Determining Your Undertones - Why Undertones Are More Important Than Shade Number | Color Me Beautiful

You’ve tried “Fair 2,” then “Fair 3,” then “Light Neutral 1.5," and still, something is off. If your foundation looks too ashy, orange, or flat (even when the depth seems right), the real issue isn’t your shade number. It’s your undertone.

At Color Me Beautiful, we’ve been talking undertones since the ’80s. And now, with a new wave of color analysis hitting TikTok and YouTube, the secret’s out: undertone.

 

Color Me Beautiful History – The Original Color Analysis Experts

Color Me Beautiful has helped over 26 million women discover the shades which most enhance their natural beauty. Color Me Beautiful popularized color analysis with Color Me Beautiful: Discover Your Natural Beauty Through Color and continued to refine the science of color through six additional books, including the Color Me Beautiful Makeup Book. Color Me Beautiful’s Seasonal Boutiques allow you to shop within your specific palette to make looking your best easier than ever!

Not sure what your color season is? Take the Color Me Beautiful Color Quiz for free seasonal color analysis or try out the Color Me Beautiful AI Analysis for more in-depth results!

 

What Are Undertones (and Why Do They Matter?)

Undertones are the subtle hues beneath your skin’s surface. It stays consistent even through sun exposure, breakouts, and redness.

There are three main undertones

·      Cool: hints of pink, blue, rosy beige

·      Warm: golden, peachy, or olive

·      Neutral: a soft blend of both, but most people tend to lean one way or the other

Even if you think your foundation shade number is right, if it’s the wrong undertone it will clash with your skin.

 

Why the Wrong Undertone Makes Foundation Look “Wrong”

If you have cool undertones, for instance, but buy a golden-toned foundation, your skin may look:

·      Orange-y, muddy, or unnaturally tan

·      Fine lines and texture can look harsher

·      You'll have to overcompensate with blush or bronzer to correct the imbalance

On the other hand, if you have warm undertones but buy a pinkish fair foundation, your skin may look:

·      Washed out, grey, or chalky

·      Natural glow disappears

·      Emphasizes redness or sallowness

 

Tips to Find Your Best-Fit Foundation 

Step 1: Vein Color

·      Bluish or purple? You likely have cool undertones

·      Greenish? You likely have warm undertones

·      Can’t tell or a mix of both? You may be neutral

 

Step 2: Jewelry Test

·      Silver looks best? You likely have cool undertones

·      Gold looks best? You likely have warm undertones

·      Both look great? You could have neutral undertones

 

Step 3: Skin Reaction to Sun

·      Burn easily? Often a sign of cool undertones

·      Tan easily? Often a sign of warm undertones

 

Step 4: Find Your Seasonal Match

·      Once you know your undertone, we match you to your color season (Summer, Winter, Spring, or Autumn)

·      Cool undertones fall into Summer & Winter palettes

·      Warm undertones fall into Spring & Autumn palettes

 

Step 5: Add the Perfect Foundation to Your Collection

Check out Color Me Beautiful’s Cool Undertone Favorites:

• Moisture Complex Advanced Aloe Foundation in Sand
• Moisture Complex Advanced Aloe Foundation in Cool Beige

Check out Color Me Beautiful’s Warm Undertone Favorites:

• Moisture Complex Advanced Aloe Foundation in Warm Beige
• Moisture Complex Advanced Aloe Foundation in Ivory
• Moisture Complex Advanced Aloe Foundation in Sepia Beige

Check out Color Me Beautiful’s Neutral Undertone Favorites:

• Moisture Complex Advanced Aloe Foundation in Naturale
• Moisture Complex Advanced Aloe Foundation in Neutral Beige

 

Or skip the guesswork and identify your color season with the

Color Me Beautiful Free Color Quiz,

Personalized AI Color Print Analysis,

or utilize one of our Professionally Trained Color Consultants