How to Find Your Skin Undertone (And Why It Matters for Your Makeup)

Have you ever tried a foundation that looked perfect in the bottle but completely wrong on your skin? The secret often lies in undertones. Understanding your skin’s undertone can make choosing the right foundation, blush, and lipstick so much easier—and it’s one of the key steps to achieving natural, flawless makeup.

What Is a Skin Undertone?

Your undertone is the subtle colour beneath the surface of your skin. Unlike your skin tone (which can change with tanning or seasons), your undertone stays the same. Most people fall into one of three undertone categories:

• Cool undertones – hints of pink, red, or blue

• Warm undertones – golden, yellow, or peachy tones

• Neutral undertones – a mix of both warm and cool

How to Find Your Undertone

If you’re not sure what your undertone is, here are three easy ways to help you figure it out.

1. Check your veins - Look at the veins on the inside of your wrist in natural daylight.

• Blue or purple veins usually indicate cool undertones

• Greenish veins suggest warm undertones

• If it’s hard to tell, you may have neutral undertones

2. The jewellery test - Notice which jewellery tends to suit you best.

• Silver jewellery often complements cool undertones

• Gold jewellery tends to flatter warm undertones

• If both look great, you may have neutral undertones

3. Think about how your skin reacts to the sun

• If you burn easily before tanning, you may have cool undertones

• If you tan easily and rarely burn, you may have warm undertones

Why Undertones Matter When Choosing Makeup

Matching your makeup to your undertone helps everything blend beautifully with your skin. Foundation will look more natural, blush will enhance your complexion, and lipstick shades will complement your overall look.

Choosing the right undertone can make the difference between makeup that simply sits on your skin and makeup that truly enhances your natural beauty.

Need Help Finding Your Perfect Shades?

If you’re still unsure about your undertone or struggle to find the right foundation match, I can help. During a session, we can identify your undertone, find shades that suit you perfectly, and create a look that enhances your natural features.

Get in touch to book your personal makeup appointment or lesson and discover the shades that work best for you.