I’ve had several questions lately about skin tone and flattering colors, so I thought it might be interesting to chat about skin tone. Knowing whether you have a warm or cool skin tone can have an enormous impact on what looks flattering and what can wash you out. If you’re not in a position to pay for a professional color analysis, let’s look at a few popular ways to determine it yourself.
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What Are Undertones?
Your undertone is different from your skin tone. The surface of your skin is your skin tone, which can change with sun exposure, blemishes, rashes, etc. Your undertone is the underlying hue that gives your skin a warm, cool, or neutral appearance.
Warm undertones tend to have golden, yellow, or peachy hues. Cool undertones are marked by pink, red, or bluish tones. If you have a mix of both, you’re likely neutral, which offers the most flexibility in color choices.
I have cool undertones, so I naturally gravitate toward cooler-toned clothing. You’ll notice I style a variety of colors here on AWSL, but warm colors make my complexion look sallow, and I need more makeup to carry them off. That’s the beauty of understanding your undertone. It’s not about restricting your options but about knowing what enhances your natural features and helps you feel confident in what you wear.
How to Identify Your Undertone
If you’re not sure what your undertone is, don’t worry! It’s not as tricky as it sounds. There are a few methods to help you figure it out.
The Vein Test
This test is all over the internet, but to be honest, I don’t think it’s very effective. The concept is that you take a look at the veins on the inside of your wrist in natural light:
- If they look blue or purple, you likely have cool undertones.
- If they appear green, you’re probably warm-toned (your veins are blue, but the yellow in your skin makes them appear green).
- If you can’t decide, you might be neutral.
I have a very cool undertone, and my veins are turquoise blue/green…so this test fails me.
The Jewelry Test
Another trick is to think about which jewelry flatters you more. I find this test much more effective and easier to use. Drape gold jewelry near your face. Now, swap in some cool-based jewelry. Which one makes your eyes look brighter? Gold jewelry complements warm undertones, while silver looks better on cool-toned skin. If both suit you, you may be a shoulder season with a neutral undertone. I wear both, but I look much better wearing cool-toned silver or platinum metals.
Hold Up White Paper
Natural light is essential for the white paper test. Hold a plain white sheet of paper next to your face. If your skin looks golden or yellow, you’re warm-toned. If it appears rosy, pink, or bluish, you’re cool-toned. If you see neither, you might have neutral undertones.
Check Your Eye and Hair Color
Your natural hair and eye color offer more clues, but this can be tricky. Warm tones often have brown, amber, or hazel eyes and hair with golden, red, or honey hues. Cool tones tend to have blue, gray, or green eyes and hair that’s ashy or lacks golden highlights.
Undertone vs. Color Analysis
Figuring out your undertone is a bit different from having a complete personal color analysis done, but it’s a great place to start. While your undertone gives you insight into whether warm or cool shades will flatter you, a color analysis dives deeper into identifying your most complementary palette of colors, like “Soft Summer” or “Warm Autumn.” I’ve had several color analyses done over the years, and each one has taught me something new about how color interacts with my skin, hair, and eyes. Each system uses different criteria, so you may get varying responses based on who is doing the analysis.
What Your Undertone Means for Your Style
Once you know your undertone, you can use it as a guide to make more flattering choices across the board. From your wardrobe to your makeup bag, the right colors can bring out your natural beauty. Wearing the right colors for your skin tone will make your complexion glow, your eyes sparkle, and your wrinkles less noticeable. Unflattering colors do the opposite.
Clothing
- Warm Undertones: Earthy tones like mustard, olive, rust, and cream will complement your skin.
- Cool Undertones: Jewel tones like sapphire, emerald, and icy pink look amazing.
- Neutral Undertones: Lucky you! You can wear both warm and cool shades, though muted tones and soft colors often suit you best.
Makeup
- Foundation: Look for shades that align with your undertone. Most brands label them as warm (golden, yellow), cool (pink, rosy), or neutral.
- Lipstick:
- Warm tones: Coral, peach, and orange-red lipsticks work beautifully.
- Cool tones: Blue-reds, berry shades, and soft pinks are your go-tos.
- Neutral tones: Mauve, beige, and soft nudes tend to flatter.
- Eyeshadow:
- Warm tones: Bronze, copper, and gold will highlight your features.
- Cool tones: Grays, silvers, and cool purples enhance your look.
Hair Color
Choosing the right hair color can brighten your complexion and make you look younger.
- Warm Undertones: Shades like golden blonde, honey, or rich brunette bring warmth to your skin.
- Cool Undertones: Ash blondes, cool browns, or even platinum tones complement your cool undertones.
- Neutral Undertones: Try neutral shades like beige blondes or soft browns for a balanced look.
I highlighted my hair for 45 years and was never happy with the results because they always turned golden. Once I let Mother Nature take over, the silver that grew in was the exact colors I’d always longed for.
Can You Break the Rules?
I hate to break it to you, but there are no rules. Knowing your undertone is an informational tool you can use or discard. If you love a color that doesn’t align perfectly with your undertone, nothing should stop you from wearing it. If you look sick with it close to your face, wear it on the bottom half or add a colorful scarf that is flattering near your face.
Do you know your undertone? Does it influence you when you’re shopping?