Tips and Tricks for Choosing the Best Cool Skin Tone Colors to Wear
Dante Kim
May 1st, 2024
Get your color analysis done
in 60 seconds with WhatColors!
Get your color analysis done in
60 seconds with WhatColors!
Get your color analysis done in 60 seconds with WhatColors!
Determining the best colors for cool skin tones can be challenging. It's not just about matching shades; it's about making your skin look more radiant and youthful. By selecting the right skin tone colors, you can enhance your natural beauty, add depth to your features, and give your skin a healthy, gorgeous glow. But how do you know which colors are right for you? The truth is, there is a science to color theory. And it all begins with understanding your skin tone. It's no secret that wearing the right colors can instantly brighten your complexion. But what are the right colors for skin tone? And how do you know which skin tone colors will work for you? In this guide, we'll show you how to identify your skin tone and choose the best colors for it.
Table of Contents
What Is a Cool Skin Tone?
Cool skin tones are characterized by a natural undertone that appears pinkish, blueish, or has a ruddy complexion. These tones are often associated with looking best in jewel-toned makeup and accessories, such as blue, magenta, and purple shades. Cool skin tones thrive in the winter and spring seasons when the light is cool, and the contrast of colors is stark.
Characteristics of Cool Skin Tones
Some common characteristics of cool skin tones include veins that appear more blue than green, light-colored eyes, especially with blue or green flecks, light-colored hair, and not tanning at all or tanning only slightly. These characteristics help distinguish cool skin tones from warm or neutral tones, guiding choices in colors, makeup, and accessories.
Comparing Cool, Warm, and Neutral Skin Tones
Warm skin tones have a natural undertone that appears yellow, golden, peachy, or sallow. Warm tones are often associated with looking best in yellow, gold, orange, and red shades. Warm skin tones thrive in warmer seasons and look good with earthier tones like olive green. Neutral skin tones, on the other hand, have a mix of both warm and cool undertones. Neutral tones can look good in a wide range of colors and makeup styles and should avoid specific formulas designed for warm or cool skin tones.
6 Ways to Determine if You Have Warm or Cool Undertones
1. The Vein Test
Take a look at the veins on the inside of your wrist. Do they appear more blue or green? If your veins appear more blue, you’re cool-toned but if you see more green, you’re warm-toned. If you see a fair amount of both green and blue, you have a neutral undertone. This is easier to see on paler skin tones and isn't the best test for those with deeper skin.
2. The Jewelry Test
Do you look best in gold, silver, or rose gold jewelry? If you love to wear silver, it’s common for you to have a cool undertone. If you look better with gold jewelry, it's likely you have a warm undertone. If rose gold suits you best, or you look good with both silver and gold jewelry, chances are you have a neutral undertone. Personal taste, fashion, and budget will also play a part in your choice.
3. The White T-shirt Test
Wear a white T-shirt or dress to determine your undertone. If your skin looks a touch rosy, think cool-toned. If your face looks more yellow, think warm-toned. If you don’t see a change, most definitely think neutral-toned.
4. How Your Skin Reacts in the Sun
Spend a lengthy amount of time in the sun to gauge your undertone. If you turn pink or burn easily, you likely have a cool undertone. If you tan easily and go golden quick, you have a warm undertone. If you burn a little but tan too, you most likely have a neutral undertone.
5. Try a Swatch Test
Go shopping in person and find two different makeup brands that categorize their foundations by undertone as well as shade. Try foundations close to your skin tone but differing by undertone. ‘Swatch’ these shades on your forearm and observe them in artificial light and daylight to determine your undertone.
6. Professional Color Analysis
Color analysis helps determine the most flattering colors based on your natural features. Results are usually categorized by season then more specifically by contrast, undertone, value, and saturation. WhatColors helps you find what colors to wear based on your skin tone. Get the perfect colors based on your season and avoid colors that don't suit you.
Our AI Personal Color Analysis app helps you find your perfect colors. Download our app for free on the App Store or Google Play store today.
Related Reading
• Best Colors For Pale Skin
• Color Theory Fashion
• Colors That Look Good On Brown Skin
• Warm Skin Tone Colors
• Best Colors For Cool Skin Tone
• Clothing Colors For Pale Skin
What Are the Best Cool Skin Tone Colors to Wear
Emerald Greens
These jewel-toned greens beautifully complement cool skin tones. They evoke a sense of freshness and vibrancy.
Deep Purples
Shades like amethyst and lavender work wonders for cool undertones. They add depth and sophistication to your look.
Bright Blues
Think of serene blue hues reminiscent of the ocean. They harmonize with cool skin tones, creating a calming effect.
Pink
Opt for both warm and cool pinks, especially in the blush-pink range. These shades add a touch of femininity and freshness.
Ice Blue
This cool, pale blue shade is perfect for creating a serene and elegant appearance.
Lavender
A soft, pastel lavender complements cool skin tones beautifully.
Crisp Whites
These exude a purity against cooler complexions, offering a canvas that can be dressed up or down.
Ruby Red
With its depth and vibrancy, ruby red becomes a showstopper when paired with cool undertones, especially for evening events.
Cool Grays
Cool greys such as slate and dove grey will help you strike a balance between understated elegance and sophisticated charm.
How to Accessorize an Outfit for a Cool Skin Tone
Cool skin tones will go well with white metals like silver, white gold or platinum. Pearls will shine on fair skin as well as jewelry with red, purple and blue colors. Red gemstones are ruby and tourmaline while purple includes fluorite, sapphire, and amethyst. Blue jewelry will look fantastic on cool-tone skin if you include blue sapphire and topaz. Emphasizing the pale tan can go a step further by wearing dark-colored jewelry, like black pearl necklace and grey or black bracelets.
Although not surprising at all yet important to highlight, jewelry that matches well with any skin are the diamonds. Diamonds are glamorous jewelry that never goes out of fashion and a perfect accessory for any woman who wants to look dazzling. Since diamonds are forever, whether you are neutral, warm or cool-toned, wear them and worry not because you are going to look fabulous and feel even better.
Selecting Proper Eyewear
Eyewear is a piece of functional accessory that serves more than aesthetic purpose, so picking the right piece is of great importance. Advice from Spec Specialists, eyewear and eyecare center is where you consult the professional optometrist first and evaluate the visual appeal of eyeglasses later.
Cool-toned skin goes well with more of classic glass frames like black, silver, purple or grey. The contrast of light skin and dark frames will have a great visual effect. Women with warm skin tone should go for brighter colors of frames like yellow, ivory, light red, etc.
Related Reading
• Best Clothing Colors For Asian Skin Tone
• Brown Skin Warm Skin Tone Colors
• Best Colors For Neutral Skin Tone
• Getting Your Colors Done
• Colors For Olive Skin Tone
• Colors For Winter Skin Tone
• Warm Skin Tone Colors To Wear
• House Of Color Cost
• Olive Skin Tone Colors To Wear
• Colors For Autumn Skin Tone
• Hair Colors For Your Skin Tone
• Neutral Skin Tone Colors To Wear
• How To Do Your Own Color Analysis
• Cool Hair Colors for Your Skin Tone Chart
• What Colors Are Best for My Skin Tone
• What Colors Go With My Skin Tone
• What Colors Suit My Skin Tone
What Makeup Colors Look Good on Cool Skin?
When it comes to enhancing cool undertones, cool-toned skin shines in shades of purple, fuchsia, pink, and blue. For pinks, opt for those that lean towards purple or blue types of pink, while for red products, choose the blue type of red.
Choosing the Right Foundation and Blush for Cool-Toned Skin
When it comes to foundation, look for shades that appear pink, peach, or reddish in the bottle. It's best to stay away from shades with words like “golden” or “honey” in the name, as these shades likely have warm undertones. For blush, choose cool-toned shades such as baby pinks, light mauves, icy lavenders for fair skin, and deeper mauves, bright fuchsias, brick reds, and berry shades for medium to dark skin tones.
Enhancing Cool-Toned Makeup Looks with Eyeshadows and Lip Colors
For eyeshadows, cool-toned skin looks great in shades of taupe, cool brown, icy silver, pinks, purples, and blues. From pale baby pinks and nudes to rich berries, flaming fuchsias, and siren reds, the lip options are endless for skin with cool undertones. Top off your makeup routine with gray or navy blue mascara, and avoid black mascara. To stay within the chosen color palette, using darker pigments to bring out the drama, but staying on the minimal side to be safe.
Try AI Personal Color Analysis For Free Today
Using the WhatColors app, you can uncover the ideal colors to wear that complement your cool skin tone. Our patented color-matching technology selects the best shades based on your skin tone, making it easier than ever to determine your season.
Our advanced color analysis tool helps you find colors that suit you best, while steering you clear of those that don't. With WhatColors, you can even coordinate your nail colors based on your skin, eye, and hair color by utilizing the Nail Color Generator.
Elevate your style effortlessly by downloading our app for free from the App Store or Google Play store.
Related Reading
• How To Choose Clothing Colors For Your Skin Tone
• Clothing Colors For Yellow Skin Tone
• At Home Color Analysis
• Colors For Summer Skin Tone
• Best Clothing Colors For Cool Skin Tone
• Colors For Spring Skin Tone
• Best Clothing Colors For South Asian Skin Tone
Get your color analysis done
in 60 seconds with WhatColors!
Determining the best colors for cool skin tones can be challenging. It's not just about matching shades; it's about making your skin look more radiant and youthful. By selecting the right skin tone colors, you can enhance your natural beauty, add depth to your features, and give your skin a healthy, gorgeous glow. But how do you know which colors are right for you? The truth is, there is a science to color theory. And it all begins with understanding your skin tone. It's no secret that wearing the right colors can instantly brighten your complexion. But what are the right colors for skin tone? And how do you know which skin tone colors will work for you? In this guide, we'll show you how to identify your skin tone and choose the best colors for it.
Table of Contents
What Is a Cool Skin Tone?
Cool skin tones are characterized by a natural undertone that appears pinkish, blueish, or has a ruddy complexion. These tones are often associated with looking best in jewel-toned makeup and accessories, such as blue, magenta, and purple shades. Cool skin tones thrive in the winter and spring seasons when the light is cool, and the contrast of colors is stark.
Characteristics of Cool Skin Tones
Some common characteristics of cool skin tones include veins that appear more blue than green, light-colored eyes, especially with blue or green flecks, light-colored hair, and not tanning at all or tanning only slightly. These characteristics help distinguish cool skin tones from warm or neutral tones, guiding choices in colors, makeup, and accessories.
Comparing Cool, Warm, and Neutral Skin Tones
Warm skin tones have a natural undertone that appears yellow, golden, peachy, or sallow. Warm tones are often associated with looking best in yellow, gold, orange, and red shades. Warm skin tones thrive in warmer seasons and look good with earthier tones like olive green. Neutral skin tones, on the other hand, have a mix of both warm and cool undertones. Neutral tones can look good in a wide range of colors and makeup styles and should avoid specific formulas designed for warm or cool skin tones.
6 Ways to Determine if You Have Warm or Cool Undertones
1. The Vein Test
Take a look at the veins on the inside of your wrist. Do they appear more blue or green? If your veins appear more blue, you’re cool-toned but if you see more green, you’re warm-toned. If you see a fair amount of both green and blue, you have a neutral undertone. This is easier to see on paler skin tones and isn't the best test for those with deeper skin.
2. The Jewelry Test
Do you look best in gold, silver, or rose gold jewelry? If you love to wear silver, it’s common for you to have a cool undertone. If you look better with gold jewelry, it's likely you have a warm undertone. If rose gold suits you best, or you look good with both silver and gold jewelry, chances are you have a neutral undertone. Personal taste, fashion, and budget will also play a part in your choice.
3. The White T-shirt Test
Wear a white T-shirt or dress to determine your undertone. If your skin looks a touch rosy, think cool-toned. If your face looks more yellow, think warm-toned. If you don’t see a change, most definitely think neutral-toned.
4. How Your Skin Reacts in the Sun
Spend a lengthy amount of time in the sun to gauge your undertone. If you turn pink or burn easily, you likely have a cool undertone. If you tan easily and go golden quick, you have a warm undertone. If you burn a little but tan too, you most likely have a neutral undertone.
5. Try a Swatch Test
Go shopping in person and find two different makeup brands that categorize their foundations by undertone as well as shade. Try foundations close to your skin tone but differing by undertone. ‘Swatch’ these shades on your forearm and observe them in artificial light and daylight to determine your undertone.
6. Professional Color Analysis
Color analysis helps determine the most flattering colors based on your natural features. Results are usually categorized by season then more specifically by contrast, undertone, value, and saturation. WhatColors helps you find what colors to wear based on your skin tone. Get the perfect colors based on your season and avoid colors that don't suit you.
Our AI Personal Color Analysis app helps you find your perfect colors. Download our app for free on the App Store or Google Play store today.
Related Reading
• Best Colors For Pale Skin
• Color Theory Fashion
• Colors That Look Good On Brown Skin
• Warm Skin Tone Colors
• Best Colors For Cool Skin Tone
• Clothing Colors For Pale Skin
What Are the Best Cool Skin Tone Colors to Wear
Emerald Greens
These jewel-toned greens beautifully complement cool skin tones. They evoke a sense of freshness and vibrancy.
Deep Purples
Shades like amethyst and lavender work wonders for cool undertones. They add depth and sophistication to your look.
Bright Blues
Think of serene blue hues reminiscent of the ocean. They harmonize with cool skin tones, creating a calming effect.
Pink
Opt for both warm and cool pinks, especially in the blush-pink range. These shades add a touch of femininity and freshness.
Ice Blue
This cool, pale blue shade is perfect for creating a serene and elegant appearance.
Lavender
A soft, pastel lavender complements cool skin tones beautifully.
Crisp Whites
These exude a purity against cooler complexions, offering a canvas that can be dressed up or down.
Ruby Red
With its depth and vibrancy, ruby red becomes a showstopper when paired with cool undertones, especially for evening events.
Cool Grays
Cool greys such as slate and dove grey will help you strike a balance between understated elegance and sophisticated charm.
How to Accessorize an Outfit for a Cool Skin Tone
Cool skin tones will go well with white metals like silver, white gold or platinum. Pearls will shine on fair skin as well as jewelry with red, purple and blue colors. Red gemstones are ruby and tourmaline while purple includes fluorite, sapphire, and amethyst. Blue jewelry will look fantastic on cool-tone skin if you include blue sapphire and topaz. Emphasizing the pale tan can go a step further by wearing dark-colored jewelry, like black pearl necklace and grey or black bracelets.
Although not surprising at all yet important to highlight, jewelry that matches well with any skin are the diamonds. Diamonds are glamorous jewelry that never goes out of fashion and a perfect accessory for any woman who wants to look dazzling. Since diamonds are forever, whether you are neutral, warm or cool-toned, wear them and worry not because you are going to look fabulous and feel even better.
Selecting Proper Eyewear
Eyewear is a piece of functional accessory that serves more than aesthetic purpose, so picking the right piece is of great importance. Advice from Spec Specialists, eyewear and eyecare center is where you consult the professional optometrist first and evaluate the visual appeal of eyeglasses later.
Cool-toned skin goes well with more of classic glass frames like black, silver, purple or grey. The contrast of light skin and dark frames will have a great visual effect. Women with warm skin tone should go for brighter colors of frames like yellow, ivory, light red, etc.
Related Reading
• Best Clothing Colors For Asian Skin Tone
• Brown Skin Warm Skin Tone Colors
• Best Colors For Neutral Skin Tone
• Getting Your Colors Done
• Colors For Olive Skin Tone
• Colors For Winter Skin Tone
• Warm Skin Tone Colors To Wear
• House Of Color Cost
• Olive Skin Tone Colors To Wear
• Colors For Autumn Skin Tone
• Hair Colors For Your Skin Tone
• Neutral Skin Tone Colors To Wear
• How To Do Your Own Color Analysis
• Cool Hair Colors for Your Skin Tone Chart
• What Colors Are Best for My Skin Tone
• What Colors Go With My Skin Tone
• What Colors Suit My Skin Tone
What Makeup Colors Look Good on Cool Skin?
When it comes to enhancing cool undertones, cool-toned skin shines in shades of purple, fuchsia, pink, and blue. For pinks, opt for those that lean towards purple or blue types of pink, while for red products, choose the blue type of red.
Choosing the Right Foundation and Blush for Cool-Toned Skin
When it comes to foundation, look for shades that appear pink, peach, or reddish in the bottle. It's best to stay away from shades with words like “golden” or “honey” in the name, as these shades likely have warm undertones. For blush, choose cool-toned shades such as baby pinks, light mauves, icy lavenders for fair skin, and deeper mauves, bright fuchsias, brick reds, and berry shades for medium to dark skin tones.
Enhancing Cool-Toned Makeup Looks with Eyeshadows and Lip Colors
For eyeshadows, cool-toned skin looks great in shades of taupe, cool brown, icy silver, pinks, purples, and blues. From pale baby pinks and nudes to rich berries, flaming fuchsias, and siren reds, the lip options are endless for skin with cool undertones. Top off your makeup routine with gray or navy blue mascara, and avoid black mascara. To stay within the chosen color palette, using darker pigments to bring out the drama, but staying on the minimal side to be safe.
Try AI Personal Color Analysis For Free Today
Using the WhatColors app, you can uncover the ideal colors to wear that complement your cool skin tone. Our patented color-matching technology selects the best shades based on your skin tone, making it easier than ever to determine your season.
Our advanced color analysis tool helps you find colors that suit you best, while steering you clear of those that don't. With WhatColors, you can even coordinate your nail colors based on your skin, eye, and hair color by utilizing the Nail Color Generator.
Elevate your style effortlessly by downloading our app for free from the App Store or Google Play store.
Related Reading
• How To Choose Clothing Colors For Your Skin Tone
• Clothing Colors For Yellow Skin Tone
• At Home Color Analysis
• Colors For Summer Skin Tone
• Best Clothing Colors For Cool Skin Tone
• Colors For Spring Skin Tone
• Best Clothing Colors For South Asian Skin Tone