitamins and nutrients specifically identified to nourish dry skin. Look for lightweight liquids, whipped creams and moisture-rich mousses.
   
   Aging skin provides another set of problems altogether. For more information about choosing makeup for aging skin see my article "How to Choose the Right Makeup for Aging Skin."

3. Once you know what "type" of makeup foundation to choose, it is time to find the one that suits your specific skin tone. Begin by identifying your complexion color tone and color. Skin tones are either cool or warm. Cool skin tones look better in contrasting colors like stark white and black and silver metallics. Warm skin tones look best in softer shades like cream or brown and golden metallics. Complexion color may be a bit more difficult to determine since there are many varied colors. Still, they can be divided into the following categories: fair, rosy, deep, dark and olive. Fair skin tones are very pale in nature. It is the type of skin that sunburns easily. It may appear almost translucent in certain areas like the under the wrist. Some Irish, Norse, Swiss and other pale skinned groups fall in this category. Rosy skin has a natural pink undertone to it. It may also be a bit on the fair side or it may range to a medium skin tone. It is rarely deep in color. Deep skin has a natural brown tinge to it or tans very easily. It may be darker in the summer than in the winter, requiring makeup adjustments accordingly. Some Native Americans and lighter skinned Blacks fall in this category. Dark skin refers to women of color who do not have a natural olive or yellow tone to their skin. Some Native Americans, Blacks, Hispanics and Asians fall in this category.
   
   Olive skin covers those that have dark skin with a yellow or olive tinge to it. Some Hispanics and Asians fall into this category.

4. If you have cool skin tones, choose a foundation that has blue or pink undertones. If you have warm skin tones, choose a foundation with a slight yellow hue.

5. To test for proper complexion color, test foundation choices on your face and then examine how it looks in sunlight or in a well lighted mirror. If, after you apply your foundation and blend it in properly, it looks completely natural, then you have a good match. However, if there is difference in the color from the face to the neck, then you have chosen the wrong color and need to start over.

6. If you rely on foundation to give you a smooth color, then a translucent powder will be best to set your foundation. However, if you are using the powder to both smooth and color, then make the same type of choices with regard to color as you would for your foundation. Loose powder is usually a better choice than pressed powder. While pressed powder can streak foundation or leave unsightly clumps, a loose powder goes on evenly with the right makeup brush.

7. The next makeup choice to be made is blush. Just like your foundation and powder, blush should be chosen to match your skin tone, type, and condition. Fair and rosy skin looks best in pinks and tawny beige blushes. Deep skin tones shimmer in peaches and corals. Dark skin tones glow in plums (for cool skin) and rich bronzes (for warm skin). Olive skin tones are better suited to coppers and warm brown shades.

8. For detailed information on how to find the right eye color for your skin tones, see my article "How to Choose the Right Eye Makeup to Accent Your Eye Color." Otherwise, keep in mind that there are certain colors that work best with warm skin tones like creams, bronzes, browns and soft greens. Cool skin tones, on the other hand, look best in silvers and grays, pale blues, purples and dark greens.

9. The last step in the process is to determine the right lipstick color for your skin tone. Begin by testing the lipstick on white paper to figure out its primarily color. If the color is primarily pink, orange/red or pale purple it will work great for those with fair skin. Those with a rosy skin tone can wear a lot of different shades of lipsticks that are predominantly pink or red. Those with a deep skin tone can wear almost any shade of pink. Those with dark skin tone should stick to roses, magentas, and purples. Tomato reds and very pale pinks will work for those with an olive skin tone. Purchase coordinating lip liner at the same time as lipstick to achieve a perfect match if you intend to use lip liner.

Tips & Warnings

• Try foundation choices out on your face, not your hand or wrist. The skin coloring is different in those areas. If you choose a color that looks good anywhere other than your face, you are very likely making the wrong choice.
• Stick with colors that you know work for you instead of experimenting outside your color range.
• Choose the type of makeup that works for you and stick with it. Experimenting with types of makeup outside your realm is useless.
• Don't choose colors that are for warm skin if yours is cool, or vice versa. The colors won't look right no matter how much you might like them.
• Don't assume that expensive means better. That isn't always the case. Look at the ingredients of the makeup to find those that your skin requires.
• Don't buy every new makeup that comes down the pike. "New" doesn't necessarily mean better. If you want to experiment with something, check to see if the company offers samples and use those for "try outs."

[AlyshaReads16]

on 6/16/2008 Too wordy. I would have kept reading but there was way too much info. I would stick to short sentences that cut straight to the point.

[HillaryM]

on 3/5/2008 Thanks for the tips. My daughter has olive skin and under eye circles and we have been struggling to find colors that work for her.