How Can I Find Out What My Skin’s Undertone Is? [Ultimate Guide]

Figuring out your skin tone can be a struggle, and once you get it down, figuring out your undertones is another hurdle.

Undertones can be warm tones (yellow or gold), cool tones (pink or blue), or neutral tone (no strong yellow/golden or pink/blue).

I want to share my tried-and-true method for figuring out if your undertone is warm, cool, or neutral so that you can finally figure out what hue looks best on you.

Knowing your skin undertone is a great way to figure out which foundation color, blushes, and eye shadows will look the best on you. So let’s get started!

What is a skin undertone?

Skin undertone is the color and hue of your skin underneath its surface. It can be cool, warm, or neutral- and it’s one of the essential factors to consider when choosing makeup and skincare products.

Knowing your skin’s undertones helps you pick out shades that are best suited for you, making sure you look your best no matter what season or lighting situation you find yourself in.

When someone talks about their skin’s undertones, they’re referring to the underlying color of their complexion.

Everyone has a different base tone depending on genetics — some have pink undertones, while others may have yellow or olive tones.

To figure out which yours are, take a look at the veins on your wrist; if they appear blue-ish green, then you have cool toned skin.

If they appear more greenish than you have warm toned skin; and if it is somewhere between blue-green and green-yellow, then you most likely have neutral tones.

In general, there are three primary categories: cool toned (pink/blue undertones), warm toned (yellow/golden) and neutral (neither overwhelmingly pink nor yellow).

As well as knowing which category fits your natural complexion, it’s also important to understand how this affects product selection.

Warm toned skin looks best with peachier or golden shades of foundation as well as bronzer that has a warmer color to it like rose golds or deep browns.

Whereas cool toned skins would benefit from foundations with more lavender hues as well as blushes that skew toward cooler colors such as mauves or pinks.

Neutral complexions often lean towards something in between these two categories, but typically end up looking good when paired with any shade – so feel free to experiment.

Knowing one’s undertone is an incredibly important factor when selecting makeup and skincare products.

Since it ensures products that will enhance rather than detract from the natural beauty of their complexion without ever appearing off putting against other features like hair color or eye shape.

Use the “Vein Test”

The Vein Test is one of the most popular methods for determining skin undertone.

It involves looking at the color of your veins on the inside of your wrist.

The color of your veins can give you an indication as to what type of undertone your skin has.

This can be extremely helpful when choosing makeup or clothing, as you can choose shades that best complement your natural skin tone.

To perform the vein test, start by rolling up one of your sleeves and exposing an area of skin on the inner side of your wrist.

Make sure that this is a well-lit area so that you can better see the colors under your skin.

Take a few moments to focus in on the veins in particular and try different angles until you get a good look at them.

Once you have done this, determine which color stands out more – blue or greenish?

If your veins appear more blue than green, then it is likely that you have a cool undertone, meaning pink and other lighter colors will generally look better on you compared to yellowy/orange tones.

Makeup shades such as ivory and plum are also particularly suited to cool undertones.

On the other hand, if they appear slightly more greenish than blue, then it’s likely that you have a warm undertone with yellowy/orange-based colors being better suited to enhancing features such as blush or bronzer.

Rather than cooler shades like lavender or baby pink depending on how dark they are.

However, keep in mind that not everyone’s veins show up equally visibly and sometimes genetics may play a role (i.e., some people naturally have darker veins).

If there doesn’t seem to be any clear winner between blue and green after careful observation.

Then falls into what is known as a neutral undertone – so neither warm nor cool – making all colors theoretically equal potential matches.

Other ways, such as looking at both gold/silver jewelry against different colors can also help figure out what colors look best against each person’s complexion.

Along with seeing how individual products like foundation fit onto their face before committing fully too.

Test with silver and gold jewelry

Testing with silver and gold jewelry to find out your skin undertones can be a great way to figure out what looks best on you.

This is especially helpful when you’re shopping for jewelry, or even applying makeup to ensure that the colors compliment your features.

The trick to find your skin undertone, is finding silver and gold jewelry of similar karat weight so that you can get an accurate comparison.

First, it’s important to note the differences between silver and gold tones to properly identify which one looks best on your complexion.

Silver has a cooler hue, often appearing grayish due to its combination of metals like nickel and zinc.

Gold, on the other hand, has a warmer tone because it consists primarily of yellow gold along with alloys like copper or silver for extra strength.

Once you have identified the metal types that you want to test out, carefully examine each item against your bare skin.

In general, if warm-toned jewelry such as bronze or yellow-gold makes your skin “pop” and appears more vibrant, then you likely have warm toned undertones.

If cool-toned items like platinum or icy white diamonds appear more attractive next to your skin, then chances are that you have cool toned undertones instead.

When using metal tests, making sure they are of similar karat weight is also key since lower carat weights may appear warmer while eighteen karats could look cooler than twenty four karat pieces due to their alloys respectively.

So, always pick items that are within these two carat ranges for accuracy.

Flimsy/ thin bands may not provide an accurate reading, so sticking with solid pieces will give you better results.

Test with a white shirt and a black shirt

Understanding your skin’s undertone is an important part of finding the perfect makeup and clothing colors.

To determine your skin’s undertone, you can use a simple test featuring a white shirt and a black shirt.

Start by taking off any makeup that may alter the tones in your complexion. Put on an offwhite (not stark white) t-shirt or blouse and observe how it looks against your complexion. If it looks dull or grayish, then you have a cool undertone.

If it brings out warmth and flatters your overall look, then you have an underlying warmth to your skin tone.

Then switch to a black shirt, if the contrast with the darkness of the garment adds depth to your appearance, then you are more likely to have an underlying coolness in your complexion.

Alternately, if it washes out your face with too much contrast, warm golden undertones are probably more prevalent in your skintone.

Use this easy test to help determine which colors will flatter you best for clothing and makeup.

Check your wrists for the tan line test

The tan line test is a great way to figure out your skin’s undertone.

To do the test, start by exposing your arms to some sunlight for about 10 minutes and then cover them with clothes or sunscreen.

When you uncover the area after an hour or so, make sure to check the color differences between exposed and covered areas.

This will help you figure out whether you have cool or warm undertones.

If your wrist has a distinct tan line when compared to the rest of your body, this means that you have cooler undertones, since cool tones are more easily affected by the sun’s rays than warm ones.

If there is no visible difference in color between the exposed and covered parts of your wrist.

Then it could indicate that you have warm undertones, as warm tones tend to absorb even UV rays better than their cooler counterparts.

Once you’ve figured out whether your skin has cooler or warmer undertones.

It is important that you take this into account when choosing makeup and clothing shades in order to best complement your complexion.

Knowing what kind of shades work best for each tone helps bring out the best in everyone’s look.

Can eye colors dictate our skin undertones?

In the beauty industry today, finding out your perfect foundation shade is a daunting task. Not only do you need to identify the right color for your skin tone, but also figure out your undertone.

Whether you have warm, cool or neutral undertones can make all the difference when it comes to matching up with makeup products and other cosmetics.

But one factor that often goes overlooked in this process is eye color – could it actually be used to determine our skin’s underlying hue?

Firstly, let’s look at what differentiates each types of undertones: warm undertones are typically associated with warmer colors such as brown and copper.

Cool tones with cooler colors like pink or blue; while neutral tones are somewhere between these two extremes, usually not too far off from a beige shade.

So how can eye color help us determine which type we possess? Our eyes contain a variety of pigments that affect their final shades.

From yellow flecks in blue eyes to dark green in brown ones – so examining these details may just give us an idea of our own personal undertones.

Those who have a yellowy-brown iris are likely to have warm undertones, since yellow is considered a “warm” color on the spectrum.

Similarly, those who possess grayish or bluish hues will probably fall into the cool toned category, since blue and gray represent cool palettes.

As for those whose eyes encompass many shades – greens, hazelnut and golden brown combined – they register as having neutral undertones due to its neutrality within the spectrum.

Although eye color alone might not tell us everything about our true skin hue (for instance, some people may look more golden than others despite having yellow-brown eyes).

It is useful in helping us get rid of half of our dilemma when picking out foundations and concealers that match correctly with our complexion.

Check your brows for the flash test

To find out what your skin’s undertones are, you can do the flash test.

The idea is that a flash of light will show you—literally, not figuratively—what your skin’s undertones are, to help you decide on the best foundation shade.

The first thing to do is make sure you’re in a room with good natural lighting and no fluorescent lighting.

You might even want to go outside if it’s sunny enough to get some sun on your face without getting second-degree burns or risking blindness from squinting too hard at the sun (which could happen).

It’ll be easier if you have someone else there with their eyes open because they’ll see things like shadows better than you will.

Once that’s all done, look down at yourself from above as though you were looking into a mirror—but don’t actually look into any mirrors.

This part is tricky because it requires looking down without seeing anything except for whatever parts of yourself happen to be visible from where you’re standing or sitting without moving around much.

Just relax and try not to move too much while doing this step. Otherwise, it may be difficult to keep track of where exactly it was that the light was shining on us before we closed our eyes again.

Look at your hair color underneath natural light

Look under natural daylight. Not in artificial lighting, but the real deal.

The sun is the best source of true, unfiltered light and will give you the most accurate impression of what your skin’s undertone actually is.

Look at yourself in sunlight: Stand outside with some friends (or by yourself if no one else will come) and look at yourself for about five minutes directly into the sun.

This is probably not something you’ll want to do all that often, but it’s worth having a go at once or twice just so you get an idea of how things might look on your skin when they’re exposed directly to sunlight!

Look at yourself in shade: Go out into nature (or an open-air area) and stand near some shade trees or structures where there are no direct beams of sunlight hitting you head-on.

But still plenty around to light up your entire body (i.e., don’t stand right underneath an overhanging tree).

If it’s particularly cloudy out, this may be all there is available; take advantage of it anyway.

You can also try looking into other types of shade, such as through curtains or blinds.

Just make sure whatever material is blocking out sunlight isn’t also filtering out too much color information from other areas behind them.

So as not to skew results due to uneven lighting conditions across various shades/colors, which may have different intensities depending on what type of lighting you’re using.

Check Your Wrists For Your Veins

If you want to know what your skin’s undertone is, then one of the best places to look is at your veins.

This method isn’t foolproof, but it’s a decent way to get an idea of whether you’re warm- or cool-toned. It’s also one of the quickest and easiest ways to check!

All you need to do is take a good look at the veins on both of your wrists.

If they appear bluish in color, then that means you have cool undertones. If they look greenish, then you have warm undertones.

And if they’re somewhere in between the two colors (or if you can’t really tell), then chances are you have neutral undertones.

One thing to keep in mind, however, is that the color of your veins can change depending on a number of factors, such as the temperature of your skin or the amount of oxygenated blood flowing through them.

So if you’re not sure what you’re seeing, it’s best to err on the side of caution and go with whatever undertone is most dominant.

What Is The Difference Between Skin Undertone And Overtone?

Your skin’s undertone is the color that comes through your skin. It’s what makes you have a warm, cool, or neutral coloring.

Your skin’s overtone is the surface color of your skin. It can be affected by a number of things, including sun exposure, hormones, and the natural aging process.

Many people believe that their skin has one undertone and one overtone, but this is not always the case.

In fact, it is possible to have multiple undertones and overtones.

The best way to determine your skin’s undertone is to look at your veins. If your veins appear green, then you have a warm undertone.

If your veins appear blue, then you have a cool undertone. If you can’t seem to identify a specific color, then you likely have a neutral undertone.

Once you’ve determined your undertone, you can start to experiment with different colors of makeup and clothing.

Knowing your undertone will help you choose shades that will complement your natural coloring.

What Undertones Do Those With Pale Skin Typically Have?

When it comes to skin tone, those with a fair complexion may represent quite a few different underlying hues.

Peaches and creams, rose and ivory, give us a great variety of subtle coloring.

These pale skin or light skin delicate tones lend themselves to blushes and lipsticks that work well for individual’s pasty whiteness.

Soft neutrals, dusky pinks, beige reds make up the palette out of which these subtle pinkish or peachy flesh shades are created.

It’s all in the personal preference as to which exact undertone best suits each pale skin persons unique features.

One thing to note is that lighter skins tend to have more visible veins running through them.

So the undertones should take this into consideration when choosing makeup products to produce the desired effect.

What Undertones Do Darker Skin Tones Have?

Darker skintones can come in many shades, each of which carries its own set of undertones.

These undertones lend a uniqueness and beauty to the skin that can be accentuated with makeup and fashion choices.

While warmer skin tones often have a beautiful blend of red or yellow-orange hues, cool skin tones for toned dark skin can look absolutely stunning when reflecting shades of blue, violet, and even silvery-gray.

Depending on how it is viewed in natural light, darker complexions can even appear to have a hint of green present.

When considering darker skin color undertones, it’s important to remember the key is finding what further enhances their already stunning depths of color.

If you’re still struggling, a makeup artist will be able to help you decipher your tone.

How Can Using A Piece Of White Paper Help You Find Your Undertone?

If you’re not sure whether you have a cool or warm skin tone color palette, don’t worry – there’s an easy way to find out using a piece of white paper (or a white t-shirt).

Hold the paper up to your face, and take a look at the color of your skin next to the white piece of paper.

If your skin looks like it has more pink undertones or reddish, then you have a cool skin tones.

If it looks like you have yellow undertones or golden undertones, then you have warmer undertones or more olive undertones based skin tone, or a olive skin tone.

If you can’t really tell the difference, then you probably have a neutral skin tone.

Once you’ve determined your skin tone, it will be easier to choose the right colors of makeup and clothing that will complement your natural complexion.

Does Your Skin Tone Get Lighter As You Age?

As you age, your skin cell turnover rate slows down. This means that the younger, more evenly pigmented cells hang around on the surface of your skin for longer periods of time before shedding.

The number of melanocytes in your skin decreases as you age.

Melanocytes are cells that produce melanin, which is the pigment that gives your skin its color.

So, when there are fewer melanocytes present, your skin will appear lighter in color.

The structure of your skin changes as you age. The fatty tissues below the surface of your skin decrease, and blood vessels become more visible.

These factors can also make your skin look more like fair skin. Finally, exposure to UV light causes changes in melanocytes.

That can lead to patchy brown spots (age spots) on sun-exposed areas like the face, hands, and chest. These age spots can make your overall skin tone appear lighter.

However, it’s important to remember that everyone ages differently, so there is no one answer to this question.

Some people’s skin tones may darken as they age, while others may experience no change at all.

How to Determine Skin Undertone for Makeup?

The easiest way to find your skin’s undertone is to look at the veins on your wrist in natural light. If your veins appear greenish, then you have warm undertones.

If your veins appear blue or purple, you have cool undertones. And if you can’t really tell whether they are green or blue, then you probably have a neutral undertone.

Knowing your skin’s undertone is important for choosing the right shade of foundation, concealer, and powder color because you want those products to blend in seamlessly with your skin.

You also want to make sure that the blush, eyeshadow, and lipstick colors you choose compliment your skin tone.

Generally speaking, people with cool undertones should stick to cool colors while those with warm undertones should stick to warm colors. People with neutral skin tone can go either way.

If you’re still not sure which category you fall into, don’t worry! There are plenty of resources available online that can help you figure it out. The most important thing is to experiment and have fun with makeup!

Summary

In conclusion, there are a few different ways that you can determine your skin’s undertone.

The most accurate way is to look at yourself in natural light, but you can also check your veins or ask a friend for their opinion.

Whichever method you choose, just make sure that you’re consistent with it so that you can get an accurate idea of what your undertone actually is.

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Makeup Muddle

Hi, my name is Gemma, and I’m the owner of MakeupMuddle.com. I’m a true beauty obsessive, and love writing about anything to do with beauty – I have been a beauty writer since 2012.

As well as owning Makeup Muddle, I also own GemmaEtc.com, and love sharing my thoughts and feelings about the greatest (and not so great) beauty products!