FAMA Beauty

Experimenting with makeup can be an exciting way to shake up a beauty routine. It’s fun to try a new lipstick or play around with foundation. But sometimes what looks good on your best friend is not as flattering on you. Finding the best makeup for your skin tone is all about selecting colors that complement your skin.

TYPES OF SKIN TONES

When you think of skin tone, you’re probably thinking of your surface tone or how you would describe your skin color to someone. Surface tone can change as a result of such things as tanning, rosacea or scarring. Surface tones fall into five categories:

• Fair
• Light
• Medium
• Tan
• Dark

TYPES OF UNDERTONES

The key to finding the right makeup for yourself depends on your skin’s undertone, or the hue beneath your skin’s surface that doesn’t change. Undertones fall into three categories:

• Cool, which means your skin has blue or pink undertones. You likely have cool skin if you burn easily.
• Warm, in which you have olive or yellow undertones. Those who tan easily have warm skin.
• Neutral is when your skin is a mix of cool and warm undertones. If you get a slight golden tan when you’re in the sun, then you probably have neutral tones.

HOW TO FIND YOUR SKIN UNDERTONE

There are several tests to discover skin undertones. Trying one of them—or all if you’re unsure with the first result—is a simple way to determine the right makeup for you.

THE VEIN TEST

The right tone for your face can actually be determined by examining your wrists. Simply look at the color of your veins. Are they purple or blue? Then you’re cool. Green or olive indicate that you’re warm. If you’re unsure of the dominant color, then you’re likely neutral.

THE JEWELRY TEST

Another easy way to figure out your undertone is by digging through your jewelry box. Try on a piece of gold jewelry and then a piece of silver. If the gold makes your skin glow, then you’re warm. If the silver looks striking on you, then you have cool skin. Do both look wonderful? This means you have neutral skin.

THE WHITE T-SHIRT TEST

Try on a pure white T-shirt or hold a piece of white fabric up to your face. Your skin will look yellow if you have warm undertones. A rosy glow indicates cool skin. If you can’t tell, then you have neutral skin.

Finally, apply the darkest shadow in your palette into your crease.

Editor’s tip: There are a few other ways you can apply multiple shades of eyeshadow — the most important part is to get creative and find what works for you.

The colorblock eyeshadow style involves applying three shadows vertically across your upper lid, like three different columns, for a super intense and colorful final look. You can wear your colors in whatever order you wish.

Alternatively, you can also stack your shades horizontally, one on top of the next. Start with your darkest color as the base, applying it closest to your upper lash line. Then simply work your way upward until you hit your brow bone.

COMPLEMENTARY MAKEUP FOR YOUR SKIN TONE

Now that you’ve figured out both your surface tone and whether you have cool, warm or neutral skin, the next step in answering the question “What’s the best makeup for my skin tone?” is determining which colors fall into these categories. This applies not just to foundation shades, but also to tinted moisturizers, BB creams and CC creams, bronzers, lipstick and eye makeup.

FAIR SKIN TONE

If you have fair skin (maybe you’ve heard it described as ivory or porcelain) then you likely have cool undertones. It’s important to use caution when you’re very pale, as many colors are too pigmented for your skin. Stick to light pinks and beiges that have blue undertones, as any hints of yellow or orange will make you look sallow.

• For foundation and bronzer, remember: less is more. Stick with lightweight ones that have blue undertones.
• Apply eye makeup with a light hand, using browns and taupes instead of black. Heavy, dark eye makeup will overwhelm the color of your skin.
• When it comes to lipstick, cool shades of pink and red are the best lip colors for fair skin. A bold red lipstick looks great against pale skin but be sure to choose one with blue rather than orange undertones.

LIGHT SKIN TONE

Like those with fair skin, those with light skin tend to land in the cool undertone camp. Because your skin is slightly darker, however, you’ll discover it’s a little easier to find makeup that works for you.

• When it comes to foundation and bronzer, once again, blue undertones work best.
• Consider your eye color when choosing your eye makeup, as earthy hues look best for blue eyes, while greys and dark browns work well on brown eyes. Just be sure to follow the same rule of not overdoing it when applying the makeup.
• For lipstick, stick with blue undertones. Anything that is too brown will make your skin look yellow.

MEDIUM SKIN TONE

When it comes to medium-tone skin, neutral makeup is often the way to go. You’re quite lucky though, because you can experiment with colors that are both blue-based and yellow-based.

• Neutral foundations and bronzers with a hint of pinky-peach to them even out any imperfections while adding a bit of a glow.
• Once again, your eye color plays a big role in your decision, but with medium skin you have the freedom to play around with more dramatic colors in both the cool and warm realms.
• Peach and pink lipsticks are a lovely contrast against your skin. You can also embrace a reddish-brown lip, as it won’t give you the sallowness that occurs with lighter complexions.

TAN SKIN TONE

Those with tan skin should embrace their golden glow. Warm makeup with yellow undertones showcases your radiance.

• Embrace bronzer. It plays to your natural undertones, and you can add more or less to your normal foundation as the seasons change.
• Eye shadows in shades of bronze and gold play off your skin tone and make your eyes sparkle.
• When it comes to lipsticks, peachy shades provide those with tan skin a fresh-faced, just-came-from-the-beach look.

DARK SKIN TONE

In recent years, those with dark skin tones have found a wider selection of makeup on the market. There are a multitude of shades within the dark skin tone spectrum, and it’s great to experiment.

• Dark skin can fall into any of the undertone categories, so before you choose a foundation, try one of the skin tone tests above. Bronzer is a great option for brightening your skin and adding dimension.
• When it comes to eye makeup, go as bold and bright as you desire. Dark skin paired with vibrant colors is a stunning look.
• As with eye makeup, dramatic lip colors make a gorgeous statement. Just be sure to go neutral with the eyes if you choose bold lips, or vice versa.

Once you know your skin tone and understand the makeup that works best for it, you can feel confident in picking the colors that will make you shine.