HOW TO DETERMINE YOUR SKIN TONE BEFORE BUYING FACE PRODUCTS

Have you ever wandered up and down the cosmetic aisle or searched endlessly online stores looking for your next product, but get stuck asking yourself, “How do I determine my skin tone?” Determining your skin tone can be a daunting task and buying the right shades to beautify your complexion is sometimes overwhelming.

The wrong foundation, concealer, bronzer or blush can turn you into an orange clown or uncanny porcelain doll if you aren’t careful. Your makeup needs to blend seamlessly with your natural skin tone at the jawline to avoid looking unnatural or ‘caked’, and determining your skin tone is paramount for accomplishing this task. Here is a comprehensive guide on how you can (correctly!) discover your skin tone—and prevent those dreaded makeup disasters.

What is Skin Tone?

The “tone” of your skin is the genetically endowed amount of melanin in your epidermis (the outermost layer of skin). Melanin—a complex polymer produced by cells called melanocytes—refers to a group of naturally-occurring dark brown or black pigments present in human skin (and animals, too!).

When the skin is exposed to damaging ultraviolet light from the sun, melanocytes kick into overdrive as a natural defense mechanism, producing an abundant amount of melanin spread across the epidermis is absorb the sun’s harmful rays. For that reason, determining your skin tone will vary depending on how much time you spend in unprotected sun exposure, but the skin tone you were born with is based on your genetic makeup. Our ancestors adapted to their environment; those in sunnier regions and climates evolved to naturally produce more melanin for sun protection, and therefore had darker skin tones. It’s hard to group skin tones into categories, since each of us has uniquely varying hues, but generally speaking there are three different categories you can use to determine your skin tone:

Light: Light or fair skin tones tend to historically derive from northern European countries which faced frequent snow or cloud coverage, and therefore did not need much melanin protection. Paler people are usually very sensitive to the sun and burn much easier than those with darker skin. If you find that this is your skin tone, be extra diligent with your UV protection.

Medium: Medium complexions are typical of Southern Europe and Northern Asian descent. Sometimes referred to “olive”, this skin tone is a neutral, well-balanced beige appearance and will make finding the right foundation shade much easier. If you determine this is your skin tone, you probably tan well in the sun (note: that doesn’t mean you’re immune to sun-related aging!).

Dark: Dark complexions typically originate from parts of the world that have the most exposure to ultraviolet radiation, such as the Middle East, India, and Africa. As with those who have medium skin, you are not exempt from sun damage if you have this skin tone, and are in fact more prone to hyperpigmentation, so hold onto that sunscreen!

What are Skin Undertones?

If you have ever shopped for makeup products, you’ve probably heard the terms “cool”, “warm”, and “neutral” describing different shades of skin tone. These terms refer to the skin’s “undertone,” or the subtle, muted color beneath your skin’s surface. Think of it as a shadow that’s always there; while your determined skin tone may change, the undertone remains the same. Learning how to determine skin tone to find the right cosmetic relies largely on matching your unique undertone. Let’s break down the different undertones:

Cool: red and pink with bluish hints
Warm: yellow, peachy and golden hues
Neutral: olive or a balanced mix of the shades above

The surface color of your skin tone, or the first thing you see when you look in the mirror, may appear ruddy, but your undertone could be golden or yellow. Therefore, when determining your skin tone for foundation, concealer or any other type of cosmetic, pay equal importance to your undertone.

What is Skin Complexion?

Before teaching you how to determine your skin tone for those who are still unsure, it’s worth noting that skin tone and complexion are not one in the same; tone refers to the color of your skin while your complexion encompasses your overall appearance. Think of rosy, red cheeks or dark under-eye circles; “complexion” includes these colors in addition to your natural skin tone. It also refers to texture, such as dry versus oily.

Pick products suited to your complexion as well as tone, i.e. those with excessive shine should seek mattifying products, or those with uneven tone should find color correctors, and so forth.