Naming skin tones

There are now a wide variety of color scales available online for naming skin tones. Unfortunately, these are not standardized. Everyone has a different idea – this becomes clear at the latest when you compare products for different skin types in a drugstore. It also doesn’t seem particularly helpful to me that English terms are increasingly being used in the cosmetics industry.

Subject to subjectivity, I’ll try to make a list here. If possible, I have compared the color tones on the website colors.findthedata.com. If I couldn’t find them there, I used the image search on Google with the keyword “color” to help me.

englische Bezeichnung		Definition
alabaster		A type of gypsum that resembles marble to some extent. Depending on where it is found, it can be white, light yellow, reddish, brown or gray.
“Her alabaster skin glowed from within, her long limbs seemingly endless.“ (Vina Jackson: 80 Days – The Color of Love: Volume 6)
porcelain		Originally the name of a sea snail with a shiny white shell
“A woman of indeterminate age with skin like porcelain peered out.” (Dustin Thomason: Virus)
milk		Pale and luminous, like fresh cream. Smooth unblemished surface with a soft, pearlescent faint blue veins beneath.
“She did it slowly, allowing the light to creep up her bodice and settle gently between her breasts, where it transformed her perfect skin tone into milk.” (Celeste Bradley: The Beautiful Devil)
ivory		The tusks of elephants, a warm white with shades
“The ivory-colored tone gave her pale skin a bit of color, her neck seemed a few centimeters longer, and the top, which fit like a glove, hinted at curves where there were few.” (Milly Johnson: A Guy Doesn’t Make a Summer)
cream		A soft, pale ivory with warm undertones. This light complexion has a subtle yellow hue, appearing smooth and even. It’s lighter than beige but warmer than stark white.
“Delicate and almost doll-like, Sophia was wearing a midnight-blue evening dress that showed off her flawless cream-colored skin and intense blue eyes to great effect.“ (Lucinda Riley: The Lavender Garden)
parchment		A pale, creamy off-white with subtle yellow undertones. This fair complexion resembles the smooth surface of writing paper, appearing delicate and translucent with visible underlying tones.
“Far from his moist gaze, my skin slowly became like parchment.” (Benoîte Groult: Salt on Our Skin)
ruddy		A reddish-pink flush on fair to medium skin. This healthy-looking hue suggests increased blood flow, often appearing on cheeks, nose, or overall complexion due to exertion, weather, or emotion.
“Gilberte’s reddish skin was exactly like her father’s; when nature created this child, she apparently had the task of gradually recreating Mrs. Swann, having only Mr. Swann’s skin as matter.” (Marcel Proust: In the Shadow of Young Girls)
bisque		A light, warm beige with subtle peach undertones. This complexion resembles sun-kissed fair skin, falling between pale and medium tones in diverse human coloration.
“The rough fabric made Emily’s skin look even finer, like a doll made of the finest biscuit porcelain.” (Victoria vanZant: Midwinter Memories: The Legacy)
rose		A soft, romantic pink with a touch of red. It evokes the delicate petals of its namesake flower, blending warmth and femininity in a gentle, blushing hue.
“Her skin was pink, a pure, radiant pink, underlaid with a milky glow.” (Heiner Rank: The Powerlessness of the Almighty)
khaki		Warm, earthy tan with subtle olive undertones. Sun-kissed and neutral, reminiscent of desert sand. Smooth, even complexion with a natural, outdoorsy glow. Versatile hue between light and medium.
“At this point, the khaki-colored skin of Hals’s older brother Mario should also be mentioned, a strangely dead gray-green whose keratosis, together with the atrophic inward-curving arms and the arachnodactylism, gave him an almost eerie resemblance to a reptile or dinosaur, especially from a medium distance.” (David Foster Wallace: Infinite Jest)
amber		A warm, golden-orange hue reminiscent of tree resin or honey. It glows with rich, translucent depth, evoking autumn sunlight and fossilized gemstones.
“Her skin was not of this world, it had the color of amber and was so transparent that a delicate network of blood vessels shimmered through it on the lighter inside of her arms.” (Karen Lord: The Best of the World)
apricot		Soft, peachy-golden hue with a warm glow. Delicate blend of pale orange and pink undertones. Resembles the velvety skin of ripe apricots. Radiant and fresh, with a subtle sun-kissed appearance.
“A few cheeky freckles on her nose and cheeks accentuated her apricot-colored complexion and the reddish strands in her brunette hair.” (Sandra Brown: Glow Under the Skin)
peach		Soft, delicate pink-orange hue, like ripe fruit flesh. Gentle warmth with rosy undertones. Smooth, velvety appearance reminiscent of flower petals. Evokes a fresh, youthful glow.
“No country girl, but God knows an Irish beauty – red hair, green eyes, skin like peach, a soft Dublin accent and the appropriate behavior.” (Morris L. West: The Red Wolf)
coral		Vibrant, warm pinkish-orange hue. Lively and energetic, like tropical sea life. Radiant glow with a sun-flushed appearance. Balanced blend of pink and peachy undertones.
“The higher the sun rose, the more transparent the picture appeared and the warmer Alphonsine’s skin shimmered. This effect would be seen in the entire picture. He asked her to assume the positions of all the figures, one after the other, and came across other places that needed a touch of coral red – Alphonse’s face, Raoul’s ear, Antonio’s cheekbones and Pierre’s nose and cheeks, which gave the whole picture a touch of warmth.” (Susan Vreeland: Sundays in the Light)
ginger		Pale, cool-toned complexion with pinkish undertones. Often freckled, with a tendency to flush easily. Porcelain-like quality, delicate and fair. Associated with red or auburn hair.
“When she saw her unmistakable reddish brown skin, she realized why Cery had been so sure that Forlie was not the woman she had seen.” (Trudi Canavan: Sonea 1: The Guardian)
ecru	Ecru	Soft, creamy off-white with subtle yellow undertones. Warm and natural, like unbleached linen. Smooth, even complexion reminiscent of raw silk. Elegant and understated neutral tone.
“There’s the usual London mix of skin colors, ranging from ecru to burnt ebony.” (Liz Jensen: The ones that get there)
fawn		Soft, light brown with subtle grayish undertones. Delicate and earthy, like a young deer’s coat. Warm neutral tone with a gentle, natural appearance. Evokes a subtle sun-kissed glow.
“I stare at my reflection in the coat rack. I bear no resemblance to my usual self. That’s because I’m covered from head to toe – that is, in all the places where skin shows, such as the neckline, sleeves, and below the glittery hem of the dress I’m wearing – in Nude Beige No. 105.” (Meg Cabot: No Chocolate Is Also Not the Solution)
clay		Rich, earthy reddish-brown hue. Warm and grounded, like sun-baked terracotta. Deep, natural tone with russet undertones. Evokes rugged landscapes and ancient pottery. Robust yet refined.
“Clay-colored, almost dirty, the sunken cheeks, plowed up by many years of suffering, thirsty and scorched, the cracked skin stretches with many cracks, from which that vampire of twenty years of infirmity was drained of blood and color.” (Stefan Zweig: The Face)
ochre		Warm, earthy yellow-brown tone. Rich and sun-soaked, like ancient cave paintings. Deep golden hue with subtle red undertones. Evokes sun-baked landscapes and historic pigments.
“They both had the same high forehead, the same narrow nose, the same beautiful mouth that spoke of deprivation and poverty, the same ocher-colored skin, the same wrinkles, crow’s feet and lines on their faces, as great suffering and sorrow marked them.” (Johannes Mario Simmel: Nobody is an island)
honey		Honey skin glows with golden warmth, reminiscent of sunlit amber. Its rich, inviting hue radiates a gentle, captivating allure.
“The Don, on the other hand, was a spoiled young man of classic Camorri stock, dark-haired and with a complexion like dark honey.“ (Scott Lynch: The Lies of Locke Lamora)
salmon		Salmon skin radiates soft pinkish hues, like a sunrise’s gentle blush. It exudes warmth and a delicate, inviting charm.
“Between the hem of her coat and her knee socks, her bare skin glowed salmon.” (Keith Donohue: The Dark Angel)
terra-cotta		Terra-cotta skin holds earthy, reddish-brown warmth, echoing sunbaked clay. It offers a natural, grounded essence with a serene, captivating depth.
“Well, your skin really does have a bit of a terracotta complexion. It’s a wonder Laurence Llewellyn-Bowen, the packaging artist, hasn’t rolled you up on the wall as a sample yet.” (Cally Taylor: Sky kisses)
bronze		Bronze skin gleams with a sun-kissed glow, reflecting a rich metallic sheen. Its deep undertones exude warmth and a captivating, luminous allure.
“The wind lifted the curtain a little, the wind came in, painting dark red shadows on the bronze skin.” (Kasimir Edschmid: The Agatha Ne balls)
butterscotch		Butterscotch skin radiates creamy, golden-brown warmth, reminiscent of sweet caramel. Its soft, inviting glow exudes comfort and a gentle allure.
“And Kim, who was standing in front of the damn car, Kim with the beautiful black hair and the butterscotch complexion, who looked like she came from Italy but actually came from Thuringia, which you could tell.” (Gregor Weber: No Forgiveness)
mordoré		Mordoré skin shimmers with a bronzed, sunlit glow, exuding rich warmth. Its deep, golden undertones create a captivating, sun-kissed allure.
“Wenn Anna sich bewegte, sah man nichts als bloße, goldbraune Haut, was den Betrachter zur Annahme berechtigte, daß der hübsche Busen der Trägerin keiner Stütze bedurfte.” (Hanna Molden: Kurakin)
praline	mandelweiß
“Leicht nur wippten ihre Haare. Ihre Hand näherte sich seinem Mund, schwebte ihm entgegen, mandelweiß. Er registrierte zarte Linien auf ihrer Haut, zu flüchtig, um einen Text zu entziffern.” (Klaas Huizing: Der letzte Dandy)
tawny	Gelbbraun Lohfarben	Die Lohfarbe, die Farbe der Gerberlohe, ist in der Regel ein helles Rotbraun, kann aber auch ein goldener oder mahagonifarbener Farbton sein.
“Die ungeheuren, in dem schneebleichen Antlitz noch erweiterten Augen der Contessina wichen nicht von ihrem Dario, den sie nicht mehr erkannte; denn sein Gesicht war erdfahl, die Haut lohfarben und runzelig wie die eines Greises.” (Emile Zola: Rom)
toffee	Karamell Toffee
“Der neue Mann war dürr, seine Haut toffeefarben – die glatteste Haut, die Ivy je bei einem Mann gesehen hatte –, und er wirkte wie sechzehn.” (Peter Abrahams: Gerissen)
sorrel	Fuchsbraun Rotbraun
“Ihre Haut war fuchsbraun, das Haar eng am Kopf geflochten.” (Don DeLillo: Cosmopolis)
copper	Kupferrot Kupferbraun
“Das Indianische trat in ihrem Gesicht deutlicher hervor. Die hohen Backenknochen waren noch eckiger, die Hakennase noch schärfer und die kupferrote Haut heller als sonst. Ihr verblichenes Kattunkleid war bis zur Taille geöffnet, und ihre breite, bronzefarbene Brust war entblößt.” (Margaret Mitchell: Vom Winde verweht)
redwood	Rotholz
“Schwester Glenda, an die siebzig und mit einer Haut wie Rotholz, tat so, als wäre sie böse auf uns.” (Dave Eggers: Ihr werdet noch merken, wie schnell wir sind)
olive	Oliv
“Sein dunkles Haar war gut geschnitten, seine Haut oliv getönt. Ein Beobachter hätte ihn wohl als Araber beschrieben.” (Emily Benedek: Die letzte Plage)
cinnamon	Zimt
“Ich, Jacques Laverande, von eher eigenbrötlerischem Temperament: Haare, Augen und Bart sind dunkel wie Braunkohle, als ob ich in Mauretanien aufgewachsen wäre, zimtfarbene Haut, die Nase eines beutegierigen Seeräubers …” (Joseph-Henry Rosny Aîné: Die Fahrt durch die Unendlichkeit)
russet	Rotbraun
Sie war kaum hinaus, als Schemeikka kam und, ohne sie zu bemerken, langsam auf den Hof zuschritt, während seine rotbraune Haut in der kühlen Abendluft dampfte – lang, schlank, wohlgebaut – und Marja kam nicht mit den Augen von ihm los, bis sich Juha gebeugt, mit langem Rücken, kurzen Beinen aus der Tür hervorschob und, mehr als sonst hinkend, hinter jenem her eilte.” (Juhani Aho: Schweres Blut)
chocolate	Schokolade
“Den ganzen Abendüber hatte ich jedoch keine Klarheit darüber gewinnen können, ob der Junge mit der Schokoladenhaut und den gefährlichen blauen Augen meine Gefühle erwiderte, und dies drohte sich zu einem frischen Komplex namens ‘Versagensangst’ auszuwachsen.” (Natalka Sniadanko: Sammlung der Leidenschaften)
coffee	Kaffeebraun
“Damit Sie’s gleich wissen: Meine Haut ist braun. Dunkelbraun. Man könnte auch sagen kaffeebraun, was man natürlich in dieser Stadt der tausend Kaffeehäuser etwas präziser formulieren muss: Je nach Tageslicht und Laune zeigt sich mein schöner Teint nämlich einmal heller, einmal dunkler, schimmert morgens meist in feinem Melangebraun, gibt sich mittags kleiner- oder großerbraunbraun, verfärbt sich nachmittags zu elegantem Einspännerbraun, und am Abend schließlich – Herr Ober, zahlen bitte – bei sattem Espresso- oder Mokkabraun zu landen.” (Martin Horváth: Mohr im Hemd oder Wie ich auszog, die Welt zu retten)
burnt sienna	Gebrannte Siena	Terra di Siena, italienischer Ocker ist ein gelbes bis rotbraunes Pigment, benannt nach der Erde rund um die Stadt Siena in der Toskana (Italien). Die Erdfarbe hat eine typische gelb-bräunliche Farbe, Siena natur. Durch Erhitzen wird das Kristallwasser aus dem Pigment entfernt und es erhält eine rot-braune Farbe, die als gebrannte Sienabezeichnet wird.
“Tania ist auch ein Fieber – les voies urinaires, Café de la Liberté (…), siennabraune Brüste, dicke Strumpfbänder …” (Henry Miller: Wendekreis des Krebses)
umber	Umbra
“Angies Haut hatte die Farbe von makellosem Umbra und war mit einem feinen Schweißfilm bedeckt.” (Dee Kirk: Verne Gerow, P.I.: The Case Of The Cashmere Blond)
sable	Zobel	Das Adjektiv ‘sable’ beschreibt den Hautton des versklavten Arbeiters im gehobenen Sprachgebrauch, wie er für die amerikanische Poesie des 18. Jhdts. oft benutzt wurde.
“Haply ye scorn: I thank thee Gracious God! That I do feel upon my cheek the glow Of indignation, when beneath the rod A sable brother writhes in silent woe.” (Robert Southey: Sonnet III)
bay	Rotbraun
“Das rotbraune Gesicht und die starken Glieder entspannt, lenkte er, die Pfeife im Mund, in einer für diesen Landstrich ungewohnt lockeren Haltung seinen Wagen.“ (Lion Feuchtwanger: Erfolg)
sepia	Sepia	Sepia ist ein braun- bis grauschwarzer Farbstoff, der aus dem Tintenbeutel von Tintenfischen (Sepien) gewonnen wird, die diesen als Wehrsekret einsetzen.

chestnut	Kastanienbraun
“When he sat her into the bath, her eyes opened momentarily but only long enough to grasp her surroundings and smile at her lover. Kodi washed with ever increasingly larger circles her chestnut skin until once again she entered nirvana.” (DB Martin: South of Cancer, North of Capricorn)
hazelnut	Haselnussbraun

currant	Johannesbeere

sallow	Blass gelblich, fahl, bleich, teigig
“Then his sallow face brightened, for the hall had been carefully furnished, and was very clean.” (aus: Mrs. Belloc Lowndes, The Lodger) In der Übersetzung von Wulf Teichmann wird daraus: “Dann entspannte sich sein bleiches Gesicht, denn der Flur war gut möbliert und sehr sauber.” (Jack the Ripper oder: Der Untermieter)
taupe	Taupe	Taupe bezeichnet eine graue dunkle Farbe mit Farbstich ins Braune.

mahogany	Mahagony

bistre	Bister	braune Tinte aus mit Leim und Wasser vermischten Holzruß

ebony	Ebenholz