From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishcomplexioncom‧plex‧ion /kəmˈplekʃən/ noun 1 [countable]DCB the natural colour or appearance of the skin on your face Drinking water is good for the complexion.pale/fair/ruddy etc complexion (=a pale, fair, red etc face)fair-complexioned/smooth-complexioned etc She was fair-complexioned with blonde hair.2 [singular]CHARACTER OF something the general character or nature of something Crime has risen under governments of every political complexion.3 → put a different/new/fresh complexion on something COLLOCATIONSadjectivespale (=lacking colour and often not healthy)Her complexion was pale and spotty.fair (=light in colour)People with fair complexions should use plenty of sunscreen.darkBright colours may suit you if your complexion is dark.clear (=without any spots)Eating fresh fruit and vegetables will help keep your complexion clear.a fresh/healthy complexion (=healthy and clean)a young man with a fresh complexiona flawless/perfect complexion (=perfect and with no marks or spots)Foundation is meant to give the illusion of a flawless complexion.a tanned complexion (=brown because of the sun)He looked distinguished with his greying hair and tanned complexion.a ruddy complexion (=reddish in colour – used mostly about men)He had black hair and a ruddy complexion.a florid complexion literary (=red in an unpleasant or unhealthy way)He had the florid complexion of a man who drinks too much.an olive complexion (=the skin colour that is typical of Greek, Italian, Turkish etc people)These colours complement an olive complexion.a glowing/rosy/pink complexion (=healthy and pink – used about women or children)a sallow complexion (=slightly yellow)A sallow complexion can be a sign of illness.a swarthy complexion literary (=dark)She had never met anyone with his swarthy complexion.a bad complexion (=with spots or marks on it)a blotchy complexion (=with unpleasant red patches of colour in the skin)Examples from the Corpuscomplexion• The Trinity House records of the time describe him as 5 feet 8 inches tall, with black hair and dark complexion.• She has collar-length curly blonde hair, brown eyes and a fair complexion.• His eyes were an astounding blue and his complexion was ruddy from a life spent mostly at sea.• Alice is lighter in complexion than her mother.• To describe myself as Black in a situation where most people shared my complexion was absurd.• The difference goes far deeper than the political complexion of the government.• If their complexion was their most celebrated feature, then perhaps a long necklace of perfect pearls.• Too much sun is bad for your complexion.pale/fair/ruddy etc complexion• She has collar-length curly blonde hair, brown eyes and a fair complexion.• He was a small man with a shock of white hair, and a ruddy complexion from his liking for port.• Ada was a particularly striking young lady, with a pale complexion contrasted by very dark hair.• He identified Davis as one of the people and described the other as a stocky woman with a ruddy complexion.• Some of the mummies had long, dark hair and incredibly well preserved faces, even an almost fair complexion.• Ritu had been chosen on account of her suitable family background and her fair complexion.• No emotion showed on Dempster's impassive face, only a slight pallor in his normally ruddy complexion.• A non-smoker and a teetotaller, Taylor was stockily built and of fair complexion.
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Complexion | Definition from the Hair & beauty topic? ›
complexion in Hair & beauty topic. From
noun. the natural color, texture, and appearance of the skin, especially of the face: a clear, smooth, rosy complexion.
What is an example of a complexion? ›Complexion Sentence Examples
His complexion was dark for a blonde man, as if he spent a lot of time outside. He glanced up at the cliff and his complexion paled slightly. Alex wore a light blue sweater that accentuated his dark complexion and Jonathan was dressed likewise.
Other forms: complexions; complexioned. Complexion refers to the color of a person's skin, especially the face. If you have light skin, for example, you might be said to have a fair or pale complexion. The general character of something can also be called its complexion.
How do you use complexion in a sentence? ›Examples of complexion in a Sentence
She has a dark complexion. All of the children had healthy complexions. The complexion of the neighborhood has changed over the years.
Descriptors: olive, caramel, brown, black, tan, pale, white, yellowish, gray, ivory, pink, freckled, splotchy, smooth, flawless, rashy, wrinkled, dry, spotted, pocked, hairy, rosy, scarred, saggy, itchy, tingling, acne-spotted…
What is human complexion? ›Human skin color ranges from the darkest brown to the lightest hues. Differences in skin color among individuals is caused by variation in pigmentation, which is the result of genetics (inherited from one's biological parents), exposure to the sun, disorders, or some combination thereof.
What is your natural complexion? ›To identify your skin tone, observe your skin in natural light. Fair skin tends to burn easily in the sun, while light skin may tan slightly. Medium skin usually tans well, olive skin has a neutral, slightly greenish undertone, tan and brown skin tones tan deeply, and deep skin rarely burns and is rich in melanin.
How do you describe a healthy skin complexion? ›Normal Skin
This skin is neither too dry nor too oily. It has regular texture, no imperfections and a clean, soft appearance, and does not need special care.
Penn State anthropologist Nina Jablonski is reimagining how we look at skin color. We inherit our skin color from our ancestors, and so it is obviously a trait that is tied to our biology and genetics.
What is complexion in appearance? ›
Complexion in humans is the natural color, texture, and appearance of the skin, especially on the face.
What is a sentence for natural beauty? ›We live in a popular area for visitors, not least because of the area's outstanding natural beauty. Part of the land is designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty, which is a difficult problem for the farmers.
What does his complexion mean? ›the color or appearance of the skin of a person's face: a dark/light/smooth complexion.
What is the complexion of your skin? ›Your skin tone is the genetically endowed amount of melanin in your epidermis (the outermost layer of skin). It has a broad range from light to medium to dark. Skin undertones can vary from cool, warm, and neutral, and it refers to the muted color beneath your skin's surface.
How do you describe skin undertones? ›For example, if your veins look greenish, then you may have warm undertones. People with blue or purplish-looking veins usually have cooler undertones. If you have neutral undertones, then your veins may appear colorless or match the color of your skin.
How do you describe nice skin? ›Healthy skin is smooth, with no breaks in the surface. It is warm (not hot or red) and neither dry and flaky nor moist and wrinkled. Healthy skin is a mirror of a healthy body.