Colors That Keep It Cool
Do you know what season you are? Color analysis has been mega-popular lately, and it's more easier than ever to figure out what undertones your skin has, regardless of color. If you burn easily, have bluish-pink nailbeds, and look better in silver jewelry, you probably have cool skin. With this knowledge, here are a few colors to reach for and a few to avoid.
1. Sapphire
Bold and blue-leaning jewel tones look amazing on cool skin, adding vibrancy without washing you out. Sapphire blue creates a rich, deep contrast with your skin. For jewel tones, if a color would look great on a ring, it likely looks great with your skin
2. Forest Green
Calming and grounded forest green looks great on cool skin. Shades like spruce and pine will especially pop and bring an earthiness to your complexion. Deep greens are especially flattering on dark skin.
3. Lavender
Pastels make cool skin absolutely glow, especially in winter or spring. For pastels, you want to look for shades that feel refreshing, as we will explore later on. Pair pastels with cool neutrals and silver jewelry for a look that is as classic as it is chic.
4. Blush
If you feel pretty in pink, you're in luck, as many shades will bring out the natural pink tones in your skin. Soft pinks such as blush will complement and brighten your undertones without making them look exaggerated. Dusty blush gives a softer look, while icier pastels create contrast.
5. Teal
Teal is a color chameleon; it's flattering on almost every skin tone. Teal is a bit brighter and more playful than jewel tones, which makes it an excellent pop of color for neutral outfits. A true teal is neither warm nor cool.
6. White
You aren't supposed to wear white after Labor Day, but it's one of the best neutrals you can pick for cool skin. Specifically, a pure, crisp white will clarify your complexion. And don't worry about looking like a ghost if you have very fair skin, either.
7. Ice Blue
Cool-toned people in the late 1990s and early 2000s didn't know how good they had it with frosted everything. On cool skin, ice blue is anything but chilly, giving you a glowing, ethereal look. Think ice princess or fantasy elf and you'll be in the clear.
8. Dove Gray
A classic shade of grey like dove grey will soften cool complexions and enhance your natural glow. This shade feels cozy without being warm and is the perfect choice for transitional seasons.
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9. Berry
Berry is a shade of pink that leans blue rather than red and is halfway between pink and purple. This shade adds a little healthy warmth to your skin without making you appear flushed. When worn with neutrals, you can create wonderful harmony.
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10. Amethyst
As we said above, pretty much any color that's sued for a gemstone will look great across cool skin tones. Amethyst is a rich, dramatic purple that is especially flattering in winter or as evening wear. The complexity of this color will add further complexity to your skin.
Now that we've discussed the colors that are most flattering for cool undertones, let's look at some that should be used sparingly.
1. Camel
Camel is a warm shade of beigey brown that people with cool skin should use sparingly. The warm tones of this color do not mix well with cool skin and can make you look sallow or sickly.
2. Grass Green
Grass green is typically bright and yellowy, which makes it a bad choice for cool skin. Warm tones cancel out cool tones, making your skin appear dull or muted. Luckily, many other shades of green are flattering on cool skin.
3. Brick Red
Contrary to popular belief, people with cool skin can dip into the warmer side of the color palate (red, orange, and yellow), they just have to be choosy. Brick red is warm and earthy, but unfortunately the warm undertones make this a poor choice for cool skin. With especially fair skin, this shade can make you look ruddy.
4. Butter Yellow
Butter yellow is one of the most popular colors this year, unfortunately, it works better on warm skin. However, we're not suggesting you cut these colors out of your wardrobe entirely if you love them. People with cool undertones can certainly hop on the butter yellow handbag trend.
5. Salmon
Salmon is a pretty shade, but a tricky one. Because its undertones lean orange and rosy pink, it can often make cool skin look muted. Softer pinks that lean neutral or cool are likely to be more flattering.
6. Terracotta
Like brick red, terracotta leans a little too earthy to be flattering on every skin tone. The deep orangey-redness may overpower your body's natural undertones, especially when work too close to the face. This is especially true of lipstick.
7. Neons
Retina-scalding neon shades are a favorite of poolside photoshoots and 80s-themed parties around the world. They can be a little too intense for cool skin, making it appear dull rather than vibrant. However, the exception to this rule is very deep or dark skin which is not overpowered by neon.
8. Tangerine
It brings us no joy to say this, but many shades of orange are unflattering for cool skin. Tangerine in particular is neither pale nor deep enough to bring any complexity to your skin. That said, orange is a great accent color for nails, bags, and accessories, especially with largely neutral outfits.
9. Mustard
About a decade ago, mustard was the color for millennials, especially when pared with parkas and Chelsea boots. Today, this complex shade of yellow has largely fallen out of favor in exchange for sunnier, more hopeful hues. Perhaps this is good news, as it often makes cool undertones appear sallow.
10. Beige
Beige gets a pretty bad rap for being dull and drab. While there are shades of beige that can be enormously flattering, very few of them are suitable for cool-toned skin. The brighter and more golden a neutral is, the more likely it is to wash you out; let's leave beige to those with warm tones.
