Skin Colour Types | skin tone | how to determine skin tone | undertone | glow skin

Different Types of Skin Colours

Skin tone refers to the colour of the skin on the surface, whereas skin undertone refers to the delicate tint beneath the surface. The amount of melanin pigment or skin pigment present in the uppermost layer of your skin determines your skin tone.

The colour of human skin varies from the darkest brown to the lightest shades. Variation in pigmentation, which is a result of genetics that is inherited from one's biological parents, sun exposure, or both, causes differences in skin colour across individuals. Because of variances in the environment, distinctions between groups emerged through natural selection and govern the biochemical consequences of UV light penetrating the skin.

Many components influence the actual skin colour of various persons, but the pigment melanin is by far the most important. Melanin is produced by cells called melanocytes in the skin and is the primary determinant of skin colour in people with darker skin.

The bluish-white connective tissue underneath the dermis and the haemoglobin circulating in the dermal veins define the skin tone of those with light skin. When arterioles dilate as a result of physical exertion or sexual desire, or when the nervous system is stimulated, like anger, embarrassment, the red hue beneath the skin becomes more noticeable, especially in the face. The skin of the palms and soles, for example, is lighter than the rest of the body, which is especially visible in darker-skinned persons.

The 4 types of skin tones are:

Light
Fair
Medium
Dark or deep

The 3 types of undertones are:

Warm
Cool
Neutral

How to Determine the Skin Tone?

While each skin tone can have a variety of complexions and be classified as very light, very deep, and so on, you can establish the broad kind of your skin tone by using the following methods:

Examine the jawline

When compared to the rest of your face, this area is usually less affected by skin colour changes. In natural sunshine, examine your newly cleansed skin in this area. Try to figure out whether it's light, medium, or deep.

Ask a third person

Your skin tone is light if people around you describe you as "fair." If they always comment on how tanned you are, you're very likely a medium. You may be dark if you appear pale in the winter but tan in the summer.

How to Determine Undertones?

Test 1: vein test

Examine the colour your veins are on the underside of the wrists.
You most likely have a cold undertone if your veins are blue or purple in hue.
You have a warm undertone if your veins are greenish.
You probably have a neutral undertone if you can't tell which colour is more visible in your veins.

Test 2: jewellery test

You have a cool undertone if silver jewellery looks good on your skin.
You have a warm undertone if gold jewellery looks good on your skin.
You have a neutral undertone if both look good on you.

Test 3: white paper test

Hold a blank sheet of white paper under your skin adjacent to your face. If your skin is turning yellow, you're probably warm. You're probably cool if your skin appears rosy.

Test 4: sun test

When you're out in the sun, does your skin tan very fast and without burning? If you answered yes, your undertone is warm or neutral. If you don't have a cool undertone, you're in the cool undertone category.

Test 5: colour test

Examine the hue of your garments in relation to your skin tone to determine which ones are most flattering.

If cold colours like the blue suit you, you have cool undertones.
If warm colours like the yellow suit you, then you have warm undertones.
If any and all shades suit you, you have a neutral undertone.

Why is it Essential to Know Your Undertone?

There are numerous hues and skin tones to choose from. Knowing your undertone can assist you in selecting the best:

Clothes:

You can choose the proper coloured garments to look your best after you know your skin undertone. Warm skin tones should wear warm colours, whereas cool skin tones should wear cool hues.

Makeup:

It's time to choose the proper foundation, eyeshadow colours, and lipsticks now that you've worked out your undertone. If you have warm undertones, go for warm shades, and if you have cold undertones, go for cool colours. As a result, your makeup will complement your natural skin tone.

Hair colour:

Cool skin tones should choose cool hair colours, and warm skin tones should choose warm hair colours.

Do Skin Tones Change with Age?

As you get older, you may notice that some regions of your skin gets darken. The uneven distribution of pigment cells, or melanocytes, leads to the patchy appearance of skin colour on elderly people's faces and hands. Seasons and sun exposure can also affect the skin tones, but undertones remain consistent.

Take Away

It's important to know that your skin's undertones aren't always determined by your skin tone, like pale, olive, or dark complexion. A person with dark skin can have a cool complexion, while someone with light skin can have a warm one. And vice versa in every case.

Frequently Asked Question

How many human skin colors are there?

From pale to dark, types of human skin color covers a variety of range. A leading authority on standardised color reproduction, has identified around 110 different skin tones.

What color is healthy skin?

The research focused on facial skin color types, having a light, yellowish complexion looks the healthiest. Your skin color could show a healthy diet of fruits and vegetables, whose pigments are known to change the skin's hue.

What color is melanin?

Melanin – a brown/black or red/yellow polymer produced in melanocyte cells. Haemoglobin in RBC in the superficial vasculature. Dietary carotenoids – to a much lesser degree, and is usually seen as a yellow colour on the palms.