While skin tones are obvious from the get-go, undertones are subtler. Aesthetician Kourtney Willis defines it as the color underneath the surface of your skin. There are three categories: warm, cool, and neutral. You can identify your undertone by checking out the colors of your veins. Green means warm while bluish veins indicate cool undertones. Neutrals are a mixture of both colors.
Whether you’re shopping for yourself or for your wife, going by undertones is a good place to start.
Jewelry
Thinking of buying yourself a rose gold bracelet? Perhaps you’re looking up white gold wedding rings for her? Before you decide on an expensive piece of jewelry, identify the undertone first. It can help you decide on the gemstone plus type and color of metal to buy.
For those with cool undertones, consider silver, white gold, and platinum jewelry. Whether you’re in the market for rings, necklaces, or earrings, you can’t go wrong with a classic. It can make your skin look vibrant while the jewelry will stand out. You can also try out pearls and emeralds if you want a centerpiece.
If you have a warm undertone, go for gold. It will complement your skin and make it look more radiant. You can pair it with garnets and rubies.
If you have a neutral undertone, you have the best of both worlds. You can mix and match or opt for rose gold.
Makeup
If you’ve watched a makeup video on YouTube, you might have heard of undertones. It can mean the difference between a natural-looking finish and a cakey foundation. Buying according to your undertone is best if you do it in person. You can see first-hand how the lipstick, or the concealer looks like on your skin. But if you have no choice but to buy it online, you can still get one that looks great on you.
For foundation, you should choose one with subtle leanings towards pink for cool undertones and gold for warm ones. To cover blemishes, makeup artist Ashunta Sheriff recommends using the color wheel as a reference. For example, if you have some redness, apply yellow correctors before foundation.
Clothes
When adding color to your outfit, you should make sure that it goes with your skin and your hair. If you have warm undertones, try out the colors on the yellow and red part of the spectrum. You’ll also look great in deep green and brown. For those with cool undertones, you can go bold with blues, purples, pinks. If you’re in the neutral territory, dress in light shades of blue, pink, and green.
Like makeup, the best way to see if a dress or a top looks good on you is by trying it on. But if you’re buying something online, you can check out celebrity photos for inspiration. If there’s an actress or a singer that matches your skin and hair, see which colors work for them.
Because there are so many colors and styles available on the market, it can be overwhelming to shop. Whether you’re buying a concealer or a top, there are various options to choose from. When in doubt, start according to undertones. It can save you time and ensure that the piece of jewelry or clothing suits you.
