Matching Makeup to Your Skin Tone

Most makeup users have felt the pain of matching their foundation to their skin tone. Is it too dark? Will it leave the dreaded orange line around the jaw? However, matching makeup to your skin tone doesn’t have to be overwhelming and stressful. In fact, following just a few steps can help achieve a perfectly blended foundation with flawless coverage.

The first step in choosing makeup for your skin is to understand the underlying colors in your skin tone. A simple and effective trick to discovering your skin tone is to think about the metals you usually choose for your jewelry. For instance, if silver tends to look better on you, you’re probably someone with a cool undertone. On the other hand, if gold is your most common jewelry choice, you’ve got a warm skin tone.

If unsure which undertone best describes you, take a quick look at your wrist. If the veins there appear bluer in color, you’re someone with cool undertones. If those veins look green, then you have a warm undertone. You can consider your skin tone neutral if you can see both colors.

Following these simple tricks, you can build a makeup kit containing colors and products perfect for your skin tone–a unique skin tone makeup collection catered just for you. Alternatively, ask a qualified makeup artist to assist you in identifying whether cool tones or warmer ones will suit your skin.

Here are a few things to remember when choosing a new foundation or trying to understand your skin tone.

1. Brand Choice Matters

Not all brands will have the same color blends; matching your skin tone can change depending on the makeup brand you’re choosing. Some brands might favor warmer skin tones and tend to have more orange in their base, whereas others might use more blues and pinks in their foundation.

You should check out several brands when matching your makeup to your skin tone.

2. Always Do a Patch Test

Skin tone is not always even. Often we have areas of redness or oiliness; for others, dry skin patches or acne might be a concern. When choosing new makeup, especially foundation and concealer, do a patch test on a clear skin area to get a feel for how it should look.

This way, you can see whether there are any interactions before you slather it all over your face. You should also do a quick test out into the sun: makeup that looks amazing in the harsh fluorescent lighting of a bathroom or a department store might not look the same when you’re in the sunshine.

3. Invest In Your Skin

Getting caught up in having the newest makeup product or the thickest coverage foundation to cover up pesky blemishes can be easy. However, skin care professionals recommend thinking about makeup in terms of clothing: skincare is your base layer and the most critical part of your routine.

The best way to ensure you get smooth coverage that matches across the whole of your face is to have fresh, moisturized skin first. Prioritizing skin care will go a long way to a flawless makeup application.

Moving Forward

Now that you better understand your base undertone, you can start choosing the most suitable makeup. Cool tone makeup will reflect those blue-ish undertones in your skin. We recommend reaching for soft pinks, beautiful blues, greys, and purple.

You’ll probably reach for warmer colors if you’ve got a warmer skin tone. Think bright orange and yellow (yes, yellow), golds, and luscious bronzes. For neutral makeup looks, muted colors and blends will often suit you best. Soft peachy pinks or even a coral color (which is great for summertime), nudes with pinks and beiges mixed, are a great option.

And for those with darker skin tones, consider brighter colors: bright orange blush, pretty pink fuchsias, and rich red lipsticks all look fantastic. Trying colorful makeup looks on dark skin can be the finishing touch on a dramatic evening ensemble or a playful spring outfit.

A night out is the perfect time to play with colors you might not usually include in your makeup application. However, don’t get too set on a color palette or scheme; experiment and play around with color when doing your makeup. You may find that using a color outside your usual skin tone can help emphasize a facial feature or offer a more striking evening look. And, of course, Don’t forget to choose something unique for that big date night or special occasion.

Want to level up your makeup application or dive into the glamorous world of makeup artistry? Visit our website today for more information about our cosmetology courses.