Finding the right makeup colors can be tricky, especially if you have a cool skin tone. Cool skin tones tend to have blue, pink, or red undertones in them. If you have a cool skin tone, you’ll want to use makeup shades that complement, rather than clash with your natural coloring.
How to Determine if You Have a Cool Skin Tone
Here are some tips for figuring out if you have a cool skin tone:
- Your veins appear blue or purple rather than green
- Silver jewelry flatters you more than gold
- You were labeled as having a “fair” complexion as a child
- You sunburn easily
- You look best in cool, jewel tone colors like emerald green, royal blue, and magenta
If most of these apply to you, then you likely have a cool skin tone. But the very best way to know for sure is by draping different color fabrics against your face and seeing which ones make your complexion look lively and glowing.
Best Makeup Colors for Cool Skin Tones
When doing your makeup, you’ll want to use shades that have pink, red, or blue undertones since these will harmonize with your natural coloring. Here are some flattering makeup colors to try:
| Makeup Product | Best Colors for Cool Skin Tones |
|---|---|
| Foundation and Concealer | Neutral, pink, or red undertones |
| Blush | Plum, mauve, pink |
| Eyeshadow | Lavender, ice blue, charcoal, forest green |
| Eyeliner | Navy, dark purple, black, gray |
| Mascara | Black, dark gray, navy |
| Lipstick | Berry, mauve, magenta, red, pink |
Steer clear of warm makeup tones like orange, yellow, and terracotta as these will clash with your cool complexion. The general rule is go for makeup with blue and pink hues rather than yellow and golden ones.
Best Foundation Shades for Cool Skin
Choosing the right foundation is crucial, as that will set the tone for the rest of your makeup. Here are some popular foundations in cool tones that may work beautifully with your complexion:
| Foundation Brand | Best Shades for Cool Skin |
|---|---|
| NARS | Mont Blanc, Siberie, Oslo |
| Urban Decay | 20NN, 21NN, 22NN |
| MAC | NW15, NW20, NW25 |
| Dior | 100, 200, 210 |
| Clinique | Alabaster, Chamomile, Linen |
| Estee Lauder | 1N0, 1N1, 1NW |
| Maybelline | 102, 110, 118 |
Be sure to test shades at your jawline in natural lighting to find the perfect match for your skin tone.
Complementary Colors for Cool Skin Tones
In addition to makeup, wearing flattering clothing and accessory colors can really make your skin glow. Ideal colors to look for include:
- Emerald green
- Royal and navy blue
- Magenta
- Icy pink
- Lavender and lilac
- Burgundy
- Deep purple
- Cool red
- Gray
- White
Jewel tones look fantastic against cool skin, as they enhance the pink and blue undertones. On the flip side, avoid warm oranges, yellows, browns and olive greens near your face as those can make your complexion look drained of color.
Best Hairstyles and Hair Colors for Cool Skin Tones
Your hair can either complement your skin tone beautifully or clash with it. Here are some ideal hair colors and styles if you have cool toned skin:
- Ashy brunette or black – Go for an ashy tone rather than golden
- Dark chestnut brown – Again, avoid golden brown hues
- Platinum or ash blonde – Stay away from yellow tones
- Dark auburn red – Pick a deeper rather than orangey red
- Silver or white hair – This can look very striking
In terms of cuts, cool skin tones look great with:
- Straight, sleek hair
- Long layers
- One-length cuts like lobs or bobs
- Middle parts
- Sleek updos
The best styles will be smooth rather than messy. Avoid super warm tones or lots of highlights near your face, as solid blocks of ashy color tend to be most flattering.
How to Apply Makeup for Cool Skin Tones
Once you have the right makeup shades, proper application is key for making your features pop:
- Apply a blue-toned red or pink lip liner to make lipstick last longer and keep your teeth looking whiter.
- Use a light hand with blush and focus it on the apples of the cheeks rather than the cheekbone.
- Use an ash brown rather than black eyebrow pencil to fill in brows.
- Play up your eyes while keeping lips neutral or vice versa. Dramatic eyes and lips together can be overpowering.
- Use a radiant powder highlighter on cheekbones to add a lively glow.
- Curl lashes and apply two coats of navy mascara for a wide-eyed look.
Proper application really ensures your makeup enhances rather than detracts from your natural beauty.
Common Makeup Mistakes to Avoid with Cool Skin Tones
To get the most flattering look, be sure to avoid these common makeup pitfalls:
- Going too light or dark with foundation – Find the perfect match!
- Using formulas with yellow undertones
- Applying bronzer all over the face – Use a light hand with contouring
- Overplucking eyebrows
- Using black eyeliner on the waterline which can look harsh
- Skipping lip liner – It helps lipstick stay in place
- Warm eyeshadow shades like copper – Pick cool tones like silver, slate and plum
Being aware of what can go wrong will help you tweak your routine to look your very best.
Celebrities with Cool Skin Tones
Some of the most glamorous celebrities also rock cooler skin tones. Checking out how they use makeup can provide useful inspiration. Stars with cool complexions include:
- Kate Winslet
- Scarlett Johansson
- Keira Knightley
- Katie Holmes
- Gwyneth Paltrow
- Cate Blanchett
- Isla Fisher
- Kristen Stewart
- Michelle Williams
- Emma Stone
You’ll notice these celebrities tend to wear berry lips, muted pink cheeks, and smoky eyes in charcoal and gray. Those shades provide the perfect accent for their cool skin.
Conclusion
Finding the most flattering makeup colors and application techniques for cool skin tones comes down to embracing your natural coloring. Look for shades with pink, red and blue undertones across your makeup, hair and wardrobe. With the right colors, your complexion will simply glow with beauty. While warm tones can sometimes work, you generally can’t go wrong sticking with cool hues. So have fun experimenting with berry lips, ash brown brows, plum blush and icy eyeshadows to look your very best!