What Is Skin Undertone?
Before diving into the tests, let's establish what undertone actually is.
Undertone refers to the subtle hue beneath the surface of your skin—the underlying color that shines through regardless of how light or dark your skin appears. It's determined by the combination of blood, collagen, and melanin beneath your skin's surface.
Critical distinction: Undertone is different from skin tone (how light or dark your skin is). You can have very fair skin with warm undertones or very dark skin with cool undertones.
The Three Undertone Categories
-
Cool Undertone
- Underlying hues: Pink, red, or blue
- Best metals: Silver, white gold, platinum
-
Warm Undertone
- Underlying hues: Golden, peachy, or yellow
- Best metals: Yellow gold, rose gold, copper
-
Neutral Undertone
- Underlying hues: Balanced mix of warm and cool
- Best metals: Both gold and silver
Test 1: The Vein Test
This is the most popular and accessible undertone test.
How to Perform the Test
- Find a natural light source (near a window, not in direct sunlight)
- Turn your wrist over to expose the inside
- Look at the veins on the inside of your wrist
- Determine the color:
Blue or purple veins → Cool undertone
Green or olive veins → Warm undertone
Blue-green veins that are hard to categorize → Neutral undertone
Tips for Success
- Natural light is essential—artificial light skews colors
- Look at multiple areas of your wrist
Test 2: The Jewelry Test
This test examines how different metals interact with your skin.
How to Perform the Test
- Find a piece of pure gold jewelry and a piece of pure silver jewelry
- Hold each metal up to your face, one at a time
- Observe which one makes your skin appear more vibrant:
Gold makes your skin look better → Warm undertone
Silver makes your skin look better → Cool undertone
Both look equally good → Neutral undertone
Test 3: The White Paper Test
This simple test reveals how your skin responds to pure white.
How to Perform the Test
- Find a piece of plain white paper (not cream)
- Hold the paper up to your bare face (no makeup)
- In natural light, observe how your skin appears:
Skin looks pinker or rosier → Cool undertone
Skin looks more yellow or golden → Warm undertone
No dramatic change → Neutral undertone
Test 4: The Sun Reaction Test
This test examines how your skin responds to sun exposure over time.
How to Perform the Test
Think honestly about how your skin typically responds to sun exposure:
You burn easily and rarely tan → Likely Cool undertone
You tan easily and rarely burn → Likely Warm undertone
You may burn occasionally but also tan → Likely Neutral undertone
Test 5: The Jewelry You Actually Wear
This test examines your existing jewelry preferences.
Think about which jewelry you naturally reach for:
Gravitate toward gold, avoid silver → Warm undertone
Gravitate toward silver, avoid gold → Cool undertone
Equally comfortable with both → Neutral undertone
Test 6: The White Clothing Test
This test examines how pure white clothing affects your appearance.
Skin looks brighter in pure white → Cool undertone
Skin looks better in cream or ivory → Warm undertone
Test 7: The Eye and Hair Comparison
Consider your natural (untreated) hair color and eye color:
Cool Features:
- Hair: Black with blue-black undertones, ashy blonde
- Eyes: Blue, gray, cool green, dark brown with cool undertones
- Often indicates Cool undertone
Warm Features:
- Hair: Golden blonde, strawberry blonde, red, golden brown
- Eyes: Hazel, amber, light brown, green with golden flecks
- Often indicates Warm undertone
Putting It All Together: Multiple Test Method
The most accurate approach uses multiple methods and looks for consistency.
The Testing Process
- Perform all seven tests
- Record your results for each test
- Look for patterns: Do most tests point to one category?
- Trust consistency: If 5+ tests agree, that's likely your undertone
Common Testing Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Testing in Artificial Light
Solution: Always test in natural light when possible.
Mistake 2: Testing with Makeup On
Solution: Test on clean, bare skin for accurate results.
Mistake 3: Using Only One Test
Solution: Use multiple tests and look for consistent results.
Quick Reference Guide
At a Glance: Undertone Tests
| Test | Cool | Warm | Neutral |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vein Test | Blue/purple | Green/olive | Mixed |
| Jewelry Test | Silver better | Gold better | Both equal |
| White Paper | Skin looks pinker | Skin looks yellower | Little change |
| Sun Reaction | Burns, doesn't tan | Tans, rarely burns | Both |
At a Glance: What to Wear
| Category | Cool Undertone | Warm Undertone | Neutral Undertone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation | Pink-based | Yellow-based | Neutral |
| Best Reds | Blue-red, cherry | Orange-red, coral | Both |
| Jewelry | Silver, white gold | Gold, rose gold | Both |
| Best Colors | Jewel tones, pure white | Earth tones, cream | Both |
When to Seek Professional Help
Consider professional color analysis if:
- You get inconsistent results across tests
- You're making major wardrobe or hair color changes
- You want complete analysis with fabric draping
- You have unique or complex coloring
Conclusion
Discovering your skin undertone is one of the most valuable beauty discoveries you can make. It provides the foundation for making smarter choices about foundation, lipstick, clothing, jewelry, and more.
The seven tests described in this guide provide a comprehensive approach to undertone identification. By performing multiple tests and looking for consistent results, you can confidently determine whether you have cool, warm, or neutral undertones.
Ready to discover your perfect color palette? Take our comprehensive undertone quiz and get personalized recommendations for makeup, clothing, and jewelry that will make you shine.