HERE'S HOW TO CHOOSE MAKE-UP FOR YOUR SKIN TONE

When choosing make-up, it is important to know which shades are complementary to your skin tone. Today we take a look at how to find the right hues for you.

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HOW TO FIND YOUR OVERTONE
The first step in finding the right make-up for your skin tone, is to determine your over and undertone. Your overtone is the initial colour you see when you look at your skin. Stand in natural light with a hand mirror and look closely at your skin, if it is ivory or a cream colour – you have a light skin colour. You probably have medium skin if your overtone is closer to caramel or tan, and if your skin is a chocolate colour, your overtone is dark.

WHAT ABOUT YOUR UNDERTONE?
Stand near a window or in natural light and turn your hands around so that your palms are facing up. Look closely at the veins in your wrists, if they appear green – you have a warm skin tone, and if they appear blue, you have a cool undertone.

If this doesn’t do the trick, try holding a piece of white paper next to your face in natural light. If your skin appears pink or blue next to it, you have a cool undertone. A yellow shade would indicate a warm skin tone.

Now that you know what your skin tone is, let’s have a look at which shades would work for you.



FAIR SKIN TONE
Your skin has cool pink undertones, so look for a yellow-based foundation to help neutralise it. Colour stands out very prominently on alabaster skin – opt for light shades that are not too overpowering. Want to glow like a pro? Look for a highlighter that has silver or lavender tones as it will brighten your skin without washing you out.



LIGHT SKIN TONE
Wait, what’s the difference? A light skin tone is just a little bit warmer than fair, so you will also need to look for a yellow-based foundation, but it should be slightly darker. Red and orange undertones should be avoided, however. Add a little warmth to your cheeks by finding a bronzer with honey or golden tones.



MEDIUM SKIN TONE
Not too cool and not too warm, this neutral skin tone calls for neutral shades. Be careful to not go too grey or orange with your foundation. For medium skin tones, it’s all about balance! You’re also lucky enough to have a natural warm glow, which you can enhance with a golden-brown bronzer. Lavender and rich blue shadows will make your eyes pop.



TAN SKIN TONE
Your glowing complexion always looks healthy and radiant, lucky you! Enhance your natural glow with a matte bronzer with undertones similar to your skin. Avoid brown or deep purple lipsticks and opt for orange-based reds and tangerines.



DARK SKIN TONE
We’ve got great news for you, your skin tone can pull off almost any bright colour! You’ll want to look for pigmented hues that will pop against your rich complexion. A dark foundation with a slight reddish undertone will prevent an ashy or grey finish. If you struggle with oily skin, look for a mattifying foundation or pressed powder.

Not sure if you have an oily, combination or normal skin? Check out our How To Take Care of Your Skin article!

QUICK TIPS

• Under-eye concealer should always be one shade lighter than your foundation. 
• If you’re struggling to find a pressed powder that coordinates with your skin tone, opt for a translucent one instead.
• The best place to test make-up is on your collarbone or neck. 
• If you’re shopping for a nude lipstick, match it to the colour of your inner lip. Or you could try matching it to your nipple. That’s right! Certified physician, Dr Travis Lane Stork, says, “We have a great way to pick your best shade for your face. What you want to do (is) you want to match your nipple colour. Nature knows best.”