Have you ever stood before a makeup counter, staring at a wall of foundation shades and wondering which would match your skin tone perfectly? One of the critical factors in finding the right foundation shade is understanding your undertone.
Undertone refers to the underlying tone of your skin, which is different from your skin's surface color. There are three main undertones: warm, cool, and neutral. Understanding your undertone is important because it can affect how colors look on you, including makeup, clothing, and even hair color.
So how do you determine your undertone? Here are some tips to help you find out:
Check Your Veins
The easiest way to determine your undertone is to look at the veins on your wrist. If they appear green, you likely have a warm undertone. If they appear blue or purple, you likely have a cool undertone. You may have a neutral undertone if you can't tell whether they're green or blue.
Look at Your Skin in Natural Light
Stand near a window or go outside and look at your skin in natural light. You likely have a warm undertone if your skin looks more yellow, peachy, or golden. You likely have a cool undertone if your skin looks more pink, red, or bluish. You may have a neutral undertone if your skin looks a mix of these colors or appears more beige.
Consider Your Skin’s Reaction to the Sun
Your skin’s reaction to the sun can also give you a clue about your undertone. If you burn easily and have a pink or rosy tint to your skin, you likely have a cool undertone. You likely have a warm undertone if you tan easily and have a golden or olive tint. If your skin reacts differently depending on the situation, you might have a neutral undertone.
Use Color Theory to Your Advantage
Another way to determine your undertone is to try on different colors of clothing and makeup. Color theory can be helpful when it comes to choosing the right colors that flatter your undertone. You likely have a warm undertone if you look better in warm colors like yellows, oranges, and earthy tones. You likely have a cool undertone if you look better in cool colors like blues, pinks, and purples. You may have a neutral undertone if you look equally good in warm and cool colors.
Pay Attention to Your Jewelry Preferences
The type of jewelry you wear can also help determine your undertone. If you tend to wear gold jewelry and it looks flattering on you, you likely have a warm undertone. If you tend to wear silver jewelry and it looks better on you, you likely have a cool undertone. If both gold and silver jewelry look good on you, you may have a neutral undertone.
Consider Your Natural Eye and Hair Color
Your eye and hair color can also help you determine your undertone. Cool undertones usually have blue, gray, or green eyes and blonde, brown, or black hair with cool tones such as ash or platinum. Warm undertones usually have brown, hazel, or amber eyes and warm-toned hair such as golden or honey blonde, auburn, or copper. If you have a neutral undertone, you might have any combination of eye and hair colors.
Examine a Make-Up Free Selfie
Take a makeup-free selfie in natural light and observe the undertones in your skin. Do you see more yellow, peachy, or golden tones? You likely have a warm undertone. Do you see more pink, red, or bluish tones? You likely have a cool undertone. If you see a mix of both, you may have a neutral undertone.
Look at Your Blush Color
The color of your blush can also give you a clue about your undertone. If you look best in peachy or warm-toned blushes, you likely have a warm undertone. If you look best in pink or cool-toned blushes, you likely have a cool undertone. If you can wear both warm and cool-toned blushes, you may have a neutral undertone.
Consider Your Skin's Reaction to Skincare Ingredients
The way certain substances in skincare affect your skin can also reveal your undertone. Skin that responds well to substances like vitamin C, retinol, and glycolic acid is more common in people with warm undertones. Skin that responds favorably to substances like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and salicylic acid is more common in people with cool undertones.
Don’t Forget About Lighting
It’s important to remember that lighting can also affect how your undertone appears. When testing out makeup or clothing colors, always make sure to check them in natural lighting to get the most accurate representation of how they look on your skin.
Ask For Help
Finally, don't be afraid to ask for help. A makeup artist or salesperson at a beauty counter can help you determine your undertone and recommend products that will work for you.
The Vanity Makeup Cosmetic Masterclasses are a great way to learn about your undertone and which products are most complementary to your tone. You'll have the opportunity to work with our high-quality makeup products and tools and receive personalized guidance and feedback from our instructors.
Conclusion
In conclusion, finding your undertone is an important step in choosing makeup and clothing colors that flatter your natural features. By following these steps, you can determine your undertone and use color theory to your advantage. Don’t be afraid to try new things and experiment with different looks, and always remember to practice good skincare to enhance your natural beauty.
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