Overall, understanding your skin undertone is essential in making informed choices about makeup and clothing, helping you highlight your natural beauty and create a harmonious and flattering appearance.

Undertones generally fall into three categories: warm, cool, and neutral. Warm undertones manifest as a golden, peachy, or yellowish hue in the skin. Cool undertones, on the other hand, often present as pink, red, or even slightly bluish tones. Neutral undertones indicate a balance between warm and cool tones.

Understanding your skin undertone is important when choosing makeup and clothing because it helps you select colors that complement your complexion and enhance your overall appearance. Here’s why it matters:

1. Foundation Matching: Knowing your undertone is crucial when choosing a foundation that matches your skin. Foundations come in different undertones (warm, cool, neutral), and selecting the right one ensures that it blends seamlessly with your natural skin tone.
2. Flattering Makeup: Different makeup shades can either enhance or clash with your skin undertone. By identifying your undertone, you can choose makeup colors (such as eyeshadows, blushes, and lipsticks) that harmonize with your complexion, creating a more flattering and cohesive look.
3. Clothing Choices: Understanding your undertone helps you make informed decisions when selecting clothing colors. Certain hues can make your skin appear radiant and vibrant, while others may wash you out or create a stark contrast. By choosing clothing in shades that complement your undertone, you can enhance your overall appearance.
4. Jewelry and Accessories: Your undertone can also influence the choice of jewelry and accessories that best suit you. Certain metals and gemstones compliment warm undertones, while others complement cool undertones. By selecting pieces that align with your undertone, you can enhance your overall style and create a cohesive look.

If you’re uncertain about your undertones, there are a few methods to help you determine them:

Look at the inside of your wrist:

The vein test is a popular method to help determine your undertones. Here’s a summary of what the vein colors may indicate:

• Greenish veins: If the veins on your wrist appear more greenish, it is often associated with warm undertones. Warm undertones are typically associated with golden, peachy, or yellowish hues in the skin.
• Bluish or purplish veins: If the veins on your wrist appear bluish or purplish, it suggests cool undertones. Cool undertones are commonly associated with pink, red, or even slightly bluish tones in the skin.
• Mix of green and blue veins: If you observe a mix of green and blue veins on your wrist, it indicates neutral undertones. Neutral undertones are considered a balance between warm and cool tones.

How do you look when you wear yellow or orange? Or green and red?
The way you look when wearing yellow, orange, green or red can vary depending on your individual complexion and undertones. Here are some general observations:

1. Yellow: Yellow can be a tricky color to pull off for some individuals. Warm-toned individuals with golden or peachy undertones tend to look flattering in yellow, as it complements their warm complexion. On the other hand, cool-toned individuals with pink or blue undertones may find that yellow washes them out or clashes with their skin tone.
2. Orange: Like yellow, orange can be a challenging color to wear. Warm-toned individuals with golden or olive undertones often look great in various shades of orange. It can bring out the warmth in their skin and create a vibrant look. However, cool-toned individuals may find that certain shades of orange make them appear sallow or sickly.
3. Green is a versatile color that can work well for a range of undertones. Cool-toned individuals with pink or blue undertones often look great in shades of green, especially cooler tones like mint or emerald green. Warm-toned individuals can also wear green, particularly shades with warmer undertones like olive or moss green
4. Red is a bold and attention-grabbing color that can be flattering on various undertones. Warm-toned individuals with golden or peachy undertones can often pull off warmer shades of red like tomato red or fiery orange-red. Cool-toned individuals can opt for cooler reds like berry or burgundy shades, which complement their pink or blue undertones.

It’s important to consider individual factors such as skin undertones, complexion, and personal preferences when determining which colors flatter you the most. While one sister may look great in peachy corals and yellows, the other sister may not find them as flattering due to differences in undertones and complexion. It’s always a good idea to experiment with different colors and observe how they complement your skin before deciding on your preferred shades.

What type of jewelry do you prefer on your skin?

Gold (warm) or Silver (cool)? Pay attention to whether gold or silver jewelry looks better against your skin. If gold enhances your complexion, it suggests warm undertones, while silver compliments cool undertones. If both gold and silver suit you, you may have neutral undertones.

What happens to your skin when you are out in the sun without sunscreen?
When you expose your skin to the sun without sunscreen, several things can happen depending on your skin’s reaction. Here are some general observations:

1. Sunburn: If your skin tends to burn quickly and turns pink or red after sun exposure, it indicates that you may have cool undertones. Cool-toned individuals often have less melanin, which provides natural protection against the sun’s UV rays.
2. Tan with potential for burning: If your skin has the ability to tan but can also burn if exposed for too long, it suggests that you have neutral undertones. Neutral undertones allow for some tanning but still require protection from excessive sun exposure.
3. Tanning: If your skin tans easily and rarely burns, it generally indicates warm undertones. While not always the case, warm-toned individuals tend to have more melanin, which provides better natural protection against the sun’s UV rays. (you still need to wear sunscreen even if you don’t burn easily)

PSA: Always wear sunscreen! It’s essential to note that regardless of your undertones, sun protection is crucial for maintaining healthy skin. Sunscreen should always be applied to protect against harmful UV rays, regardless of your ability to tan or burn.

(check out my post HERE to see which sunscreens I recommend.)

What color flecks are in your eyes?

The color flecks in your eyes can provide additional clues about your undertones. Here’s a general guide:

1. Golden or hazel flecks: If your eyes have golden or hazel flecks, it typically indicates warm undertones.
2. Blue or gray flecks: If your eyes have blue or gray flecks, it suggests cool undertones.
3. A mixture of both: If you have a combination of golden/hazel and blue/gray flecks, it generally indicates neutral undertones.

If you are like me and have deep, dark brown eyes without any visible color flecks, it does not help indicate a specific undertone. Eye color alone may not be a reliable indicator of undertones, but it can complement the overall assessment when combined with other factors such as reaction to sun exposure, and preference for certain clothing and jewelry colors.

White Fabric Test:

Hold a piece of white fabric, such as a towel or shirt, near your face in natural light. Warm undertones typically appear more radiant against off-white or cream shades, while cool undertones tend to look brighter against pure white. Neutral undertones may find that both shades work well for them.

So what did you come up with?

Based on the information provided, here are some general guidelines for choosing makeup and clothing colors based on different undertones:

Cool Undertones:

• Jewel tones are flattering for you. Look for makeup and clothing in shades of blue, purple, blue-green, green, magenta, and some red shades.
• When selecting foundation, opt for shades with a blue or pink undertone to complement your cool undertones.

Warm Undertones:

• Earthy tones work well for you. Choose makeup and clothing in shades of yellow, orange, brown, orangey-reds, and yellow-green.
• For foundation, look for shades with a yellow or golden undertone to enhance your warm undertones.

Neutral Undertones:

• You have the flexibility to wear a wide range of colors. Feel free to experiment with different shades and have fun!
• “Rose gold” shades, which blend cool and warm tones, can be particularly flattering for you.
• Whether you prefer warmer shades like brown, orange, and reds, or cooler makeup tones like purple, blue, and green, go ahead and wear them as they can complement your neutral undertones.

Remember, these are general guidelines, and personal preference and experimentation play a significant role in finding the colors that suit you best. By utilizing these methods, you can gain valuable insight into your skin’s undertones, enabling you to make informed choices when it comes to foundation, makeup, and clothing colors. Enjoy exploring different shades and have fun expressing your unique style!

It can all be a bit confusing, so if you are still not quite sure as to what your undertone is, take a quick stop on my Pinterest board called “skin undertones”  I have a lot of pins about this subject that can help you!

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