We all wanna wear makeup and clothes that makes us look our best. But how do you do that? The first step is to figure out what your skin’s undertone is. Once you know that, you can easily choose the shades that enhance your coloring and avoid those that make you look sick and washed out.
How to determine your skin’s undertone
There are several tests you can do to determine your skin’s undertone. For more precise results, you should do them in natural light and with a clean, bare face. Lets’ get started:
Veins test
Look at the veins on your inner wrist. If they appear mostly blue, you are cool toned, while if they look mostly green you are warm toned.
Jewellery Test
Get a piece of gold and a piece of silver jewellery (if you don’t have them, you can use gold and silver eyeliner instead). Wear them one at the time. If gold suits you more and makes you look glowy, you are warm toned. Silver looks better on you? Then you are cool toned.
White fabric test
Wrap a piece of white fabric around your bare neck (in alternative you can place a white piece of paper near your face or under your hand) and make sure you don’t wear any makeup on your face. The fabric will reflect the tone of your skin. If your skin looks more yellow, you have warm undertones, while if it looks more blueish you have cool undertones.
Tan or burn test
Do you tan easily? Then chances are you have warm undertones. If you burn easily or are unable to tan at all, you probably have cool undertones.
Genetics
The way you look can also be an indicator of your undertone. People who are warm toned usually have yellow undertones in their skin; brown, green and hazel eyes; and brown, red and black hair (sadly none of these are always applicable to Asian people, many of whom erroneously think to have warm undertones, when they are actually neutral or even cool toned). People who are cool toned instead, usually have pink undertones and a rosy look; blue or grey eyes; and blonde, brown or black hair.
Still confused? You may be neutral-toned
Some people complete all the tests above only to find out that they don’t seem to fit properly in either camp. For instance, I look good both in silver and gold jewelry and my veins are both green and blue. I tend to burn easily and that’s a cool trait, but then that could be because my skin is very fair? And you can have fair skin that’s warm toned and dark skin that’s cool toned.. Are you still with me? It’s quite confusing, isn’t it? Well, no skintone is either cool or warm, but a blend of both. It’s just that in some people, the warm tones are more obvious and in others, the cool ones prevail. If neither prevails, then you are neutral-toned.
What colors should you use?
Now that you know what your skin’s undertone is, it’ll be easier for you to choose shades that work best for you. Here are the colors that work best for warm, cool and neutral toned ladies:
Cool undertones
For the lips, cool toned ladies should choose reds with blue undertones, cool pinks, mauve and burgundy. On the eyes, use silver, grey, white, pink and jewel tones (such as sapphire and emerald). On the cheeks, cool pink and rosy blushes. What about foundation? Choose one that’s either neutral or pink-based.
Warm undertones
If you have warm undertones, choose eyeshadows in earthy tones such as brown, olive, orange, yellow, bronze and copper. Gold is a great option too. For the lips, use orange-based reds and apricot, peachy shades. On the cheeks, use coral or peachy blushes. Finally, your foundation should be either yellow-based or peach-based.
Neutral undertones
If you have neutral undertones, you are lucky cos you can wear everything!
Now break the rules!
Now that you know the rules, break them! If, for instance, you are cool toned but want to wear gold eyeshadow, go for it. There are lots of gold shades around, some lighter, some darker, some warmer, others cooler, so you’ll find one that looks good on you. Sure, that same shade may be more flattering on those with warm undertones, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t pull it off as well. At the end of the day, you’ll never know what suits you until you try it. Just remember to stick to the rules when it comes to buying foundation!
Are you cool, warm or neutral toned?
{ 58 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks! I’m half Asian and I tan rapidly. However, both Musicalhouses and the SKII skin undertone scanner/analyzer say I’m neutral toned! I think that’s right, because very yellow-toned foundations don’t work for me – and I wear neutral toned foundations in Shu Uemura!
Jamilla´s last [type] ..Day Out – Visit to Mitsukoshi Department Store, Shinjuku Marui Department Store and Marui ONE Gyaru Boutique
Jamilla, I think these simple tests can give a good indication of your undertone, but they are not 100% effective which can be quite confusing at times. But usually professional color analysis are pretty spot on.
I was confused for a long time, but I’m pretty sure I’m neutral – my veins are sort of greenish blue, I look good in cool and warm red lipsticks, I prefer silver jewelery and cooler colors, but get compliments when I wear warm colors too. Then, I had one MAC artist mix NW and NC for my face, so I was like – hmmm, must be neutral!
Emi at Project Swatch´s last [type] ..Eyebrow Update
Emi, I was confused for a long time too. Now I think that’s a good indication that you’re neutral toned lol. Most people actually have a neutral undertone.
I THINK I’m neutral, but could be any one of them! No problem – I just wear whatever I want! Must admit, the bronze colours that ‘should’ work because of my red hair/freckles actually really don’t – I do suit grey/pink colours to match my grey eyes.
Viv, I think knowing your undertones helps choose the colors that best suit you, but at the end of the day, you should just wear whatever you like and feel comfortable in.
I think I’m neutral, too, because I couldn’t decide if I was cold or warm:) Usually I don’t wear jewellery and makeup, so it’s not so important for me to know it exactly.
Julie´s last [type] ..dental surgery
Julie, I think that’s a good indication that you’re neutral-toned too.
What a great post! I really liked the break the rules, that’s my motto!
Phlox
EyeGraffiti´s last [type] ..Some sort of Sunset
Eyegraffiti, I’m glad you enjoyed the post. I like breaking the rules too.
hahahah I love that last tip! I didn’t know about the white paper/fabric test, but I am fairly certain that I’m neutral toned. It’s sometimes hard to be certain because I am so pale hahah, but warm foundations are usually TOO warm for me, and cool foundations also seem too cool. So I will assume I’m neutral!
Makeup Morsels´s last [type] ..Stash Shopping: Dior 2009 Holiday Collection Makeup Palette
Makeup Morsels, if you’re getting mixed results are a confused, then I agree you’re very probably neutral. Most people are.
I think I am a neutral, leaning slightly warm.
I like the last paragraph, break the rules!
I wear whatever color I like!!!
Vonvon´s last [type] ..Quick Updates; Work Life; Makeup Haul & Keeping Up With My New Year Resolution
Vonvon, me too. It’s good to know what colors make us look our best, but that doesn’t mean that we all have to wear those. Wearing whatever we like is more fun!
Thanks. I was confused too and perhaps I’m neutral too. I’ve got blue-green veins; brown hair (with a little red hair reflect), dark eyes but pale skin that burn.
I don’t know if ti works woth, but for job I had an hour about colors and the 4 seasons relooking. They asked me if I had red hair’s persons in my family (and if my skin burned). I told them that there wasn’t but when I was baby I had blonde hair with red reflect (and as my father, it was like that, and quite red hair at 3, and brown hair after that become darker with the time (and at 60 he as black hair lol). Then they told me after wondering between spring and autumn that I am a “spring” person. I don’t know if it helps. They said that yellow suits me, and green, orange, coral, fair colors but also bright purple) and for make up to use coral, peach, etc…
But I’ve got ivory teeth… I care them of course, but I never couls be with the “hollywood smile” and I can’t whiten them. So I wonder if it will be well to have orangey lipstick (if it suits me only if I never open the mouth lol) (and on the other hand, dark pink lipstick (berry) don’t make my teeth looks more yellow, but it’s a little Morticia Adams’ look…)
What do you think about that?
Marie, I think you are neutral toned too, maybe leaning a bit more to warm. There are neutral toned people who can wear any shades but find it harder to pull off those at the opposite end of the spectrum (ie too warm and too cool).
And to make teeth look whiter, you need to use blue-based shades. Try one that’s not too cool nor too deep as that would not suit your pale skin. Hope this helps.
Thanks!
Marie, you’re welcome.
I think I might be neutral or maybe neutral leaning towards warm. Don’t really know. I burn real easy the first time around then I peal then if I get in the sun again I get a tan. I can wear both gold and silver jewelry which is nice because I am allergic to all other metals so it seems.
My hair is very medium dark then I dyed it and it looked good it is like Dark brown magonomy which when you read up on it says it says it neutral have both warm and cool tones. Just how I managed that I don’t know.
I look good in bright colors both cool and warm like Coral and Salmon, look good but so does fuchsia and hot pink, and magenta. I look good in Reds I like teals; I think that is because my eyes are bluish green so I want to bring them out.
I tried to figure out my season the only one I have seen me tagged as yet is Summer, well with dark hair I don’t think you can be a summer.
My skin is light my foundation is fairly light made by bare minerals. I am very light but not ivory or porcelain. I am of northern European decent like a Gaelic and Scandinavian mix. I was blonde when I was little.
I was just wondering what you think
Virginia, I believe you are neutral too. Most people are and they’re lucky because they can wear any color they like.
BI am just ready to sob! LOL! I have just moved to an area of the USA with NOTHING as far as beauty counters go…no Sephora, no ulta, no department stores…you get the idea. I have worn Chanel foundation in the shade 20 claire or 20 beige for years (10 beige matches, yet washes me out terribly, as the 20 shades are yellow based…at least according to the SA at the Chanel boutique where I lived previously)
Wouldn’t ya know it, with the boredom of living in this part of the country, I have been ordering makeup online by the hoard, and desperately want to expand my foundation collection. Here’s my dilemma: obviously I need to determine my skin tone if I even want a hope of matching to a foundation that I can’t sample. (And there are sooooo many I want to try.). I have Irish skin that burns easily but then tans…tons of redness in my cheeks, tons of freckles, blond hair, and blue-green eyes. All signs point toward cool…yet the pink or rose based shades in the cool categories often leave my face looking uber pink and not at all matching my neck. The yellow toned shades like Chanel Claire20 and Shiseidos 120 (in perfect refining foundation…which was a lucky match that I ordered on a whim.) these shades are the only ones so far that make my face match my neck…as my face is naturally darker than my neck due to freckles, redness, exposure, etc.
Ill stop babbling and get to the point…does this mean I am warm? Or is the yellow simply counteracting my redness? Would more neutral shades wash me out if I am in fact warm? The tests for undertones usually appear that I am neutral, but I haven’t been brave enough to stray from the yellow toned foundations. Ugh, I know, what A hot mess I must sound like!! I know this may not be sufficient info to aid in a conclusion…but even a little direction would be soooooo helpful! I feel like such a bubble head right now!! Thank you so much and I love your blog!!
Bekka, I’m sorry there aren’t many counters where you live. At least there’s always online shopping, but unfortunately buying a foundation like that can be risky. From what you told me, it seems to me that you are neutral-toned. I know that we’re used to think that people with fair complexions and blonde hair must be cool-toned, but quite a lot of them have actually neutral undertones. And if yellow-based foundations work for you, then I’d keep using them. I also think you should look for good dupes of the two foundations that match your skintone well. Temptalia.com has a feature called Foundation Matrix to find dupes of foundation shades, but you can also check out findation.com. I hope this helps.
Thank you so much! I just needed a bit of reassurance I think, because as you said, people tend to assume I’m cool toned, especially at first glance (I even had myself convinced I must be, due to hair/eyes, etc.). I am excited to try the foundation matrix at Temptalia.com., and maybe even do some brave online shopping! Thanks again for your time, your reply was most helpful and very much appreciated!
You’re very welcome. I’m glad I could help.
I’m not really sure what I am. I know that I can’t wear red lipstick without looking odd. I don’t even look good with red nail polish. The polish has to be a burgundy red or a plum red. I color my brown hair red which everyone says looks good on me maybe because of my eyes which have a green, grey blue color to them. But my skin has a really reddish color to it. I am a mix of French, German, and Italian. I look wonderful wearing dark greens, darker pinks, and greys. I even have been told I look good wearing teal. So I think cool tones seem to work better. But I am a work in progress.
Elzabeth, from what you told me, I believe you are cool-toned too.
Gah! I’m so confused! I have dark hair, green eyes and fair/pinkish skin. I have always assumed I am cool toned and so theoretically should be able to wear pale eyeshadow’s, right? But they make me look totally washed out! Id also love to wear pink and purple eyeshadows to make my green eyes ‘pop’ as promised, but I just look bruised and like I’m on drugs :/ My go-to eyeshadow is a dark brown, which seems to suit me but is getting a bit boring. What am I doing wrong?
Moggy, your hair/eye/skin colours are only an indication of your undertones and, without further proof, can be a very deceiving one. As for pale eyeshadows, they could make you look washed out because of how fair your skin is. Have you tried taking the other tests I mentioned in this post? That will give you a better indication of what your undertones are and what colours you should use.
I am still confused with myself. I have a skin condition called keratosis pilaris rubra faceii and it makes my cheeks flush look red at times so it’s confusing as people always told me I am cool toned because of the pink cheeks but I don’t really believe I am. I am on the fair side being nc15. I have dark brown hair and hazel eyes; my veins…I can’t really tell, sometimes they look blue sometimes green. I look a lot better in warm colors, orange and peaches especially. But I feel I look good in both silver and gold jewelry. And I have also been told by many I look good in purples and greys. If you take out the equation of my skin condition I actually look pretty yellow out in natural sunlight. I haven’t done the white fabric yet because strangely I can’t find any…I find that a little sad XD I have never had any trouble getting a tan and never really had an issue with burning unless when I was little and out in the sun for long periods of time without sunscreen. I am German Irish Spanish and Native American. Too me the way I describe it, it sounds like I would be warm toned but I still have doubts *sigh* frustrating.
Kelly, from what you told me, it seems to me that you neutral-toned, but leaning more towards the warm end of the spectrum. Hope this helps.
Hi!
I have blue eyes and ashy hair, though it used to be almost white when I was a child. I don’t have a very fair complexion and I tan easily. I have no idea what undertones I have. I feel like I have some redness in my face, the veins around my eyes are blue and when I tan I get this bronze look. It does feel a little bit like I have warm undertones though because I have this tan skin and I can’t tell if the veins on my arms are blue or green. My family is from scandinavia if that helps. Also I never know what hair color suits me best, it feels like nothing works.
Alva, from what you tell me it seems to me that you are neutral-toned. Most people are and that’s why it’s so difficult to tell. We tend to believe that we have to be either warm or cool toned, but chances are that, if you can’t figure that out easily, you’ll have neutral undertones instead.
My skin colour is so so brown..which colour suits me most..??
Viswadeep Das, it’s difficult to recommend the right shades knowing only what your skin colour is. But you should avoid anything too light and pastel as these colours tend to look ashy on dark skintones.
Ok so my hair is like a light brown and my eyes are like a brown with a hint of green. I like silver better though so I don’t know but I have a photoshoot soon and I need to know what color shirts I should wear also my skin is like white with a hint of well ok it’s not like a snow or pale or anything but it’s not like a tan or dark it’s I don’t know but please help and I love your website!!!
Bridgette, I’m glad that you like my website. And I would love to help you, but I need a bit more information. Your colouring is only one of the indicators of your undertone and, alone, not very reliable. Have you done the veins, jewellery and tan tests? If not, do them and let me know your answers so that I can help you determine your undertone.
Hello
The other issue is, that I’ve been trying on wedding dresses. If I wear an ivory dress, there is very little contrast between the dress and my skin (it almost makes me look yellow). So my question is – if I am a “light summer” or a “cool muted light” why does wearing a warm/ivory color make me look yellow? And if I do indeed have yellow undertones instead of pink (which explains why foundations look too pink) – then why doesn’t the ivory dress look right? I received an online color consultation and am a “light summer” or a “cool, muted light.” If it was a mistake and I’m a light spring/warm, then ivory should look ok on me. I personally don’t think warm colors look good on me at all. But if I am a cool, muted light – then why are the foundations too pink? Also, if ivory makes me look the same shade as the dress, then does that mean I have yellow undertones or am sallow? Can someone be sallow but still cool toned (which would make perfect sense if that actually happens). I’m so lost. Please help lol I don’t understand how the foundations can be too pink but I look yellow in ivory.
I’m very confused about the “science” behind the skin tone thing. I am very fair. I have rosacea, which gives me a slightly pink undertone in the face. However, many liquid foundations are too pink and don’t look right. I’ve been using a powder/foundation/sunscreen but it has been discontinued so now I have to start all over
Shelly, hello. I believe you may have cool undertones, and if pink foundations don’t look right is simply because of the rosacea. Instead than enhancing your skintone, the pink just enhances the rosacea, which is not a good look. When you have this condition, a foundation will yellow undertones may work best as it counteracts the redness. Also, a lot of pink foundations on the market have just too much pink in them and so don’t look very natural at all, which may be another reason why they don’t work well for you. Hope this helps.
Thank you! I was hoping you would say that. I actually went and purchased a yellow mineral foundation and placed it only on the rosacea and then used my regular mineral base on the rest of my face and this morning my sister said “wow, your skin looks really clear” and she had had no idea I had purchased new makeup to color correct. Everything you said makes perfect sense and it coordinates with the cool colors that look good on me and also with the results of my color analysis. Thanks so much for responding! I tried on gowns again today and one of them was a peach color (looked horrible on me) which further confirms my cool tone. I was worried that using the yellow based makeup would make me look too yellow and switch me to a warm tone, but this didn’t really happen.
Shelly, you’re very welcome. I’m glad I could help.
I’m in a strange place because as you mentioned, Asians don’t really apply to this warm or cool system. I believe I may be a strange form of olive. At my palest (still relatively tan), I have obvious yellow tones in my skin. If I wear neon green, it makes me look very sick. But when I’m very tan, red comes out in my skin very strongly. What does this sound like to you?
Sasha, I believe you may have cool undertones. You may want to check out this post about undertones for Asians too: http://musicalhouses.blogspot.it/2010/01/undertones-for-asians-how-to-tell-if.html I hope this helps.
I love this post. Bt of course I’m still in between about my true undertone. I’m of mixed races (West Indian, Cuban, and creole) and my complexion is so hard to match so I don’t even try to wear anything but lip stain. I do tan easily and I can change from bronzy to red. If you have any suggestions on where to start I’d really appreciate it. Thanks.
Angie, I’m glad you liked this post.Try applying cool-toned makeup on one side of your face and warm-toned makeup on the other to see which shades suit you better. If they are both flattering on you, then you are neutral-toned. Hope this helps.
I have been trying to find my undertone for weeks now. I am African american with a med/deep skin tone and I tan easy. I think I look best in cool colors but my family says they cannot tell the difference. I have pretty much bought every lip color I can find to seen what works on me but they all look pretty bad. I look horrible in yellows, reds, and purples. I cannot tell if my veins are blue or green. I person all believe I look best in silver jewelry.
Robyn, from what you told me, I believe that you may be neutral-toned, but leaning slightly more towards the cool end of the spectrum. Hope this helps.
Actually I have a yellow undertone and I have to get my makeup in cool. Yellow undertones are not warm they are cool, I know because I am a yellow bone. Yet your facts straight.
Sequoia, are you using MAC cosmetics? I’m asking because MAC classes products for pink/blue undertones as warm, and yellow and golden as cool, when in reality it should be the other way around. I’m not sure why they don’t follow the usual yellow=warm, pink=cool classification like everyone else. It makes things very confusing.
I was under the impression you wore pink based make up for yellowish undertone. I have yellow undertones and When i wear yellow based make up I look sick. I can never find the right make up color.
Inez, pink-based makeup can make yellow undertones look very unnatural. It’s strange that yellow-based makeup doesn’t work for you. Maybe the foundations you choose are too yellow for your skintone?
I am still quite confused. Silver looks best on me, greys, black, purple, cool toned reds, blue. I look sick in orange, brown, and yellow. Orangey reds are a hideous too. However, I tan easily. Foundation? Yikes. The only colour that’s ever matched me is Nars Sheer Glow in Syracuse, which they describe as a brown undertone… brown?. I look much better in white than ivory. When wearing white I look greyish yellow, when wearing ivory I look greenish… ugh. Most ppl say I’m warm but I look horrid in most warm colours. When I try foundations I get colours everywhere! Too yellow, too pink, too orange, too peachy, too coppery, too bronze, too golden! Natural hair colour is a very dark brown/soft black and my eyes are termed hazel; a weird mixture of muted green, brown and amber with a greyish blue outer ring. some of my veins look green, some purple some blue.
This is driving me nuts! I don’t know how to describe myself! I know I look best in cool colours, jewel tones, and silver jewelry, but the rest of the descriptions would put me in warm catagory. I’m just not getting this.
Rin, no one is only warm or cool toned, but we all have both undertones in our skin, so it’s just a matter of figuring out which one stands out more. In a lot of people, neither stand out, and so they are called neutral-toned.
Because of this, it is normal when you take these tests to end up with some results that put you in a category, and others that put you in the opposite one. Also, genetics, contrary to what most people believe, are only one indicator, and not even the most important one. From what you told me, it seems to me that you lean more on the cooler side of the spectrum.
Hello, I am a cool skin tone. I am getting highlights tomorrow but am reading conflicting information. Most of what i read says cool skin tones should go for ash blonde, beige or platinum highlights because those are also cool colors. However, some sites say that I should do the opposite in order to “bring out the warmth” in my skin. I am unsure of which way to go?
Shelly, people with cool undertones usually look better with cool shades, so I would opt for ash blonde or platinum too. You want to bring out your natural undertones. The opposite would be kinda risky and you may not be so pleased with the result.
I still cant figure it out
it seems that I’m blind or so its been two months already:p.
I have green- blue veins , I usually buy #2 for concealer and foundation (dior) , I’m Mediterranean Im not tanned and not very fair in addition to that I have brown\black eyes and hair ( so up-till now I seem to be warm) but people tend to compliment me whenever I wear silver or rose gold jewelry. I look good in most colors ( especially bright green, blue, pink and red clothes ; pink/wine red/ light brown-rose lipsticks compliment my skin ) I look washed out in beige, grey and matte brown. I even did the silver/gold cloth test at the store and they all said both looked good.
Does that mean Im neutral ???
Hala, yes, I believe you are neutral indeed. Most people are and that’s a good thing as it means that you can wear most colours without problems.
Hi there, I am Eurasian and am quite fair for my race… I burn and go red in the sun but then tan after that… I have such difficulty telling if I’m neutral, or cool or warm! I seem to suit a titanium coloured watch and gold and rose gold, although its quite confusing… I’d really love to know what you think. My hair is black but in the sun it appears golden reddish brown, and my eyes are dark brown. My veins appear cyan.
Thanks in advance!
Antonia, from what you tell me, I think you may be neutral, but leaning slightly more towards the cool end of the spectrum. Hope this helps.