What Is My Skin Tone & Undertone?

If you feel messed up every time you choose colors for your outfits, then you are definitely among those people who do not know about their skin tone and undertone. If you are tired of asking and browsing – what is my skin tone? then today you will get answers to these questions and answers to many more such questions, so tuned. 

The colors worn while ignoring the skin tone and undertone can work as an eclipse on your charm.

Aside from the hues selection, skin tone is significant in our daily life too.

From choosing a hair color to jewelry, your skin tone is on the first seat. 

If you want to level up your dressing and your overall appearance then you need to learn how to determine skin tone and undertone.

Yes, there is a great difference between skin tone and undertone but most people live in confusion when it comes to skin tones and undertones.

So, before learning how to determine your skin tone, Let’s move onto the first staircase and understand what is skin tone and undertone.

What Is Skin Tone?

The tone of the skin is called skin tone. Yes, the color you see of your skin when you stand in front of a mirror, is your skin tone.

Your skin tone is determined by the following points:

1. Genetic Inheritance – 

The skin tone you were born with is determined by your genetics. This is your real skin tone which can not be changed because it is directly connected to your genetic inheritance. 

2. Melanin – 

To safeguard you from the harmful radiations coming from the sun, the melanocytes found in the epidermis layer of your skin produce Melanin (A term for biological group of brown, dark or black pigments). 

It is a complex polymer that is responsible for hair, eyes, and skin color. 

The production of Melanin depends on the exposure of the sun or UV irradiation, that said the exposure of ultraviolet radiation stimulates the melanocytes to produce Melanin.

So, The more you are exposed to sunlight or UV irradiation, the more melanin is secreted by your skin cells. More melanin means more dark pigments in your skin.

Therefore, the parts of your body that are not or less exposed to the sun, have the same skin tone with which you were born and the skin tone of the parts of the body exposed to the sun varies in different seasons, regions, and conditions according to the Melanin formation.

For example: The skin tones of most people living in cold areas are fair, on the other hand, the skin tones of the people living in warm areas are medium or dark. 

So now, let’s know how many types of skin tones are there. 

Types Of Skin Tones – 

There can be countless types of skin tones as we all have different skin tones but still, three categories were made to classify skin tones, which are the following: 

(A) Fair Skin Tone – 

People who live in cold/cloudy areas or do not face sun exposure on daily basis have light skin tone due to very little melanin production. 

People with fair skin tone have the lowest or no ability to produce melanin. 

The fair skin tone is susceptible to exposure of the sun which often leads to sunburn, skin-redness, and irritation.

(B) Medium Skin Tone – 

The medium skin tone which is commonly known as Olive is the most well-balanced and neutral skin tone. 

In this skin tone, the formation of Melanin is neither much nor less, so this skin tone is called medium skin tone. 

This skin tone is also sensitive to the sun or UV irradiation exposure but less in comparison to fair skin tone. 

That is, people with medium skin tone also have to face problems like Sunburn, but less than Fair skin tone. 

(C) Dark Skin Tone – 

People who live in hot areas or face harsh sun exposure normally have dark skin tone due to excessive melanin production. 

Dark skin tone is not as sensitive as fair skin tone to the exposure of sun, but still, people with dark skin tone have to face many skin related problems like hyperpigmentation. 

Some other categories have also been created among these three categories like very fair, fair, medium, dark, medium-dark, and very dark. 

From the given chart below, you can determine which of the following is closest to your skin tone. 

What Is Undertone?

Undertone is different from the skin tone, it is the tone underneath your skin’s surface (beneath your skin tone). 

Although you can not see your undertone still it’s very significant, whether it is about color selection, combination, or jewelry selection. 

Unlike skin tone, your undertone never changes, even if you get all day long sun exposure. 

There are three undertones: warm, cool, and neutral. 

Let’s understand what they refer to and break them down: 

1. Warm – 

Golden, peach, and yellow fall under the warm undertone.

2. Cool –

Cool undertone refers to bluish, pink, and red hints.

3. Neutral – 

The neutral undertone is a balance or mix of warm and cool undertones and commonly refers to olive. 

So, what is your undertone? 

Well, it can be determined in many ways with different methods. 

But before that, let’s quickly recall and know what is the difference between skin tone and undertone. 

Difference Between Skin Tone & Undertone

Skin Tone – 

• It is the color or tone of the skin. 
• It is visible (you can see your skin tone). 
• It can change in different conditions, regions, and seasons.
• Skin Tones can be uncountable but to categorize them, there are three categories – fair, medium, and dark. 

Undertone – 

• It is the color or tone beneath the skin tone. 
• It can not be seen.
• It can not be changed.
• There are three types of undertones – cool, neutral and warm. 

So now, let’s understand what are the different methods of determining the undertone and how to determine the undertone. 

How To Determine Your Undertone

Well, there are several ways of determining your undertone but we will only learn the best and easiest methods. 

1. Figure Out The Color Of Veins – 

This is one of the easiest ways to determine your undertone. You can simply determine the undertone by figuring the color of your visible veins.

You do not have to do much for this test, just follow the given steps: 

(A) First of all, go in the natural light (light of the sun) and focus on the veins under your wrist or forearm. 

(B) If your veins appear purplish or bluish then you fall under the cool undertone category. 

(c) If the color of your apparent veins is greenish then you fall under the category of warm undertones.

(d) If the color of your veins is not easy to recognize, then you probably come under the neutral undertone category. 

With this method, you can determine your undertone within a few seconds. 

2. Gold And Silver Jewelry Test – 

This is also a very simple and popular method of determining your undertone. 

For this, you will need silver and gold-toned jewelry. They can be metallic watches or bracelets.

First of all, wear a silver-toned metallic watch on your wrist in natural light and after that wear a gold-toned metallic watch on your wrist and observe what suits you the most:

(A) If the silver wristwatch complements your skin more then you have the cool undertone. 

(B) If the golden watch looks better on your wrist then you are on the warm side of the undertones. 

(C) If they both flatter your skin equally then your undertone is neutral. 

3. The White Paper Sheet Test – 

You will need a white paper sheet for this test. 

First, take off your shirt or T-shirt and stand in front of a mirror holding a white sheet near your chest or neck (make sure there’s no colorful light). 

Now just look at your skin and observe:

(A) If you feel like your skin is a little bit pink or reddish then your undertone is cool. 

(B) If you feel that suddenly your skin is looking more yellowish then you fall under the warm undertone category. 

(C) If you do not feel any noticeable change in your skin’s color then you are in the neutral category of undertones.

4. Reaction Of The Sun – 

How does your skin react to exposure of the sun depends on the present amount of Melanin in your skin. So, it can also determine your undertone. 

(A) If you tan rarely and burn easily then you are in the cool undertone category. 

(B) If your skin tan easily and rarely burns then you fall under the warm category of undertones. 

Although this method may not work for everyone, so you should take some other tests also but it is accurate for most people.

5. The eye color – 

The natural color of your eyes can also help you to determine your skin’s undertone. 

(A) If the color of your eyes is lighter like light gray, pale, or bluish then your undertone is cool.

(B) If your eyes are hazel, honey brown, or amber then you are warm undertone.

Conclusion  

Every skin tone has its beauty and you have to improve your dressing and grooming to become your best version. 

Always remember that you are not weird, you are special. 

Do fashion according to your skin tone and undertone, also pick your hairstyle according to them and you will look more attractive and well-dressed. 

I hope you have understood everything properly and this information will be helpful for you, still, if you have any doubts or questions then please feel free to ask in the comments section. 

I would love to answer your questions and help you. 

What Is My Skin Tone & Undertone FAQS