SKIN COLOR TEST

Skin, as well as hair and eyes, also has varying proportions of red (hemoglobin), yellow (carotenoid) and blue (melanin) pigments that color it.  Three layers of tissue make up the skin: the epidermis, the dermis and the subcutaneous.  The subcutaneous layer varies greatly in people. Dark colored skins contain greater percentages of melanin which is produced in the third subcutaneous layer of the skin. The following diagrams illustrate how dark skintones have a greater percentage of pigment color, whereas lighter skintones simply have less: 

Skintones:  black, brown, orange, yellow, olive, beige, tan, pink, cream and white all have different percentages of blue, red and yellow pignments.

THICK SKIN Asian, Black, Indian and Hispanic skins have more melanin in the outer layer of skin which tends to cover the red hemoglobin tones underneath. Olive skin falls in this group because it lacks red ¾ — the olive tone is a  balanced mixture of blue and yellow (green) which gives the skin an olive cast. Sallow skintones have less blue and red (purple) therefore showing more yellow. The predominant pigment color in a skin always means that the complementary pigment color (the color opposite on the wheel) is not as dominant.

THIN  SKIN Skintones with less melanin are thinner and show more red ¾ some, so transparent that blushing or flushing occurs from the least exertion. These sensitive necks will turn red even from an emotional impact, and the chest area turns red at the slightest touch. This type skin tends to freckle and sunburn very easily because it is so thin. If you rub your chest and it turns red, you are in the thin-skin category. And now matter what your Homebase may be, it means you have a degree of Spring Influence because your coloring is brighter than most people.  A special comment about thin skin:  Because this skin is so thin, blood circulates easily near the surface leaving this type skin comparatively clean and free of odor. Thick skins have a thicker layer of subcutaneous tissue, the innermost layer which also stores fat, and tends to retain odors. This oily fat allows the thick skin to stay more wrinkle-free, while thin skin does tend to have fine wrinkles due to lack of fat near the skin surface.

NOTICE:  All skintones are derived from  orange , rather than the other basic color families.

This questionnaire will help you determine which Homebase your skin characteristics fall into. Notice, each listed item reflects the basic Universal Language set out at the beginning in the theory portion of this work. The same definitions apply to all subjects, even your skintone. The discussion following this Questionnaire will walk you through the characteristics of each skin type.  Into which section does your skin tone fall?

     

#1  Skin Characteristics of the SPRING Section 

      Flushing, blushing, glowing are all accentuated, exaggerated colors,
      and freckles count as accents as well (a bright picture needs a bright frame)
      — therefore these characteristics fall into the Spring category.

#2  Skin Characteristics of the AUTUMN Section  

      Pale or lack of color in skin (blue undertone) is the opposite (and
      complementary) to the orangey-brown Autumn colors that will add
      warmth and bring pale skin back into balance.

#3  Skin Characteristics of the SUMMER Section  

      Light or porcelain skin has the characteristic qualities of light Summer
      colors, and the olive skin listed needs the blued-pink of the Summer
      colors for balance.

#4  Skin Characteristics of the WINTER Section 

      A warm-based skintone in this category may appear fair, but there is
      definitely a yellow undertone in the skin which needs the cooler
      blued-colors of the Winter category. Olive skintones are in this category
      as well. Hint: no matter how fair the skin appears, if you test camel or
      muddy colors you will readily see how warm this skintone really is.

#5  Skin Characteristics of the BALANCED-SOFT Section 

      This balanced soft natural coloring appears to be all medium value — no
      extreme contrast between the skin, hair and eyes. 

#6   Skin Characteristics of the BALANCED-CLEAR Section
      Again, "exaggerated" rosy or ruddy skintones are Spring in feeling, but
      these skintones are one step down from needing the actual brightest
      Spring colors. Therefore these skintones only need the bluer bright
      colors. The white skin, rosy cheeks and light eye characteristic of the
      Irish falls into this category. Also, the deeply colored Ethnic, Indian or
      darker skin types are undoubtedly "colorful" and need the fuller intense
      colors found in this category.