How Can I Tell What Skin Tone I Am?

Knowing your skin tone can help you pick flattering shades.

Depending on your race and biological background, everyone falls into one of two skin tone categories: "warm" or "cool." Determining your skin tone is important in order to choose the correct shades of foundation, the most flattering hair shade and the best colors to wear. Although determining your skin tone can be tricky, you do not need to be a beauty expert to figure it out.

Things You'll Need

• 3" x 5" gold foil
• 3" x 5" silver foil
• White paper

Instructions

1. Gently wash your face with a mild, nonabrasive soap and pat dry. Do not apply toner, moisturizer or makeup yet. Wait for 10 to 15 minutes.

2. Choose a large mirror with natural or nonfluorescent light to conduct your skin-tone tests.

3. Hold a plain white piece of paper next to your face. A "warm" skin tone will have golden or yellow undertones next to the paper and a "cool" skin tone will look rosy or pink with blue undertones.

4. Take turns holding each color of foil next to your face. One of the colors will reflect a glow to your skin; the other will make your skin tone look ashen or gray. If the gold foil suits you better, you have a warm skin tone. If silver favors you more, you are a cool skin tone.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are unable to determine your skin tone, opt for colors that favor a "cool" complexion, such as blues, greens and pinks. Cool skin tones are more common than warm.

References

• Determine Skin Tone
• Skin Tone Colors

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• The Best Colors For Your Skin Tone