Makeup and skin tone can be a match made in heaven, or at the other end of the spectrum, you could end up looking like you had a bad spray tan or an amateur show clown. Not a good look, right? Our skin tones can change with the seasons, and after a day in the sun, it can change our skin tone drastically. We also have to match, balance, and find the combination of makeup for our eyes, lips, blush, and cheek highlights. This can seem daunting, but we have got solutions for you. Here are the makeup colors you really need for your skin tone.
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00:00Finding makeup colors that blend in seamlessly with your skin and enhance your natural beauty
00:05can be a challenge, but it doesn't have to be impossible.
00:08Here's how to find out what complexion you have and which makeup colors are going to
00:12work for you.
00:14Before you hit up Sephora to buy literally all the makeup that matches your skin tone,
00:17get familiar with your skin's undertone.
00:20The real key to that perfect complexion is making sure that that foundation matches your
00:24undertone perfectly.
00:26Makeup artist Lauren Gott explained to Allure that undertones are subdued hues, cool, warm,
00:32or natural, under the surface of your skin.
00:34Just look at the veins on the inside of your wrist.
00:36If you notice a purple or blue hue, you have a cool undertone.
00:40If you have a warm undertone, your veins will appear green.
00:43And if you're seeing blue-green, your skin has a natural undertone.
00:46And here's how you can find the very best shades for your unique tone.
00:49If your skin is looking good, you're looking good.
00:53Makeup artist Afton Williams tells Byrdie that ladies with cool undertones likely have
00:57a fair complexion, and that might just complicate finding your perfect shade, especially if
01:02you have very fair skin.
01:03Need an A-list example?
01:05Think Rachel Brosnahan.
01:06Makeup artist Christine Walsh told Dermstore that for fair skin tones,
01:10"...colors can often be too pigmented and harsh.
01:13When it comes to foundations, they can often look too pink or too yellow, and most bronzers
01:17are often too red or too intense."
01:20Makeup artist Tasha Ryko Brown-Juvel told InStyle that you'll want to avoid makeup that
01:24skews orangish-red.
01:25Instead, stick to soft pinks and beiges.
01:29Even if you have a light complexion that's not quite alabaster, it's likely that your
01:32skin still has cool undertones.
01:35Makeup artist Dee Dee Kelly told Reader's Digest she recommends a pass on warm brown
01:39shades because on your skin, they'll appear orange.
01:42Kelly says she's a fan of NYX Professional Makeup Highlight & Contour Pro Palette because
01:46the colors are cool tones and they blend really well.
01:49You'll also want to look for lipsticks with similar undertones to yours.
01:53As Williams tells Byrdie,
01:54"...go for reds that have a hint of blue."
01:57If you have a complexion that's somewhere between medium and fair, neutral hues are
02:01your jam.
02:02Makeup artist Gina Bass told InStyle that medium-fair skin tones look best with a foundation
02:07that has yellow undertones.
02:08Peachy gold blushes and creamy beige eyeshadows will also work for you.
02:12If your complexion is more medium-dark than medium-light, try out a honey-toned foundation.
02:17Professional makeup artists revealed to InStyle that this skin tone is highly versatile.
02:21You can even rock bright or metallic eyeshadows, saturated pink blushes, or even pale lips.
02:27Clarins makeup artist Sonia Merlot explained this skin tone, telling Vogue,
02:31"...olive skin tone has neutral or yellow undertones with a greenish hue, hence the
02:35name olive."
02:36But finding the right shade for this complexion can be a challenge, so Merlot suggests picking
02:41three colors — one that you feel is closest to your skin tone, one that is a shade darker,
02:45and one that is a shade lighter.
02:46After applying each color along your jawline and letting them dry, go with the one that
02:50blends seamlessly.
02:51When it comes to eyeshadows, skip blues in favor of teal, which is the it color for olive
02:55skin.
02:57Makeup artist Carissa Ferreri told Refinery29 that she loves tanned skin to be radiant and
03:02healthy.
03:03And for that, Ferreri goes for rich, pigmented, warm-toned blushes.
03:06If you tan in the sun, you'll have to make seasonal adjustments to your makeup routine.
03:10But beauty pro Ashley Rebecca says that's an easy fix, telling E! News,
03:14Simply use a liquid bronzer and mix it in with your makeup to change the shade.
03:18Looking for the perfect eyeshadow?
03:20Go for the gold!
03:21Makeup artist Kieran Batty tells Refinery29 that you can repurpose your gold shadow as
03:25highlighter, too.
03:27If you have a dark complexion, there are a few things Beyoncé's makeup artist, Sir John,
03:31advises.
03:32He told InStyle,
03:33"...women of color have to understand that they're not just one color everywhere.
03:36That is the biggest misconception.
03:38You want a lighter foundation and a deeper one, because you should aim for your skin
03:41to look three-dimensional."
03:42The makeup guru has plenty of favorites for you to try.
03:45From the inexpensive L'Oreal Paris Infallible Pro Matte Foundation to the higher-end NARS
03:50All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation, you'll be nailing your look on your budget in no
03:54time.
03:55Once you've picked your perfect foundation, according to InStyle, deep shades like chestnut,
03:58plum, and burgundy, as well as reddish browns, make for super flattering accent shades.
04:03I feel beautiful when my makeup looks great."
04:06If you have a deep complexion like that of actress Nupita Nyong'o, there's no one better
04:10qualified to help you find your shade than the actress' makeup artist, Nick Burrows.
04:15He told BET,
04:16"...the biggest mistake is being literal with the way the color looks in the packaging.
04:19It's really more about how the color and formula translates onto the skin."
04:23When selecting a color, he said it's important to be open-minded and always try the product
04:27on your face as opposed to your hands for the best match.
04:30After you've found your base color, Refinery29 suggests a nude eyeshadow or a mauve lip that
04:34will look stunning against deeper skin tones.
04:37"...and a true red is neither too warm or too cool.
04:41So it also suits almost every woman."
04:43Thankfully, some makeup colors look great on literally every skin tone.
04:47For universally flattering neutrals, makeup artist Bobbi Brown tells Real Simple,
04:51"...neutrals include tones naturally found in the skin, like peach, rose, bronze, and
04:55even plum."
04:56"...everybody likes pink, period."
04:58But which neutral shade works best depends on your skin tone.
05:01Luckily, it's simple to figure out.
05:03Pick a color within two shades of your natural cheek, eyelid, and lip color.
05:06Maybelline New York makeup artist Charlotte Willer also told the mag,
05:10"...shimmer draws attention to areas you want to highlight."
05:13A universally flattering shimmer?
05:15Ladies, go on and glow up!