Color is the property of light that is seen when reflected off an object. In color analysis, great care is taken to find how colors that reflect onto our skin, impact our overall appearance. Some colors projected onto the face will match with our own colors, and others will clash, causing the appearance of these colors to compliment or fight against our own colors. It is crucial to have the correct lighting while conducting an analysis, because we can see the colors and the person naturally, without any interference in varied lighting.
There are three main layers of the skin; the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis. The epidermis is found on the surface and composes about 20% of the skin. The dermis and hypodermis are found underneath, making about 80% of the skin, the majority of our skin depth. Since our skin is not opaque, but partially translucent, the effects of colors reflecting onto our face will affect, even subtly, the skin's appearance.
The three components found in the skin that give it its pigment are; melanin, carotene, and hemoglobin. Melanin affects the tone, light to dark. Carotene adds an orange/yellow pigment to the skin, while hemoglobin (an iron-rich protein found in red blood cells) adds a mix of blue, red, and purple to the skin. We all have our own unique ratio of these components, determining whether our undertone is cool or warm.
Much of what we see in nature is so effortlessly in harmony with itself. The rich depth of autumn trees, cream flower petals with complimentary soft green leaves, white clouds against a blue sky, and a stunning sunset revealing warm, hazy colors of orange, pink, yellow and purple. We can find so much inspiration in the elegance of nature’s color palettes.
