“What is my undertone” might be up there on the list of confusing questions along with “why can’t I stop watching TikTok videos?” Yellow, red, pink, blue — these may not be colors you think you’d find in your complexion but there's actually a rainbow of undertones at play when it comes to our skin, and therefore our makeup.

Here’s everything you need to know about how to find your undertone. Let’s get into that shade!

Difference between skin tone and skin undertone?

If you don't know the difference between your skin tone and undertone, you’re not alone! While skin tone is the visible color of your skin—like light, medium, or dark—your skin undertone is the subtle color beneath the surface: cool, warm, or neutral.

Unlike skin tone, your undertone doesn’t change with the seasons, which makes it key to finding makeup that looks natural and complements your unique complexion. Understanding your skin undertones can help you pick products that enhance your natural beauty and give you a seamless, radiant finish.

What are the different types of skin undertones?

When it comes to makeup, knowing how to find your undertone can be a total game-changer! Here’s a quick guide to help you understand the three main types of skin undertones—and find your celeb match!

Warm undertone skin

Warm undertones have traces of gold and red, giving them a radiant glow. If you tan easily and rarely burn, you likely have warm undertone skin. Celebrities with warm undertones include Beyoncé, Lucy Liu, and JLo, who all shine in warm colors like bronze, gold, and coral.

What Colors Look Good on Warm Undertones?

Warm undertones are beautifully complemented by earthy, golden, and vibrant hues that enhance their natural glow. Colors like mustard yellow, burnt orange, terracotta, coral, olive green, and warm browns are perfect for clothing and makeup. Jewel tones like ruby red, emerald green, and rich gold also look stunning.

For makeup, eyeshadows with golden, bronze, or copper tones bring out the warmth in your skin, while lipsticks in peachy, coral, or brick-red shades provide a flattering pop of color. Bronzer is also a must-have for warm undertones, as its golden and sun-kissed hues perfectly accentuate your skin's natural radiance.

What Color Blush is Best for Warm Undertones?

For warm undertones, blushes in shades of peach, coral, apricot, and warm rose work best. These hues mimic the natural warmth of your skin and create a radiant, sun-kissed effect. Avoid overly cool or pink-toned blushes, as they can clash with your undertone. Instead, opt for shades with golden or orange undertones for a natural and healthy-looking flush.

For warm undertone skin, we love this buildable cream blush in playful peach that can be used on both cheeks and lips for a look that pulls together nicely.

What Should I Look for in a Warm Undertone Foundation?

When selecting a foundation for warm undertones, look for shades with descriptors like "golden," "honey," "beige," "caramel," or "warm." These foundations typically have yellow or golden undertones that match your skin's natural warmth. To avoid a mismatched base, steer clear of foundations labeled as "cool" or "neutral" unless explicitly balanced for warm undertones.

Our full-coverage foundation comes in 39 shades, offering a wide range of warm undertone shades. If you currently have a foundation that matches your skin undertone perfectly, you can use our Foundation Shade Finder tool by clicking "Find My Shade" on our foundation page.

Neutral undertone skin

You may be wondering what are neutral undertones? Neutral undertones have a balanced mix of cool and warm tones. Skin with neutral undertones can get darker in the sun, but might burn occasionally. Celebrities that have neutral undertones include Kerry Washington and Sandra Bullock, who can rock a wide range of shades beautifully.

How to Tell if You Have Neutral Undertones

If you have neutral undertones, your skin’s undertone is a balance of both warm (yellow or golden) and cool (pink or blue) tones. Here are some ways to determine if you fall into this category:

• Vein Test: Look at your wrists. If your veins appear to be a mix of green and blue, you likely have neutral undertones.
• Jewelry Test: Both gold and silver jewelry complement your skin equally well.
• Clothing Test: You look great in almost any color, from warm hues like coral to cool shades like lavender.
• Sun Reaction: If you tan easily without burning but also have some redness, this could be a sign of neutral undertones.

What Colors Look Good on Neutral Undertones?

Neutral undertones are versatile, meaning you can pull off a wide variety of colors! Both warm tones like peach, coral, and earthy browns and cool tones like blue, lavender, and pink will suit you. Jewel tones such as emerald green and deep sapphire look stunning as well. Opt for balanced, muted shades if you prefer subtlety, or play with brighter colors that balance warm and cool tones, like teal or raspberry.

What Color Blush is Best for Neutral Undertones?

For neutral undertones, the best blush colors are those that strike a balance between warm and cool. Shades like soft rose, mauve, peachy-pink, and warm apricot work beautifully. Avoid overly stark cool tones or very orange shades, as they can overpower your natural balance.

Neutral undertones shine with subtle blush colors that add a natural flush without clashing with your skin’s versatility. That's why we have chosen Beautyblender's "Flirty Rose" as the best cream blush for neutral undertones. 

Cool undertone Skin

Cool undertones show hints of pink and blue, creating a softer, cool complexion. Cool undertone skin tends to burn more easily, so shades like silver, berry, and jewel tones complement best. Celebs with cool undertones include Alex Wek, Anne Hathaway, and Adele.

How to Tell if You Have Cool Undertones

Cool undertones mean your skin has hints of blue, pink, or red. To determine if you have cool undertones, consider these factors:

• Vein Test: Check the veins on your wrist. If they appear blue or purplish, you likely have cool undertones.
• Jewelry Test: Silver jewelry tends to complement your skin better than gold.
• Clothing Test: Cool shades like icy blues, lavender, and soft pinks look amazing on you.
• Sun Reaction: If your skin burns easily or turns pink before tanning, this may indicate cool undertones.

What Colors Look Good on Cool Undertones?

Cool undertones look their best in colors with blue, pink, or violet hues. Think icy blues, soft lavenders, rosy pinks, and jewel tones like sapphire, emerald, and ruby. Neutral colors such as gray, navy, and crisp white also flatter cool undertones beautifully. Avoid earthy tones like mustard or orange, which can clash with the natural coolness of your skin.

What Color Blush is Best for Cool Undertones?

Blushes in shades of cool pink, berry, soft rose, or mauve work wonderfully for cool undertones. These shades naturally mimic the cool pink or reddish tones in your complexion, creating a harmonious and flattering flush. Avoid overly warm or peachy blushes, as they may look unnatural on cool undertones. Instead, focus on hues that enhance your skin’s natural balance. Something like this pink blush would compliment cool undertones perfectly. 

Here’s a visual that may give you an idea of where you’d expect to fall on the spectrum and help you find makeup that enhances your undertone!

Why does knowing your undertone matter?

Knowing your skin undertones is essential for finding makeup that truly complements your natural beauty. Unlike skin tone, which can change with the seasons, your undertone—whether it’s cool, warm, or neutral—stays the same and plays a huge role in how colors look on your skin.

If you have warm undertone skin with hints of gold and red, shades like peach, coral, and gold bring out your glow beautifully. Meanwhile, cool undertone skin, with traces of pink and blue, looks radiant in shades like silver, berry, and jewel tones.

Choosing products that match your undertone means your makeup will blend seamlessly, enhancing your complexion rather than looking “off” or dull. From foundation to lipstick, understanding your undertone ensures every shade flatters you naturally, giving you that fresh, radiant look every time.

Skin undertone facts

As you now understand "what's skin undertone," the difference between skin tone and skin undertone, and the types of skin undertones, here are some more interesting facts about skin undertones to help you level up your beauty game!

Skin undertones affect more than just foundation

Your undertone influences how all colors—lipstick, blush, eyeshadow, and even clothes—look on you. The right colors enhance your natural glow, while mismatched ones can make you look washed out.

Testing your undertone is easy!

Ever heard of the vein test? Look at the veins on your wrist: if they appear blue or purple, you’re likely cool-toned. If they look greenish, you're warm-toned. If it’s a mix, you’re probably neutral.

General undertone rule: eye and skin color can offer clues

• Deeper skin tones and eye colors tend to have warmer undertones, complementing golden or peach shades.
• Fair skin and light eyes are often associated with neutral or cool undertones, meaning pinks or blues look especially natural.

Your undertone is unique and stays consistent

Unlike skin tone, which can shift with sun exposure or skincare, your undertone remains the same. Knowing it is like having a guide for flawless color choices, season after season.

Natural light is key for accurate undertone identification

To get a true read on your undertone, always check it in natural light. Indoor lighting can throw off colors, making it harder to identify your undertone correctly.

By keeping these skin undertone facts in mind, you’re ready to make makeup and color choices that enhance your natural beauty. Embrace your unique undertone and let it lead you to glow-enhancing beauty every day!

Skin undertone tips: how can I tell what undertones do I have?

If you’ve ever asked yourself, “What is my undertone?”, you’re not alone. Knowing your undertone can make a big difference in finding makeup shades that flatter your natural beauty. So, here are some tried-and-true tips to answer “What’s my undertone?” and become your own undertone finder.

Vein test

Start by examining your wrist veins under natural light—this is one of the easiest ways to determine your undertone.

• Green veins? You likely have warm undertones.
• Blue or purple veins? You’re probably cool-toned.
• A mix of both colors? You’re most likely neutral.

Jewelry test

Put on a piece of gold jewelry and a piece of silver jewelry and ask yourself, “Which looks better on me?”

• If gold jewelry makes you glow, your undertone is probably warm.
• If silver jewelry looks best, you likely have cool undertones.
• If both look equally flattering, you’re likely neutral.

The white T-shirt trick

Put on a plain white T-shirt, step outside into natural light, and look at your face.

• If your face appears yellowish, or if you feel off-white or beige suits you better, you have warm undertones.
• If your skin looks rosy or pink, your undertone is cool.
• If you look equally good in both white and cream shades, you likely have neutral undertones.

General undertone clues

Still wondering, “How to know your undertone?” Check out these general guidelines:

• Deeper skin tones often have warm undertones.
• Fair skin with light eyes often leans towards cool or neutral undertones.

By using these tips, you can answer, “What is my skin undertone?” and choose shades that let your natural glow shine. The next time you’re in doubt, pull out this quick undertone finder guide and find your perfect match!

Skin undertone tricks

Not big on DIY? No worries—we’ve got you covered! If you haven’t yet tried our new Shade Finder, now’s the perfect time to give it a spin. This easy-to-use tool will not only help you discover what is my skin undertone but also guide you toward your perfect BOUNCE foundation match. And the best part? You can do it all in less than two minutes!

Bonus Trick: Try Both Undertone Options

Still wondering “how to know your undertone?” Here’s a quick tip: If you’re stuck between warm and cool undertones, try a foundation shade from each category that matches your skin tone. The shade that blends seamlessly and “disappears” into your skin is your perfect match—your one true pairing!

Using our Shade Finder or trying a couple of shades side-by-side will make finding your perfect undertone simple and fun. With these tricks, you’ll be on your way to a flawless, natural look every time!

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