The simplest definition
Your skin undertone is the quiet color beneath your skin's surface. It doesn't change when you tan, get redness, or go through seasonal shifts. That's why two people with the same skin depth can look totally different in the same shirt--because their undertones are different.
Undertone vs. skin tone
- Skin tone is the surface depth (fair, medium, deep). It can change.
- Undertone is the underlying hue (warm, cool, neutral). It stays consistent.
If you feel like certain colors always make you look tired, it's usually a mismatched undertone--not your skin tone.
Why undertone matters
Undertone is the foundation for choosing clothing colors, makeup shades, and even jewelry metals. When colors match your undertone, your skin looks clearer and more vibrant. When they clash, you can look dull or sallow--even if the color is "pretty."
Quick signs of each undertone
- Warm undertone: golden or peachy cast, greenish veins, gold jewelry looks best.
- Cool undertone: pink or blue cast, blue/purple veins, silver jewelry looks best.
- Neutral undertone: mix of warm and cool signs, both metals look good.
What to do next
If you're new, take a quick test under natural light and compare warm vs cool indicators. Then explore your undertone type and the color guides built around it.