Colour Theory | A Guide to Finding the Best Colour Palette For Your Skin Tone
There are no rules to personal style; however, by focusing on wearing colours that effortlessly complement your skin tone, you will find that creating looks becomes a process that is elevated through ease.
Besides being a simple yet effective way to instantly brighten the complexion, eyes and smile, choosing colours that suit your skin tone can also help simplify the process of curating your wardrobe by focusing on the shades that flatter, time after time.
If you find yourself reflecting and asking, ‘What are my colours?’, keep reading for the Aje Report’s detailed guide on how to find the best colour palette for your skin tone.
What Are My Colours: How To Find the Hues That Suit You
To find the correct colour palette, you should first determine your skin’s undertone. As the word itself suggests, the ‘undertone’ signifies the tone of your skin from below the surface that influences your overall complexion.
Classically, there are three types of undertone in skin colour theory: warm, cool and neutral. Finding your dominant undertone is the easiest way to uncover which colours will best complement you. This is because it is the undertone that reveals which hues enhance and ‘pop’ against your complexion, making your eyes and skin appear brighter, and your smile whiter.
Below, uncover the four techniques to find out whether your undertone leans warm, cool or neutral.
The White Paper Test
The ‘white paper test’ is arguably the simplest method for finding your undertone. Commence with a makeup-free face in natural light to best examine your skin. Take a piece of pure white paper, place it near your face, and consider how your face looks in contrast.
If you notice subtle gold, yellow, green or light brown tones beneath the surface, you have a ‘warm’ undertone. Conversely, if you find pigments that veer more towards blue, rose or pink, your undertone is cool. If your skin seems ashen or grey, you likely present a neutral undertone.
Note that certain skin conditions can make it more difficult to observe your natural undertone. In such scenarios, have someone hold the paper test near the crease behind your ear.
The Jewellery Test
The ‘jewellery test’ is another method to reveal your skin’s undertone. Begin by holding a piece of silver and then gold jewellery against your face, and observe: which piece of jewellery makes your skin ‘sing’? If you have a warm undertone, the gold jewellery should give your complexion an added glow, while silver jewellery looks more striking against a cool countenance.
The Vein Test
Unlike the paper and jewellery tests, you don’t require any additional items to do the ‘vein test’. Simply take note of the colour of the veins in your wrist and hand. If your veins appear more blue or purple, that is a sign of a cool undertone, while a green hue suggests a warm undertone. If it doesn’t seem like it is quite either of those? That indicates a neutral undertone.
The Hair and Eye Colour Test
Although it is not a perfect method, examining your hair and eye colour can assist in finding your skin’s undertone. Typically, people with cooler undertones tend to have blue, green or grey eyes, with locks that span blue-black and brown hair that appears almost black, to very light blonde.
Those with gold undertones often have varying shades of brown and amber eyes, with black, dark brown or caramel blonde tresses. While not always the case, those with neutral undertones usually possess hazel eyes and locks with mixed warm and cool natural highlights.
The Best Colours For Warm Skin Tones
If you have determined that you have a warm undertone, you should look to colours that share the same ‘golden’ quality. To bring out the naturally aurous quality in your complexion, lean towards rich shades of yellow, orange, burgundy, chestnut, deep berry, caramel and warm red.
That is not to say traditionally perceived ‘cool’ colours such as blue and green are off limits by any means, but that blue shades with yellow undertones, such as turquoise and olive, are far more flattering for warmer skin tones. When opting for neutrals, consider creamy off-whites, camel and chocolate.
The Best Colours For Cool Skin Tones
If your undertone is on the cooler side, opt for traditionally cool shades such as sapphire, cobalt blue, emerald, lavender, and ice blue. When considering warm hues, including pink and red, select shades with blue-leaning undertones, like ice pink or ruby, to enhance your overall complexion. With neutrals, favour colours like navy, crisp white and classic grey.
The Best Colours For Neutral Skin Tones
Those with neutral skin tones have the benefit of suiting almost all hues, but tend to look best in ones that fall in the middle of the spectrum – neither too bright, nor too bold.
Consider a palette of dusty pink, medium green, jade, light peach and lagoon blue when opting for colour. In terms of neutrals, off-white, medium greys, back, and coffee will highlight your features best.
The Best Colours For Summer Skin Tones
True or Cool Summer
Skin: Cool undertones, with overtones ranging from medium beige to dark brown.
Eyes: Grey or blue.
Hair: Medium to dark, ashy tones of brown.
Colours to wear: Classic navy, cobalt blue, traditional rose, mint, violet, raspberry, dark emerald and evergreen.
The Best Colours For Summer Skin Tones
Light Summer
Skin: Predominantly neutral undertone that might lean slightly pink.
Eyes: Blue or green.
Hair: Medium to dark, ashy tones of brown.
Colours to wear: Lavender, light warm coral, baby blue, cool pink, cornflower, wisteria, primrose yellow and pastel green.
The Best Colours For Summer Skin Tones
Soft Summer
Skin: Neutral undertone that leans slightly warm, with overtone colours ranging from medium beige to dark brown.
Eyes: Blue, hazel or grey.
Hair: Ashy brown, ranging from medium to dark.
Colours to wear: Chocolate brown, dusty rose, marsala, lilac, cassis, soft white, true red, peacock and periwinkle blue.
The Best Colours For Autumn Skin Tones
Warm Autumn
Skin: Warm undertone with overtones ranging across ivory, olive and medium brown.
Eyes: Dark and golden to chocolate brown eyes with gold flecks.
Hair: Medium to dark brown or auburn with golden tones.
Colours to wear: Burgundy, golden yellow, rust, deep olive green, saffron, wine red, coral, aquamarine and warm blue.
The Best Colours For Autumn Skin Tones
Soft Autumn
Skin: Neutral undertone that might lean slightly warm.
Eyes: Light brown, green or hazel.
Hair: Blonde, strawberry blonde or brown hair.
Colours to wear: Peach, light olive, soft lime, moss, French blue, sage green, oyster white, cream, light coral, aubergine, warm grey and old gold.
The Best Colours For Autumn Skin Tones
Deep Autumn
Skin: Warm undertone, with overtones ranging across ivory, olive and medium to dark brown.
Eyes: Dark brown, brown-black, dark blue and green.
Hair: Medium to dark brown and black hair with golden tones.
Colours to wear: True red, deep teal, dark olive green, topaz, citrine, warm ruby, forest green, dark chocolate and soft white.
The Best Colours For Spring Skin Tones
True or Warm Spring
Skin: Warm undertone, with overtones ranging from warm beige to slightly tan.
Eyes: Light brown, hazel, green or blue.
Hair: Golden blonde, strawberry blonde, and auburn to dark, warm brown.
Colours to wear: Lime, yellow ochre, dusky peach, coral, tangerine, soft teal, sea green, aqua, ivory, evergreen, ginger and biscuit.
The Best Colours For Spring Skin Tones
Clear or Bright Spring
Skin: Cool undertone that leans slightly pink, with overtones ranging from ivory to golden brown.
Eyes: Light brown, blue or blue.
Hair: Warm, golden blonde or brown hair, copper and auburn.
Colours to wear: Bright blue, watermelon, true red, azure, light emerald, dove grey, cobalt blue, violet and red coral.
The Best Colours For Spring Skin Tones
Light Spring
Skin: Cool undertone that veers slightly pink or peach, with pale overtones.
Eyes: Hazel, green, blue or light brown.
Hair: Light to medium golden brown, golden blonde, strawberry blonde and light red.
Colours to wear: Light aqua, soft teal, ivory, bluebell, cornflower blue, blush, periwinkle, shell pink, peppermint, pale peach, and primrose yellow.
The Best Colours For Winter Skin Tones
Clear Winter
Skin: Cool undertone that veers blue.
Eyes: Bright blue or green.
Hair: Black or medium to dark brown.
Colours to wear: Hot pink, cobalt blue, true red, violet, sapphire, azure, ice pink, acid yellow, emerald and light grey marle.
The Best Colours For Winter Skin Tones
Deep or Dark Winter
Skin: Neutral undertone that veers blue with overtones that appear olive or warm.
Eyes: Black or dark brown.
Hair: Black or medium to dark brown.
Colours to wear: Deep claret, forest green, oakmoss, true red, garnet, navy, turquoise, cool ruby, chestnut red, sapphire, amethyst and white.
