Thursday 12 April 2012

Cool or warm? Does it really matter?

When Mum was buying her blush in Boots on Friday the Estee Lauder SA had a curved card which on one side had cool colours, which were mainly pinks and reds all with a blue tone and on the other warm colours, which were peaches and browns.  She held the card up so the cool curve was on one side of the face and the warm on the other so we could see which tones worked best on our skin - Mum was deemed warm and it was decided that I was cool.  All fine and Mum bought a lovely blush in Rose Sensuous that looks fab on her - nice warm pink/nude shade, lovely and I have just realised I should have taken pics of it for this post.  At the time I was wearing Revlon lip butter in Raspberry pie, which even to my untrained eye is quite definitely a cool toned pink.  I love this on me, it makes my face look brighter and my teeth whiter. The SA said this was absolutely spot on.

Which is all well and good until I empty the rest of my make up collection onto my bed and have a long, hard look at it.  It's all warm. Everything.  Lots of coppers and browns, with hints of gold rather than silver.  In fact I studiously avoid anything with a hint of silver to it - unless its jewellery; all of mine is either silver or white gold, to the extent that I don't even wear my original wedding ring which was yellow gold.   There's quite a clue there isn't there!

This morning I decided to dig out MAC Copperplate which I longed for, purchased and instantly loathed and this morning I remembered why.  It's actually a much nicer colour on than it looks in the pan but god is it hard work to actually get any of the bloody colour onto your eyelids.  I primed with UDPP and got a big eyeshadow brush, loaded it and pressed it on. And on. And on. In the end I resorted to using my slightly damp foundation brush to apply larger amounts as I was in danger of spending 40 mins applying applying a single eye shadow.  Once it was on I loved it and it has gone from languishing in the carrier bag of shame, second drawer down to First Division "in the make up bag" status.  I opted for Copperplate because it's the coolest shadow I own.  I teamed it with a hint of a Boots No 7 loose powder blusher in a pink colour, pink also being cool, and Revlon lip butter in Raspberry Pie, the blue toned pink.  A cool face.  It looked like this:
What I wanted to do was compare how cool colours looked on me with how my usual, much warmer make up looked.  So I did this:

Anyone would think I was proud of my receding hair line!
So that I could compare the two.  Unfortunately the light isn't the same but I think the comparison still works.  Until I saw these two pictures close together I was sure that both the cool and the warm make up worked equally well, or equally badly depending on  your take on all this!  Now I have to say I much prefer how the cool colours look.

I really do have a very wonky smile.
 I have already given my Mum the peachy Estee Lauder lipstick I bought recently and am now on a mission to buy myself a cool blusher - I have a fancy for one of the New Estee Lauder ones so I might get the SA in Boots to give me some ideas next time I am in Huddersfield.  I am sort of hoping that this will all mean that if my hair gets lighter and maybe more grey, if I combine it with nice cool eye colours in charcoal, slate and navy and add a nice bright pop of lipstick I might look pulled together rather than corpse like.  Might.  So, what do you think?  Cool or warm, which do you prefer?  If you have any suggestions for cool toned blusher please shout, any advice - as always! - greatly appreciated!


14 comments:

  1. I know a couple of EL consultants. Must stop by their counter to try this. I'm definitely a Cool, and have been for years. Pinks, reds and some Plums (but not purple) work for me.

    Just going by your top, the blue and black is much more flattering than the Black and green. The blue makes your skin tone and hair colour so much warmer. The other, I'm sorry to say, is really ageing on you. That lip colour is perfect for you too. Very flattering. Cool toned blusher - Benefit's Dandelion has been working for me for a long time.

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    1. It really helps to know this, I am sure pretty much everyone else does, I am horrified that I didn't! It has surprised me how much difference it makes. The black and green dress was a very radical purchase for me, weirdly each time I have worn it I have received compliments although its possible its because I have walked into a room and people have gone "oh!" and then had to cover their surprise (and horror!) by adding "don't you look nice"!!!

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    2. Crap. I'll get me coat then shall I?

      Ali

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    3. LOL! Nope I am sure there compliments were to cover the involuntary gasp of horror at me in my lurid green dress! I totally agree that in these pics at least (and probably in real life too!) it is much more ageing than the black and grey! xx

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  2. You look fabulous with the cool tones! It really lifts your complexion and makes you look very youthful. Gorgeous D xx

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    1. You know I love you right?! "Youthful" was exactly what I was hoping for!! xx

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  3. Agree, with the cool, both look nice but the cool really lifts you!

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    1. Thanks Charlie, yep I am right with you, I feel very different about how I look when I am wearing cool colours. Bought 2 revlon matte shadows today - a dusky plum and a cream one, for under my brows and a Bourjois blush, not completely convinced about that one but thought I'd make my mistakes with something from a cheaper range - am going to do some research on MAC blushers before I fly to Newquay next month! x

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  4. I agree. Both looks are pretty, but the cool tones look fabulous on you! Copperplate looks pretty with your lovely blue eyes, but it sounds like a pain to apply! Raspberry Pie looks great, too. I picked up a tube last week and was really surprised at how pigmented it is! x

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    1. Copperplate is long winded but I do love it once its one so its worth the effort. Think will have to check out more UD matte shadows as I much prefer UD to MAC - colour pay off is so much better. x

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  5. I was going to ask if you have ever had your *colours* done?

    @duckeggblue

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    1. You did it!!! No never have, although am guessing anyone doing my colours would fall down in a faint if they saw that liime green confection above! I probably should, although its rather fun to work things out for yourself, making catastrophic mistakes along the way! xx

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  6. I had mine done years ago. House of colour. I am a *spring* apparently. Tho I do vere over to the summer side occasionally. I found it REALLY interesting and at one point thought about being a consultant. And yes I think you are definitely in the *cool* range. Both very glam x

    Duckeggblue

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  7. I loved the idea of this as, I'm ashamed to say, at 39 years of age I still don't know what colours I should be going for. I went to two different EL counters today and neither of them had a clue. One actually got the cards out, when I specifically asked about them, but she waved them around vaguely, nowhere near my face by the way, and said "I think you could wear any colour really." So helpful!

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Would love to hear from you, I always read comments and reply and I love not feeling like I am talking to myself! dx

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