Fair skin characteristics

For starters, is your skin considered fair? It’s easy to find out. Simply look at these tell-tale signs to see if you’re a match.

• Skin color. Most people with fair complexions have light, sometimes translucent-looking skin. It may be described as milky or creamy.
• Eye color. Typically those with fair skin have blue or green eyes.
• Visible blue veins. Individuals with fair skin can usually see blue veins under the skin’s surface — especially on the forearm and wrist, where the sun rarely hits.
• Under-eye circles a common complaint. Unlike those with warm skin tones, people with fair skin may find it difficult to conceal under-eye circles beneath light, translucent skin.
• Sun sensitivity. Fair skin is especially sensitive to sunlight and may burn easily when sunscreen isn’t used properly.

5 makeup tips

Makeup is meant to accentuate beauty and show off skin tone — never mask it. Match your outer beauty with your inner beauty by following these guidelines every day.

1. Conceal correctly. According to About Beauty Guide Julyne Derrick, a yellow-based concealer is the best way to get rid of those pesky under-eye circles. The yellow will disguise dark shadows under your eyes while also covering red blemishes.

   Product picks:

   • Colorescience Optical Illusions Corrector Pen - Remedy That Red doesn’t just conceal under-eye circles; it also helps create the appearance of brighter eyes by reflecting light.
   • If puffy eyes are also a concern, try Dr. Michelle Copeland Ageless Under Eye Concealer Light, which combats dark circles and contains anti-aging ingredients.
   • With three color correctors, Philosophy Supernatural Concealer – Light conceals any imperfections, letting you custom blend a flawless finish.
2. Pick the perfect foundation. When picking out foundation, remember to avoid matching colors to your hand or arm. Instead, sample colors directly on your cheek to ensure it’s a match. Also, a second opinion never hurts; hit the beauty counter for professional help with the best foundation shade. When shopping at the drugstore, again match sample swatches to your cheek to find the correct shade.

• Product picks:
  • Check out Amazing Cosmetics Velvet Mineral Powder Foundation for beautiful mineral-based formulas for fair skin.
  • Dermablend Cosmetics Smooth Indulgence Foundation Nude Beige provides full coverage without feeling heavy.
  • If you’re only looking to blend away imperfections, DuWop Surface is a foundation stick that’ll do the trick.
3. Color your cheeks carefully. Bronzers aren’t for everyone. They can make fair skin appear dirty — not luminous. Instead, pick a pale pink or peach blush, which will make your face appear youthful and healthy.

   • Product picks:
     • Colorescience has two fabulous Retractable Blusher Brush shades for women with fair skin. Cheek A Boo is a beautiful light pink for a natural look.
     • To add a bit of peach to the mix, try Blushing Bride.
4. Choose cool colors for eyes. Women with fair skin can have fun with their eyes and play with color, but stick with cool colors for best results.
   • Eye shadow. Pastels in blue, green and lavender will make your eye color pop. But avoid picking a shade that directly matches your eye color, which will take attention away from your eyes.
   • Eye liner. Choose chocolate brown or charcoal eye liner in place of the usual black if your lashes are light. Your eyes will look larger, and you’ll avoid the raccoon-eye look. If you’re feeling daring, give teal, mauve and blue eye liners a try.
   • Mascara. To enhance the lashes, fair-skinned beauties should use brown instead of black for a more natural look.

   Product picks:

   • For different eye shadows, choose from the Colorescience Genie Eye Colore collection: Cold As Ice, Flower Power, Moonlighting.
   • DuWop EyeCatcher makes it easy to select liners specific to your eye color: Blue Eye Intensifier, Green Eye Intensifier and Brown Eye Intensifier.
   • For natural-looking lashes, try Blinc Kiss Me Mascara Medium Brown.

5. Select the right lip color. If you haven’t found the perfect lip color, you’re not alone. But finding a shade that looks stunning with your skin doesn’t have to be a chore. Pale nudes, light pinks and corals are good picks for women with fair skin. And always remember to accentuate your eyes or your lips — not both.

   • Product picks:
     • The 100 percent natural DuWop Pure Venom Pure Nude Lip Stain delivers a natural look with lasting color and added fullness.
     • If you’re looking for color and shine, Philosophy’s Supernatural Lip Gloss in Soft Pink is the perfect shade for most fair skin types.
     • And you can’t go wrong with Stila’s Lip Glaze in Apricot — a beauty editor favorite.

See also:

Personalize Your Palette: Makeup for Cool Tones

3 Top Tips for Applying Makeup

Makeover Your Beauty Routine