Determining your skin's undertone is one of the most crucial steps in finding your most flattering makeup, clothing, and hair shades. Your undertone refers to the hues that come through your skin from underneath the surface. While your skin's overtone is the color you see at face value, your undertone plays a big role in how colors appear once they interact with your complexion. Nailing your undertone is key to crafting looks that make you feel confident and radiant.

What Are the Different Undertones? 

Undertones generally fall into one of three categories:

Cool Undertones: Those with cool undertones will have hints of blue, pink, or red hues that come through the skin. Cool undertones pair beautifully with bright, cooler shades of lipstick, blush, and clothing. You'll look vibrant in a cherry red shirt, jewel-toned violet dress, or rose pink lip color. Bold blues, emerald greens, and fuchsia pinks will also flatter your skin's undertones. Just avoid anything too warm or orangey as those shades can clash. When it comes to makeup, cool undertones shine in blue-based red lipsticks and frosted, cooler-toned eyeshadow palettes.

Warm Undertones: Those with warm undertones will have golden, olive, or yellow/peach hues that show through the skin. Warm undertones look naturally radiant in earthy, warm-toned clothing, makeup, and hair colors. Rich oranges, coral reds, and golden yellows provide gorgeous warmth as well. Deep khakis, olive greens, and cognac browns are equally complementary. In makeup, warm undertones glow in peach, terracotta, or golden bronzers and earthy, warmer eyeshadow palettes.

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Neutral Undertones: Some of us have neutral undertones that are a true mix of warm and cool tones. This allows us to wear an array of different shade families well. From a punchy cherry red blush to an orange-tinged lip gloss, neutrals look radiant across color spectrums. Anyone with a neutral undertone can easily pull off palettes ranging from cool blues to warm corals.

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Three Easy Ways to Find Your Undertone

1. Look at Your Wrist Veins: Those with cool undertones tend to have veins that appear bluish/purple in color, while warm undertones reveal greenish veins. Neutral tones will see a mix of both blue and green vein colors. This simple test offers a sneak peek at what may lie beneath your skin's surface.
2. Analyze Your Jewelry Preferences: Those with warm undertones tend to look best in gold jewelry, while cool undertones radiate in silver and platinum tones. Neutrals can rock both! Notice which metals make your skin look brighter and more awake. That's a telling sign of your undertone family.
3. Do the Cloth Test: Drape a pure white cloth around your face in natural lighting. If your skin appears yellow/warm, you likely have warm undertones. Cooler undertones will read pinker or bluer in tone, while neutral undertones will look relatively color-balanced. Be sure to use a stark white material so you can accurately assess the undertones reflecting onto the fabric.

What to Do Once You Find Your Undertone 

Once you pinpoint your undertone, you can have fun finding your most flattering clothing and cosmetic shades! Those with cool undertones will shine in plums, bright blue, and ruby reds. Think of an amber contour, baby pink blushes, and violet-tinged eyeliners for a foolproof look. For warm tones, contrast rich, orange blushes with golden brown and olive green liners. Go for a peach or terra cotta lipstick, copper eyeshadows, and a sun-kissed bronzer.

While neutrals can wear both cool and warm extremes well, "neutral" cosmetics like mid-tone pink lips, taupe liners, and gray-tinged shadow hues are no-brainers. When in doubt, sticking to neutral tones is always a safe bet. In clothing, neutrals can have fun playing with warm caramels or cool slate blues to complement their skin.

Knowing your undertone is truly the first step in creating looks that bring out the best version of your personal style. Colors that harmonize with your undertone will instantly liven up your complexion and amplify your natural glow. Not sure where you fall? Book an appointment at your local makeup counter or beauty boutique — they'll do a color swatch test that will take out all of the guesswork. When you’ve found your undertone, the rest of your beauty choices become so much easier.