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Skin undertones often come up when you’re hunting for the perfect red lipstick, but they play a crucial role in the rest of your makeup routine too. When chosen with care, products that complement your undertone can be the difference between a look that comes together effortlessly and one that ends up ashy or oddly off. But what exactly is your skin’s undertone, and how can you use it as a guide for all your future makeup decisions? We’re glad you asked. Ahead, we break down the different skin undertones and how to use this knowledge to make smarter face makeup choices.
Let’s start with the basics—what exactly is an undertone? Think of it as the underlying hue in your skin, determined by pigments like melanin, carotene and haemoglobin. While subtle, your undertone has quietly influenced how certain colours look on you for as long as you’ve been wearing makeup.
Once you crack the code, a whole new world opens up. Understanding your undertone helps you find colours that truly flatter your skin, whether you're shopping for makeup or refreshing your wardrobe. Ready to dive in? Here’s a quick guide to identifying your skin’s undertone.
The easiest way to figure out your undertone is to look at the veins on your wrist. If they appear greenish, you likely have a warm undertone—often visible as a golden or peachy hue in your skin. This can also influence your jewellery choices, with gold feeling more flattering on you than silver.
When shopping for makeup for warm undertones, gravitate towards products with yellow or golden tones that enhance your natural glow. For foundation, opt for warm shades that mimic that golden hour light—these are usually labelled with terms like golden or honey.
The best blush shades for warm undertones tend to be peachy or coral, while lipsticks in orange-reds, terracotta and rust can instantly brighten your complexion.
If your wrist veins appear more blue or purple, you’re likely in cool undertone territory. This means your skin pairs beautifully with cooler shades like blue, green and purple and you may find silver jewellery suits you better than gold. Bold, bright shades might sometimes feel a bit harsh, making the right undertone match key when picking makeup.
Instead of golden or peachy tones, look for makeup with a blue or pink base. Foundations that complement cool undertones often come with descriptors like ivory, rose or porcelain.
For blush, soft hues like mauve, berry and plum tend to flatter cool undertones. In the lipstick aisle, reach for deep cherry, cool reds, soft pinks and magentas—these shades will bring out your best features.
What if your undertone doesn’t seem clearly warm or cool? If your veins look both green and blue—or you just can’t decide—you probably have a neutral undertone. This means you can pull off a wide range of shades from both ends of the spectrum, but balance is key. It’s best to avoid leaning too heavily towards either warm or cool tones.
Stick with neutral-toned products that gently bridge both sides. For foundation, steer clear of overly golden or pink hues. Instead, go for balanced shades often labelled beige or nude.
When choosing blush, soft neutrals and mid-tone pinks like salmon, mauve or peach are your best bet. You can finish the look with taupe contour, rose gold highlighter and lipsticks in warm pinks, soft nudes and cinnamon browns—nothing too orange, nothing too blue.
The easiest way to figure out your undertone is to look at the veins on your wrist. If they appear greenish, you likely have a warm undertone—often visible as a golden or peachy hue in your skin. This can also influence your jewellery choices, with gold feeling more flattering on you than silver.
When shopping for makeup for warm undertones, gravitate towards products with yellow or golden tones that enhance your natural glow. For foundation, opt for warm shades that mimic that golden hour light—these are usually labelled with terms like golden or honey.
The best blush shades for warm undertones tend to be peachy or coral, while lipsticks in orange-reds, terracotta and rust can instantly brighten your complexion.
If your wrist veins appear more blue or purple, you’re likely in cool undertone territory. This means your skin pairs beautifully with cooler shades like blue, green and purple and you may find silver jewellery suits you better than gold. Bold, bright shades might sometimes feel a bit harsh, making the right undertone match key when picking makeup.
Instead of golden or peachy tones, look for makeup with a blue or pink base. Foundations that complement cool undertones often come with descriptors like ivory, rose or porcelain.
For blush, soft hues like mauve, berry and plum tend to flatter cool undertones. In the lipstick aisle, reach for deep cherry, cool reds, soft pinks and magentas—these shades will bring out your best features.
What if your undertone doesn’t seem clearly warm or cool? If your veins look both green and blue—or you just can’t decide—you probably have a neutral undertone. This means you can pull off a wide range of shades from both ends of the spectrum, but balance is key. It’s best to avoid leaning too heavily towards either warm or cool tones.
Stick with neutral-toned products that gently bridge both sides. For foundation, steer clear of overly golden or pink hues. Instead, go for balanced shades often labelled beige or nude.
When choosing blush, soft neutrals and mid-tone pinks like salmon, mauve or peach are your best bet. You can finish the look with taupe contour, rose gold highlighter and lipsticks in warm pinks, soft nudes and cinnamon browns—nothing too orange, nothing too blue.
The easiest way to figure out your undertone is to look at the veins on your wrist. If they appear greenish, you likely have a warm undertone—often visible as a golden or peachy hue in your skin. This can also influence your jewellery choices, with gold feeling more flattering on you than silver.
When shopping for makeup for warm undertones, gravitate towards products with yellow or golden tones that enhance your natural glow. For foundation, opt for warm shades that mimic that golden hour light—these are usually labelled with terms like golden or honey.
The best blush shades for warm undertones tend to be peachy or coral, while lipsticks in orange-reds, terracotta and rust can instantly brighten your complexion.
If your wrist veins appear more blue or purple, you’re likely in cool undertone territory. This means your skin pairs beautifully with cooler shades like blue, green and purple and you may find silver jewellery suits you better than gold. Bold, bright shades might sometimes feel a bit harsh, making the right undertone match key when picking makeup.
Instead of golden or peachy tones, look for makeup with a blue or pink base. Foundations that complement cool undertones often come with descriptors like ivory, rose or porcelain.
For blush, soft hues like mauve, berry and plum tend to flatter cool undertones. In the lipstick aisle, reach for deep cherry, cool reds, soft pinks and magentas—these shades will bring out your best features.
What if your undertone doesn’t seem clearly warm or cool? If your veins look both green and blue—or you just can’t decide—you probably have a neutral undertone. This means you can pull off a wide range of shades from both ends of the spectrum, but balance is key. It’s best to avoid leaning too heavily towards either warm or cool tones.
Stick with neutral-toned products that gently bridge both sides. For foundation, steer clear of overly golden or pink hues. Instead, go for balanced shades often labelled beige or nude.
When choosing blush, soft neutrals and mid-tone pinks like salmon, mauve or peach are your best bet. You can finish the look with taupe contour, rose gold highlighter and lipsticks in warm pinks, soft nudes and cinnamon browns—nothing too orange, nothing too blue.
The easiest way to figure out your undertone is to look at the veins on your wrist. If they appear greenish, you likely have a warm undertone—often visible as a golden or peachy hue in your skin. This can also influence your jewellery choices, with gold feeling more flattering on you than silver.
When shopping for makeup for warm undertones, gravitate towards products with yellow or golden tones that enhance your natural glow. For foundation, opt for warm shades that mimic that golden hour light—these are usually labelled with terms like golden or honey.
The best blush shades for warm undertones tend to be peachy or coral, while lipsticks in orange-reds, terracotta and rust can instantly brighten your complexion.
If your wrist veins appear more blue or purple, you’re likely in cool undertone territory. This means your skin pairs beautifully with cooler shades like blue, green and purple and you may find silver jewellery suits you better than gold. Bold, bright shades might sometimes feel a bit harsh, making the right undertone match key when picking makeup.
Instead of golden or peachy tones, look for makeup with a blue or pink base. Foundations that complement cool undertones often come with descriptors like ivory, rose or porcelain.
For blush, soft hues like mauve, berry and plum tend to flatter cool undertones. In the lipstick aisle, reach for deep cherry, cool reds, soft pinks and magentas—these shades will bring out your best features.
What if your undertone doesn’t seem clearly warm or cool? If your veins look both green and blue—or you just can’t decide—you probably have a neutral undertone. This means you can pull off a wide range of shades from both ends of the spectrum, but balance is key. It’s best to avoid leaning too heavily towards either warm or cool tones.
Stick with neutral-toned products that gently bridge both sides. For foundation, steer clear of overly golden or pink hues. Instead, go for balanced shades often labelled beige or nude.
When choosing blush, soft neutrals and mid-tone pinks like salmon, mauve or peach are your best bet. You can finish the look with taupe contour, rose gold highlighter and lipsticks in warm pinks, soft nudes and cinnamon browns—nothing too orange, nothing too blue.
