How To Choose Colours That Flatter Your Skin Tone

Did you know that the colors you choose to wear can have a positive or negative effect on your appearance? Whether your color selection has a positive or negative effect on your appearance depends on whether your complexion has a warm or cold tone.

Selecting the wrong colors can result in:

Skin Tone appearing drained and tired
Shadowing creating a false impression of under-eye circles
Shadowing causing a false impression of double chins
Giving your teeth a slightly yellow hue

Selecting the right colors can result in:

Skin tone appearing radiant and glowing
Eyes appearing brighter and alert
Hair reflecting highlights

What Season Is Your Skin Tone?

To determine what colors will look best on you, you must first analyze your skin tone, natural hair color and eye color.

To determine the undertone color of your skin, look at the inside of your arm in natural daylight.
Then decide which season most accurately describes your complexion based on the list below.
The list below will act as a guideline of colors and shades that will work best for you.

The Four Seasons

There are 4 seasons of skin tones divided into warm and cold tones. Cool tones are Winter and Summer complexions. Warm tones are August and Spring Complexions.

Winter (Cool Tone)

You are a winter tone if the inside of your arm has blue or pink/rosy undertones:

Skin can be pale and porcelain white, yellowish-olive, or dark.
Has a lot of depth to their coloring and a lot of contrast between their hair color, eye color and skin tone.
Generally brunettes with deeply colored eyes.
Many Asians and African Americans and Natural white-blondes.

The Best

Sharp, stark and clear hues.
Intense, rich colors, like black, navy blue, red, and hot pink
Bright white or icy pastels, such as like cool blues, pinks and yellows

The Worst

Earthy tones and subdued colors like beige, orange and gold
Light-medium browns and some camel

Summer (Cool Tone)

You are a summer tone if the inside of your arm has blue or pink undertones with very pale and pink skin:

Generally occurs in natural blondes, and pale-skinned brunettes with pale eyes

The Best

Soft neutrals and pastels, as well as muted colors with cool undertones.
Powder blue, dusty pink, mauve, lavender, plum, and pale yellow

The Worst

Intense, vivid hues
Earth tones
Black and orange

Autumn (Warm Tone)

You are a autumn tone if the inside of your arm has golden undertones like a pale peach, golden beige or golden brown:

Generally redheads and brunettes with golden brown eyes and golden blonde and black hair coloring.
Tend to have dark eyes

The Best

Rich golden, spicy, and earthy colors
Muted and rich warm colors, such as camel, beige, olive, orange, gold, dark brown, and grey.

The Worst

Clear, bright colors
Black and white
Pastels
Blue tones

Spring (Warm Tone)

You are a spring tone if the inside of your arm has subtle golden undertones, and are usually creamy white or peach with extremely light, ivory skin color:

Generally natural golden blondes, auburn, or strawberry blond redheads
Very clear, light blue and green colored eyes
Freckles and rosy cheeks
Tend to have pale eyes

The Best

Pale, soft colors, such as peach, camel, golden yellow, golden brown, aqua, ivory, bright greens, true reds, clear blues and coral.
Fabric textures should have a refined finish, crisp linens, gabardines, and polished cottons

The Worst

Black and white
Dark, dull/muted colors

Next: How to dress for thinner thigh

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