Makeup Artists Break Down the Secret to Finding Your Undertones (2025)

Finding the right foundation shade can feel like mission impossible. We’ve all been there, swabbing and swatching away in the makeup aisle only to somehow leave with the wrong bottle. But one thing can make it much, much easier: Determining your skin’s undertones.

“Knowing your undertone is so important when it comes to makeup because choosing a foundation with the wrong undertone will fight against actual skin color,” says Allan Avendaño, celebrity makeup artist and L'Oréal Paris League of Experts member. “Knowing your undertone will help guide you towards the proper tonal family.”

Plus, understanding your undertones goes beyond helping you find the right shade of foundation. It makes it easier to find a blush that suits your complexion, complementary eyeshadow shades, or a lipstick that flatters.

"For instance, if you’re using a peachy blush on a warm tone skin, it will appear very peach but on a cool undertone, it will look a lot more bright and coral, as it contrasts your undertone,” says Jeanine Lobell, celebrity makeup artist and founder of Stila and Neen.

What exactly are the different skin undertones?

“Skin undertones are the more subtle colors that make up our complexion,” Lobell says. “They are a useful guide for determining how colors will look on your skin.” She explains that warm undertones are yellow, golden or olive. Cool undertones are pink, yellow or blue. Neutral undertones are a mix of both.

It’s important to note that undertones and skin tone are two different things. “One of the main differences between your skin tone and your undertone is that your undertone is generally constant, regardless of the season,” says Rose Siard, makeup educator and co-founder of Rose and Ben Beauty. “Also, melanin primarily affects your skin tone, which is the surface color of your skin. The more melanin you have, generally the darker your skin color.”

How can I tell what my skin undertones are?

Here are a few simple tricks that can help:

✔️ Examine your veins. “One of the best and easiest ways to identify which undertone you are is to look at the veins in your wrist in natural light,” says makeup artist Lisa Jauregui. “If they appear more green, you have a warm undertone. If they appear more blue, you have a cool undertone." If they're not as obvious to be either, Jauregui says you are likely neutral.

✔️ Stand in front of a white background. “Putting on a white top and surrounding yourself with a white background while in natural light should be able to show if you lean more towards warm, cool or neutral undertones,” Avendaño says. If your skin looks pink or red, you’re cool, if you seem more yellow you’re warm. And if you can’t tell a strong difference either way, then you’re neutral.

✔️ Compare silver and gold jewelry. Try on silver and gold jewelry and see which is more flattering. If gold looks better on you, you’re likely warm, while silver indicates you’re cool. If both look good on you, you’re neutral.

✔️ Consider how your skin reacts to the sun. Wearing (and reapplying!) SPF is a must, but how your skin handles the sun can help determine your undertones. If you tend to tan easily you’re likely warm, while those who burn quickly and are prone to redness are cool. Those who are neutral typically tend to become more olive with sun exposure.

✔️ Use makeup brands as resources. Brands invest a lot of money in making shopping for makeup online easier, so take advantage of that. “Using the internet as a tool is a good resource,” Siard says. “A lot of brands have in depth color charts and photos that you can compare your own photos to lead you in the right direction.”

✔️ Get professional help. Still stumped? That’s what the pros are for. “Honestly, I would suggest going to the beauty counter and asking a professional,” Lobell says. “They can help you figure out what you are with some more confidence and give you advice on what to use.”

What makeup works best for my undertone?

“Finding products suited to your undertone ensures your makeup harmonizes with your complexion, making it look more polished and effortless,” Jauregui says. “It is the difference in someone noticing you and not your makeup.”

Many makeup brands make it easier to shop for foundation with your undertones by “labeling shades as ‘W’ for warm, ‘C’ for cool and ‘N’ for neutral,” Avendaño says. “The shade you apply should disappear into your skin and not fight against it.”

Warm tones

Warm undertones can have a yellowish, orangish or golden glow. “This undertone blends more seamlessly with earthy colors like yellows, oranges, browns and corals, as well as lighter colors,” Siard says.

Cool tones

Cool undertones include pink, red or blueish. “Makeup for cool undertones includes shades like pinks, purples and blue-based reds,” Siard says.

Neutral tones

“Neutral undertones really have no distinct hues,” Siard says. “They work with a larger variety of shades, but you may have to adjust base layers to make shades pop.”