Testing Your Colors

 

Have you ever put on a shirt and felt like it just made your whole face light up? Or maybe you’ve worn something that made you look tired, even when you weren’t? The secret lies in color. I'm sure we have all seen the "color appointments" on TikTok, which are super cool and interesting but... on average cost around $300-600. So this post is going to be about how to test your colors at home without breaking the bank. Finding the right colors is empowering—it saves time, boosts confidence, and helps you shop smarter. Let's start by answering a couple of questions.

What is color theory?
Color theory is the study of how colors interact and the way they affect our perception/overall look. In the context of personal style, it’s about finding colors that enhance your natural features, like your skin tone, eye color, and hair color. It takes into account things like undertones (whether your skin leans warm, cool, or neutral), contrast levels (between your hair, eyes, and skin), and seasonal color palettes (groupings of colors that work with your features). By understanding color theory, you can create outfits that brighten your complexion, make your eyes pop, and make you look and feel your very best.

Why does it matter?
Wearing the right colors can completely transform your appearance. Colors that complement your undertone make your skin look radiant, even out your complexion, and reduce the appearance of dark circles or redness. It can truly wake your face up. They can also make your outfits look more intentional and cohesive. On the flip side, wearing the "wrong" colors might make you look pale, tired, or washed out. Learning your best colors saves time shopping and boosts your confidence, making it a game-changer for personal style.

Your undertone is the key to unlocking which colors will naturally enhance your complexion. Unlike your skin tone, which can change depending on when you got your last spray tan, your undertone remains consistent. It falls into one of three categories: cool, warm, or neutral. Here's how to figure out yours without the guesswork:

Silver vs. Gold Jewelry Test: Hold a silver piece of jewelry in one hand and gold in the other. Which one makes your skin look more vibrant? Silver = Cool / Gold = Warm / Both = Neutral

Vein Test: Look at the veins on your wrist under natural light. Blue/Purple veins = Cool / Greenish veins = Warm / Can’t tell = Neutral

White Shirt Test: Stand in front of a mirror wearing no makeup and hold a bright white shirt (cool-toned) and an ivory shirt (warm-toned) next to your face. Which one makes your skin look fresh and glowing? Bright white = Cool / Ivory = Warm / Both = Neutral

Natural Light is Key: Make sure you’re doing these tests in natural light—indoor or artificial lighting can distort your results.

Now that you know your undertone now it is time to figure out which colors look the best on you.

Cool Undertone

• What to look for: If your skin has hints of pink, red, or bluish tones, you likely have a cool undertone.
• Colors that flatter: Jewel tones like sapphire blue, emerald green, and ruby red, along with icy pastels like lavender and light pink.
• Celeb example: Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong’o.

Warm Undertone

• What to look for: A golden, peachy, or yellowish hue in your skin points to a warm undertone.
• Colors that flatter: Earthy tones like mustard yellow, burnt orange, and olive green, as well as warm neutrals like cream and camel.
• Celeb example: Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman.

Neutral Undertone

• What to look for: If your skin tone has a mix of both warm and cool hues or leans slightly olive, you likely have a neutral undertone.
• Colors that flatter: You can pull off a wide range of colors! Soft blush pink, teal, and true red tend to look particularly stunning.
• Celeb example: Kerry Washington, Natalie Portman

Once you’ve identified your undertone, it’s time to explore the concept of seasonal color palettes. These palettes group colors into four categories, Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, based on the natural tones found in your skin, hair, and eyes. Each season has its unique vibe, and experimenting with these palettes can help you find the colors that make you look and feel like the baddie you are. Here is how you identify your season color palette.

1. Use Your Undertone as a Starting Point:

   • Warm undertones usually align with Spring or Autumn.
   • Cool undertones often fit into Summer or Winter.

2. Consider Your Intensity:

   • Are your features soft and light? Lean toward Spring or Summer.
   • Are your features bold and rich? Explore Autumn or Winter.

3. Focus on Your Hair and Eye Color:

• Lighter hair and eye colors often match Spring or Summer palettes.
• Darker hair and eyes lean toward Autumn or Winter.

Now here are the specific colors and celebrity inspo for each season:

Spring (Warm + Light)

• What it looks like: You have warm undertones, and your features are soft and light, often with golden or peachy skin tones, lighter hair, and light-colored eyes.
• Flattering colors: Peach, coral, light green, aqua, warm yellow, and ivory. Think fresh, bright, and warm hues.
• Celeb example: Emma Stone, Reese Witherspoon.

Summer (Cool + Light)

• What it looks like: You have cool undertones, and your features are soft and light, often with fair skin, lighter hair, and soft, muted eye colors.
• Flattering colors: Dusty rose, lavender, pastel blue, muted gray, and baby pink. Think soft, cool, and delicate shades.
• Celeb example: Amanda Seyfried, Taylor Swift.

Autumn (Warm + Deep)

• What it looks like: You have warm undertones, and your features are rich and deep, often with golden or olive skin tones, darker hair, and deep brown or hazel eyes.
• Flattering colors: Burnt orange, mustard, olive green, chocolate brown, and rust. Think earthy, warm, and rich tones.
• Celeb example: Jessica Alba, Priyanka Chopra.

Winter (Cool + Deep)

• What it looks like: You have cool undertones, and your features are bold and striking, often with fair or deep skin, dark hair, and vibrant eye colors.
• Flattering colors: True red, royal blue, emerald green, black, and icy white. Think bold, cool, and high-contrast shades.
• Celeb example: Lucy Liu, Meghan Markle.

Finding your colors doesn’t have to cost a fortune or require one of those fancy TikTok consultations (as cool as they are). With a few simple tests and a little trial and error, you can totally figure out which shades make you glow and which ones… not so much. Honestly, discovering your best colors is such a game-changer, it saves you time shopping, helps you build outfits that feel right, and makes getting dressed so much easier. Plus, there’s something empowering about knowing what works for you. Trust me, once you find your colors, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without them!