When it comes to choosing the right colors to wear, skin tone is an important factor to consider. Certain colors can enhance natural skin tones, while others might clash or wash you out. So what is the best skin tone for wearing the color purple? Here’s a quick overview of how different skin tones look in purple clothing and accessories.
Fair Skin Tones
Those with fair skin tones tend to burn easily in the sun and have a pale complexion with undertones that are pink, red, or blue. Fair skin often looks best in cool jewel tones like purple. Light purples with a blue undertone are especially flattering. Soft lavender purple flatters fair skin, bringing out pink cheeks and accentuating blue eyes. Pastel purples like lilac can also look pretty on fair skin.
| Fair Skin Tone Rating With Purple | Looks Best In |
|---|---|
| Very flattering | Soft lavender, lilac, light purples with blue undertones |
Medium Skin Tones
Those with medium skin tones tend to tan moderately and don’t burn easily. Medium complexions often have golden, peach, or beige undertones. Medium skin looks great in both warm and cool shades of purple. Jewel toned purples and lavenders suit medium skin tones. Because medium skin has warm undertones, muted shades of purple like eggplant and plum also look beautiful.
| Medium Skin Tone Rating With Purple | Looks Best In |
|---|---|
| Very flattering | Eggplant, plum, jewel tone purples, lavender |
Olive Skin Tones
Olive skin has yellow and green undertones. Those with olive complexions tend to tan easily and rarely burn. Olive skin looks gorgeous in rich, jewel-toned shades of purple. Because of the warm golden undertones, olive skin suits both cool and warm purples. Deep hues like amethyst, berry and royal purple make olive skin glow. Muted tones like mauve also flatter.
| Olive Skin Tone Rating With Purple | Looks Best In |
|---|---|
| Very flattering | Royal purple, amethyst, mauve, berry purple |
Dark Skin Tones
Those with rich, darker skin tones look beautiful in vivid, saturated shades of purple. Dark skin suits bold, bright, and intense purples that make a statement. Jewel-toned purples like violet, amethyst and royal purple make dark skin glow. Deep plums and eggplants also look striking against darker skin. Pale pastel purples tend to wash out darker skin.
| Dark Skin Tone Rating With Purple | Looks Best In |
|---|---|
| Very flattering | Royal purple, violet, plum, deep eggplant purple |
What Skin Tone Looks Worst in Purple?
In general, purple is a very versatile color that flatters most skin tones. However, lighter pastel purples like lilac and lavender do not pair as well with those on the deeper end of the spectrum. Pale purples provide too much contrast against dark skin, failing to enhance natural undertones. Deep plums and violets also tend to overwhelm fair skin.
| Skin Tone | Least Flattering Shade of Purple |
|---|---|
| Fair | Deep plums, eggplant |
| Olive | Pale pastels |
| Dark | Light lilacs, lavenders |
How to Determine Your Skin’s Undertone
Figuring out your natural undertones is key to choosing the most flattering shades of purple. Here are some ways to determine whether you have warm, cool, or neutral undertones:
- Look at the veins on your wrist – greenish veins indicate warm undertones, while blueish veins point to cool undertones.
- Silver or gold? If silver jewelry is more flattering, you likely have a cool undertone. Gold jewelry indicates warm undertones.
- Do you burn or tan? Burning easily means you have a cooler undertone. If you tan quickly, you probably have warm undertones.
- Are your veins more blue or more green? Green veins mean a warm undertone and blue veins indicate a cool undertone.
Identifying your skin’s undertones will help you find the most harmonious shades of purple. Those with cool pink undertones look best in cool purples while warm yellow undertones are complemented by rich, warm purples.
Choosing the Right Shade for Your Skin Tone
Here are some tips for choosing a flattering purple based on your skin tone:
- Fair skin: Opt for soft cool-toned purples. Lilac, lavender, light orchid, and pale purple with blue undertones are ideal.
- Medium skin: You can wear both warm and cool purples. Try jewel tones like amethyst or soothing muted purples like mauve.
- Olive skin: Look for rich, intense purples. Royal purple, eggplant, plum, and jewel tones create a striking contrast.
- Dark skin: Vibrant, saturated purples look best. Jewel tones like violet, deep berry, and magenta purple make your undertones glow.
Stay away from pale pastels if you have a darker complexion and avoid the deepest plums on fair skin. Understanding your skin’s undertones is key to choosing harmonious purple hues.
Purple Clothing Choices for Different Skin Tones
Purple clothing flatters most skin tones, but the shade and saturation should suit your complexion. Here are some purple clothing ideas for different skin tones:
- Fair Skin: Soft purple button-up shirts, light purple sweaters, lilac dresses, lavender coats, pale purple jeans
- Medium Skin: Amethyst cocktail dresses, mauve blouses, vibrant jewel-toned purple tops, plum jeans, eggplant cardigans
- Olive Skin: Royal purple jumpsuits, rich purple blazers, deep purple pants, jewel-toned purple sundresses
- Dark Skin: Jewel-toned purple maxi dresses, berry purple blouses, magenta suits, vivid violet coats, deep purple jeans
Choose lightweight fabrics in soft purples for fair skin and opt for cottons or linens in deep, dramatic purple hues for darker complexions. Pick vibrant, saturated purples for medium to olive skin tones.
Purple Accessory Pairings
Jewelry, bags, shoes and other purple accessories should also complement your skin’s undertone. Here are some suggested purple accessory pairings:
- Fair Skin: Pale purple scarves, lilac purses, lavender flats, light purple statement necklaces
- Medium Skin: Plum handbags, mauve heels, vibrant purple belts, jewel-toned purple earrings
- Olive Skin: Deep purple tote bags, eggplant shoes, royal purple sunglasses, rich purple statement rings
- Dark Skin: Vibrant violet clutches, magenta wedges, bright purple cuffs, saturated purple headbands
When accessorizing, stick with cool pastels for fair skin and bold, intense purples for darker complexions. Medium and olive skin tones look great with any shade of purple!
Makeup Shades for Different Skin Tones
Purple cosmetics like eyeshadow, lipstick, and nail polish also vary in their suitability:
- Fair Skin: Soft lilac eyeshadow, pale purple blush, lavender lip tint, light purple nail polish
- Medium Skin: Mauve lipstick, vibrant purple mascara, eggplant eyeliner, jewel-toned purple nail polish
- Olive Skin: Royal purple lip gloss, rich amethyst eyeshadow, deep purple blush, plum nail lacquer
- Dark Skin: Vibrant violet lip color, bright magenta eyeliner, berry purple bronzer, deep purple mascara
Cool pastel purples wash out darker skin while the boldest purples overwhelm paler skin. Pick intense, dramatic purples for rich skin tones and soft, muted purples for fair complexions.
Hair Colors
When it comes to purple hair dye, the depth of color should complement your skin tone. Here are suggestions for hair colors:
- Fair Skin: Light lilac purple hair, pale lavender streaks
- Medium Skin: Vibrant purple ombre, jewel-toned purple highlights
- Olive Skin: Deep eggplant purple hair, rich purple balayage
- Dark Skin: Intense violet hair color, bold magenta purple highlights
Pastel purple hair flatters fair skin while those with darker complexions glow with vivid, saturated purple locks. Keep your skin tone and undertones in mind when choosing any purple hair colors.
Conclusion
Purple stands out as a gorgeous color on most skin tones. While fair skin looks ravishing in soft, cool purples, those with rich dark complexions shine in bold, intense purple shades. Medium and olive skin tones fall somewhere in the middle, beautifully complemented by jewel tones. Identify whether your skin leans warm or cool, then select flattering purples accordingly. From clothing to makeup to hair dye, keep your undertones in mind when rocking the color purple!
