How to Identify Your Skin Undertones

Many of us have fallen in love with a lipstick or dress of a specific color shade that does not suit us when we come home. The secret is not your skin tone; it lies beneath your skin, its undertone. 

Skin undertone remains the same even after your skin gets tanned. Recognizing your skin undertone allows you to select color shades that can ultimately enhance your personality. 

Besides choosing the best colors to wear, it also helps you to select your makeup products like skin foundation and concealer. In this guide, we will learn how to identify your skin undertone and which products best suit you. 

General Types of Skin Undertone People Have

There are three types of skin undertone: warm, neutral, and cool. Take a look at the table for a quick overview of skin undertone types:

Let us now dive deeper into their details: 

1. Warm Undertone

A warm skin undertone showcased a golden, red, peachy, and yellow glow. This undertone brings a natural brightness and a sun-kissed look. 

Celebrities like Beyoncé and Jennifer Lopez are famous for their warm undertones.

2. Neutral Undertone

A neutral undertone is a blend of warm and cool skin undertones and showcases both properties. This is the most wanted skin undertone and has a wide range of colors that suit people with this tone. 

However, people with neutral undertones may experience occasional sunburn. Celebrities like Sandra Bullock, Julianne Moore, Selena Gomez, and Kerry Washington are known for their stunning neutral skin tones.

3. Cool Undertone

Cool undertones have pink and blue shades in their appearance. This is the coolest and brightest skin undertone among all others. 

However, it tans quickly with minimal sun exposure and is often sensitive to synthetic products. If you have a cool undertone, opt for natural products like balms and honey scrubs and give your skin the extra care it needs.

Celebrities who have a cool undertone include Will Smith, Anne Hatheway, Nicole Kidman, and Adele.

What’s an Undertone?

Various people confuse skin tone with skin undertone. But they are not the same. Skin tone is the color of your skin that changes with sun exposure and also gets tanned. 

Besides a change in your skin tone, your skin undertone remains the same. It plays a crucial role in enhancing your look, especially when you choose colors for yourself. Besides selective colors, skin undertone also affects your look with the makeup choice and overall style. 

Therefore, it is important to know your skin tone before choosing the color you wear and the makeup tones. Let’s understand what is undertone skin is and how to tell what your undertone is.

Makeup for Warm Undertones

Once you understand how to tell undertone, you must know which makeup colors suit your skin undertone. Those with warm skin undertones can enjoy a variety of colors, but the right one can truly enhance their appearance. This undertone reflects peach, yellow, or golden color. Therefore, always go for a yellowish or peachish foundation. 

When it comes to choosing the right blush, do not choose pinkish colors as they will not blend well with your skin tone. Instead, choose yellowish or warm peach, coral, and terracotta shades. This will give a fresh and radiant glow.

For lipstick, warm reds, oranges, and brown-based nudes will suit you best. For eyeshadow, earthy tones like bronze, gold, and copper will highlight the warmth in your skin beautifully.

Makeup for Cool Undertones

If you have a cool undertone, your skin has hints of pink, blue, or purple. This undertone gives your skin a fresh, glowing look, but picking the right makeup shades is important to make it stand out.

For foundation, go for products with a pink or blue base to match your undertone. Stay away from yellow-based foundations, as they can look unnatural on your skin. When it comes to blush, cool pinks, soft berries, and rosy tones will brighten your cheeks and give you a natural flush.

For lipstick, choose blue-based reds, soft pinks, or mauves. These shades will look great on your cool undertones. Lastly, jewel-toned eyeshadows like sapphire, amethyst, and cool grays are perfect for adding some extra sparkle to your look.

Makeup for Neutral Undertones

Neutral undertones are the most flexible, as they’re a balanced mix of warm and cool tones. This gives you the freedom to wear a wide range of makeup shades, though it’s still important to choose products that complement your complexion.

For foundation, look for shades that blend pink and yellow tones. Neutral foundations work well, giving you a natural and smooth finish. When it comes to blush, both warm and cool shades, like peach or soft rose, will look great.

For lipstick, soft pinks, mauves, or beige nudes will enhance your neutral undertones. For eyeshadow, consider neutral browns, taupes, or versatile shades like champagne, which will highlight your features without being too bold.

How to Identify Skin Undertone?

Since skin undertone and skin tone are different, they require different identification methods. Here are some simple ways to help you determine your skin undertone.

1. Use the Vein Test

Using the vein test is the first method to check your wrist veins under natural light. Green veins suggest a warm undertone, while blue or purple indicate a cool undertone. 

If you have a blend of properties of both warm and cool undertones, you have a neutral one. However, neutral skin tone veins are problematic to identify as they have both properties.

2. Check the Shades of Jewelry

Experimenting with gold and silver jewelry to identify your skin undertone is the 2nd method on our list. 

If gold enhances your natural glow, your undertone is warm. If silver complements your skin more, you likely have a cool undertone. 

If both options appear equally appealing, you might have a neutral undertone. 

3. Notice Your Skin’s Response to Sunlight 

Consider how your skin responds to sun exposure. If you tan easily without burning, you probably have a warm undertone. 

If you tend to burn or blush before tanning, your undertone is likely cool. Notably, neutral undertones can experience a combination of both.

4. Compare It With White Paper

To identify your skin undertone, you may also position a plain white sheet of paper beside your face in natural light. 

If your skin looks yellowish or golden compared to the paper, you likely have a warm undertone. 

You have a cool undertone if it looks pink, rosy, or bluish. On the other hand, if your skin appears balanced without leaning heavily in one direction, your undertone is neutral.

5. Clothing Color Test

Lastly, observe which colors of clothing make you feel your best. Warm undertones tend to look good in earthy colors like mustard and olive, while cool undertones shine in jewel tones like emerald and sapphire. 

On neutral undertones, all colors suit equally. 

Which Color Suits Your Skin Undertone?

Once you have identified your skin undertone, it is time to know which colors will go with it and make your look eye-catching. 

• If you have a warm undertone, gold, bronze, and orange colors make your skin glow. Warm reds, yellows, and peaches will also look great on you.

• People with cool undertones should choose sapphire, emerald, and ruby. Soft blues, purples, and icy pinks also work well.

• If you have a neutral undertone, you are lucky because almost every color suits you. Soft tones like beige and blush look great, and bold colors like teal or crimson make your features prominent.

How to Choose the Right Makeup Shades for Your Skin Undertone?

Choosing the right makeup shades that look good with your skin tone is crucial to enhancing your look. Here are some tips for different skin undertones that will elevate your appearance correctly.

For Warm Undertones

• Foundation: Look for shades with golden, yellow, or peachy undertones. Avoid cool or pink-based foundations.

• Blush: Warm peach, coral, and terracotta shades naturally glow your cheeks.

• Lipstick: Opt for warm reds, oranges, or brown-based nudes.

• Eyeshadow: Earthy tones like bronze, gold, copper, and warm browns work beautifully.

For Cool Undertones

• Foundation: Choose shades with pink, red, or blue undertones. Avoid yellow-based products that may look unnatural.

• Blush: Cool pinks, soft berries, and rosy shades brighten your complexion.

• Lipstick: Stick to blue-based reds, mauves, and soft pinks.

• Eyeshadow: Jewel tones like sapphire, amethyst, and cool grays enhance your look.

For Neutral Undertones

• Foundation: Use shades that balance pink and yellow tones for a natural look. Neutral foundations often work best.

• Blush: Both warm and cool blush tones, like peach or soft rose, can suit you.

• Lipstick: Try versatile colors like soft pinks, mauves, or beige nudes.

• Eyeshadow: Neutral browns, taupes, and versatile shades like champagne are flattering.

All in All

After a detailed discussion, we understand now that skin tone is not the only thing that needs to be considered; but the colors and shades of your clothes, makeup, and jewelry should also be considered.

Besides, skin undertones greatly impact your looks. Identifying your undertones is an exciting thing, and you can easily do it using our methods mentioned above, whether you have cool or warm undertones. This will help you to choose hues that complement your skin color and make you more attractive.

FAQs

How do you know what your skin undertone is?

There are numerous ways to understand your skin undertone. You can identify your skin undertone by comparing it against gold, silver, or a white paper and observing the reaction. However, the most effective way how to identify undertone is to observe your veins' color. If you have green veins, you have a warm undertone, while blue veins represent a cool undertone. Veins of both colors showcased a neutral undertone. 

Which skin undertone is most attractive?

All skin undertones have their own charms and beauty if you choose a suitable color. However, the neutral undertone is most attractive because it has a wide array of colors that suit people with this undertone.

Is there an app to determine skin undertones?

Yes, there are several apps available that help you identify your skin undertone by analyzing your complexion and features. Apps like “YouCam Makeup” and “Find My Shade” allow you to experiment with different foundation shades and give you a better idea of your undertone.

How to choose a foundation color without testing?

If you want to choose a foundation color without testing, it's essential to understand your skin undertone. For different skin undertones, you can select a specific foundation shade.
For example, for a warm skin tone, choose a yellow or peach foundation, while pink or bluish foundation shades are good for cool undertones. However, if you have a neutral skin tone, opt for a mixture of yellow and pink foundation.