Have you and your bestie ever worn the same lipstick shade and noticed that it looked completely different on both of you? Maybe you're the same complexion as your sister, but her foundation doesn't quite match your skin tone. If you've ever run into this dilemma, it's all due to a little thing called undertones. Your undertones are just as unique as you are, and they determine which shades will look more vibrant on your skin than others. There are tips and tricks to determine your undertone, but a skin tone quiz can help you figure out which makeup hues match best with your skin tone, too.
But first, let's break down the basics. Undertones are different than your skin tone — although they're often confused. Ron Robinson, cosmetic chemist and founder of skincare brand BeautyStat, says, "Skin tone is the color of the surface of your skin, and your undertone is the more subtle color beneath the skin’s surface. Your skin tone can change when exposed to the sun or if it is experiencing acne or melasma, but your undertones remain more constant."
What are the different undertones?
There are three temperature-hue undertones. Warm undertones have "warmer colors — golden, peach, or yellow," celebrity makeup artist Sarah Egan says. Cool undertones have "cooler" hints like pink, red, or slightly blue, while neutral tones have a mix of both warm and cool colors.
Along with temperature-hue undertones and skin tones (which may be described as fair, medium, or deep), there are also surface-level skin overtones that change seasonally and can shift when your skin is dry or irritated.
Julie Pefferman, a cosmetic chemist and beauty brand consultant, explains, "Things like melanin, skin thickness, the oxygenation of blood vessels directly under [the] skin, skin irritation, and skin dryness can all impact the composite skin tone."
How do you determine your skin's undertones?
The best way to figure out which undertone you have is to take a look at the veins on your wrist."If they look blue, you have a cool undertone," Egan explains. On the other hand, if you notice green veins, then you have a warm undertone. If you notice hints of blue and green, then Egan says, "your undertone is neutral."
When looking for a foundation or concealer that correctly matches your skin tone and your undertones, Pefferman suggests narrowing it down to three to four potential shade matches for your skin tone and then trying those shades directly on your face without rubbing your face too much when applying to avoid irritation-based redness.
If you've taken a look at your wrist and still can't determine your skin's undertones, take this skin tone quiz to find out what your undertones are.
If you answered mostly with the left column…
You have cool undertones! Whether your skin tone is more fair or deep, your skin has pink or red undertones. Pefferman recommends wearing jewel tones like emeralds, deep purples, lavender, pink, ice blue, and bright blues for your clothing and makeup. When choosing a foundation or concealer, look for neutral or pink-based shades. When lipstick shopping, look for reds and nudes with green, purple, or blue undertones.
MERIT Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Foundation and Concealer Stick
Kosas Revealer Super Creamy + Brightening Concealer and Daytime Eye Cream
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder - 1 Fair
If you answered mostly with the right column…
You have warm undertones! Your skin's undertones appear more yellow, golden, or peach. According to Pefferman, you look great in gold jewelry, green, brown, mustard yellow, warm reds, peach, coral, and amber makeup or clothing. When choosing a foundation or concealer, choose yellow or peach-based shades. For lipstick, look for reds that have orange undertones.
Sephora Collection Best Skin Ever Liquid Foundation - 57Y
Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Pro Filt'r Instant Retouch Concealer - 410
Pat McGrath Labs Sublime Perfection Setting Powder - Deep 5
If you answered with a combination of the left and right columns…
You’re neutral! It's hard to tell if the veins on your inner wrist are blue-purple or blue-green because they’re a little bit of both. You have a mix of warm and cool undertones. Pefferman notes that many colors look great on neutral undertones, although most people are not true neutrals — instead you might be a cool, warm, or olive neutral. Because neutral undertones are equally highlighted with cool and warm colors, Pefferman suggests picking makeup colors based on the color of your hair and eyes.
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Liquid Touch Weightless Foundation - 340C
Hi Beautiful You BE You Skin Perfecting Conceal
Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Tinted Pressed Finishing Powder - Medium
Sam is an assistant news editor at Cosmo, covering all things pop culture, entertainment, and celebrity news. She previously covered those same topics along with health, lifestyle, and beauty at Seventeen. When she isn't draping her cheeks in blush, you can probably find her live-tweeting awards shows or making SwiftToks.
Hannah is the assistant shopping editor at Cosmopolitan, covering all things from cute apartment decor to trendy fashion finds, TikTok products that are actually worth your $$$, and the perfect gift to buy for your boyfriend's mom. She previously wrote for Seventeen and CR Fashion Book. Follow her on Instagram for hot takes on red carpet fashion and unhinged updates on the books she’s reading on the train.
Jasmine Washington is an Assistant Editor at Seventeen, where she covers celebrity news, beauty, lifestyle, and more. For the past decade, she has worked for media outlets, including BET, MadameNoire, VH1, and many others, where she used her voice to tell stories across various verticals. Follow her on Instagram.
