Regardless of whether you’re a lifelong makeup lover or just beginning your beauty journey, shade matching can be a struggle. One of the keys to finding the right products for you is to determine your skin undertones. Determining whether you have cool undertone skin, warm undertone skin, or neutral undertone skin helps in figuring out which clothing and makeup will look best and flatter your skin tone. There are a few tests you can take (and we’ll help along the way!) to find out your undertones, too. If you want to know how to find your skin undertone but you’re not sure how to get started, we’ve got you covered. We’ve got professional advice from New York City-based celebrity makeup artist and beauty expert Neil Scibelli, plus a breakdown of what foundation shades will work best for your newly identified skin undertones. Read on to find out the differences between warm, cool, and neutral undertones, and get tips on how to choose the perfect foundation, blush, and lipstick for each one. What Are Skin Undertones? First things first. You may be wondering what exactly we mean when we say skin undertones. According to Scibelli, “undertones are quite literally the undertones of colors that peek through our skin and makeup formulas.” There are three to consider: Cool undertone skin: Hints of pink, red, or bluish hues Warm undertone skin: Hints of yellow, peach, or golden shades Neutral undertone skin: A mix of both cool and warm skin undertones, with neither appearing more distinctly Surface tone vs. undertone Skin undertones are more than what meets the eye. To begin with, you have surface tone, which is literally what you see. You may have skin that’s fair, light, medium, deep, or dark, and that’s pretty easy to assess on sight. Then, you have your undertone, which is the subtle hue that peeks out from underneath your surface tone. Your undertones are what affect how different colors look on you, which is where things like foundation matching and choosing the right lipstick shade come into play. How To Find Your Skin Undertone We have good news for you—there’s no need to keep asking yourself, “What is my skin undertone, anyway?” Here are five quick and easy tests you can take to figure out your skin undertones. (And there’s no chance of failing these tests, we swear.) 1. The vein test This method is Scibelli’s number-one suggestion for determining your undertone. All you need to do is look at the veins on the inside of your wrist in natural light. “If [your veins are] blue [or purple], then you’re more likely to be on the cool side,” Scibelli explains. “If it’s more of a green, then that would mean that you have a warm undertone. If you seem to be a combination of both, then you may be neutral.” Though your inner arm is where your veins tend to be most visible, Scibelli says you can apply this same test to any visible veins on your face or body. 2. The jewelry test Believe it or not, your jewelry collection may actually be able to give you insight into your skin undertones. If you typically gravitate toward gold jewelry, you likely have warm undertone skin. Meanwhile, wearing silver accessories probably means you have cool undertone skin. And if both silver and gold jewelry look good on you? Then you’ve got neutral undertone skin. 3. The white paper test With bare skin, hold up a white piece of paper next to your face. If your skin picks up a yellowish tint, it indicates that your skin skews warmer. If your skin looks rosy with blue or pink tones, then you’re likely to have cool skin. And if your skin looks balanced, without an obvious yellow, pink, or blue cast, that’s an indication of neutral undertone skin. 4. Assess how your skin reacts to the sun We’re going to present this test with a slight caveat. Regardless of your skin undertones, you should always, always apply SPF. Okay, now that that’s out of the way. If you burn easily in the sun, you likely have cool undertone skin. People who tan easily are likely to have warm undertone skin. And if you tan or burn, or you’re not really sure which one is more common for you, you likely have neutral undertone skin. 5. Identify colors that flatter you Certain colors play better with different skin undertones. People with cool undertone skin will find that they look better in cool shades, such as blues and purples. Earthy colors like orange, red, and coral tend to complement warm undertone skin best. Those with neutral undertones, meanwhile, look great in just about every color (lucky!). Choosing the Right Makeup Based on Your Undertone Foundation and concealer Determining your skin undertones can be especially useful when shopping for foundation or concealer. A lot of products even include undertone labeling to make it easier—just look for C (cool), W (warm), or N (neutral) on the packaging. “For warmer skin tones, I'd suggest looking for shades that are more in the olive, apricot, or even slightly yellow family,” says Scibelli. “This will counteract the green undertones [in your skin] and also balance out the complexion.” For cooler undertones, he suggests looking for formulas with a pink or red hue, noting that the rosy undertones will balance out the blue in the skin. Meanwhile, for neutral undertones, Scibelli suggests shopping for foundation shades that have an “N” before the number or are categorized as neutral in the shade list. To figure out your best foundation or concealer match, apply your product of choice to your jawline in natural lighting. The right undertone match will blend evenly, almost disappearing into your skin without an obvious yellow or ashy cast. If you’re on the hunt for your perfect foundation, try checking out the Lancôme Teint Idôle Ultra Wear Foundation collection. The lineup features an impressive 55 (!) shades with options for each undertone. Plus, you can shop by undertone on Lancôme’s site and use their E-Shade Finder to find your perfect shade. Blush shades When choosing blush shades, you can swatch different colors on the inside of your wrist to see which ones pop and which ones make you look washed out. People with cool undertone skin will typically look best with soft rose, mauve, or berry-toned blushes, as these shades also fall into the “cool” category and won’t clash with your complexion. Those with warm undertone skin look stunning in warmer sunset hues, including peach, coral, and apricot. And for neutral undertone skin, basically anything goes, but you can especially try pinky-peach or dusty rose hues. The NYX Professional Makeup Buttermelt Blush collection features all of these shades (and more)—and the pigmented, buttery-soft formula glides on easily for a natural-looking flush of color that won’t budge for up to 12 hours. Lipstick colors Finding the perfect lipstick color for your skin undertones is pretty similar to how you pick blush. You can swatch different shades on your inner wrist to see how they look against your skin. Much like blush, cool undertone skin will look best in cool shades, such as blue-reds, pinks, and berry tones. People with warm undertone skin will look best in orange-reds, terracotta, and warm browns. And those with neutral undertone skin can try lipstick in nude pinks, soft plums, and more adaptable shades. Of course, this is just a general guideline—you can and should always feel free to wear whatever makes you feel like the best version of yourself. Eyeshadow and highlighter If you have cool undertone skin, your eyes will pop with eyeshadows and highlighters in silvers, blues, grays, and champagnes. To flatter warm undertones, go for warm-toned formulas in the gold, copper, or bronze families. Those with neutral skin, again, can pretty much rock whatever, so we suggest choosing your makeup according to your skin tone (fair, medium, or deep) rather than your undertone. If you’re on the hunt for a new highlighter to add to your routine, check out the Urban Decay Face Bond Luminizer Waterproof Glow Drops for Face + Body. The multi-use waterproof liquid comes in eight luminous shades that deliver a soft focus shimmer for a flattering, lit-from-within glow. Undertones by Skin Tone: A Quick Guide Fair skin Light skin tones are often cool or neutral, but it’s not impossible to have light skin with warm undertones. If you’re on the cooler side, opt for clothes in soft pinks or light neutrals to flatter your skin tone. And here’s a pro tip: Keep your beauty cabinet stocked with gentle moisturizers and sunscreens with high SPF. Medium/olive skin Typically, those with medium complexions have neutral undertones, which makes finding products like foundation and concealer pretty darn easy. If you have neutral undertone skin, avoid anything too warm or too cool, as these may clash with your complexion. The exception to this rule is olive skin. If you have olive skin, you likely have warm undertones and tan easily. If you have warm skin undertones, you can definitely wear shades that are richer and warmer. Deep skin Deeper and darker skin tones range from copper and espresso tones to dark brown or ebony. In addition to the general tone, deep and dark skin can be cool, warm, or neutral. Hyperpigmentation is a common skin concern for those with deeper skin, so look for brightening ingredients and don’t forget the SPF. As for clothing, bold, vibrant colors that complement your skin’s undertones work beautifully. Common Mistakes to Avoid Assuming skin color dictates undertone It would be way too simple to say, “I’m fair-skinned, so I definitely have cool undertones.” When it comes to skin undertones, it’s best not to assume too quickly. Light skin can have a warm undertone, while deep skin can be cool. Just take the time to perform the different shade tests we laid out for you above, and you’ll be able to quickly figure out which undertone camp you fall into. Ignoring natural light testing Going au naturale is definitely the way to go when you’re trying to figure out your skin undertones—and we actually mean that in more ways than one. Firstly, it’s best to do your tests without any makeup on, so you have a true idea of what your skin looks like. But, also, perform them in natural light. Indoor lighting can distort true skin undertones, so just be sure the light you’re using comes from the actual sun and not a lamp. Not testing on jawline or neck Ahhh, the dreaded foundation line that happens when you haven’t properly shade matched. Yeah, that’s not great. But it’s definitely avoidable if you test your skin undertones on your neck and jawline. Your hands and wrists are a great start, but they might not match your facial undertone completely, so swatch your makeup in both areas to ensure a seamless match. Next Up: How to Pick the Right Blush for Your Skin Tone
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