In makeup, you may not always find your one true match, but you can get pretty close. As makeup artist Jaleesa Jaikaran says, undertones (and understanding them) can “unlock the code to your complexion.” Skip any makeup faux pas by knowing exactly how undertones work. Thinking you have the wrong one can bring visible lines of mismatched foundation shades or bright blushes washing you out. Curating your own color palette of blues, oranges or whatever suits you slims down the search for products in a fun way.
Matching makeup to your undertones can help put your favorite features forward and bring out a more radiant complexion. “If you know your undertones, you will be able to get the perfect shade of foundation and concealers,” says makeup artist Keita Moore. “You will [also] be able to choose the palettes that work the best for you.” Make colorful flecks in your eyes pop or accentuate darker features by selecting complementary eyeshadow palettes or lipstick colors. To get started, we spoke with makeup artists on their best tips and tricks on how to find your skin undertones as well as how to play with makeup to your advantage.
Meet the experts
Jaleesa Jaikaran
is a professional makeup artist whose work spans editorial, runways and red carpets.
Keita Moore
is a celebrity makeup artist whose clientele includes Janelle Monae, Tessa Thompson and Iman.
What are the different skin undertones?
Undertones refer to the hue or tone present within the skin. There are three types: Warm, cool and neutral. Think traces of gold and red when it comes to warm tones, says makeup artist Keita Moore. That includes golden, yellow or peachy hues. Cool tones carry hints of pink, plus red or bluish hues. A neutral undertone usually includes an equal mix of both warm and cool hues, he adds, or on the contrary, neither hue is distinctly visible.
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And yes, there is a difference between skin tone and skin undertone. Skin tone usually refers to those shades that span fair to tan to deep. “A person’s undertone will not change in different seasons like the shade of your skin may,” Jaikaran says. “For example, during the summer, a person’s foundation shade will likely be darker than their shade during the winter due to sun exposure. However, your undertone will always remain the same.”
How can I tell what my skin undertones are?
Identifying your undertone can be as simple as looking at the veins in your wrist and examining their color. Still, there are quite a few telling ways to reveal yours:
✔️ Look at your veins. If your veins seem on the blue, purple or reddish side, that typically means you have a cooler undertone, Moore says. Veins that appear on the greener side tend to belong to individuals with a warmer undertone. Though, if it is difficult to determine whether your veins are truly blue or green, signs point to neutral.
✔️ Stand next to a white background. Jaikaran recommends standing near natural light, like a window. Put either a bright white shirt or even a sheet of white paper up to your face and observe the skin in relation to the white. If your skin looks pink or a bit red, you are cool-toned. If your face carries a more yellow hue, you lean warmer. Not noticing a strong shift toward one or the other? You may have a neutral undertone.
✔️ Compare gold and silver jewelry. Warmer tones may suit you if gold accessories flatter you more and appear more radiant against skin. Likewise, if silver suits, you would be considered more cool-toned. If you are not partial to either gold or silver and both metals complement you well, you may lean toward neutral tones.
✔️ Observe your skin’s reaction to the sun. A solid SPF should protect you from the sun’s rays, but considering how your skin reacts to the sun can be an indicator of your undertone, too. Skin that tans easily usually belongs to a warmer-toned individual. For skin that’s prone to redness and burns, you may fall on the cooler side. Neutral-toned individuals generally take on a more olive shade as their skin is exposed to sun.
What makeup works best for my undertone?
When shopping for makeup, the best way to narrow down your undertone is to look at your foundation shade first, Jaikaran says. “Find two shades that match you well, one in the cool range and one in the warmer range and use your jawline and neck as a test spot,” she recommends. “The shade that melts into the skin without a visible demarcation line will be the perfect shade with the correct undertone.” Most liquid foundation and concealers have a “W” for warm, “N” for neutral or “C” for cool to guide you toward your specific skin undertone, too.
When choosing eye and lip colors, use your wrists as a swatching palette and see whether those colors come alive or wash out close to your veins. For best eyeliners, consider your eye color and select those that would really complement and emphasize the main hue. Otherwise, here are the different color palettes you can choose from to best suit your look:
Warm tones
These undertones favor more earthy colors like yellows, oranges, browns and corals. Lighter colors also complement warm undertones, Moore says.
Cool tones
Jaikaran says these undertones look beautiful in soft pinks, purples, beige and grays, while Moore adds that greens and blues suit, too.
Neutral tones
These undertones run the gamut of the color range and can explore reds, blues, greens while also trying warm browns and earth tones. Moore says neutral tones tend to look great in bold and bright colors.
The best makeup for different undertones
Every color has an undertone — finding complementary ones in makeup can amplify your look. Here are a few products recommended by professional makeup artists that suit different skin tones:
Jacqueline (she/her) covers all things e-commerce in beauty, lifestyle and beyond for the Good Housekeeping Institute. Before joining GH in 2021, she was a style and beauty reviews fellow at Insider, testing viral trends, reviewing sustainable brands and more. She’s a graduate of the University of Florida’s School of Journalism, with a specialty in magazines and mass communication.
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