How to Determine What Color Looks Best on Your Skin Tone

It's important to note that skin shade (i.e. pale skin, olive skin, or dark skin) don't necessarily determine your skin's undertones. A guy with ... Men'sStyleFashionStyleGroomingHairStreetStyleLifestyleWatchesNewsletterSearchSearchFashionMEN'SFASHIONAllLatestFashionArticlesMen'sFashionTrendsFashionLookbooksMen'sFashionGuidesMen'sFashionNewsMen'sFashionCollectionsMEN'SFASHIONFEATURESFashionTrendsThelatestmen’sfashiontrendsdirectfromtherunwaysandthestreets.LOOKBOOKSGetinspirationforyourdailyoutfitswiththelatestfashionlookbooks.FashionDiscountCodesValiddiscountcodesandoffersfromallyourfavouritebrands.StyleMEN'SSTYLEMen'sCelebrityStyleIcons294Men'sStreetStyle4Men'sStyle808Men’sTattoos51MEN'SSTYLEFEATURESTHEHOTLISTAvisualsnapshotofthisseason’smust-owntrends,colours,fabrics&keypieces.STREETSTYLEOurphotographerscapturethebest-dressedrealmenacrosstheglobe.CELEBRITYSTYLEStyleinspirationcourtesyofpastandpresentmen’sstyleicons.GroomingHairMEN'SHAIRSTYLESMEN'SHAIRSTYLESGUIDESSHORTHAIRCUTSMEDIUMLENGTHHAIRSTYLESLONGLENGTHHAIRSTYLESCURLYHAIRCUTSBLACKMENHAIRCUTSMEN'SHAIRSTYLESGALLERIESShortHairstylesForMenMediumLengthHairstylesForMenLongHairstylesForMenCurlyHairstylesForMenBlackMenHairstylesCelebrityMen'sHairstylesStreetStyleLifestyleWatchesNewsletterSearchFashionMEN'SFASHIONAllLatestFashionArticlesMen'sFashionTrendsFashionLookbooksMen'sFashionGuidesMen'sFashionNewsMen'sFashionCollectionsMEN'SFASHIONFEATURESFashionTrendsThelatestmen’sfashiontrendsdirectfromtherunwaysandthestreets.LOOKBOOKSGetinspirationforyourdailyoutfitswiththelatestfashionlookbooks.FashionDiscountCodesValiddiscountcodesandoffersfromallyourfavouritebrands.StyleMEN'SSTYLEMen'sCelebrityStyleIcons294Men'sStreetStyle4Men'sStyle808Men’sTattoos51MEN'SSTYLEFEATURESTHEHOTLISTAvisualsnapshotofthisseason’smust-owntrends,colours,fabrics&keypieces.STREETSTYLEOurphotographerscapturethebest-dressedrealmenacrosstheglobe.CELEBRITYSTYLEStyleinspirationcourtesyofpastandpresentmen’sstyleicons.GroomingHairMEN'SHAIRSTYLESMEN'SHAIRSTYLESGUIDESSHORTHAIRCUTSMEDIUMLENGTHHAIRSTYLESLONGLENGTHHAIRSTYLESCURLYHAIRCUTSBLACKMENHAIRCUTSMEN'SHAIRSTYLESGALLERIESShortHairstylesForMenMediumLengthHairstylesForMenLongHairstylesForMenCurlyHairstylesForMenBlackMenHairstylesCelebrityMen'sHairstylesStreetStyleLifestyleWatchesNewsletterStyleIconsTheHotListBusinessCasualSmartCasualBlackTieHowToFoldAPocketSqaureHowtoDetermineWhatColorLooksBestonYourSkinToneMen'sStyleCillianO'ConnorNovember18,2021ShareFacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsAppColorcanbeacruelmistress.Mostofusknowthatwecouldstandtowinafewstylepointsbygivinghuesoutsideourcomfortzoneago,but—likefindingtherighthaircutforyourfaceshape—selectingtherighthuesfordifferentskintonesisofteneasiersaidthandone.Withsuchakaleidoscopicspectrumofshadesonoffer,it’snowonderyou’rescratchingyourheadandwondering‘whatcolorlooksbestonme?’.Now,someofyouareboundtodisagree,sayingit’snotexactlyrocketscience,butsimplyamatteroftryingsomethingonandsizingitupinachangingroommirrorbeforeyoubuy.Andtoanextent,you’reright.Butifyouwanttoshavesometimeoffyourshoppingroundsorbuymoreconfidentlyonline,thenit’sworthacquaintingyourselfwithafewfundamentalruleswhenitcomestoknowinghowtodressforyourskintone.WhatAretheDifferentSkinTones?Thefirststeptothisdauntingquestionof‘whatcolorsshouldIwear’istodeletethebookmarksyoumadeforthoseonlinequizzesbasedonsupposedlysophisticatedalgorithms.Therearethreedifferentskinundertones,andyourshasnothingtodowithwhetheryoulikerockmusicorrap.Secondly,takealookatyourarm.Tobestjudgewhichcolorsshouldformthecoreofyourwardrobe,you’llneedtodeterminewhetheryourskinhasawarmundertone,acoolundertone,oraneutralundertone.Iftheveinsonyourwristaremorebluethangreen,youhavecool-tonedskin.Ifthey’remoregreen,yourskiniswarm-toned.Ifit’shardtotell,youlikelyhaveaneutralskintone.It’simportanttonotethatskinshade(i.e.paleskin,oliveskin,ordarkskin)don’tnecessarilydetermineyourskin’sundertones.Aguywithdarkskincanhaveacoolcomplexion,andaguywithpaleskincanhaveawarmcomplexion.Andallthevice-versas.Nowthatthat’soutoftheway,readonforablow-by-blowguidetofindingtheskintonepalettethatwillworkbestforyourwardrobe.CoolUndertonesAlotoflightskinguyswillalsofindthattheyhavecool-tonedskin,butdarkerskincanhaveacoolundertone,too.Askyourselfthesequestionstofigureoutifyouhavecool-tonedskin.Areyourveinsasblueastheycome?Whenyoulookinthemirror,doesyourskingiveoffabluishundertone?Doesyourskinoftenburninthesun?Ifyouansweredyes,chancesareyou’retheproudownerofcool-tonedskin.Whatcolorslookbestoncoolundertones?Ifyou’vegotpaleskinandlightfeatures,thenhuesthatclearlycontrastwithyourskintonewill—quiteliterally—bringsomecolortoyourcomplexion.“I’drecommendbasingyouroutfitarounddarkercolors,whichyoucancombinewithlightercolors,”saysSelfridgespersonalshopperandstylistDanielRhone.Darkercolorslikegrey,brown,burgundy,bottlegreen,navyandboldershadesofbluewillallworkwellastheseshadescontrastwithyourskintone.Peoplewithcoolundertonesgenerallylookgreatincolorsinthecoolrangeofthespectrum:thinkpurples,greens,charcoalgrayanddeepblues.WhatcolorsshouldIavoid?Peoplewithcoolundertonestotheirskinwillwanttoavoidsoft,pastelshadesorbrightcolors.Thesamegoesforneutrals;ratherthanwhite,lightbeigeorstone,chooserichershadessuchassand,camel,khakiandslategrey.“Thisdoesn’tmeanyoucan’texpressyourselfthroughcolor.Itjustmeansyouhavetomixlightcolorswithdarkones,”addsRhone.Red,thoughnotbestsuitedtotheruddier,rosy-cheekedpaleperson,canworkformorealabasterpaleskintoneswhenworninboldshadeslikecrimson.WarmUndertonesIfyou’vegotskinthattendstotanratherthantoastinthesun,thenyoulikelyhavewhat’sknownasawarmcomplexion,whichsuitsamuchwiderspectrumofcolorsthanthosewithfairskinorcoolcomplexions.Ifyourveinshavegreenishtonesinsteadofblue,andyourcomplexionismoreyellowish,youprobablyhavewarm-tonedskin.Guyswithanoliveskincolorordarkskinmentendtofallintothiscamp,thoughnotalways.Whatcolorslookbestonwarmundertones?Whilemostcolorswillworkwithawarmskintone,youcanensureyoulookyourbestbyoptingforshadesthatareeitheralittlebrighterordarkerthanthemiddleground.Whatdoesthatmeanexactly?Choosepalebeigeratherthanwarmsandifyou’reoptingforlightneutrals,ortryaboldershadeofpurple(suchasmagenta)ratherthanmauve,forexample.“I’drecommendalightercolorpalette,withwhitebeingtheobviouschoicetoaccentuateyourskintone,”saysRhone.It’sgoodnews,then,thatthestarkshadeisnolongerlimitedtolinen.Outsideofthesunnyseason,tryapairofwhitejeanswithadarkjacketforastandoutlook.WhatcolorsshouldIavoid?Sinceyourskinwilllikelyhaveyelloworgreenundertones,it’swisetoavoidwearingshadesofthesecolorsthataretooclosetoyourskintone.Whatyou’retryingtoavoidhereisendinguplookingnudebyhavingyourskinblendinwithyourclothing.Huesyoushouldprobablygivetheheave-hoincludepistachio,mustard,oliveandmochabrown.Fortrickierlookslikeall-whiteorpastels-on-pastels,makesureyou’retannedenough(closertoblackratherthangreenolive,ifyouwill)tocarryitoffwithoutlookingwashedout.NeutralSkinToneMuchlikethosewithmediumskin,whenitcomestofindingcolorsthatsuityou,guyswithaneutralskintonehavewonthegeneticlotteryandcantrytheirhandatprettymuchanyhuewithoutmuchneedfortrepidation.Youlikelyhaveaneutralskintoneifit’shardtotellwhetheryourveinsareblueorgreen,andyoucanseebothcolorsinyourskin’sundertone.Whatcolorslookgoodonneutral-tonedskin?Theworld,gentlemen,trulyisyouroyster.Thecolorofyourskinisperfectlypositionedtomarrywellwiththevastmajorityofhuesandshades,asitdoesn’truntheriskofbeingwashedoutlikecomparativelypaleskintones.Withthatsaid,thereareacoupleofcaveats.“Havingalicensetowearbold,brightcolorslikejadegreenorcobaltblueisgreat,butbemindfulofaddingbalancetoyouroutfitwithacolorthatwillholdthelooktogether,”advisesRhone.Inpractice,thatmeansnotspinningthecolorwheellikeamaddecoratorwhojustspenthalfanhourhuffingchemicalsinapaintshop.Instead,chooseasinglepopofcolorortwothatcomplementratherthancompetewitheachother.Brightredisawinningshadeonmenwithaneutralskintone.WhatcolorsshouldIavoid?Yellowisprettymuchano-go.Muchlikehowpastelshadeswashoutpalerskintones,yellowwon’tcontrastclearlyenoughwithyourskin.Whileblackandnavyaretwokeycolorsinanyman’swardrobe(makingupthemajorityofformalandcorporatewear),it’sworthkeepingthesetoaminimumtoreallymakethemostofyourespeciallyversatileskintone.FAQsWhatcolorlooksbestonme?“Personally,Idon’tsubscribetoacolorchartthatdictateshowyoushoulddressbasedonyourskintone,”saysRhone.“Styleis,andalwayshasbeen,aboutself-expression,andIalwaysadvisemyclientsthatifthereisacoloryoulike,goandwearitwithconfidence.Thatsaid,it’sworthbeingmindfulofcolorsthatworktogether.”So,thereyouhaveit.Wearanycolorsthatmakeyoufeelgood,andthemirrorisyourfriend.Thegeneralruleofthumbisthatskinwithcoolundertoneslookbestwithgreys,browns,blues,greensandpurples.Skinwithwarmundertoneslookbestwitheitherbrightorlightcolors.Andskinwithneutralundertoneslooksgreatinbold,brightcolors.HowdoIknowmyskintone?Theveinmethodisthetried-and-trueapproachmostpeopletaketodiscovertheirskintone.Blueishveinsindicatecoolundertones,whereasgreenveinsmeanwarmundertones.Neitherorbothmeansyoulikelyhaveneutralskin. CillianO'ConnorCillianO’Connorisafreelancewriter,editorandconsultant,bestknownforhisabilitytosortthewheatfromthechaffintheworld’sofmen’sstyle,grooming,lifestyleanddesign.OncenamedtheNo.1BloggerbyVogue,CillianalsocontributestoTheSundayTimes,TheBusinessofFashionandMetro.PreviousarticleWhatYouCanLearnFromMenswear’sMostStylishDecadeNextarticleWhenBadHaircutsHappenToGoodMenSimilarArticlesHowAManShouldDressInHis20sMen'sStyleJamieMillar-January31,2022Yourtwenties-ortheearlyonesatleast-arethe“wonderyears”.Youwonderhowyou’reevergoingtopayoffthese...TheBestBlackTieDressCodeGuideYou’llEverReadMen'sStyleJamieMillar-January31,2022Ofallthereasonstowanttobe30Rock'sJackDonaghy(playedbrilliantlybyAlecBaldwin),themostcompellingcomesinepisodeseven...__________________TRENDINGARTICLES20BestPufferJacketsforMenIn2022TheBestAffordableWatchBrandsforMenin2022The17BestHoodiesforMenin2022TRENDINGARTICLESTheBestAffordableJeansYouCanBuyIn2022The20BestSneakerBrandsYouCanBuyin2022ACompleteGuideToSmartCasualDressCodeForMen__________________HomeMen'sStyleLoadMoreINFORMATIONAdvertisingContactUsPrivacy&CookiesPolicyTerms&ConditionsFASHION&STYLEMensFashionMensStyleMensGroomingBestMensWatche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  GetonTheListGetthelatestMen’sStyleAdvice,EvergreenGuides,ShoppingTips,andExclusiveDealsfromToday’sTopBrands.__CONFIG_colors_palette__{"active_palette":0,"config":{"colors":{"30800":{"name":"MainAccent","parent":-1},"f2bba":{"name":"MainLight10","parent":"30800"},"trewq":{"name":"MainLight30","parent":"30800"},"frty6":{"name":"MainLight45","parent":"30800"},"flktr":{"name":"MainLight80","parent":"30800"}},"gradients":[]},"palettes":[{"name":"Default","value":{"colors":{"30800":{"val":"rgb(59,136, 253)","hsl":{"h":216,"s":0.98,"l":0.61}},"f2bba":{"val":"rgba(59,136,253,0.1)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":216,"s":0.98,"l":0.61,"a":0.1}},"trewq":{"val":"rgba(59,136,253,0.3)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":216,"s":0.98,"l":0.61,"a":0.3}},"frty6":{"val":"rgba(59,136,253,0.45)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":216,"s":0.98,"l":0.61,"a":0.45}},"flktr":{"val":"rgba(59,136,253, 0.8)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":216,"s":0.98,"l":0.61,"a":0.8}}},"gradients":[]},"original":{"colors":{"30800":{"val":"rgb(59,136,253)","hsl":{"h":216,"s":0.98,"l":0.61}},"f2bba":{"val":"rgba(59,136,253,0.1)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":216,"s":0.98,"l":0.61,"a":0.1}},"trewq":{"val":"rgba(59,136,253,0.3)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":216,"s":0.98,"l":0.61,"a":0.3}},"frty6":{"val":"rgba(59,136,253, 0.45)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":216,"s":0.98,"l":0.61,"a":0.45}},"flktr":{"val":"rgba(59,136,253,0.8)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":216,"s":0.98,"l":0.61,"a":0.8}}},"gradients":[]}}]}__CONFIG_colors_palette__ Iconsenttohavingmyinformationprocessedinordertoreceivepersonalizedmarketingmaterialviaemail.SubscribeNowWerespectyourprivacy.Wewon’tspamyou.xCloseGDPRCookieSettingsPrivacyOverviewStrictlyNecessaryCookiesPoweredby GDPRCookieCompliancePrivacyOverviewThiswebsiteusescookiessothatwecanprovideyouwiththebestuserexperiencepossible.Cookieinformationisstoredinyourbrowserandperformsfunctionssuchasrecognisingyouwhenyoureturntoourwebsiteandhelpingourteamtounderstandwhichsectionsofthewebsiteyoufindmostinterestinganduseful.StrictlyNecessaryCookiesStrictlyNecessaryCookieshouldbeenabledatalltimessothatwecansaveyourpreferencesforcookiesettings.EnableorDisableCookiesIfyoudisablethiscookie,wewillnotbeabletosaveyourpreferences.Thismeansthateverytimeyouvisitthiswebsiteyouwillneedtoenableordisablecookiesagain.EnableAllSaveChanges