Am I cool or warm? How to determine your skin tone
Cool or Warm: How to Determine Your Skin Tone and Find Your Best Colours
Understanding whether you have a cool or warm undertone is the first step in discovering which colours flatter you most. This knowledge can transform how you shop for clothes, choose makeup, and even accessorise your home. But how do you figure it out? Let’s break it down step by step.
What Are Skin Undertones?
Your skin undertone is the subtle hue beneath the surface of your skin. This is different from your overtone, which is the colour of your skin. Your undertone stays consistent regardless of changes in your complexion due to sun exposure, redness, or other temporary factors.
There are three main categories:
Cool: Skin with blue, pink, or red undertones.
Warm: Skin with yellow, golden, or peach undertones.
Neutral: A balance of cool and warm, making it easier to wear a wider range of colours.
Knowing your undertone helps you select colours that enhance your natural glow rather than overshadow it.
Step 1: The Vein Test
Look at the veins on the inside of your wrist:
If they appear blue or purple, you’re likely cool-toned.
If they look green or brown, you’re probably warm-toned.
If you have darker skin, try and determine if they appear cool, almost black or whether your overall tone is still warm.
Can’t decide? You might have neutral undertones.
Step 2: The Jewellery Test
Try on both silver and gold jewellery (or hold them against your skin):
If silver makes your skin look vibrant and healthy, you’re cool-toned.
If gold has the same effect, you’re warm-toned.
If both look equally good, you’re likely neutral.
Step 3: The White vs Cream Test
Hold a piece of pure white fabric and a piece of cream-coloured fabric near your face (without makeup or artificial lighting):
If pure white makes your skin pop, you’re cool-toned.
If cream looks better, you’re warm-toned.
If both look fine, you may have neutral undertones.
Step 4: Natural Reactions to Colours
Think about the colours that naturally suit you:
Cool-toned people shine in icy blues, emerald greens, and berry hues.
Warm-toned people look radiant in earthy tones, golden yellows, and coral pinks.
Step 5: Eye and Hair Colour Clues
Your natural eye and hair colour can also provide hints:
Cool tones: Eyes tend to be blue, grey, or cool brown. Hair often has ashy or platinum hues.
Warm tones: Eyes are usually green, hazel, or warm brown. Hair may have golden, auburn, or caramel highlights.
Why It Matters
Once you know whether you’re cool or warm, you can:
Shop with confidence: You can admire something but know it’s not for you and make smarter shopping choices.
Choose better colours: Whether it’s clothing or makeup, you’ll instinctively know what enhances your natural beauty.
Save money: Say goodbye to impulse buys that don’t suit you.
Build a cohesive wardrobe: You’ll have a palette that works together effortlessly.
Still Unsure?
If you’re struggling to pinpoint your undertone, you might benefit from a professional style consultation. It’s also possible to fall into a neutral category, where you can wear a mix of both cool and warm tones.
Take the guesswork out of finding your colours! Start by taking my Colour Analysis Quiz to uncover your undertone and seasonal palette.
Take the Quiz
Cool or warm, your undertone plays a key role in how colours interact with your natural beauty. Embrace it, and watch your confidence soar as you curate a wardrobe that feels effortlessly you.
Ready to unlock your perfect palette? Dive into the quiz and discover the shades that make you glow. Let me know what you got. Do you agree with your result?
Now what? Chat through your result with a stylist in a 30 minute Colour Analysis Quiz Review.
