Really confused about warm tones vs cool tones. What’s my tone??
I cannot seem to find makeup that looks right on me. Some warm colors look ok, some cool colors look ok, but not many of either! Most warm and even some neutral foundations look kind of orange on me, while cool based foundations make me look dead or flat. I usually stay with browns or neutrals in the color department, which is boring me to death! Some pinks, corals and just a few mauves look ok on me, but I have a military ball coming up and would like to do something neat with my makeup but I have no clue.
I’ve had one Professional Makeup Artist tell me I’m cool hued, another tell me I’m warm hued and a third tell me I’m neutral! Does neutral even exist? I have blue-green, sometimes grey eyes, fair skin and dark blonde hair (currently dyed red). I blush bright pink and easily. I look good with red hair as long as it isn’t coppery or too orange-y, and I look great with blonde and brown hair except if it’s ash. What’s up with me??
Is this a common problem? What are some tips?
I am a makeup artist and this is some colors and some info hope that helps:
Warm colors are based on yellows, oranges, browns, yellowish greens, orangish reds, and the like.
Cool colors are based on blues, greens, pinks, purples, blue-greens, magentas, and blue-based reds.
This simple chart will help you to determine what colors are what, once you learn the basic differences between warm and cool color tones.
Once you have a basic understanding, you can then differentiate between for example, a “warm pink” and a “cool pink”. A warm pink is a peachy pink. A cool pink would be a purplish pink. A warm green would be a yellowish green. A cool green would be more blue.
A warm toned foundation powder is more yellow based. A cool toned one is more pink.
When you hear someone say “I am an autumn” or “I am a spring”, this means that they look best in warm tones. In contrast, “summers” and “winters” look best in cool tones.
Looking at blushes? As a rule, any blush with a brown or peach undertone is warm. Any blush with a purple or pink undertone is cool. Some colors can work for both skintones, such as a peachy pink or a pinkish brown.
The best best is to try a few samples and see how they compare.
If you do not know your skintone, you can estimate it by this:
Cool: Eyes are typically blue or grey. Haircolor typically blonde, brown or black. Skin has definite blue and pinkish undertones. Cool-toned people look best in colors such as blue, red, pink and purple, or “gem-tones”. Usually look best in silver jewelry. In natural light, the color of the veins on the underside of your wrist are bluish. You can wear a white shirt and it is flattering on you.
Neutral: Eyes may be any color. Hair may be any color. Skin has unspecifiable undertones, such as pink, olive or yellow. Those with neutral coloring can wear just about any color clothing and look good. Can wear gold or silver jewelry (no preference as to which looks better)
Warm: Eyes are typically brown, green or hazel. Haircolor typically brown, black, red, auburn, blonde or strawberry blonde. Skin has yellow/orange or olive undertones. Warm-toned people look best in earthy-toned clothing, such as browns, yellows, oranges, yellowish green and ecru. Look best in gold jewelry. In natural light, the color of the veins on the underside of your wrist are greenish. You are most flattered by an off-white, cream or ecru shirt (i.e. pure white makes you look washed out)