Understanding your skin's undertone is a game-changer in your beauty routine. It can help you choose the right makeup shades, clothing colors, and even accessories that complement your natural beauty. As a redhead, I’ve seen firsthand how knowing your undertone can transform your look. Here’s your comprehensive guide to finding your skin’s undertone.

What Are Skin Undertones?

Your skin’s undertone is the subtle hue beneath the surface of your skin. It remains consistent regardless of your tan or the seasons. There are three main undertones: cool, warm, and neutral. Understanding which one you have will help you make the best choices in makeup and fashion.

Cool Undertones

Cool undertones have hints of pink, red, or blue. People with cool undertones often have fair skin that burns easily but rarely tans. Veins on the wrist appear blue or purple, and silver jewelry tends to complement them more than gold.

Warm Undertones

Warm undertones have a golden, yellow, or peachy hue. Those with warm undertones often tan easily and have green or olive veins. Gold jewelry usually looks better on them than silver.

Neutral Undertones

Neutral undertones are a mix of both cool and warm. If you have neutral undertones, both gold and silver jewelry look good on you, and your veins may appear blue-green.

Redhead Undertones

Redheads have a unique undertone spectrum due to the combination of fair skin and vibrant hair. Often, redheads will fall into the cool undertone category, but there are exceptions. Identifying undertones can sometimes be trickier due to freckles and a mix of tones in the skin. Generally, fair-skinned redheads lean towards cool undertones, but some with warmer red hair can exhibit warm or neutral undertones.

How to Determine Your Undertone

The Wrist Test

One of the simplest methods is the wrist test. Look at the veins on the inside of your wrist under natural light:

• - If they appear blue or purple, you have cool undertones.
• - If they look green, you have warm undertones.
• - If you see both blue and green, you likely have neutral undertones.

The Jewelry Test

Experiment with both gold and silver jewelry:

• - If gold jewelry makes your skin glow, you have warm undertones.
• - If silver jewelry suits you better, you have cool undertones.
• - If both look good, you have neutral undertones.

The White Paper Test

Hold a piece of white paper next to your face in natural light:

• - If your skin looks rosy or pink, you have cool undertones.
• - If your skin looks golden or yellow, you have warm undertones.
• - If your skin appears grayish or ashen, you may have neutral undertones.

The Sun Test

Consider how your skin reacts to the sun:

• - If you burn easily and rarely tan, you probably have cool undertones.
• - If you tan easily and rarely burn, you have warm undertones.
• - If you burn initially but then tan, you might have neutral undertones.

Makeup Tips for Each Undertone

Cool Undertones

• Foundation: Opt for foundations with pink or red undertones.
• Blush: Choose shades like rose, pink, or mauve.
• Eyeshadow: Go for cool shades like taupes, cool earth tones or even blue, purple, or pink.
• Lipstick: Berry, blue-based reds, and cool pinks are your best bets.

Warm Undertones

• Foundation: Look for foundations with yellow or golden undertones.
• Blush: Peach, coral, and warm pinks work well.
• Eyeshadow: Earthy tones like gold, bronze, copper, and warm browns are flattering.
• Lipstick: Warm reds, oranges, and peachy nudes complement your skin beautifully.

Neutral Undertones

• Foundation: Choose neutral-toned foundations that aren’t too pink or too yellow.
• Blush: You can wear both cool and warm shades like pink, peach, or apricot.
• Eyeshadow: Experiment with a wide range of colors from both cool and warm palettes.
• Lipstick: Most shades will suit you, from nudes to bold reds.

Conclusion

Finding your skin’s undertone is a fun and enlightening journey that can transform your beauty routine. By understanding whether you have cool, warm, or neutral undertones, you can make more informed choices that enhance your natural beauty. Remember, the best makeup tip of all is to embrace and celebrate your unique beauty.