What Are Undertones?
Your skin's undertone is the subtle hue that lies beneath the surface of your skin. Unlike your surface skin tone (which can change with sun exposure), your undertone remains constant throughout your life. There are three main undertone categories: warm, cool, and neutral.
Think of undertones as the foundation of your color palette. When you choose lipstick shades that complement your undertone, your entire look becomes more harmonious and flattering. The right shade can make your teeth appear whiter, your eyes brighter, and your skin more radiant.
How to Identify Your Undertone
Warm Undertones
Your skin has golden, peachy, or yellow undertones. You look best in warm colors like coral, peach, and warm reds.
- • Gold jewelry flatters you more
- • Veins appear greenish
- • You tan easily
Cool Undertones
Your skin has pink, red, or blue undertones. You look best in cool colors like berry, plum, and cool reds.
- • Silver jewelry flatters you more
- • Veins appear bluish
- • You burn easily
Neutral Undertones
Your skin has a balance of warm and cool tones. You can wear both warm and cool lipstick shades.
- • Both gold and silver look good
- • Veins appear blue-green
- • You tan gradually
Best Lipstick Shades by Undertone
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For Warm Undertones
Coral, Peach & Warm Reds
These shades complement golden undertones beautifully, creating a natural, sun-kissed glow.
For Cool Undertones
Berry, Plum & Cool Reds
These shades enhance pink and blue undertones, making your skin look fresh and vibrant.
For Neutral Undertones
Versatile Shades
You can experiment with both warm and cool tones to find what you love most.
Shades Mentioned in This Article
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I determine my skin's undertone?
To determine your undertone, check if gold or silver jewelry flatters you more (gold = warm, silver = cool), see how your skin reacts to sun (burns easily = cool, tans = warm), or look at your veins (blue/purple = cool, green = warm). Neutral undertones show a mix of these characteristics.
What's the difference between warm, cool, and neutral undertones?
Warm undertones have yellow, golden, or peachy hues. Cool undertones have pink, red, or blue hues. Neutral undertones have a balance of both warm and cool tones. Understanding your undertone helps you choose lipstick shades that complement your natural coloring.
Can my undertone change?
No, your undertone is genetic and remains constant throughout your life. However, your skin tone (lightness/darkness) can change with sun exposure, age, or health conditions. Your undertone stays the same regardless of how tan or pale you are.
What lipstick shades suit warm undertones?
Warm undertones look best in lipsticks with warm, peachy, caramel, or golden tones. Great options include MAC Velvet Teddy, warm reds like MAC Lady Danger, and peachy nudes. Avoid cool-toned pinks and blue-reds which can clash with warm skin.
What lipstick shades suit cool undertones?
Cool undertones look best in lipsticks with pink, mauve, or blue tones. Great options include MAC Ruby Woo (blue-red), Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk (pink-nude), and berry shades. Avoid orange-toned or warm browns which can look unnatural on cool skin.
What lipstick shades suit neutral undertones?
Neutral undertones can wear both warm and cool shades, making them the most versatile. Neutral nudes, balanced reds, and mauve shades work beautifully. You can experiment with a wider range of colors than warm or cool undertones.
How does undertone affect lipstick color?
Your undertone affects how lipstick colors appear on your skin. Warm undertones enhance warm-toned lipsticks and can make cool-toned shades look off. Cool undertones enhance cool-toned lipsticks and can make warm shades look unnatural. Matching undertones creates harmony.