colors for skin tone

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Neons can make you sallow. Pastels can make you look wan and gray. But jewel tones—from smoky quartz to pale citrine—make anyone look glowy. Here’s how to pick the shade that’s exactly right for you.

If you've got brown eyes and blond hair (usually known as: highlighted darker hair), go with amethyst. Darker colors will make you look drab, but the blue notes in this rich purple warm up your skin tone.
color for skin tone

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If you've got blue eyes, match them with sapphire. "Especially a necklace or choker," says Stafford. "By echoing your eye color in an accessory around your neck, you’re accentuating your best feature and drawing attention towards it."
color for skin tone

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If you're African-American, try garnet or ruby, two deep reds that Stafford says defeat the "ashy skin" syndrome.
color for skin tone

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If you've got red hair, stick with emerald. The two complementary colors result in a contrast that will catch every eye on the street.
color for skin tone

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If you're Asian, choose citrine and pinks. They undo any sallowness.
color for skin tone

Photo: Getty Images

If you've got gray hair, any jewel tone will add vibrancy, says Stafford, because gray hair makes almost everyone look a little washed out. But for the best effect, she recommends sticking with tones that match the color of your eyes: sapphire, emerald or topaz.
color for skin tone

Photo: Getty Images

For anyone, anywhere: smoky quartz. This brown with a warm gray undertone makes complexions more radiant.

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