THE ART OF MAKEUP: Backgrounder (color)

Hey guys,

Yes, I am new here but I've been self-studying makeup for the longest time through rigorous research and product testing. Even though I do not apply much makeup on my super sensitive skin, I still practice it with other people so I think I can help you out. Let me start my The Art Of Makeup with what I call a backgrounder.

Everyone needs to identify their background: Skin tone, skin type, hair color, face shape, features and environment. I call it a backgrounder because those six factors are the background or the basics of your face. Those are your attributes. Those six are considered the foundations where you would base everything you would do for yourself be it makeup, hairstyle or fashion. 

If you understand what I am trying to say, lets begin identifying the six! (You can get a pen and paper and write down your physical attributes)

BTW, this is just a culminating activity identifying the six. My next post will be about the real makeup practice. :)

First up, skin tone. You might already know this (or not), but your skin tone can either be warm or cool or sometimes in between (a.k.a olive skin). How do you identify your skin tone? Well, there are two common methods beside observation. The first method is identifying by the color of your veins, if your veins are green (in natural light), then your skin tone is warm. If it is blue (in natural light) then your's is cool. If the colors are both green and blue (or dark purple), then you have an olive skin tone. the other technique is by checking whether gold accessories match you better than silver accessories. Those with the former have warm skin tones and those with the latter have cool skin tones. Olive skin tones can look good or bad in both colors.

I've identified mine as warm skin tone through those two methods. Next time, lets discuss the do's and dont's for your skin tone. (here's a link that might help you more : http://www.mineral-makeup-reviews.com/Cool-or-Warm-Skin-Tone.html)

If you've identified your skin tone, lets move on to your skin type. Basically, there are five skin types, the Oily, Dry, Combination (or T-zone), Normal and the Sensitive. Oily skin are more acne-prone but less susceptible to premature ageing. Dry skin are less susceptible to acne but more prone to wrinkles and fine lines. Combination skin is a mixture of oily skin and dry skin. It is also known as t-zone because it gets oily around the t-zone area (forehead, nose) and really dry around the cheeks and chin area (or likewise!). Normal skin is, obviously, just normal. It is fairly dry and fairly oily. Sensitive skin appears thinner, reddish, and dry.

Have you identified yours?

If yes, lets continue. If not, check out this link (http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/fitness/quiz.jsp?quizId=/templatedata/fitness/quiz/data/1128719086715.xml)

Alrighty then, lets continue. Hair color! Of course, I am talking about your hair color now! By identifying your hair color you could identify which eyebrow color, lipstick, eyeshaddow, contact lens, blusher you should apply. Identify if it has a reddish undertone or a yellowish one. Next, identify it's tone, whether its black, really dark, medium dark, dark, medium light, light, really light or platinum. Also, take note whether you have black hair, red hair, brown hair or blonde. For other hair colors that were not mentioned, just relate them to their closest relative (example: pink to red).

Done? Okay! So we are finished with the first part which I call "color". After re-affirming these attributes, well go to the next parts, which includes face shape and features then to the environment. :))

I appreciate feedbacks! :)

God bless!