Here's Exactly How to Determine Your Skin's Undertone (2024)

As Frederick explains, those with warm complexions have peach, yellow, and golden undertones, while skin with cool undertones appears reddish or pink beneath the surface (though redness may be harder to see in dark skin). Neutral complexions have a mix of both cool and warm types, and olive skin tones fall somewhere between warm and neutral, presenting with creamy, beige, and light pink undertones.

The biggest mistake people make when trying to determine if they have a warm versus cool undertone? Assuming everyone with fair skin has a cool undertone and all of those with dark complexions have a warm one, says Frederick.

Take “a dark-skinned person like Gabourey Sidibe, who has a blue-cast undertone,” says Frederick. “Putting a warm, red-based foundation on her would be wrong.” As would putting a cool-colored foundation on Claire Danes’s fair but warm-toned skin.

How can I tell what undertone my skin has?

If all this color-match talk has you more confused than when you started reading this article, don’t worry: There are a few easy things you can do to figure out your skin’s undertone.

1. Check your veins.

Atlanta-based makeup artist Brielle Brenner says this quick at-home test is perhaps the easiest way to find your skin undertone: “Check the veins in your wrist, and if they appear more blue or purple, you most likely have a cool undertone; if they look green, you most likely have a warmer skin tone,” she tells SELF. Do you notice a mixture of both? Your skin probably has a neutral or olive undertone.

2. Look at your jewelry collection.

Those with warm undertones gravitate toward gold jewelry, while those with cool undertones prefer silver, explains Newman. “When a client is comfortable bouncing back and forth between gold and silver, this usually indicates that they are neutral or olive,” he adds.

3. Examine your closet.

If you’re still unsure, your closet often gives a peek into your skin’s undertones. “Those with warm-undertone skin tend to favor hues of orange, yellow, green, off-white, and warm red, while those with cool-undertone skin will look best in shades of purple, fuchsia, pink, white, and blue,” says Newman. “Neutrals and olives are lucky and can wear just about any shade.”

How to find the right foundation and makeup colors for your undertone

General tips for all undertones

When shopping for foundation, look for shades that match your skin undertones. Brenner says many brands offer their shades on a spectrum of light to deep colors with undertone indicators like C (cool), W (warm), and N (neutral). Frederick recommends trying on foundation in daylight vs. under a store’s fluorescent lighting, to avoid distortion that makes it harder to assess the color match.

Newman tells SELF a foundation’s name often hints at its undertones. “Words like golden, honey, caramel, and cinnamon often indicate warm undertones,” he explains. “Ivory, vanilla, mahogany, and pearl are some keywords to look for when searching for cool-undertone shades, while neutral and olive makeup descriptions often contain words such as natural, beige, or nude,” he says.

Still overwhelmed by the options? Brenner recommends starting with a neutral undertone foundation in the shade closest to your skin. “Test it on the lower part of your cheek, and if it appears too yellow, choose the cool tone; if it’s too pink, try the warm undertone. The right shade will disappear into the skin.”

Keep in mind that not every brand will have the right option for your exact skin shade and undertone.

“Finding your ideal foundation is like finding the perfect pair of jeans,” says Brenner. “It takes time, and it’s totally normal to try a few before you love what you’re wearing.”

Below, the experts share the best beauty tips for each skin undertone.