Makeup
Tips! Tricks! Techniques!
How To: Find the best makeup for your fair skin tone
Mon, 7 November 2011 3:57PM
Alabaster, porcelain, moonlit, fair, ivory, translucent, pale and even pasty. There are so many names for fair skinned beauties. This gorgeous skin tone is under-appreciated in Australia, but thankfully the trend for porcelain, un-sunkissed skin is growing. No doubt thanks to the Twilight series and a growing awareness of the harmful effects of too much sun. But what colours work best with this skin tone? So glad you asked.
Skin:
Fair skin should be played down, and if you don’t have blemishes or imperfections you can often get away with minimal coverage. You may find you need to custom-blend a couple of shades to find your perfect match.
Celebs: Diane Kruger; Dita Von Teese; and Dakota Fanning
Cheeks:
If you want to experiment with blushes and bronzers, choose tones that are only a shade darker than your natural skin tone, and build colour slowly. Pale pinks and soft peaches are great for a rosy glow.
Celebs: Anna Kendricks; Dianna Agron; and Hailee Steinfeld
Eyes:
Smoky shades such as navy, grey and charcoal look great against an ivory complexion. Finish with mascara. Shades to avoid: earthy, red-based colours.
Celebs: Emily Blunt, Rachael Taylor; and Kristen Stewart
Lips:
Rich colours are a fabulous contrast to a light skin tone. Deep reds and plums are alluring while pinks add a playful pop of colour. Just steer clear of brown based lippies.
Celebs: Megan Fox; Taylor Swift; and Rose Byrne
Do you have porcelain skin? Do you embrace it?
What’s your favourite products for fair skin?
Posted by: Chelsea Tromans
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21 Comments
Posted by: MadisonC // Mon, 7 November 2011 04:10pm
Hang on, fair skin girls often need more than minimal coverage! I’m super pale but I need medium – full coverage.
Girls, let’s share the best foundations! I use Giorgio Armani and Laura Mercier secret camo concealer in #1. This is the best foundation match I’ve ever found.
Before this I used Napolean Perdis #2 stick foundation.
Posted by: Jannz Devotee // Mon, 7 November 2011 04:22pm
I agree with MadisonC, my fair skin requires a fuller coverage foundation.
I recently bought Laura Mercier silk creme foundation in #2 Rose Ivory, which I thought would be a match, but it’s actually too dark. Pretty decent coverage though.
I actually find tones that are too cool on my skin wash me out completely. Bronzes and browns suit my eyes more than greys.
Posted by: Parisienne chic Master Fan // Mon, 7 November 2011 04:56pm
I have to say,in winter i,ll sometimes embrace the whole “fair maiden ” look,but summer….BRONZE ALL THE WAY (and since i,m a beach bum from way back,in winter as well. I love the whole boho beach look. ).I am really fair,cream blonde,blue eyed girl,so some bronzer,faux tan and blue eyeliner does me for summer.I do have to mix foundations when i wear it,but minimal coverage is my choice.At night i do love a red lip.
Posted by: zoeeangelaa Master Fan // Mon, 7 November 2011 06:33pm
I have porcelain skin
I think all girls should embrace their natural skin tone.
I would never touch a bottle of fake tan, why should I?
MadisonC, I don’t feel I need full coverage but I do enjoy wearing Dior’s Forever Foundation on some occasions.
Posted by: Sarah // Tue, 8 November 2011 12:22am
“Fair skin should be played down.” Did I read that right??? Isn’t this about embracing and playing up our fair skin?
Posted by: Tarshb Master Fan // Tue, 8 November 2011 02:14am
I love my fair skin but had previously needed med coverage foundation until I jumped back on the vitamin C wagon, now I’m down to a swipe of concealer under my eyes over my daily spf and a quick powder before I add my pop of blush, powder my brows, slick on some mascara and finish with my red lip. Make up in 10 mins – thank you, vitamin c!
Posted by: Chelsea Tromans Supporter // Tue, 8 November 2011 08:09am
Hi Sarah. By “play down” I don’t mean try to hide away from your beautiful natural-given skin tone (I wouldn’t dare!), I mean you don’t need to load up on heavy makeup. A minimalist approach can look simply stunning as your milky complexion should steal the show.
Posted by: Louise-1295043242 Master Fan // Tue, 8 November 2011 09:50am
i avoid red and brown based shadows and lippies like the plague with my pale skin (they look… hideous on my skin tone)…
Always go for a good navy or charcoal eye, they are my faves!
Posted by: Julieow Master Fan // Tue, 8 November 2011 10:27am
Clinique “Alabaster” is a good pale skin match, as is BareMinerals Light mineral foundation, I definitely need medium+ coverage, paleness sometimes also has ruddy undertones
Posted by: Becca Master Fan // Tue, 8 November 2011 12:00pm
Thanks Chelsea, great article.
Posted by: Louise-1312619671 Enthusiast // Tue, 8 November 2011 12:14pm
I love Nars Sheer Glow Foundation in Deauville. It has a lovely balance of yellow and pink undertones.
I think it’s important to take hair colour into account here. I have very, VERY red hair so can were more russet/brown shades of lipstick as well as blue-based reds. I also like deeper shades of blush (peach tones look awful on me).
Posted by: Bec // Tue, 8 November 2011 12:55pm
It’s taken me years to really come to appreciate my fair skin! I agree with others comments – I tend to need a medium coverage foundation for work or going out, otherwise I get lots of people telling me I look ill or asking me if I’m feeling ok!
I love MAC Mineralise compact foundation, they have a good range of fair shades and it blends beautifully. Though come summer I’ll be breaking out the light fake tan to take the edge off.
Posted by: Karen-1298334769 Master Fan // Tue, 8 November 2011 01:56pm
I’m with Parisienne, bronzer, bronzer and more bronzer, my skin is that pale you can see my veins
Posted by: beautybee1 Master Fan // Tue, 8 November 2011 11:37pm
Yep I am really fair but I wouldn’t say porcelain perfect. I do use a light concealer and I do use pink and peach shades in blush. I never worry about trying to look tanned now – there are so many gorgeous pale skinned celebs to emulate thankfully!
Posted by: Bantam Master Fan // Wed, 9 November 2011 05:19am
I wish I was truly fair skinned – my skin tone is rather uneven… I love the porcelain type skin like Rose McGowan, Dita Von Teese, KStew, Cherie…
I find that opaque makeup suits fair skinned best – a dark(ish) eye and bright lip really makes their complexion pop.
Posted by: xdarkdreamsx Enthusiast // Mon, 5 December 2011 08:59pm
I love porcelain skin! I’ve been pale my whole life and embrace it. Fake tan, bronzer, anything orange or brown based looks horrible on me! As for “Fair skin should be played down, and if you don’t have blemishes or imperfections you can often get away with minimal coverage.”.. most with fair skin will find imperfections show up more, dark under eye circles, veins and any redness, so a great concealer is necessary! I always use a moisturiser with SPF 30+ (this is VITAL for all pale beauties!) then a light mineral makeup, followed by concealing any flaws. Max Factor Mastertouch Under Eye Concealer in “Ivory” is fantastic! I use it under my eyes and around my nose and it makes my skin look flawless
Oh and love dark smokey eyes, or a dark lip, just not at the same time. Plum lip colours look great with pale skin.
Posted by: Morning Star Devotee // Fri, 6 January 2012 07:48pm
Being very fair myself, like a number of the other commenters have said, I need a heavier coverage of foundation than “minimal” because I find that any mark, freckle or blemish shows up much stronger (and more visibly) against my skin than they seem to on those with a darker colouring.
It’s interesting to see the different in what colours people think suit pale skins tones as well or that work for them, with Chelsea mentioning that navy, grey and charcoal were good matches and Louise saying that she avoids brown and red based products. I am definitely completely the opposite; anything with a blue/grey undertone makes my skin take on a greyish tinge (always attractive), whereas brown based eyeshadows are a great match for me. I’ll avoid the plum based lip colours that suit xdarkdreamsx, however those colour work fantastically as eyeshadows on me!
Absolutely agree with everyone on here though that we should embrace being pale (and probably buy shares in a sunscreen company!)!
Posted by: Brittany // Sat, 28 January 2012 02:21pm
The only thing I have ever hated about my mega fair skin is that if I get cold (only a little, not even enough for goosebumps usually) it ends up doing a very very very unattractive marbled thing. Not good. Mainly on my arms.
I only use powder foundation and it’s usually not enough. Sometimes I have a lucky day but usually I’m not.
I disagree with the lipstick though. Maybe it’s my other coloring (blue eyes, dirty blonde hair with a little bit of strawberry and platinum and brown) but I CAN’T pull off that kind of lipstick. I can’t even do pink. The only colors that work are nudes.
But I do agree on eyeshadows.
Posted by: p3charmed Master Fan // Thu, 16 February 2012 01:11pm
Im not what you’d call porcelein or peaches and cream but im still in the pale and ghostly category, so thanks, very helpful article
Posted by: lovefashionangel Master Fan // Sat, 17 March 2012 08:29pm
Fair skin is truely beautiful, most people have little pores and dont get very oily which is soo lucky. Treasure your skin and it will repay you
Posted by: nita01 Master Fan // Tue, 11 September 2012 02:38pm
I find it hard to find foundations for my pale skin, so when I do find one that suits me, I tend to stick to it. There’s nothing worse than seeing someone with foundation on that is literally 1-2 shades darker than what they are.