Skin Undertones vs. Skin Surface Tones

Looking at your skin undertones vs. skin surface tones is an important factor when choosing makeup. It is important to match makeup colors with your skin tone as skin tone varies depending upon the amount of melanin in your skin. Consider not only your overall skin tone but aslo your skin's undertones as well.

Importance of determining skin tone and undertone

In order to select the best foundation for your face, decide what color of undertones your skin has. Typically, most women have either pink or yellow undertones. Select blush and powder according to your skin's undertones as well.

Determining skin undertones

When deciding which color of undertones your skin has, think about how your skin appears in sunlight. If your skin looks golden or yellowish, then you have warm undertones. Some women notice green or bronze undertones, which are characteristic of olive skin and are warm as well; however, when skin looks pink or rosy with beige or brown undertones, this is an attribute of cool skin tones.

Still not sure?

Deciding which undertone your skin has is tricky. If in doubt, perform a test. Stand in natural light and hold up an object with gray or silver undertones to your skin. Then do the same with a gold item. If your skin looked better with the gold then you have warm skin tones but if the silver looked better then you have cool skin tones.

When selecting makeup to enhance your beauty, it is important to consider the tone of your palette (your face). Most women fall in to one of two groups: either warm undertones or cool undertones. Know this information to look your best!