BY Kat Austria

Makeup enthusiasts would know that hunting for the right shade of foundation and concealer is possibly one of the most taxing (and costly) undertaking. Aside from formulation and finish, beauty junkies also have to make sure that the products for coverage and color correction they choose match both their surface tones and undertones.

Simply put, the surface tone is synonymous to skin tone, which can vary from ivory, light, fair, ebony, dark, olive, tan, and more. Comparatively, the undertone is, like what the name suggests, the subdued color found beneath the skin that could either be warm, cool, or neutral. More specifically, yellow, golden or peach are considered warm undertones, and red, pink or blue are cool undertones. Unlike what most people think, two people of different complexions can have similar undertones and vice versa.

If you are clueless or unsure about your undertone, beauty experts and makeup artists have suggested quick and easy tests to help determine what it is. Make sure to check the colors under a natural or an incandescent light for an accurate examination.

1. The Vein Test

The most common way of knowing your undertone is by checking the color of the veins on your forearms. A blue vein color signifies you have cool undertones while a green vein color is associated with having warm undertones. If your vein color cannot be distinctively determined from either of the two colors, your skin has a neutral undertone.

2. The White Towel Test

You may identify your undertones by wrapping your hair in a white towel and draping another over your shoulders and neck. Proceed by cleansing your face and observing whether your face is either yellow or blue. A yellow color suggests warm undertones while a blue color indicates cool undertones.

3. The White Fabric Test

Alternatively, you can use pure white and off-white pieces of clothing to know your undertones. Looking divine in pure white pieces imply you have warm undertones. However, if you look too pale and look better wearing off-white pieces, then you must have cool undertones.

4. The Clothing Test

The next time you head out, take note of the compliments you get regarding your #OOTDs since these can actually help you determine your undertone. In theory, warm-toned individuals are those who look best wearing earth colors like reds, oranges, yellows, and olive greens. Meanwhile, cool-toned individuals are those who look ravishing in jewel hues like blues, purples, and emerald greens.

5. The Jewelry Test

In the same way, you can examine how jewelry complements your skin in identifying your undertone. People whose skin is harmonious with yellow gold pieces are considered warm-toned while those who look better wearing silver or platinum trinkets have cool undertones.

In certain instances like exposure to UV rays or diagnosis of skin conditions, the surface tone can experience changes in color but in spite of these, a person’s undertones remain the same. If you qualify for either warm or cool undertones, then lucky you! It means you have a neutral undertone that can work with makeup for both cool and warm undertones.

What’s your skin undertone? Find items that match your colors perfectly!

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