Nail makeup colors for your skin tone!
Getting your makeup colors right begins with the one shade that sets the stage for everything else: your foundation. Makeup artist Nyssa Green, owner of The Green Room Agency, breaks down how to build a foolproof color palette so your makeup always reads polished, modern and you.
Start with the Perfect Match
“The reality is if foundation doesn’t match, you’re always going to feel like something is off,” Green says. “When you get it right, it makes everything else easier.” Her No. 1 rule: Don’t buy before stepping into sunlight. “Fluorescent light is no one’s friend,” she says. “A little off in fluorescent is a lot off in sunlight.” Even when matched at a beauty retailer, walk outside before committing.
Unlike in years past, today’s shade ranges make exact matches possible. (Thank you, Rihanna, whose Fenty Beauty brand paved the way for diverse skin tones.) Online tools help, too. Just answer the questions honestly and know your undertone, which a makeup artist (note: not a sales clerk) can help pinpoint. “Most people have a yellow undertone,” Green says.
Wondering what type of foundation to choose? Cream foundations get Green’s vote for every age since they’re blendable, buildable and versatile. “You can sheer them down with moisturizer or buff them in for smooth, glassy skin,” she says.
Shape Your Eyeshadow Palette
Once your base is dialed in, mainstay neutrals are your go-to makeup friend. “Taupes, browns, beiges and white: Those eyeshadow colors work on anybody because they’re what we all naturally have,” Green says. Intensity, not color family, is what should shift by skin tone. For instance, a taupe eye crease for fair skin might translate to a rich brown for deeper tones. White is the secret multi-tasker: lid color, brow highlight, under-eye setter or even a lip-brightening pop.
“Just dust a little in the center of the lip for dimension,” Green says.
Next, add eye color, if you want. Makeup should be fun, not fussy. So express yourself. Green’s advice is to try a bold eyeshadow color as an eyeliner first. A thin line on the top or bottom lash gives personality without overwhelming.
A good rule of thumb is to select only one eyeshadow that shimmers, says Green. Matte shadows blend the easiest and look good on mature eyes, whereas shimmer can settle into wrinkles. And eyeshadow brushes matter. “They’ll help blend and direct shadow where you want it to go.”
Find Your Red Lipstick
“There’s a red for everyone in the whole wide world,” Green says. “It’s a woman’s superpower, and so many don’t use it.” It’s important to find the right match for your skin tone so reds don’t appear clownish. Green says that for the majority of people the right red will have a blue, not an orange, undertone. However, some can wear both well. “Play around to see what you like, but don’t pick it from the tube. Test it on your face. Or call me, and I’ll help you find one!”
Master Your Blush
Blush is about layering and looking naturally flushed. “Build, build, build, and less is more,” Green says. Orange—yes, orange—is her universal color pick. “It works on the darkest to the lightest skin, and you can’t say that for red or pink,” she says. Use a cream or liquid blush and blend it across the entirety of the cheeks so there are no harsh lines.
@nyssag
