Skin tones fall into three categories, warm, cool and neutral, most people will either have a warm skin tone or a cool one, only a few fall into the lucky neutral skin tone category. Determining your skin tone is important if you want to look your best and wear makeup and clothes that complement your skin tone, making you look fresh and vibrant instead of dull and ashen. People with warm skin tones look good in earth-tone colors, like browns, greens and shades of orange. People with cool skin tones suit rich, deep gemstone colors, like deep reds, dark blues and emerald greens. And those lucky few who wall into the neutral category can wear any color and look fabulous.
Step 1
Do the vein test, by turning your wrist and looking at your veins in natural light. If the underside of your veins have a bluish tone then your skin tone is cool, if your veins appear greenish that means you have a warm skin tone.
Step 2
Do the ponytail test, by tying your hair in a ponytail so that it's off your face. Thoroughly cleanse your face to ensure it's free from products like make-up and moisturizer. Place a white towel around your shoulders and neck, or alternatively hold a white piece of paper up. Look into a mirror, if your skin appears more bluish, then you've got a cool skin tone, if appears more yellow in color then you have a warm skin tone.
Step 3
Do the ear test, by standing in front of a mirror and angling another mirror so you can see the side of your head. Fold your ear over to see the crease, if it appears yellow you have a warm skin tone and if it appears more pinkish then you have a cool skin tone.
Step 4
Do the jewelry test, by trying on a gold piece of jewelry, followed by a silver piece. If you look better in gold jewelry then you most likely have a warm skin tone, while silver jewelry tends to look better on people with a cool skin tone. If you look great in both then you probably have a neutral skin tone.
Step 5
Assess your natural hair color and eye color. Generally if you have blue, green or gray eyes with blond, brown or black hair then your skin tone will be cool. If you have brown, hazel, green or black eyes and your hair is either black, brown, red or auburn then you'll have a warm skin tone.
Tips and Warnings
- Pop into a cosmetics store if you're still unsure about your skin tone. The experienced staff will be able to help determine your skin tone. If you find it difficult determining your skin tone from the above tests, then you most likely have a neutral skin tone. Complement your skin tone by wearing makeup and clothing colors and according to your skin tone.
Things You'll Need
- Mirror
- White towel
- Sheet of white paper
- Gold jewelry
- Silver jewelry
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