Fri 12 Jun 2009
Beauty Blog: What colors should you wear?
Posted by MollyLoretta under Beauty Blog
[3] Comments
This irks me to no end. I continuously see websites saying that you need to wear colors that compliment your skintone.
As a previous art major, and cosmetologist (where we have to thoroughly study the color wheel until we want to throw up a little bit), I am well aware that a complimentary color…. Isn’t always flattering.
For example. I have “cool” undertones to my skin. Meaning, that if I wanted to compliment my skintone I would wear warm colors as opposed to cool.
Let me tell you, I look awesome in violet, I look awesome in blue, and I look awesome in green. In fact, I often pair these colors with warm colors like golds and yellows.
Then again, everyone looks awesome in green. Want a sexy and funky eye? Go for green eyeshadow — EVERYONE can pull it off and look fab in it! (Here’s a look from Urban Decay that I’m in LOVE with!)
I think that we can wear whatever we want — there are different shades of every color.
Here are some of my tips on what to wear (both clothing wise and make-up)!
- Don’t make your eyeshadow match your outfit. It tends to look overwhelming and unflattering.
- Do have a purse a different color than your shoes! If you’re wearing plain black shoes, why not throw in a red or yellow purse for a pop of color?
- Do what makes you feel beautiful. What works for you may not necessarily work for everyone, same as the internet or magazine tips you read may or may not work for you. Everyone’s skin and facial structure and hair color is different — no two of us are the same.
- Do tell your sales representative if you don’t like a certain look they’re going for. Make up is there for individual and personal expression — just because someone expresses themselves in one way, doesn’t mean you have to follow suit!
- Do be comfortable in your dress, as well as with your cosmetics.
To me, it’s very simple. I mean, make-up is a form of art to me, as well as hair styling. You have to look at yourself as an individual instead of part of a group — which is unfortunately what many articles will try to tell you to do. What looks are “in” and what’s “out.” You can do a smokey eye with more than just a gray or black eyeshadow! You can do it with color, as well as neutrals!
Have fun with what you do, and make sure you feel beautiful doing it.


I totally agree- I think makeup should be fun, and make you feel good. Can I also say something that bugs the crap out of me? MAC says their colors are based on an “artist’s color wheel” where cool colors are yellow based and warms are blue based. I have training in color theory, as do you- I’ve never seen a color wheel where yellow is cool…just bugs me!
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MollyLoretta Reply:
June 13th, 2009 at 9:45 pm
@Jessica Allison, No kidding! The best I can come up with is that NC means “neutralizes cool” and NW means “neutralizes warm.” Otherwise they could easily make a neutral based foundation. I mean, otherwise NC and NW make no sense. I have mostly cool undertones (according to Prescriptives – blue/red), and I wear NW, when W obviously stands for warm. *shakes head* Lucky for me MAC foundations are too dark for me, or I’d literally dwell on that for ages. When they had their Studio Matte foundation, I wore that (only thing they ever made pale enough), and it drove me nuts!
If you add any cool tones to yellow, it NEUTRALIZES it! It doesn’t make it a “cool yellow.” *facedesk* One day we should seriously pose this question. LOL.
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Jessica Allison Reply:
June 15th, 2009 at 10:17 pm
@MollyLoretta, I actually found some MAC literature once where they “explained” that warm and cool are opposite on an “Artist’s color wheel” which is just not true…grrr…I haven’t found a MAC one that works for me either- I just got a sample of MUFE HD 110 so we’ll see. Now I’m off to search your site to see what you use!
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