This is how to figure out what colours look best on you, based on your skin tone

Colour plays an integral role in the world we live: Its effects have been proven to sway thinking, change actions, raise your blood pressure and even suppress your appetite. Regardless, not all colours are complementary and every hue falls under a spectrum. If you’ve ever tried out a neon crop top or vibrant shade of lipstick that looked stunning on someone else but fell flat on you, you’ve fallen victim to an undertone clash. When it comes to the realm of fashion and beauty, identifying the subtle shades that comprise your skin is an intrinsic component to proper styling. But while it’s critical for your shopping cart to know this, finding out exactly how to decipher one’s undertone poses for many a perplexing task.

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There’s a rainbow of shades of skin, but fortunately, there are only three categories of undertones. The first step in understanding this concept? The skin’s surface tone may have various shades – ivory, light, medium, tan, dark, etc (as anybody who’s picked out a foundation must surely know). However, this is not to be confused with undertone, which is the colour underneath the surface. While you may share the same skin colour as someone, you won’t necessarily share the same undertone. The processes of identifying this is actually rather simple: Roll up your sleeves and examine the veins on the inside of your wrist. If they look more blue or purple, you likely have cool undertones. If the veins look green or yellow, you’re warm-toned. And if it’s a medley of the both, you’re blessed with neutral undertones. Another technique can stem from your sunburn habits – when you’re out in the sun, does your skin turn a golden-brown, or does it burn and turn a fiery red? If the former sounds familiar, you’re likely warm-toned. On the contrary, cool undertones tend to roast and sunburn easily.

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If you’re a cool toned gal, your predominantly blue undertones pair beautifully with oceanic shades (think white, black, royal blue, grey and navy). Frosty purples and pinks also look great on you, along with metallic silver and stark white – these shades contrast and hence neutralise the natural red in your skin. However, beware of styling tomato reds or oranges; contrary to initial instinct, matching this particular shade with your undertone will only make you look too rusty, and may just look like the colour is wearing you.

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On the flip side, warmer undertones look gorgeous in earthy shades like burnt orange, maple red, saturated yellow and heathered brown (think sunset). You’ll also glow when wearing colours that remind you of autumn – dark green, taupe and camel align perfectly with your wheelhouse. The same goes for peaches, corals and rose gold; these delectable hues are sure to illuminate your skin. Stay away from chillier colours like royal blue, pale grey, and pewter white – these shades might give your skin a grey cast and make you appear washed out.

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If you’re blessed with a diverse mingling of the two tones, you have a neutral base. While your hybrid colouring gives you more to choose from, it doesn’t mean the entire rainbow is yours for the taking. In general, you’ll look better when opting for softened and muted shades such as cream, lavender and baby pink. Harsh, stark or neon colours such as magenta, royal purple and electric blue could potentially overwhelm your balanced complexion.

It doesn’t end there; after all, we can’t go around wearing one solitary colour at a time (unless the orange jumpsuit look is your thing). Now that you know which colours best complement your undertone, it’s equally important to calculate which colours complement each other. In order to decipher the essence of styling, the colour wheel will become your best friend. Colourblocking has been, and always will be, a major fashion trend, so it may be worthwhile to find out which hues bounce off well against the other. For starters, split the colour wheel in half with an imaginary line – one half is warm and the other half is cool. Simple enough. Next, pick any colour you want to wear for the day and trace your finger over the line to the other side. The shade directly opposite it is its complementary and will be visually appealing against it (one warm and one cool). Now, take the same colour and consider the shades directly to the left and right. These are its analogous buddies and will also streamline beautifully into your outfit. For a rule of thumb, if they correspond on the wheel, they’ll correspond in your wardrobe. If the colours you choose are analogous (all in your colour wheelhouse), you’ve got the perfect palette for your skin. If your colour combo is complementary (falls on opposing sides), wear the shade that most flatters your undertone closest to your face (top, scarf, earrings, etc) and strategically work the other one away from it or through detached accessories (bottoms, shoes, purse, etc).

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Source: RD.com