When I decided to embrace my grey hair 6+ years ago, I found that my grey hair could look a little 'washed out' and I had lost my radiance. I started second guessing the colours I was wearing and the makeup I was using; unsure of what was working for me any more.

Over time, I came up with ways to help me look radiant again now I was 'rocking' my grey hair. I achieved this with only a few tweaks. Read on to find out more.

I started by asking myself these three questions...

1. Do I have a skincare routine that is nourishing and is tailored to my skin's needs?
2. Do I know the undertone of my skin?
3. Am I confident that I am wearing colours that lift my complexion instead of draining it?

I was applying Questions 2 and 3 to both my clothes and makeup. I knew from working with clients in my makeup chair and as a colour consultant, that looking 'washed out' can be due to wearing colours with undertones that don't match the undertone of the person's skin.

People are great indicators of whether colours suit you or not. For example, I found that when I wore colours in my undertone, people would share compliments like "you are looking well/ glowing/ like you have just been on holiday" that kind of thing. When you are wearing not so complimentary colours, people will say nothing or zone in on the actual colour "that's a bright blue!" instead of "that blue really brings out the colour of your eyes." I hope that captures my point.

Now let's get on with the article. But before we do that, have a think about the 3 questions and we will explore them in detail as we go along.

1. Do you have a skincare routine that is nourishing and is tailored to your skin's needs?
2. Do you know the undertone of your skin?
3. Are you confident that you are wearing colours that lift your complexion instead of draining it?

1. Skincare

We can't discuss radiance, without first looking at our skincare. The skin naturally gets drier as we age and as our skin matures (our skin is considered mature as young as 35 years of age). Therefore focusing on hydration is the key driving force for your skincare.

Consider investing in hydrating cleansers such as balms or oils, and opt for extra hydration in your moisturisers. Products targeted to mature skin (I refuse to say anti ageing but that is often how they are marketed) will often be more hydrating compared with other products that are for 'normal' skin. They will often have other benefits tailored to mature skin too, to help lift your complexion.

A good basic skincare routine will include;

• Cleansing oil or balm to remove makeup AND a second cleanse with a lighter cream based cleanser especially when removing makeup.
• Vitamin C is a great serum option and gives the skin a lift
• Moisturiser tailored to mature skin (it is not necessary to spend a lot of money) Drugstores have some great options. Apply an oil on top if you have ultra dry skin.
• SPF 50+ to protect the skin from the glow robbing elements.

2. Undertone- Focus on wearing colours near and on your face that have the same undertone as your skin.

We touched on this earlier, but to expand my point, let's explore the two types of undertones- yellow (warm) and blue(cool). There are also neutral shades which are a mix of the two, however I have found that most women fall into one or the other. So let's stick with finding whether you are warm or cool.

If you are unsure of your undertone, a general rule of thumb is to look at the the veins on your inner wrist. If they are more green or yellow then you may have a warm undertone.  If you have blue veins, then you may have more cool (blue) undertones.  

It’s so important to find the correct undertone for your skin. Interestingly, the undertone of your skin never changes. Unlike hair that can change when dyed or as we age. While hair colour can play into choosing what colours suit us best, finding your undertone is the key to unlocking all sorts of colour possibilities, so it is definitely the first step.

3. Colour. How to choose your best colours...

Once you know your undertone, choose lipsticks and other makeup in colours with the same undertone as you have. If you are unsure, you can ask make-up counter staff to help you. These days, they are often makeup artists, so they should be able to help you match your undertone with a shade. Foundations, for example, will often have a 'W' as part of the shade colour, meaning it is a warm shade. Transversely, C often means cool and N meaning neutral.

Blushers are often coral or peach colours, which are generally best for warm undertone people. Cool pinks and plum blushers are often perfect for those with cool tones.

When it comes to foundation, choose options that are buildable and that give the skin hydration. Many foundations can be drying. My 'go to' is the Arbonne foundations and CC creams. They glide on the skin, are not cakey and look flawless on the skin. You can check out my store here.

Now you have read this article (thank you!), consider spending some time looking at focusing on hydration formulas in your skincare steps and consistently doing your skincare routine. Learn what your undertone is if you are not sure and choose colours that correspond with that. You will be either warm or cool toned. Ask friends and family and look for feedback when you wear colour. People can often give you clues as to whether you are wearing colours that create a radiant appearance.

You could also consider colour analysis to find more bespoke information on the colours that suit you, with a consultant in your area.  Colour Me Beautiful, House of Colour and two worldwide companies that will be able to support you on this quest. It was one of the best days I have ever had when I found out my colour season.

I do hope you use this article to find the correct undertones and shades for all occasions to lift your complexion and give you a great confidence boost.  As ‘they’ say….you’re worth it and you absolutely are!

Remember nothing is more attractive than confidence. Use this only as a tool and a guide but wear what brings you joy and throw away any rules if that's not your bag. Confidence is everything and there is nothing that should get in the way of finding joy! As I say to my daughters "you do you".

Disclosure: Please keep in mind that some of the links in this post are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a very small commission. I link these companies and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you.