Undertone is the base color of your skin. Divided into four groups:
- warm (yellow or golden shades)
- cold (pink or red shades),
- olive (yellowish-greenish, often dark, swarthy shade)
- neutral (balanced yellow and pink shades).
Skin undertone has nothing to do with whether you have rosacea, eczema or acne, and has nothing to do with how light or dark your skin looks (this is the degree of pigment saturation).
Look at your face, neck and chest in daylight. Then read the following descriptions and choose the one that suits you best.
White
See a doctor urgently!
Pale skin may be normal if it is present from birth. But if previously normal skin begins to turn pale, you should consult a therapist to undergo an examination and identify the cause. And if, against the background of pallor, a bluish tint appears on the lips or other parts of the face and, moreover, this is accompanied by a disturbance in general health, you should immediately call an ambulance, since such symptoms may indicate internal bleeding.
When pale skin develops gradually, it may indicate anemia. This term hides a whole group of diseases, therefore, in order to accurately identify the cause and prescribe the appropriate treatment, a comprehensive examination is carried out. Also among the diseases that lead to pale skin are heart disease, vascular disorders, pulmonary diseases, and thyroid diseases.
Or to a cosmetologist?
Poor environment, poor nutrition and bad habits also lead to pale skin. And if no pathology was identified during examination by a therapist, then you can contact a cosmetologist for help. He will select suitable nutritional supplements, prescribe therapy aimed at activating microcirculation (massage treatments), conduct a course of mesotherapy (subcutaneous injections), which will replenish the level of vitamins and minerals in the skin, and also directly activate blood microcirculation in the vessels.
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Decorative cosmetics by color type
Eyebrows should match the color of your hair, eyes and skin. To accurately match the tone and not give away artificially created eyebrows, you need to know the temperature of the skin.
Summer
For a summer color type, eyebrows should be cool, matching the hair. Ash shades, as well as brown with a gray undertone, will look great.
Options:
- Brow Artist Expert pencil in the shade “cool blond” from L'Oreal.
- pencil No. 100 taupe from Luxvisage.
If we talk about other decorative cosmetics for “summer”, then for coloring the eyelids it is better to choose gray-brown shadows, as well as light pink, lilac and sometimes blue. If you choose a multi-color palette, then take a closer look at NYX, ULTIMATE SHADOW PALETTE shade Ash10 - it has excellent cool colors.
Cool pink blushes are suitable, like those from the Flovera company number 04.
Winter
For cold girls of the “winter” color type, we recommend taking a closer look at any cold shades with a dash of gray.
Options:
- eyebrow pencil COUP DE GÉNIE No. 003 from Vivienne Sabo;
- eyebrow pomade NYX Black 05
- double eyebrow shadows NYX No. 01 – black and gray.
Any hint of red color should be avoided - it is inherent in warmth and would be inappropriate on a cold face. This rule also applies to the summer type.
Shadows suitable are gray, black, rich purple, green and silver. Almost all the colors recommended for “winter” are in the Lime Crime palette.
Don’t forget that “winter” usually comes with black arrows, which only emphasize the aristocratic contrast.
Spring
Warm spring girls with warm brown hair will be harmonious with golden blonde eyebrows - this is a shade of brown with a shimmer. Otherwise, take a closer look at all the brown shades, which are selected depending on the saturation of the hair color.
Options:
- “Blond” pencil from Anastasia Beverly Hills;
If there are shadows, then pastel. Among the favorites for “spring” are shades of beige, light peach, and golden brown. A chic peach palette from the ColourPop brand, which is called “Peach”.
It is recommended to pay attention to peach when choosing blush. They should be soft, light and emphasize the overall warmth of the image, for example, like No. 3 from the PuroBio brand.
Grey
See a doctor urgently!
Dull, grayish skin is a sign of thickening of the outer (horny) layer of the epidermis. In medicine, this condition is called hyperkeratosis. This problem can be caused by various skin diseases (ichthyosis, keratoderma, etc.) and internal diseases - diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, metabolic disorders in diabetes mellitus. This condition can also develop with hypovitaminosis, especially with a lack of vitamin A.
Or to a cosmetologist?
Exposure to aggressive factors on the skin - strong wind, frost, direct sunlight - can also give the skin a dull hue. In addition, a grayish complexion can be caused by improper skin care and stress. A cosmetologist's solution to this problem is aimed at normalizing home skin care - serums that even out skin texture, scrubs and exfoliating masks, as well as surface peelings, including enzyme peeling, hydropeeling, and carbon peeling will be used.
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Cold (COOL)
It is a beautiful pink, reddish sometimes with slight hints of blue. This color can never be called gold or honey.
You look amazing in fuchsia, pink, purple, emerald green, sapphire blue, aqua, gray or black clothes.
You usually don't look as flattering in mustard yellows, ochres, tomato reds, oranges, browns, spring greens, olive greens, blood oranges, burnt oranges, coral and peach.
Best suited for you: silver jewelry
Check the undersides of your wrists: your skin has a pink-red tint and the veins on your wrists are mostly blue-purple
You have: blue, green, gray or brown eyes
Your hair is: light to medium ash blonde, light to medium ash brown, neutral brown or black.
When you are in the sun, you will most likely burn first, and then only tan.
Celebrities with cool undertones: Anne Hathaway, Nicole Kidman, Christina Aguilera, Reese Witherspoon, Naomi Watts, Gwyneth Paltrow, Emily Blunt, Olivia Wilde, Kate Middleton, Oprah Winfrey.
The wrong mineral base will look too orange. Stick to cool-toned foundations and stay away from anything that looks gold.
Yellow
See a doctor urgently!
The appearance of a jaundiced tint to the skin is an alarming symptom that may indicate various problems with the liver and gall bladder, parasitic and infectious diseases. In this case, the entire skin acquires a yellowish tint; The mucous membranes of the mouth and the whites of the eyes may also turn yellow.
But the appearance of icteric plaques on the skin - xanthoma - is a symptom of a lipid metabolism disorder. In this case, you need to take tests to determine lipid and cholesterol levels. The xanthomas themselves can be removed - laser removal is preferred. Coloring the skin yellow is also possible when consuming a large amount of foods rich in carotene: carrots, pumpkin, etc. In this case, eliminating them from the diet will lead to a rapid improvement in the condition of the skin. In addition, a pale yellow skin tone is characteristic of smokers.
Or to a cosmetologist?
With age, lipofuscin, an “aging pigment,” begins to be deposited in the skin, which gives it a yellowish tint. In this case, various external and injectable preparations with vitamin C are well suited. And you can whiten age spots using lasers and peelings.
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Why does everyone have a different shade?
It is almost impossible to give an exact answer to this question, since today there are many hypothetical reasons for differences in the colors of human skin, the most popular of which are the following:
- Amount and intensity of sunlight (highest in Central Africa).
- Relocation of peoples to other, colder parts of the Earth.
- Gradual loss of body hair as evolution progresses.
- Adaptation to other climatic conditions.
Red
See a doctor urgently!
Redness of the face can be either an independent disease - rosacea (it is characterized not only by redness, but also by a rush of blood to the face), or a symptom of various internal problems: arterial hypertension, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, in particular the liver, infectious diseases. In addition, redness can develop as an allergic reaction. In this case, you must first eliminate the allergen, and then treat the skin with anti-inflammatory drugs, and, according to indications, prescribe hyposensitizing therapy.
Or to a cosmetologist?
If your face turns red periodically, it is necessary to choose care aimed at protecting the skin from aggressive factors. These are usually products for sensitive skin. Also in the arsenal of cosmetologists there are injectable drugs that reduce vascular reactivity - mesobotox; mesotherapy and biorevitalizing preparations that restore and protect the skin.
Sallow complexion and acne. 8 signs that it’s time for you to see a doctor Read more
Warm (WARM)
It is yellowish, golden peach or honey. Your skin is absolutely not pink or red.
You look amazing in earth brown, olive green, orange red, orange, mustard yellow, brown, coral, cream, ivory and peach
You usually don't look as amazing in pink tones (fuchsia, pink, purple), emerald green, sapphire blue, aqua, gray and black.
Best suited for you: gold jewelry
Check the undersides of your wrists: your skin has a peachy, yellow or golden hue, with greenish, olive veins.
You have: blue, brown, hazel or olive green eyes.
Your hair: golden brown, brown or black.
When you tan in the sun: you tan easily and don't burn very often
Celebrities with warm undertones: Jennifer Aniston, Sandra Bullock, Taylor Swift, Kate Hudson, Gisele Bündchen, Amanda Seyfried, Cameron Diaz, Lindsay Lohan, Beyoncé and Mary J. Blige
The wrong mineral foundation will be too pink, red or ruddy. Choose bases in yellow or gold shades.
Prevention of skin photoaging
To prevent premature changes, you need to:
- Wear wide-brimmed hats, long sleeves, and sunglasses in summer.
- Don't go to the solarium.
- If possible, avoid being on the street between 10:00 and 16:00.
- On the beach (and just before a walk in the heat), apply creams with an SPF value of 30 units or more to the body, not forgetting to renew this “protection” every 3 hours.
- Use moisturizers with an SPF of 15 or more all year round.
It is also very important to choose the right cosmetics: it should be absorbed quickly and without traces, and be rich in components that fight free radicals.
We recommend
Bb Laboratories - Placental-amino acid ultra-moisturizing fluid
LNC — Cosmetic — Placental serum-concentrate with muscle relaxant effect
LNC — Cosmetic — Placental antioxidant lotion concentrate, 120 ml
GHC Placental Cosmetic - Concentrated serum for intensive revitalization with placenta hydrolyzate
Determining color and undertone - method 1
You will need a blank sheet of white paper. You can take regular A4 office paper. Stand in front of a mirror and hold the piece of paper to your face. First, determine how much darker the skin is than the paper. There are seven main colors of the epidermis, which manufacturers of decorative cosmetics focus on; you must understand which option your skin is closest to against the background of a white sheet:
- Very pale, almost porcelain, “ivory” or Very Fair.
- Pale or Fair.
- Medium, beige or Medium.
- Olive or Olive.
- Dark or Dusty.
- Tanned or Tan.
- Dark or Dark.
Without removing the paper from your face, determine whether your skin looks yellowish, bluish, or pinkish. In the first case, you have a warm undertone, in the second and third, you have a cold undertone.
If you have red spots on your face, especially large ones, areas of irritation or peeling, a large number of pimples or scars from them, it can be difficult to correctly determine the tone. But you can apply the paper not to your face, but to your neck; it will be the best “sample” for the test.
Choosing a foundation. Main stages
In order to choose the right foundation that would meet all the requirements placed on it and become an indispensable assistant in the pursuit of beauty and perfection, it is necessary to take the following important steps:
- Set your skin type.
- Study complexion.
- Determine the required density of foundation.
- Choose a suitable shade and compare its match to your own skin tone.
In order for the selection result to meet all the requirements set before it and take into account specific nuances, it is necessary to follow the described sequence of actions. Let's look at each stage in more detail.
Determining color and undertone - method 2
To carry out the test, you will need gold and silver rings or earrings without unnecessary details such as stones and glaze. As well as small pieces of foil, both golden and silver. First you need to stand in front of the mirror and apply jewelry to your face one by one. You should try to understand what suits you better - yellow or white metal. If it's yellow, it means you most likely have a warm undertone. If it's white, then your undertone is cold.
But this method of determining the undertone is considered very subjective, since the perception can be influenced by your preferences, which metal you like best. Therefore, it is recommended to conduct another test with pieces of foil. Also apply them one by one to your face so that the foil reflects sunlight and gives a shine to the skin. You need to evaluate whether such a reflection makes the face more radiant, or, on the contrary, does it look dull and lifeless? If you don't notice much of a difference, you most likely have a neutral undertone.
What is what?
In general, there are no approved characteristics as such, and perhaps you will find completely different classifications on other sites, but in this article we will proceed from the fact that:
— there are three main skin tones: warm, cool and neutral;
— there are four main skin tones : light, medium, dark and dark;
— there are five main skin tones: beige, yellow, olive, peach, pink.
Well, at least we use exactly this classification on our mineral cosmetics website. Now let's determine each of the listed characteristics separately.
Before conducting the experiments, tests and experiments proposed in this article, make sure that the skin is clean (no cosmetics, lotions, or masks are applied). If you have just washed your face, wait about 15 minutes, as the skin may appear pink from drying or the temperature of the water, making it difficult to determine your color type. It will be better if the hair is pulled back into a ponytail. Also try to use natural light; Lamps can affect color in different ways - they can give a yellow or green tint and will only confuse you.
Mechanism of photoaging
We look so fresh and young thanks to lipids and proteins:
- The former retain moisture and form a barrier that effectively prevents the negative effects of external factors.
- The latter are the source of strength, elasticity, and resilience.
But they are gradually destroyed by ultraviolet radiation. Due to radiation, free radicals appear in the deep layers of the skin, which are oxidizing agents and damage collagen fibers. As a result, the latter cross-link and cease to fulfill their role, namely, to spring back and return the epithelium to its original state after physical contact. As a result, the surface of the body becomes uneven and wrinkled.
The catch is that in youth, the damage from UV rays is neutralized by melanocytes - special cells of the epidermis. By triggering an absorption reaction, they produce a dark pigment and thus provide a tan. But with age, these “helpers” become fewer and their levels decrease, which worsens the body’s protective functions. It is for this reason that moles and areas with a change in natural color appear on the body.
Such metamorphoses are recorded in a DNA molecule, which is subsequently reproduced in exactly this damaged form and, which is also bad, is inherited, affecting the genetics of children and grandchildren.
