Undertone is the quiet engine behind why a colour suits you. It is not how light or dark your skin is; it is the underlying temperature of it, the warm or cool cast beneath the surface. Two people with the same skin depth can have opposite undertones and suit completely different colours. Once you know yours, a lot of styling decisions get easier.
Finding your undertone
A few quick checks, done in daylight: gold jewellery tends to flatter warm undertones while silver suits cool ones; warm cream looks better than stark white on warm skin, and the reverse on cool skin; wrist veins often look greener on warm undertones and bluer on cool. If the results are mixed, you are likely neutral, which simply means you can borrow from both sides.
If you are warm
Warm undertones come alive in colours with yellow and golden warmth. Reach for ivory, camel, warm browns, olive, mustard, rust, tomato red, coral, peach and warm greens. For occasion wear, think marigold, deep rust and bronze-gold.
Best neutrals: cream, beige, camel, warm taupe, chocolate and olive rather than grey or black.
Metals and finishing: gold and bronze jewellery; warm-toned makeup with peach or terracotta blush, coral or brick lips, and bronze or warm-brown eyes.
If you are cool
Cool undertones are flattered by colours with blue and pink underneath. Reach for pure white, grey, navy, charcoal, plum, emerald, teal, raspberry, true red and cool blues. For occasion wear, think royal blue, magenta, wine and emerald.
Best neutrals: pure white, grey, navy and charcoal rather than cream and camel.
Metals and finishing: silver, white gold and platinum; cool-toned makeup with rose or berry blush, berry or blue-red lips, and cool grey or plum eyes.
If you are neutral
Neutral undertones are a gift: you can wear shades from both warm and cool families, as long as they are not at the extreme of either. Because temperature is flexible for you, focus instead on value and chroma. Pick colours at the right depth and clarity for you, and you will rarely go wrong. Soft, slightly muted versions of most colours tend to be safe and flattering.
Common mistakes
The biggest one is wearing your favourite colour right next to your face when it fights your undertone. If you love a shade that is not ideal, wear it as a skirt, trousers or a bag, and keep a flattering colour, often a scarf, dupatta or neckline, close to your skin.
The second is judging colour under shop lighting or on a phone screen, both of which distort temperature badly. Always sanity-check in daylight.
The third is assuming black flatters everyone. It is a true-cool colour; on many warm and light people it can be draining, and a deep chocolate, navy or charcoal is kinder.
Let a stylist confirm it
Undertone is the foundation, but it is only one of three properties that decide your full palette. If you want the complete picture, take the free quiz or upload a selfie, and a ColorSea stylist will confirm your undertone and season and build an edit around it. It takes a minute, and it is free during launch.