Chances are you've heard make-up artists preach the importance of skin undertones. But how often do you apply this theory to your everyday make-up routine? Undertones affect almost every product in your make-up arsenal and, if you're not up to speed with the colour theory behind it, you won't be getting those MUA-worthy results.
Yes, your undertone underpins most of your beauty bag. Not only is it essential knowledge for determining the right foundation shade, but just like those colour theory videos doing the rounds on TikTok lately prove, it can also provide insight into which lipstick shades to choose; what eyeshadow might be best suited to you and the blush shades to choose. And the best part: it saves you time and money in what can feel like an overwhelming make-up search.
So, if you're still unsure exactly what your skin undertone is (read: you've splurged one too many times on the wrong foundation shade), consider this your foolproof guide - from understanding your skin's undertone to selecting the right make-up every single time…
First: what are your skin’s undertones?
“Everyone has a different skin tone; this is the base colour of your skin and helps to determine what colours work for you as an individual,” shares make-up artist, Zoë Taylor.
The undertones simply refer to the natural colours which are underneath the surface of the skin. There are three main types: warm, cool, and neutral. If your skin is warm, it's typically peachy, with deeper tones appearing more yellow and golden. Cool would be considered pink and blue for light-medium skin, and more purple and red for medium-deep skin tones. And if you're neutral? You'll have a mixture of both.
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Why does your undertone matter?
Ever wondered why certain foundations look okay on first inspection and then there's something just not quite right later on? Or a lipstick shade that looked sensational on Instagram but then just doesn't stay true to its hue or looks different on you? That probably has something to do with your undertone.
“You want colours to pop and make your skin look luminous and fresh, choosing the right undertones is essential for this,” agrees Taylor. The wrong colours can be very ageing, she adds. When it comes to foundation, she recommends Sisley's Phyto Teint Nude, a skin-enriching foundation which has been formulated in beige, neutral and pink tones specific to different skin undertones.
Knowing your undertone is in fact essential when it comes to all foundation, adds make-up artist Ruby Hammer. “If you have ever wondered what C, W, N mean on foundations these refer to the undertones." C for cool; W for warm and N for neutral, she shares.
Similarly, your undertone can also help you find the right make-up, from blush shades to eyeshadow palettes. “For example, when looking for a red lip, you would know that If you are a warm tone you would head for a more warm/ orange based red lip, while cooler undertones would go for a blue based red," shares Taylor.
That's not to say that some colours are off limits (after all, it's totally your choice), however, if you start to understand which colours work best with your undertone, you can tighten your search criteria. Those with cool undertones often suit browns, blues, greens and purple, while warm undertones often suit light or brighter hues, and neutral suit both.
How can I tell what my undertone is?
- Look at your under-eye area
“There are a few ways to check your own undertone but my favourite is to look at the natural contour around and under the eye area,” says Taylor. “This is most likely warm olivey or brown tones which would indicate warm undertones, or bluish grey which would indicate cool undertones.”
2. Check the veins on your wrist
“Have a look at your veins on your wrist, if they are blue you are cool undertone and if they are green you are warm undertone,” says Taylor.
Blue/Purple = cooler
Green/Blue = neutral
Olivey Green = warm
3. Determine what jewellery suits you best
Your jewellery is also an excellent way to determine your undertone. Ask yourself: “Do you suit silver or gold jewellery, or both? If you suit silver more you are likely cool, gold you are likely warm and if you suit both you are neutral,” says Hammer.
“Knowing your own undertone is essential in choosing makeup, as having the right tone means it will always look great on you, colours will pop and skin will always look fresh and glowing,” concludes Taylor. Understand your skin's undertone and you can guarantee finding the right foundation shade, score intel into new make-up and decipher whether all those new make-up trends (purple blush, anyone?) are right for you.
