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Finding the perfect foundation shade or the most flattering colors for your hair, clothes, or makeup all starts with knowing your skin tone. Whether you’re shopping for beauty products or just want to look your best in photos, understanding your skin tone and undertone makes a big difference.
Not sure where to start? In this guide, we’ll break down how to find your skin tone and undertone and why it all matters when it comes to your look.
Difference Between Skin Tone and Undertone
Your skin tone refers to the visible color on the surface of your skin, which can range from fair and light to medium, tan, or deep. It can change with sun exposure, becoming lighter in winter or darker in summer.
Your undertone, on the other hand, is the subtle hue beneath your skin that stays the same year-round. Undertones are typically classified as cool (pink, red, or blue hues), warm (yellow, golden, or peach hues), or neutral (a balance of both).
In short, your skin tone changes over time, while your undertone remains constant and determines which makeup, hair colors, and clothing shades complement you best.
What Is Skin Tone?
Your skin tone is the surface color of your skin, influenced mostly by genetics and melanin levels. It ranges from fair to deep, and it can shift slightly depending on things like sun exposure or skincare habits. While your skin tone might change over time, especially with tanning, your undertone stays the same.
Understanding your skin tone is key when choosing the right makeup, hair color, and clothing shades that enhance your natural beauty. Just like personal color analysis, knowing your skin tone helps you make confident, flattering style choices.
The 6 Common Skin Tones
Skin tones generally fall into six categories:
- Fair – Very light, often with porcelain or ivory tones.
- Light – Slightly warmer, sometimes with peach or pink undertones.
- Medium – Neutral or golden in hue, often seen as olive-toned.
- Olive – Slightly green or yellow base, common in Mediterranean skin.
- Tan – Warm, sun-kissed skin that tans easily.
- Dark – Rich brown to deep ebony tones with warm or cool undertones.
What Is Undertone?
If skin tone is the outer color, undertones are the subtle shades beneath the surface. They're what determine whether cool or warm makeup shades look best on you.
Here’s a simple breakdown:
- Cool undertones: Hints of pink, red, or blue
- Warm undertones: Peachy, yellow, or golden hues
- Neutral undertones: A mix of both warm and cool
Understanding how to know your undertone can be a game-changer when it comes to choosing foundation, lipstick, and even clothing colors.
How to Know Your Skin Tone and Undertone
Here are a few easy ways to figure out your tone and undertone:
1. Check your veins
Look at the veins on your wrist. If they look greenish, you probably have warm undertones. If they look blue or purple, your undertones are likely cool.
2. Try the jewelry test
Gold jewelry tends to look better on warm skin tones, while silver usually flatters cool undertones. If both look good, you’re likely neutral.
3. See how your skin reacts to the sun
If you tan easily, you’re probably warm-toned. If you burn, you likely have cool undertones.
How to Find Your Undertone With YouCam Makeup
If you’re not sure whether you have a warm, cool, or neutral undertone, the YouCam Makeup app can help you find out in seconds. Its Beauty Agent feature uses advanced AI to detect your undertone accurately, giving you a personalized breakdown of your skin’s characteristics.
Once your undertone is identified, Beauty Agent takes it a step further by recommending the most flattering makeup shades that complement your unique complexion. You can even apply the makeup suggestions directly on your photo to help you visualize how each color looks on your face instantly.
Simply download the YouCam Makeup app, launch the Beauty Agent, and let the AI do the work. You’ll get your exact undertone results along with curated beauty tips designed to enhance your natural glow.
What Is My Undertone FAQs
How can I check my skin tone?
Discover simple techniques like analyzing your veins or testing with gold and silver jewelry to determine your undertones or just simply use the best skin tone scanner- YouCam Makeup to find your skin color and even foundation colors!
What are the 6 basic skin tones?
Six main skin tones are fair, light, medium, olive, tan, and dark.
Is there an app that tells you your skin tone?
YouCam Makeup app uses AI to analyze and match your skin tone for makeup and skincare! You can try it for free and discover your most flattering skin tone effortlessly.
Is eye color related to skin color?
Eye color and skin color are indirectly related because both are influenced by genetic factors, specifically the type and amount of melanin produced in the body. Melanin is the pigment responsible for the color of your skin, eyes, and hair.
What is the best foundation matching app to find your foundation shade?
YouCam Makeup is one of the most popular apps for virtual makeup try-ons. Its AI Skin Tone feature helps you match your skin tone and undertones to find the perfect foundation shade. The app offers personalized recommendations for foundation, blush, lipstick, and even hair color based on your complexion.
