With over 335,000 Google searches this year and 192 million TikTok posts, ‘Colour Analysis’ has become a trending topic, yet many people are still confused about how it works and how it can be a tool in their beauty game. According to Lookfantastic.com, 99% of women in Australia wear makeup at least once a week, raising the question: is this the ultimate makeup hack that many are missing in their routines?
According to experts of Colour Theory, the right colours can transform not just your look but your entire presence. Jenny Park, a leading and wait list only Korean Color Analysis Expert and founder of Studio Peona, sheds light on the profound benefits of colour analysis and how it can revolutionise how you approach building your wardrobe, makeup routine, and self-confidence.
How Color Analysis is Beneficial
Colour analysis goes beyond mere aesthetics. By identifying the colours that best complement your unique features—such as skin tone, eye colour, and hair colour—you can enhance your natural features, appearing brighter, younger, and more lively. Jenny Park explains, “Using the right colours for your clothes, hair, and makeup has the potential to make you look brighter, younger, and more lively no matter how old you are.”
But the benefits don’t stop at physical appearance. Colour analysis can streamline your shopping experience, saving you both time and money. By narrowing down your choices to colours that suit you best, you avoid the frustration of trial and error. Additionally, understanding your optimal palette boosts self-confidence, encouraging you to explore a wider range of colours than you might have otherwise considered.
The Impact of Color in Makeup
Makeup sits directly on your face, making its colour selection crucial. The wrong shade of lipstick, foundation or blush can wash you out or overpower your features. “It is important to understand your undertone and the intensity of colour that works best on you,” says Park. Choosing the right makeup shades can bring out youth and liveliness from your face, enhancing your overall look.
Amanda Boyle, editor at Lookfantastic, has seen an explosion in the interest in Colour Theory, highlighting the importance of identifying your skin’s undertone before shopping online for make-up. “This foundational step is crucial as it influences which shades will enhance your natural beauty,” she notes. A simple way to determine your undertone is by observing the veins in your wrist: blue or purple veins indicate a cool undertone, while green veins suggest a warm undertone.
The Korean Approach to Color Analysis
Colour analysis originated in the West in the 1980s, primarily focusing on categorising Caucasian skin tones. However, the Korean method, as Jenny Park highlights, is more inclusive, allowing for the analysis of all skin tones with particular attention to the diverse tones of Asian people.
Colour analysis involves observing the unique features individuals are born with—eye colour, skin colour, hair colour, and contrast—and finding a set of colours that harmonise best. This personalised approach moves away from transient beauty trends, focusing instead on what truly enhances your natural features.
Seasonal Color Analysis
Jenny Park shares that Colour analysis is often categorised into four seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. Each season represents a range of colours that best complement specific skin tones.
- Spring: From warm pastels to vibrant primary colours, spring hues evoke a garden in full bloom. Spring skin tones range from peachy ivory to golden.
- Summer: Cool pastels to muted greyish tones define summer, reminiscent of a foggy morning at the beach. Summer skin tones span from pink ivory to yellow and olive.
- Autumn: Soft dusty colours to deep warm shades characterise autumn, reflecting the earth and falling leaves. Autumn skin tones range from peach to dark golden brown.
- Winter: Vibrant cool-toned primary colours to icy dark shades define winter, reminiscent of a cold, starry night. Winter skin tones range from ivory to dark brown.
Boyle adds, “The general thing to remember is that ‘like enhances like’—if your undertone is cool, cooler colours will suit you best; warmer colours will be better for warmer seasons.”
Embracing Your True Colours
Understanding and applying the principles of colour analysis can be transformative. By embracing the colours that enhance your natural features, you not only elevate your appearance but also gain newfound confidence. As Park puts it, “A session with a colour analyst is about setting aside current trends in beauty and looking into what colours bring out the best in YOU.”
Makeup brands are coming to the party with inclusive collections that enhance and highlight the beauty of all skin tones. Look to your undertone as a shortcut guide to finding the most flattering shades. As Amanda Boyle states:
“You just know when you’ve got your colour palette spot on. It’s one thing I wish all makeup wearer’s knew, so that people can take their looks to the next level to achieve that ultimate glowy and dewy finish. Using colour analysis in your make up approach can not only simplify your routine but also can transform it into a more effective and satisfying beauty experience.”
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