Remember how hard it was to find the perfect shade of foundation? If you couldn’t find a skin undertone chart, did you take a brave plunge into the beauty section of your local drugstore or did you seek expertise in getting fitted professionally?
There’s nothing more satisfying than a perfectly matched foundation – not only does it boost our confidence, it’s an essential part of using skin products. A matching foundation that flatters our skin type, coverage preferences and fits our lifestyle can be like seeing a rainbow – a rare, beautiful sight.
Reasons to look for a new shade
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again – skin is complicated, and a foundation that’s worked for you for years can suddenly look less than great. Maybe you’ve just returned from a divine tropical vacation with tanned skin, or your foundation is just looking a little innocent lately. Maybe it’s time to check out a skin undertone chart and change your foundation shade!
What’s the best way to choose a foundation specifically for your skin tone? We find it helpful to use a skin undertone chart when possible to help you visualize your shade. You can also use some classic tricks to determine skin tone, undertone and match with our foundation.
Read on for some easy ways to determine your skin tone and perfect your skin product match!
The importance of tone and undertone in a skin undertone chart
How do you determine your skin tone and why is it important? An undertone essentially defines your skin temperature. We’ll break it down: your skin tone determines the depth of your complexion, but your undertone is what makes your overall skin tone uniquely you. This is where a skin undertone panel comes in.
Undertones on a skin undertone chart are often categorized as warm, cool, and neutral or olive. For example, undertones can give your skin a subtle pink or yellow glow, or a combination of both if you have a neutral skin tone. In many ways, we believe that undertone is even more important than our overall skin tone.
So why is an undertone more important than your overall tone? Well, a very light foundation can be deepened with a great bronzer. A concealer that is one shade too dark can be brightened by your under eye powder. But we’ve found that most of the time when a skin product looks off, it’s because the undertone doesn’t quite match.
Decode your sub in 2 steps
We think we owe you an apology: we may have made the undertones sound like something scary, when it’s not! It can be relatively easy to figure out your skin tones once you learn a few simple tricks!
Before we begin, it’s important to understand that your undertone can appear as one of six different shades. In the warm family there is yellow, peach and gold. On the cool side, the skin may appear slightly pink, blue or red. Below we’ll share some easy tricks to determine where you fall in terms of skin tone.
#1: The jewelry test
Which finish do you prefer in jewelry between silver and gold? Is there a particular metal that always gets you compliments when you wear it? It’s not just a matter of taste – silver tends to flatter cooler tones, while gold looks heavenly on warm tones. If you’re really lucky, you might get both: that is, you’ve fallen into the category of neutral undertones.
#2: The vein test
This is even easier than the jewel test and does not require a chart. Just find some bright natural lighting and look at the veins on your wrist. Through the skin, do your veins look greener or have more of a blue cast?
Green means your skin undertones are warm or golden, while blue means you definitely have a cool skin temperature. Olives and neutrals may not be able to identify a clear winner, instead seeing a mix of blues, greens and purples.
When all else fails – match the color
While these two tricks are certainly useful, that doesn’t mean they’re foolproof. Sometimes in poor lighting or if you have an almost neutral skin tone, it can still be difficult to determine your exact skin tone with a skin undertone chart. In this case, a second opinion would be wise. Most beauty shops can help you determine your undertone. Just ask a makeup artist or beauty professional to fit you in store!
Skin Tone Zone
Now that we have a handle for our undertones with a skin undertone table, we need to take the next step into the overall skin tone area. This is where we find skin tone charts particularly useful, as they divide skin tone into different categories such as light, medium and dark which make it easier to find the shades of foundation and concealer.
The good news is that once you have your skin tone or temperature correct based on a skin undertone chart, the depth of your skin tone is usually within a 2-3 shade window.
Think of your undertone as the color family your skin belongs to: your skin tone would be how saturated or light you fall within that color’s spectrum. Most skin tone categories use phrases like light, light-medium, medium, dark, and dark-deep to help us determine our skin match.
Other brands may use a number system to help us find our shade. for example, Fruit Pigmented® Full Coverage Water Foundation. Not only do we take the guesswork out of tones, we offer an epic shade range of nearly 20 unique shades. If you consider yourself fair or fair skinned, you would have a lower number. In this system, your skin tone should become richer as the number of foundation shades increases.
PRO TIP: If you have oily or combination skin, you are more prone to foundation oxidation during use. Be sure to prep skin with a primer, use the best foundation for oily skin, and set with a light powder to prevent your skin products from discoloring on you throughout the day.
Choosing a shade
Here are some easy methods to ensure your foundation and concealer flatter you every time:
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First, always take the time to prepare the skin. This could mean giving your moisturizer time to sink in, or letting your primer fully absorb. This is an important first step in how to apply foundation.
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Natural SPF products will contain zinc oxide, which causes a white cast on the skin. Keep this in mind if you have a medium to deep skin tone and adjust your shade selection accordingly. This is one way to avoid the foundation faux pas.
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When in doubt, go for a darker product. products that are too light look less flattering and tend to age more. Just be sure to blend your jawline and neck to ensure an even color (this is one of many foundation tips).
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Don’t be afraid to mix or layer products to get a custom complexion! For example, try using a sheer tinted moisturizer all over the face and touching up the undereyes and t-zone with a full coverage product. This can provide a more natural finish, which helps with flawless color matching.
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Use a curing spray or powder to ensure your products provide longer wear and to keep your products true to color. You can even layer powder foundation over liquid foundation for extra coverage.
The Don’ts of Complexion
Remember earlier when we asked if your skin products have been looking a little off lately? Well, it could also be the products you use that are causing this unflattering look. Here are some ways our skin can go very wrong:
You’re wearing the wrong tone
When we wear the wrong tone in our makeup instead of choosing one based on a skin undertone chart, it shows immediately. If a warm-skinned person wears cool-toned products, their skin will look gray or lifeless. People who wear warm tones will not look so disturbing, but compared to their neck, chest and arms, the difference will be immediately apparent.
You’re wearing the wrong shade
This is easy to get confused since many of us shop online and even most beauty stores have, say, magical lighting. When we have the wrong shade of concealer or foundation, it can give us a clown-like appearance. This tends to make our makeup look heavier than we’d like, and can even make us look older.
Still curious about the best ways to flatter your skin tone? Find a nail color that matches your complexion or a blush that complements your skin tone. Find all this and more in the makeup section of our blog!
Skin tone FAQs
What are the different types of skin tones and how can I identify mine?
Skin tones are generally categorized into fair, light, medium, olive, tan, brown and deep. To determine your skin tone, observe your skin in natural light. Fair skin tends to burn easily in the sun, while fair skin can tan slightly. Medium skin usually tans well, olive skin has a neutral, slightly greenish undertone, brown and tan skin tones tan deeply, and deep skin rarely burns and is rich in melanin.
How does the vein test help determine skin tone?
The vein test is a popular method of determining your skin tone. Look at the veins on your wrist with natural light. If they look blue or purple, you probably have a cool undertone. If they look green or olive, you have a warm undertone. If it’s hard to tell, you probably have a neutral tone.
Can jewelry help determine my skin tone?
Yes, jewelry can be a quick way to assess your tone. In general, if gold jewelry complements your skin tone best, you have a warm undertone. If silver jewelry looks more flattering, you probably have a cool complexion. If both suit you, you may have a neutral tone.
What role does my skin’s reaction to the sun play in determining my skin tone?
Your skin’s reaction to the sun is a good indicator of its tone and undertone. If you burn easily and rarely tan, you probably have a light or cool-toned skin tone. If you tan easily without burning, your skin tone may be medium, olive, or deeper, often with a warm or neutral undertone.
Are there tools or apps that can help me accurately determine my skin tone?
Yes, there are various tools and apps available that can help you determine your skin tone. These tools usually analyze a photo of your skin (usually taken in natural light) and provide an analysis of your skin tone and tone. They can be especially helpful if you struggle to establish your tone and pitch through traditional methods.
