Undertone: Understanding your True Skin Colour

This word is frequently mentioned in the beauty industry but if we were to ask what your UNDERTONE is, would you know what to say? In this blog entry, ELES gives you tips on how to determine your undertone.

From the word itself, it is the colour underneath the surface of the skin. Knowing your undertone is the key to getting makeup products (and clothes) that look great on you.

There are three main types of undertones:

Cool (pink, red or bluish undertones)
Warm (yellow, peachy, golden undertones)
Neutral (a combination of warm and cool undertones)

Makeup artists can spot your undertone effortlessly but in the absence of a glam squad, these tips will help you determine your true colour! If you’re an aspiring makeup artist, knowing how to determine an undertone will help you create a great makeup base for your cilents as well. Here are our tips:

A white cloth can tell you what your undertone is!
This technique is very similar to what videographers call a white balance. After washing your face, go near the window where you can have natural light and place a white cloth or white paper beside your face. Ask someone to check out the contrast of your skin. If the skin appears:
- golden or yellow = WARM
- pinkish or flushed = COOL
- can’t tell? = NEUTRAL
Gold or Silver?
Try wearing your gold and silver necklace or bracelet and ask someone which one looks great on you. If you look radiant and glowing in:
- Gold jewelry = WARM
- Silver and platinum jewelry = COOL
What clothes look great on you?
When picking clothes, it’s easy to know what shades are warm and cool. For cool colours, think of water, sea, and sky. For warm coloured clothes, think of the sun, Autumn leaves, and earth colours. If you look good in clothes that are colour:
- Orange, Yellow, Dark Green = WARM
- White, black, blue, and gray = COOL
- All colours. If you look fab like a supermodel in everything that you wear, you are blessed! = NEUTRAL 😉

The Sun will also tell you your undertone!
- Your skin turns golden brown when you lounge under the sun = WARM
- Your skin burns when exposed under the sun = COOL

Eye Colour
This is not always accurate but it will help.
- blue, gray, or green eyes = COOL
- brown, amber, or hazel eyes = WARM

Check your Veins!
- Blue veins = COOL
- Green veins = WARM
- in between = NEUTRAL

Our recommendations:

Using a foundation that matches your undertone is the true secret to naturally flawless looking skin. It won’t look cakey or fake and it will blend well as you fade your foundation down your neck. Below is a list of ELES foundations you can choose from:

ELES HD Luminous Foundation

COOL – Ivory, Honey Beige
NEUTRAL – Buff, Almond, Tan
WARM – Linen, Cream Beige, Sand

ELES Liquid Powder Mineral Foundation

COOL – Linen, Vanilla Cream, Sandy Beige, Natural Beige, Espresso
NEUTRAL – Tender Beige, Porcelain, Cameo Beige, Almond,
WARM – Cream Beige, Pale Beige, Fawn