How Do You Know Which Colors Are "Just Right" for You?

A color is "just right" for you when it brightens your face, evens out your skin and feels in harmony with you, without overwhelming you or pulling you down. I call it the Goldilocks test, and you can see it on me in this video.

Too hot: when a color is too vivid

Bright red is too vivid and too warm for me. It brings out the redness in my skin, and people notice the color before they notice me. When a color is brighter or warmer than your natural coloring, it overwhelms you.

Too cold: when a color is too dark

Dark green is too dark for me. It drains my face and pulls me down, making me look more tired. When a color is deeper than your natural coloring, it can cast shadows and make you look washed out.

Just right: when a color matches you

A medium blue is just right for me. It's medium in value, soft and neutral, just like my Classic Soft palette. It gives just enough brightening to my face and doesn't bring out any discoloration.

How can I tell if a color is right for me?

Hold the color under your chin in natural light and look at your face, not the fabric.

• Signs it's right: your skin looks smooth and even, your eyes look clear, and you look rested.
• Signs it's wrong: redness, shadows under your eyes or around your mouth, or a gray or tired look.

Why does this happen?

Every color has an undertone (warm, cool or neutral), a value (light to dark) and a chroma (bright to soft). The closer a color's undertone, value and chroma are to your own coloring, the more it supports you. A color analysis tests all of these with professional drapes so you don't have to guess.

Want to find your just-right colors? Book a color analysis in Ogden, or try the free At-Home Color Analysis Guide.