The Tanning Tones of Turquoise

I often get asked, particularly at this time of the year what the best colour is to bring out a suntan – its turquoise! Turquoise is held as special in many cultures, the ancient Persians believed that turquoise exerted a strong protective power and used it to ward off evil. It has also been named the colour of the year 2010 by Pantone (the global authority on colour for the design industry), so let me tell you a bit about the colour and how it can benefit you.

Turquoise is one of the most flexible colours as it suits all skin tones. Being at the cool end of the spectrum it is the combination of blue and green and can veer towards cool or warm depending on the proportions. It becomes warmer as it moves in the direction of green because of the addition of yellow.

As well as being versatile to wear, turquoise is associated with the throat chakra, which encourages good communication, expression of feelings and helps regulate the nervous system. It physically relates to the thymus gland, which forms part of our immune systems, so turquoise is great for boosting immunity if feeling run down. As a cool colour it soothes inflammatory conditions especially when combined with its complementary colour, orange.

A relaxing colour that promotes well being and soothes mental fatigue, most people react positively to turquoise as it depicts the calming qualities of water and blue skies. However, this colour is not recommended if suffering from depression as it can increase feelings of isolation due to its calming properties.

So how do you incorporate some turquoise into your life?

Wear it with neutrals like browns, greys and dark blues or do sunny brights and combine with pink and purple. Splashes of the colour as an accessory in a scarf or piece of jewellery will instantly liven up any outfit.

Thinking of adding turquoise to your home? Then paint your bathroom this colour as it is both refreshing and calming.

Whenever I see a new client, the colour turquoise is always one that makes women smile when its placed up against their faces – there is a shade for everyone so find out which one suits you best and wear it lots this summer for a fabulous glowing skin and a wonderful sense of well being.