Skin tone refers primarily to the base color of your skin, whereas complexion encompasses the overall appearance of your skin, including its color, texture, and any visible conditions.
Here's a breakdown of the differences:
| Feature | Skin Tone | Complexion |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | The inherent base color of the skin. | The overall appearance of the skin's color, texture, and condition. |
| Factors | Primarily determined by melanin levels. | Affected by factors like redness, blemishes, hydration, and underlying health. |
| Variability | Relatively stable. | Can change daily depending on various internal and external factors. |
| Examples | Fair, light, medium, dark. | Clear, dull, oily, dry, acne-prone, rosy, uneven. |
In simpler terms:
- Skin Tone: Think of it as the basic paint color of a wall.
- Complexion: Think of it as the entire wall, including any paint imperfections, textures, and finishes.
Your skin tone is genetically predetermined, although sun exposure can darken it. Your complexion, however, is more dynamic and influenced by your lifestyle, diet, skincare routine, and overall health. Redness from rosacea, dark circles under your eyes, hyperpigmentation (dark spots), and even your skin's level of hydration all contribute to your complexion. So, while you might have a "fair" skin tone, your complexion could be described as "uneven" if you have noticeable sunspots or blemishes.
