Finding your skin tone is one of the most important steps in choosing the right makeup shades for your complexion. For example, if your veins look blue or purple and you have warm undertones a peachy blush will look beautiful on you.
And if you have cool undertones, plum or berry-leaning lip colors will look gorgeous on your lips.
Warm Tones
If you’re a warm-toned girl, peach and coral shades will work best for your complexion. Alternatively, you can rock pink or red-based shades, or even blue and purple tones. Cool-toned girls tend to favor jewel hues, icy blues and greens, and pinkish-purples.
The easiest way to determine your undertone is to look at the veins on your wrist. If they appear greenish, you’re a warm-toned person. If they look more blue-ish, you’re a cool-toned girl.
To narrow down shade options, look for foundations that break down their color categories and undertones. This will make it much easier to figure out which shades will look too yellow, orange or pink and which will flatter you. Most brands also use an alphabetical system to help you navigate their ranges, with W representing warm tones, N for neutrals and C for cool tones. For example, L’Oreal Paris breaks down their True Match products by both overtone and undertone to help you find your match.
Cool Tones
Trying out the latest makeup trends keeps your look fresh, but if you’re looking for more natural-yet-flattering looks season after season, knowing which colors suit you best comes down to selecting shades that play up the undertones in your skin. We tapped beauty expert Lori Taylor Davis, Smashbox’s global pro lead artist to share her expert hacks for determining your skin tone and undertone so you can shop foundation shade ranges with confidence.
To identify your undertone, she recommends looking at the veins in your wrist blue or purple indicates cool-toned skin, while green veins indicate warm-toned skin. Then, she suggests selecting blushes that accentuate your pink or red undertones (like burgundy lipstick) and eyeshadow shades that are cool-toned, too. “It’s important to match your makeup with your undertone, as it will help you avoid the dreaded makeup faux pas of wearing too much warmth,” she says. “You can even try mixing your makeup to create a more neutral or cool-toned look.”
Neutral Tones
Those with neutral complexions usually have both warm and cool undertones and can suit any hue, but tend to look best with shades that fall in the middle of the spectrum. Look for a palette of dusty pinks, light greens and lagoon blues when you’re shopping for makeup for your skin tone.
A handy way to determine whether you have cool or warm undertones is to hold a pure white piece of clothing or paper up against your face in bright, natural light. If your skin looks rosy or pink in comparison, you have a cool undertone; if it appears more yellow, you have a warm one.
Another easy test is to check your veins: If they seem blue or purple, you have cool undertones; if they’re ashen or gray, you have a neutral tone. Using this method, along with shade and undertone identification in the color wheel, will help you find a foundation that won’t cause a line of demarcation or oxidize on your skin.
Combination Tones
If you’re a makeup junkie or know anyone who is, then you’ve heard chatter about undertones and how they wield some serious veto power when it comes to finding your perfect foundation match. If the veins in your wrist appear greenish, that suggests you have warm undertones; if they look blue, it’s probably cool.
If your skin tone is light, rosy hues, pinks, and purples are all good choices, while orange- and red-based shades will work well for warm tones. Medium to dark skin looks great with both cooler and warmer colors, and neutrals can go either way.
When trying out foundations, hold a sheet of white paper up to your cheek in natural lighting and compare it to the color of your skin to see what shade you are. The color that reveals itself as the best match will blend in, while the one that stands out too much will likely be too bright.