How To Choose Colors That Flatter Your Skin Tone

Color is a great accessory to add to our wardrobe. Since we have a lot of dark, dreary days this time of the year,  I especially like to wear color. Today we’re going to learn how to choose colors that flatter your skin tone.

How to choose colors that flatter your skin tone

Years ago when my husband and I started dating he told me his favorite color was orange. Of course, I immediately went out and bought some clothes that were orange.

I kept noticing how bad I looked. My dark circles were even darker. I didn’t have any color in my face and I looked tired!

I finally realized that orange was not my color! If I’m going to wear orange, it’s best to wear it away from my face.

That’s why it’s important to know what colors look best on you.

With the right colors:

  • Your skin tone will have a glow.
  • Your eyes will appear brighter.
  • Your hair will reflect it’s natural highlights.
  • You’ll hear compliments such as “That is your color, you look great!”

With the wrong colors:

  • Your skin tone will appear tired..
  • Your eyes may appear shadowed, and you’ll see dark circles
  • You’ll hear comments – such as “You look tired today.” and “Are you feeling OK?”

First, determine your skin tone:

Winter complexions have blue or pink undertones. Skin can be pale white, yellowish-olive, or dark. Winter people are generally brunettes, with dark eye color.

Summer complexions have blue or pink undertones. Skin is pale and pink. Summers are often natural blondes or brunettes with pale eyes.

Autumn complexions have golden undertones. Many redheads and brunettes with golden brown eyes fall into this category.

Spring complexions have golden undertones and are usually creamy white or peach. Spring people generally have blonde or red hair, freckles, rosy cheeks, and blue or green eyes.

Now, choose clothes to flatter your skin tone:

Winters should wear colors that are sharp, stark and clear. White, black, navy blue, red and shocking pink all go well with winter complexions. For lighter colors, wear icy tones rather than pastels. Avoid subdued tones like beige, orange and gold.

Summers should choose pastels and soft neutrals with rose and blue undertones. Lavender, plum, rose-brown and soft blue work well, while black and orange do not.

Autumns should select colors with golden undertones, like camel, beige, orange, gold and dark brown. Avoid colors with blue tones, like navy.

Springs can wear warm colors like camel, peach, golden yellow and golden brown. Avoid dark, dull colors.

Last summer (2013), I had some professional pictures taken. I wore a stark green blouse since I’m a winter and I usually get compliments when I wear that color.

How To Choose Colors That Flatter Your Skin Tone

So there you have it! Know your season, and choose colors that flatter your skin tone. This will make your shopping much easier!

Do you know which season you are? I’d love to hear!

Beauty For the Heart~~“It is a joy to Jesus when a person takes time to walk more intimately with Him. The bearing of fruit is always shown in Scripture to be a visible result of an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.” – Oswald Chambers

Today I want to spend time with Jesus so that my life will bear fruit for Him!

Have a blessed day!

leave a comment...

  1. I am definitely an Autumn. I have very fair skin but with a warm or olive tone, medium light brown hair and light brown eyes. I always had a hard time finding colors that look good on me but I seem to look best in muted warm shades. I think I look great in teals or Tiffany blue, apricots, oranges, I cannot wear red unless it is an orange red. Blue red looks awful on me. Stark white looks awful on me too. Baby pink looks horrendous on me as well as most pastels. I don’t wear yellow a lot but when I do I get tons of compliments.

  2. Oops! I forgot I had a question when I made my comment. I am a summer. With the pastel colors, should I wear more makeup than my usual neutral almost “no makeup” makeup look? Would you have any suggestions where to start? I am a brunette with blue eyes.

  3. I missed this post! November 11th is my birthday and I was out doing some fun stuff with my precious, darling husband! What great information! I remember a post with you in that blouse and I believe I commented how gorgeous you look in that color…you still do!

  4. I love seasonal color analysis! I am an autumn for sure. But wondering if the vivid colors for my season still work for me. I color my hair but my skin has faded with age so wondering if our seasons or colors change at all with age?

  5. I am also a winter (brunette w/ dark blue eyes). I had my “colors” done about 25 yrs ago. It was a interesting session for sure. The consultant too different shades of the same color and draped them around the neck. She then revealed to you in front of a mirror so you could really see the difference in how the right color highlighted your natural skin tone. That’s how I found the perfect shade of red for me – I need to look for a blue red vs an orange red. Hair color changes and a summer tan can allow other colors to look ok, but I am a true winter for sure. Another lesson I learned and Cyndi you reference in your blog, I can wear other colors as long as I have a winter color near my face. That is important to realize that you don’t have to shy away for a color you truly love. I have recently incorporated mustard into my wardrobe, a color that I have avoided all this time.

  6. Def. I’m a winter! I don’t wear pastels or any drab colors with my olive skin. I do however like gray but I usually wear a colorful scarf to brighten up my face. Navy doesnt do a thing for me but I love wearing turquoise and royal blue.

  7. I’ve been told I’m a winter but I get lots of compliments when I wear navy blue and hot pink. So now I’m confused!! Does highlighting your hair change your “season”? Or is it mostly based on skin tone? Your picture is beautiful ~ I can see that is definitely one of your colors!!

  8. I’m not sure what I am. I was naturally a light blonde – headed child and I with brown eyes and eyebrows. Now my hair is dishwater blonde/light brown, but I highlight it blonde. What am I?

  9. I don’t really know but I’ve had people tell me that I am a Winter, so I’m going with that. My hair is the lighter side of brown and my eyes are blue and I have pale skin. But I seem to look best in bright colors.

  10. I’m a winter, but pink makes me look fresh and young.My hubby likes me to wear baby blue ,but I do stay away from rust,gold,and olives….. This was a fun post…. Be warm and safe.

  11. I so remember the “color me beautiful” home parties. They would start out with “white” or “cream” and then build colors from there. I am unique in that I am a BLUE blue eyed blond, but while I look good in summer colors, I too can pull off most winter colors. Pale blue/Navy blue, pastel pink/hot pink. I look terrible in anything yellow!!!

  12. No doubt I’m an autumn. I think your shirt looks great on you but I think it is one of the universal colors that everyone can wear. I think coral is the other one. Those are two of the colors that a bride should look at when picking dresses for her bridal party. They look great on everyone.

  13. Huh Oh, Now I am a little confused… Can I be more then one season? My hair is naturally dark brown hair but green eyes. I thought I was spring, but I have no trace of blond in my natural color of hair(I have Indian in me) yet my eyes are green. What would you say? winter for my brown hair or spring for my green eyes? I really am dying to know …. I do love the rich earthy tones in clothes best. I have worn orange this past summer and got compliments, yet I have worn red and blues and greens and gotten the same response, so I’m still not sure!

  14. I thought winters wore icy pastels or jewel tones. I’ve thought you were a Spring but pictures on the internet can be deceiving. Anyway, you look great!

  15. I have always thought I was a summer, but I look best in red, teal, royal blue, turquoise and those colors rather than pastels. I am blonde with green eyes and my skin is fair with a pink undertone. Is it possible to be a blonde winter?

    1. It is absolutely possible to be a blonde winter. I have a very good friend who is a blonde winter. These were just guidelines–skin tone also plays a big part in it. Wear what makes you feel beautiful!!

  16. I also had my colours “done” so many years ago. I’m a spring.
    That green shirt looks stunning on you Cyndi! What a fun topic

  17. I’m an Autumn; no surprise there. But I have green eyes, so I get compliments when I wear any shade of green.

    I, too, remember the Color Me Beautiful seminars. I went to one when I was a brand-new wife–that was almost 30 years ago! 🙂

  18. So many winters writing in– myself included. I’m wondering if wearing a bright scarf would help me get away with wearing something that isn’t really in my color scheme?

  19. This is very helpful! By the simple analysis, I’m a winter. My coloring is much like yours. That explains why we feel more prettier in certain colors than others. I’m going to pay more attention to this.

  20. When I was in my early 20’s…(30 years ago!!!) it was quite popular to have your colors analyzed (remember Color Me Beautiful anyone???). I used to carry around color swatches that helped know if a fabric color was right for me! While I no longer carry that with me, I find that one color to this day remains “my color”. It’s an orangey-coral that ALWAYS bring compliments! I’m a spring. This post brought back some fun memories!! Thanks, Cyndi!

    1. I thought the same thing when Cyndi started talking about the seasons! I went to a color class in the late 70’s/early 80’s. I haven’t heard the “Season” assessment in a long time. I am a Winter. It is obvious that colors for other seasons do not look the best on me. The other advantage to sticking to a season is that you have a much better chance to mix/match all your clothes. You don’t end up with items that only match one thing in your closet.

  21. I dont know how true this is. I can wear pretty much all these colors and i look great and have even received many compliments. I think you definitely have to have hair and makeup done. I am a brunette/brown eyes with pale complexion, so I guess i would be winter.

  22. I think that I am a winter also. I think that eye color has a lot to do with how a color looks on you. I have hazel blue/green eyes and if I wear teal, blue, green or plum I get compliments. I don’t wear red very often but after reading your post I am going to try it. Thank you for your wonderful posts. I so enjoy your positive attitude and wonderful hints 🙂

  23. I am a winter. I starting learning about colors when every time I wore light brown or beige people would ask me if I was feeling ok. 🙂 when I wear bright red I always get compliments!

  24. Great topic Cyndi. You confirmed what I thought I already knew, that I am a winter too. I get many compliments when I wear blue. Especially teal blue, turquoise or a sky blue. Also the color green you are wearing as well. I love crisp white also with a pretty scarf. Thx for all you do… have a blessed day :0)