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Choosing the right makeup colors is tricky business. Knowing whether you have a warm or cool skin tone is a huge step in the right direction. Cool skin tones have bluish-pinkish undertones, while warm skin tones have yellow or peach undertones. If you fall into the warm category, there are a number of beautiful colors out there that are perfect for your complexion.
How to Tell If You Have a Warm Skin Tone
Before you head to the makeup counter, take a minute to make sure you really do have a warm skin tone. There are a few simple ways to figure this out. One is to hold up silver jewelry next to your skin, and then hold up gold jewelry. Does the gold jewelry look better? Silver is a cool color, whereas gold is a warm color. So if the gold looks fabulous, chances are, you do have a warm skin tone. You can also turn over your arm and check out your veins. If they look green rather than blue, you likely have a warm skin tone. Also, think about which color clothing looks good on you. If black washes you out, and if ivory looks much better on you than pure white, you can probably assume your skin tone is warm.
Foundation
If you have a warm skin tone, the wrong foundation can make you look either sallow or washed out. It can also make you look like you're wearing a mask. To avoid this, choose a foundation with yellow, rather than pink undertones. Shades such as honey, wheat, tan, cream or beige will work best. To test whether a foundation works for you, rub some into the underside of your wrist. If it blends nicely into your skin, it's a keeper.
Blush and Lipstick
Avoid blushes with pink, blue and purple undertones. Instead, opt for colors with red and orange bases such as peaches, corals, cranberries and coppers. Women with dark olive and rich dark brown skin can get away with bolder, darker colors. For lipstick, choose a shade that's a slightly richer shade than your blush. If you're going for a more subtle look, a peach gloss works well. And for that all-important question -- how to choose the "right" red lipstick -- stay far away from pinkish hues. If your skin is an olive tone, choose a tomato red or a deep terra cotta. If your skin is very fair to medium-fair, choose a "true" red. If your hair is red, choose terra cotta or brick colors. If you have very dark skin, go for a deeper, darker shade of red.
Eye Makeup
If you have dark brown eyes, try a blue-green shade to brighten them and give them a pop of color, and use classic brown or black mascara and eyeliner. If you have light brown eyes, try lavender or plum eyeshadow. If your eyes are hazel, you can go with a green or gold eyeshadow, which will bring out colorful flecks; a coral shade, which will create contrast; or a mauve or plum, which will complement your color. Also, try a less-harsh brown or charcoal eyeliner and mascara. For blue or green eyes, try a reddish-brown eyeshadow if you have a fair complexion, or a color that matches your eyes if you have a darker complexion. Use a blue, green or brown eyeliner and brown mascara.
