How to Determine Your Skin Tone and Undertone
Having a good understanding of your skin tone and undertone is vital when choosing make up, especially when it comes to your foundation and concealer. Getting it right is the difference between looking orange or grey-tinged and looking natural and radiant (we know which camp we want to fall under!).
So how can you work out what your skin tone and undertone are? And what’s the difference between the two anyway - can’t the two terms be used interchangeably? (Spoiler: they can’t.)
We’re on hand to guide the way - let’s take a look at the difference between the two, the main skin tones and undertones and how to determine where you sit. And that’s not all, oh no. Connor from our Cult Concierge team is on hand with expert tips to help you choose the best make up for your undertone, so that you can get the luminous complexion you deserve.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SKIN TONE AND SKIN UNDERTONE?
Your skin tone is determined by the amount of melanin in your epidermis. It can change with sun exposure (so you might have a different skin tone each season) and with skin problems such as blemishes and redness.
Your skin undertone, on the other hand, is the subtle cool, warm or neutral colour beneath your skin’s surface that shines through onto your face. While your skin tone may change, your undertone will always be the same.
THE FOUR MAIN SKIN TONES
- Light
- Fair
- Medium
- Dark
THE THREE MAIN SKIN UNDERTONES
- Cool
- Warm
- Neutral
Of course, skin colour can’t be categorised into such a small handful of options, which is why an increasing number of foundation ranges are not only expanding their shade range to ensure they now cater to the spectrum of skin tones, but also come in an array of undertones so it’s now (theoretically) even easier to find your perfect match… providing you feel confident about whether you’re cool (‘C’, ‘P’ for pink or ‘R’ for red), warm (often ‘Y’ for yellow or ‘G’ for gold) or neutral (‘N’).
HOW TO DETERMINE YOUR SKIN TONE
You probably already have a good idea about your skin tone, as it’s fairly easy to tell whether yours is fair, light, medium or dark. But if you’re not quite sure, here are a couple of things to do or think about:
LOOK AT YOUR JAWLINE IN NATURAL LIGHT
Grab a mirror and take a good look at your skin in natural light. The jawline is a good area to focus on, as it’s usually less affected by colour changes than the rest of your face. From here, you should be able to determine if your skin tone is light, fair, medium or dark.
HOW DOES YOUR SKIN REACT TO THE SUN?
If you tan easily, you’ve likely got a medium or dark skin tone, while if you’re prone to burning then your skin tone is probably light or fair.
HOW TO DETERMINE YOUR SKIN UNDERTONE
Your undertone is what dictates the hues that suit you best. We’ve all had times when those around us notice that a colour really makes us look ‘alive’ – that’s a sign that you’ve alighted on a shade that really complements your colouring.
If you have warm undertones, it means that your skin is predominantly yellow, gold and olive, whereas those with cooler colouring have skin composed of pink, blue or red tones. You can of course be somewhere in-between – in which case, you’d be classed as neutral (and the colour world’s your oyster). Still at a loss? Here are some simple ways to work out where you sit…
THE VEIN TEST
In natural light, look at the veins on your wrist (try not to do this when you’re cold as veins will be constricted so they’re less visible). If your veins look blue, you’re cool and if they have a greener tint, this is due to your warm undertone affecting their appearance (remember school? Blue + yellow = green). If they’re neither one thing nor the other, you might be neutral-toned.
THE JEWELLERY TEST
Precious metals are another way of working out your undertone. If silver makes your skin look luminous, you’re typically cool – while if gold is more flattering, you have warm or golden tones. Both look just as good? You have neutral undertones.
THE WHITE T-SHIRT TEST
Hold a white t-shirt up to your skin. If your skin looks a bit rosy next to it, you’re likely to be cool toned. If your face looks more yellow, you’re likely to be warm toned. If you don’t see a change, you’re probably neutral.
THE BEST MAKE UP FOR YOUR UNDERTONE
Here are Cult Concierge expert Connor’s top tips for choosing the best make up for your undertone.
MAKE UP FOR COOL UNDERTONES
FOUNDATION FOR COOL UNDERTONES
Choose a shade with a cool or pink undertone (look for symbols C, P or R). Urban Decay’s Stay Naked Foundation comes in various shades that are perfectly suited to cool undertones.
1286
£27.00
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£27.00
CONCEALER FOR COOL UNDERTONES
Just like with foundation, choose a shade with a cool or pink undertone. NARS Cosmetics’ Radiant Creamy Concealer has plenty of cool choices to choose from.
1286
£27.00
BLUSHER FOR COOL UNDERTONES
Choose shades such as fresh pink, light peach or berry for a subtle flush of colour. The bareMineral's GEN NUDE™ Glow Blusher in Pink Me Up is as pretty as can be.
4
£27.00
BRONZER FOR COOL UNDERTONES
When you have a cool undertone, you want to avoid looking orange at all costs! Go for beige, grey-ish or soft brown shades to get that natural bronzed look just right. The Light shade of VIEVE’s Modern Bronzer is ideal for a healthy glow.
229
£33.00
HIGHLIGHTER FOR COOL UNDERTONES
Pearlescent silvery finishes and cool pinks are perfect for cooler undertones. Try Danessa Myrick Beauty’s’ Dew Wet Balm in Clear or Holy Water for that coveted dewy finish.
37
£26.50
EYESHADOW FOR COOL UNDERTONES
Make your eyes pop without going OTT by sticking to shades like gray, black, light brown, purple, blue and silver. Charlotte Tilbury’s Luxury Palette - The Rock Chick will help you to create the perfect smoky eye, while Morphe’s 18A Blue Ya Away Artistry Palette features 18 show-stopping shades that are all suited to cool undertones.
17
£46.00
LIPSTICK FOR COOL UNDERTONES
Rosy pinks, purples and blue-based reds are the perfect lipstick shades for cool undertones. Try SUQQU’s Sheer Matte Lipstick in 02 Hagikaze for the perfect pink pout.
15
£33.00
MAKE UP FOR WARM UNDERTONES
FOUNDATION FOR WARM UNDERTONES
If you have a warm undertone, choose a foundation shade with a warm, golden, or yellow undertone (look for symbols W, G or Y). LYS Beauty’s Triple Fix Serum Foundation has a range of golden-tinted shades for you to take your pick from.
47
RRP: £20.00Current price: £9.00
CONCEALER FOR WARM UNDERTONES
Look for a concealer with a warm, golden, or yellow undertone too. Milk Makeup’s Flex Concealer comes in 24 different shades, so you’re sure to find one that perfectly suits your undertone and skin tone.
35
RRP: £26.00Current price: £13.00
BLUSHER FOR WARM UNDERTONES
For a warmer complexion, look for blushers in shades of coral, peach and rosy pinks. Tower 28 Beauty’s BeachPlease Luminous Tinted Balm in golden hour for a glow that lasts long after that golden time of day has passed.
402
£21.00
BRONZER FOR WARM UNDERTONES
To complement warmer tones, go for a bronzer with warm, golden-brown hues. Hourglass' Ambient Lighting Bronzer in Luminous Bronze will ensure your flush never falls flat.
152
£56.00
HIGHLIGHTER FOR WARM UNDERTONES
Warm undertones are complemented by bronze and golden shades, so get your glow on with a highlighter like ICONIC London’s Illuminator in Gold.
158
£32.00
EYESHADOW FOR WARM UNDERTONES
Earthy-coloured eyeshadows like browns, oranges, golds and deep greens are perfect for warmer undertones. NYX Professional Makeup’s Ultimate Edit Petite Eye Shadow Palette - Warm Neutrals features a blend of cool matte browns and autumnal shimmers for eye-catching looks wherever you are.
3
£69.00
LIPSTICK FOR WARM UNDERTONES
Warm nudes, oranges, orange-based reds, browns and corals are the lipstick shades of dreams for anyone with warm undertones. Huda Beauty’s Power Bullet Matte Lipstick in Anniversary is a gorgeous shade for day-to-day wear.
313
£24.00
MAKE UP FOR NEUTRAL UNDERTONES
FOUNDATION FOR NEUTRAL UNDERTONES
When choosing foundation for neutral undertones, opt for a shade with the N symbol. IT Cosmetics’ Your Skin But Better Foundation and Skincare comes in dozens of shades with neutral undertones so that you can find the perfect fit.
741
£36.50
CONCEALER FOR NEUTRAL UNDERTONES
Choose a concealer shade with a neutral undertone too (look for the N symbol). Too Faced’s Born This Way Super Coverage Concealer is a master of camouflage and comes in 20 versatile shades.
BLUSHER FOR NEUTRAL UNDERTONES
For neutral undertones, choose softened or muted versions of a colour, like a dusty pink of muted red. Rituel de Fille’s Colour Nectar Pigment Balm in Bee Sting strikes the perfect balance between vibrant and natural.
64
£21.00
BRONZER FOR NEUTRAL UNDERTONES
For an au naturel glow that screams “I just got back from an exotic getaway”, choose shades similar to your undertone like natural, brown-based shades. benefit’s Hoola will give you the sun-kissed shimmer you desire.
HIGHLIGHTER FOR NEUTRAL UNDERTONES
Neutral undertones can pull off virtually any highlighter, however I would recommend champagne or rose-gold shades like Saie’s Glowy Super Gel in Starglow.
1210
£22.00
EYESHADOW FOR NEUTRAL UNDERTONES
If you have neutral undertones, you can wear any colour you like (you lucky thing). I would recommend picking shades to complement your eye colour instead. If you have blue eyes, then go for shades of orange, brown and bronze. The Lovinah Eye Magic Palette is everything you need and more.
1
£36.00
Those with green eyes should channel purples, browns and reds, and Natasha Denona’s Retro Palette is practically made for you!
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£64.00
Brown eyed beauties, choose eyeshadows in shades of blue, green and purple. Make the Norvina Pro Pigment Palette Vol 2 from Anastasia Beverly Hills your new sidekick.
14
£68.00
LIPSTICK FOR NEUTRAL UNDERTONES
Reds, oranges and even electric colours are perfect for neutral undertones. If you want a pink lipstick, choose a purple toned shade. Makeup By Mario’s Master Mattes Pro Lip Palette features a stunning selection of shades, and you can even mix and match to create your own!
