There is no denying how flattering some colours look on you while others seem a little off. This has little to do with your preference and everything to do with your skin tone and undertone.

The difference between skin tone and undertone.

Skin tone is the surface skin color, whereas skin undertone is the subtle hue underneath the surface. Skin tone is determined by the amount of melanin (skin pigment) present in the uppermost layer of your skin.

How to determine your skin tone.

While each skin tone can have different complexions and can be broken down into light medium, deep etc, you can determine the broader type of your skin tone by checking your freshly watched face especially your jawline under natural sunlight.

How to know your skin undertone type.

No special equipment is required. What is your skin undertone? Warm ,cool or neutral

Using the vein test.

Check your veins under a natural light. What is the color of your veins under your skin?If they are blue or purple you have a cool skin tone. Celebrities with cool skin tones include Lupita Nyong’o and Lucy Liu . If they are green or greenish blue you have a warm skin tone .Celebrities with warm skin tones include Beyonce and Jennifer Lopez.

If you are unable to tell what colour your veins are ,you have a neutral skin tone. Celebrities with the same include Angeline Jolie and Kerry Washington. The reason I’ve included celebrities with what skin tone is to help remind you what colours can look good on you too.

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Using the jewelry test.

If silver jewelry looks flattering on you you have a cool undertone. If gold jewelry looks good on you you have a warm undertone.

If both look good on you,you have neutral undertone.

Just between you and me ,this is one way professional stylists use to determine which colour best suits you along with your budget, the occasion you are dressing for,shape of your body and your preference.

Colours for a warm skin tone.

Colours that look good on you include orange,red,green ,purple ,blue ,latte, creamy white,amber and golden yellow .

Colours to avoid include the icy shades( brighter or softer shades of colors) ,sapphire and ruby.

Colours for a cool skin tone.

Colours that complement your tone include lilac,deep purple ,ruby,Sapphire ,royal blue,bright blue white and grey.

Colours to avoid include yellow and orange .

Colours for a neutral skin tone.

Colours that look good with you include neutral colours or neutral shades of colours to be specific for example soft pink , vanilla (at first i didn’t know it was a colour. Apparently its a shade of white. )and grey.

Colours to avoid include reds and yellows or anything too bright .

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Knowing your skin undertone , what colours look good on you and what colours do not will help you while shopping in determining which colours to stock up more .

The above colours are not written on stone . Wearing a colour you should avoid will not get you in any trouble ( the fashion police would have been on your neck though ,if you were a celebrity).

Ever seen how effortlessly some celebrities pull off bold colours and wondered what the secret to that is ? Well now you know. Don’t be in a hurry to pair pink and yellow though . Start small ,take baby steps the colors will fall in place eventually.

Knowing your skin tone and undertone and won’t just help you with dressing alone but with selecting makeup products best suited for your skin.