Ultimate Guide to Understanding Your Skin Tones and Undertones

Have you ever wondered why some colors make you look stunning while others leave you looking washed out? The secret lies in understanding both your skin's overtone and undertone!

Mastering these two elements can help you find the perfect foundation, wear outfits that truly complement you, and even choose hair colors that enhance your natural glow.

But here's the catch: your skin tone and undertone aren't the same thing. Many people mistakenly believe that their complexion—whether fair or deep—determines everything, but that's not the whole story. This simple guide will clear up the confusion once and for all!

Once you've read through our tips for determining if warm or cool undertones (or maybe even neither) dominate - plus which type of makeup complements them best - we hope there won't be anything holding you back from feeling fabulous in your own skin. Let us show you how!

What Is Skin Tone?

Your skin tone is the natural color of your skin, but it goes beyond just being light or dark. Many people confuse skin tone with skin color, but they are not the same thing.

Skin tone refers to the lightness or depth of your skin, while variations in pigmentation can be influenced by genetics, sun exposure, and heritage.

The primary factor influencing skin color is melanin, the pigment responsible for the coloration of your skin, eyes, and hair. People with more melanin tend to have darker skin, while those with less melanin have lighter skin.

This is why someone from a sunny region like Nigeria or Brazil is more likely to have a deeper skin tone than someone from Sweden, where there is less sun exposure.

But here's an interesting fact—skin color can change! Prolonged sun exposure can cause your skin to darken, while staying out of the sun can make it lighten over time.

However, your undertone, the subtle color beneath your skin's surface, never changes. That's why two people with the same natural skin color can differ when dressed differently or when applying makeup.

Different Types of Skin Tones: Where Do You Fit In?

Skin tones can range from very light (even pale skin) through very dark, and where you fall is helpful for all things—cosmetics, fashion, and even your hair color. Usually, skin tones are categorized into six: fair, light, medium, tan, deep, and dark.

• Fair skin is the lightest. It burns easily and doesn't tan much. Consider a person with pale pink skin, like Emma Stone.
• Light skin is also slightly warmer and can tan easily. Most European individuals fall under this skin type.
• Medium skin is the middle one. It gets tan easily and burns very seldom. Jennifer Lopez and Zendaya are some celebrities possessing this tone.
• Tan skin is bronzy or golden and darkens upon exposure to the sun. Most Mediterranean and South Asian ethnic groups fall under this skin type.
• Deep skin is very dark, typically with reddish or golden undertones. Lupita Nyong'o is the best example.
• Dark skin is richest in melanin, thus its lovely dark brown color. Seldom burns and has its own radiance, like Viola Davis.

How do you know your skin tone? Stand under daylight when you have no makeup on. Think about the overall color of your skin. If you tan easily and you never burn, you have a darker skin tone. If you quickly burn, your skin is light.

What Are Skin Undertones? Why They Matter

Your skin color refers to the lightness or darkness of your skin, while your undertone is the subtle hue beneath the surface that affects how colors appear on you.

There are also three core undertones: warm, cool, and neutral.

• Warm undertones have golden, peachy, or yellow undertones. Think Beyoncé or Jessica Alba. Gold jewelry is fantastic for warm undertones, and earthy tones like orange, red, and brown complement them.
• Cool undertones have pink, blue, or reddish undertones. If silver suits you, you likely have cool undertones. Blue, purple, and jewel tones like emerald green will complement you the best. Anne Hathaway and Lupita Nyong'o have cool undertones.
• Neutral undertones fall somewhere in the middle. If you can pull off silver and gold jewelry, you may very well have a neutral undertone! Think about celebrities like Zendaya or Kerry Washington—those women can pull off virtually anything!

Unlike skin color, however, undertones will never shift. That is why finding the right lipstick, outfit, or even the right foundation is all about your undertone!

How to Determine Your Undertone

Finding your undertone isn't as difficult as you'd thought! You don't need specialized equipment—just some awareness. These tips will make you realize whether you have warm, cool, or neutral undertones.

1. Check Your Veins

One of the easiest things you can do is determine your undertone by looking at the color of the veins under your wrist. Position yourself under some daylight, turn your wrist over, and look for the color of your veins.

If they turn purple or blue, you will probably have a cool skin tone. If you find them slightly greenish, you will have warm undertones. If you see some of each or can't make up your mind, you will probably have neutral undertones.

2. the White Paper Trick

Hold a clean, bare sheet of white paper against your skin under good light. If your skin is slightly pinkish or rosy, you will discover you have a cool undertone. If your skin appears yellowish, you will find you have a warm undertone.

If you possess a balance of the two, you will likely possess a neutral undertone. This test will also reveal the undertones in your skin you may not even know you possess.

3. Look Behind Your Ear

Sometimes, your skin may also turn red or discolor, making undertones difficult to assess. To determine this more accurately, check the skin behind your ear instead.

The skin is less sensitive to the environment you are in, the sun, and acne. Ask your friend to check your skin—if your skin is yellowish, you have warm undertones, while pinkish coloration is indicative of cool undertones.

4. Gold Vs. Silver Jewelry Test

Your jewelry style may actually decide your undertone! Try some silver and some gold jewelry and figure out which onecomplements your skin the best.

If gold jewelry suits your skin best, you will likely have warm undertones. If silver jewelry suits you, you will have cool undertones. If you can make either work, you could be neutral.

5. Hair and Eyebrow Color Indicators

The natural color of your eyes and hair can also provide you with some cues about your undertone. People with cool undertones generally have blue, green, grey, or dark brown eyes, along with ashier shades like platinum blond or cool-toned browns.

Meanwhile, those individuals generally have hazel, amber, or golden-brown eyes, and their hair color tends to be warmer, such as honey blond or dark chestnut. Overall, this trick can support the other tests.

6. Analyze How Is Your Skin Coping with the Sun

Think about the sensation you experience when you sit in the sun. If you easily burn and only tan very seldom, you probably have cool undertones.

If your skin tans easily without burning much, chances are you have a warm undertone. Remember, however, that all skin is subject to the dangers of the sun, so protect your skin by using SPF 30 or greater regardless of your undertone!

7. Take a Glimpse Inside Your Wardrobe

Without realizing it, you are probably already dressed for your undertones. Scan through the colors you find yourself being drawn towards in your closet.

If you find yourself dressing yourself in blacks and whites the majority of the day, you probably have cool undertones. If your neutrals run towards beige, brown, and off-white, you probably have warm undertones.

8. Your Ideal Makeup Colors

Your makeup color choices can also reflect your undertone. If cool colors like purple, blue, or silver work for you, you may have cool undertones.

If warm shades like red, brown, or gold best complement you, you likely possess warm undertones. If you find them easiest to pull off, you may be neutral!

Why Is It Useful to Know Your Skin Tone?

Knowing your skin tone is not only about makeup; it also helps you with anything from picking the right outfit to skin care. If you know your skin tone and undertone, you can choose colors that make you glow instead of leaving you looking washed out.

Ever tried a foundation that looked great in the bottle but turned too orange or pale on your face? That's because it didn't match your undertone.

The right base matches effortlessly, leaving your skin looking fresh and natural. The same goes for lipstick and blush: peachy or golden shades will make the best of warm undertones, while cool undertones will best complement the pinks and the berries.

Fashion is one of the advantages of knowing your skin tone. Brightening your complexion is achieved through some colors, while dullifying you is achieved through others.

If you have dark skin, you can make yourself stand out using bold jewel tones like the color emerald green and the color royal blue. Fair skin is best for soft pastels, while medium skin tones glow when you use warm tones like mustard or burnt orange.

Skincare also gets added into the mix. Every skin type has its set of concerns—fair skin burns easily, while darker skin can suffer from hyperpigmentation.

Finding the Best Makeup for Your Skin Tone

Finding the perfect makeup starts with understanding your skin tone and undertone. Choosing the right shades of foundation, blush, and lipstick can make all the difference, causing your skin to look even more luminous and natural.

Picking the Right Foundation

Your foundation has to seamlessly blend into your skin—not light, not dark, and for the love of all things good, not ashy or orange. How do you make this happen? Match the color to your undertone!

If you have warm undertones, look for foundations that have the color yellow or golden base. These foundations generally come labeled "warm" or "golden." These shades prevent your foundation from being pinkish or grayer. Think of Jennifer Lopez, for one whose skin tone glows using golden-toned foundations.

If you have cool undertones, you can apply pink or blue-based foundations. These foundations will generally say "cool" or "rosy" and will not make your foundation turn too yellow. Celeb favorites Anne Hathaway and Lupita Nyong'o apply cool-toned foundations to enhance their own skin tone.

If you're neutral, you're in luck! You can wear both warm and cool shades, but neutral-toned foundations will blend the best. Zendaya, for example, wears foundations with a neutral base that works perfectly with her skin.

Avoiding Foundation Mistakes

Even if you discover the right color for your skin, the right technique is also required to prevent typical pitfalls when you apply your makeup.

• Always test the base under daylight. Lighting in the store can be misleading, making the shade look right when it is not. Go outside or by the window before you make the final purchase.
• Swatch the skin on your jawline, not your wrist. Your wrist skin can actually differ from the skin on your face. Your jawline will give you the best estimate.
• Wait a few minutes upon buying. Oils can oxidize and deepen after being applied to your skin. Swatch, wait five minutes and check again.

Best Blush and Lipstick Shades

Choosing the right lipstick and the right shade of blush can brighten your skin and make you radiate. An improper color can make you look heavily made up or even washed out.

• Warm undertones will complement peach, coral, bronze, and warm red tones. These will make your skin's golden radiance pop. Think about Beyoncé's peachy nude lipstick; the color complements her warm skin tone perfectly!
• Cool undertones complement rosy pinks, cool-toned reds, and berry shades. These colors balance the pink or blue undertones of your skin tone for a bright and youthful look. One good example is the cool red lip signature of Anne Hathaway.
• Neutral undertones can rock virtually anything! Balanced reds, soft pinks, and mauves will work best for you. Nude and berry tones work seamlessly for Zendaya, showcasing the variety available for those possessing neutral undertones.

The Best Fashion Colors for Every Skin Tone

Choosing the right colors for your skin tone can make all the difference when you're feeling your best. Some shades make your skin pop, while others make you look washed out. The solution? Pick colors that complement your skin tone and undertone!

Best Colors for Every Skin Tone

• Fair skin is complemented best by soft pastels, earth tones, and jewel tones. Try shades like earthy beige, emerald green, or lavender. These introduce color and energy into your skin.
• Medium skin tone can complement bold and saturated colors like dark red, earthy blue, and mustard yellow. These colors highlight the skin's natural warmth.
• Dark skin has bright colors like bright yellow, royal blue, and hot orange radiating from it. These colors pop exquisitely against darker tones and provide fantastic contrast.

How Warm Undertones Affect Color Choice

If you have warm undertones, earthy tones and golden tones such as olive green, rust, and warm red will complement your radiance. Gold jewelry also complements your skin very much.

If you have cool undertones, your best color complements will be jewel tones like sapphire blue, dark purple, and cool pink. Silver jewelry will also highlight your cool undertones.

How to Care for Your Skin Based on Skin Tone

Taking care of your skin color isn't only about the right products—although those count for something, too! It's also about understanding your skin's individual demands.

Every skin tone has its own set of concerns, and applying the proper routine for your skin type and color can make all the difference.

Why Skin Tone Affects Skincare

Your skin color is a major player in the way that skin reacts to the environment, aging, and skin conditions like acne. Every skin color carries certain concerns that must be treated with certain care.

Fair skin is very sensitive to the sun and will burn if exposed to the sunlight. It also reddens, irritates, and wrinkles with the passage of time. It is best maintained with calming ingredients such as aloe vera and daily sunscreen protection.

Medium skin is well-balanced but can end up with a patchy complexion if exposed to sunlight. It can have mild hyperpigmentation or patches of a deeper hue. It is maintained smoothly with the regular use of brightening skincare and daily SPF.

Dark skin rarely burns but is more prone to hyperpigmentation. Even minor acne, cuts, or irritation can leave dark spots that last for months. Gentle exfoliation, vitamin C, and SPF 50 are essential to keep dark skin radiant and even-toned.

Dark Skin and Hyperpigmentation: Special Care Tips

If you possess dark skin, you will know how stubborn hyper-pigmentation can be. Even the smallest blemish, the most minor bug bite, can leave you bearing the dark stain for many months. To avoid this:

• Use a light exfoliant to lighten dark spots earlier.
• Apply vitamin C or niacinamide to even the skin tone.
• Never pick the spots—the risk of dark spots is enhanced.

SPF for All Skin Tones

No matter your skin color, sunscreen is the ticket! Most dark-skinned women assume that they don't require SPF, but this is not the case. Sun exposure can prematurely cause wrinkles and make hyper-pigmentation worse.

Sheer and non-greasy mineral formulations work best for dark skin. Fair and medium skin can apply SPF 30 daily, while darker skin can apply SPF 50 for extra insurance.

Conclusion

Understanding your undertone and skin tone isn't all about makeup; it's about embracing your uniqueness. Whether you have fair, medium, or dark skin, knowledge about the colors and the best products for you can make all the difference when you truly look and feel your best. Having the right foundation, lipstick, and outfit can highlight your best features rather than overwhelming them.

But the best? Confidence. There aren't set-in-stone rules—just guidelines for you to help you be your best you. Rock your warm undertones, cool tones, or balanced neutrality, and dress in anything that has you feeling great about yourself!

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Definition of Skin Tone?

Skin tone is the natural coloration of your skin, and this is due to melanin levels and genetics. It can also be fair or dark and can even change when you expose your skin to the sun.

What Are the Four Types of Skin Tones?

The four main skin tones are fair, light, medium, and dark. These will decide the manner in which your skin will react under the sun and the colors that best suit your skin tone.

How Do I Find Out What My Skin Tone Is?

Look at your veins under daylight. If your veins turn purple-blue, you likely have cool undertones. If your veins turn green, you likely have warm undertones.

What Ethnicity Is Beige?

A beige skin tone is light to medium coloration with undertones of sandy or yellow. Beige skin is generally observed in Caucasians. However, all ethnic groups can have beige skin.