Discover Your Skin Undertone: Take This Quiz to Uncover Your Perfect Makeup Shades! Understanding whether your undertone is warm, cool, or neutral is essential for selecting the most flattering foundation and concealer colors.

Choosing the right makeup shades, especially for concealer or foundation, hinges on understanding your skin’s undertone: are you warm, cool, or neutral? The concept draws from basic color theory: selecting shades that align with your hair and eye color along with your natural undertones will highlight your best features and enhance your glow.

However, figuring out your undertone can be somewhat challenging. Unless you’re a makeup expert, discerning whether you’re warm-toned or cool-toned (or in between) can be tough. Fortunately, there are tips and tricks that simplify this process — and they don’t require a trip to a beauty counter. We’ve created a simple quiz below for you to learn more about your complexion. By answering just six quick questions, you’ll discover how to determine your undertone, putting an end to your uncertainty once and for all.

If you have a warm undertone, your skin usually has yellow undertones, along with hues of gold and peach. This means that makeup featuring brown, gold, and copper tones will complement you beautifully. If you’re unsure about eyeshadow colors, those shades are a reliable choice. Additionally, foundations leaning towards yellow and golden shades will enhance your skin’s glow. Look for a “W” in the shade name for these foundations.

If your skin has cool undertones, you likely possess pink or blue hints. Colors like jewel tones within the blue, purple, and green spectrum will look especially striking on you. Your ideal foundation shade will also have a blue or pink tint to it. Many brands will indicate this by adding a “C” before the number in their shade names, aiding you in finding the right match.

A neutral undertone sits evenly between warm and cool, providing you with the freedom to choose from a wide range of colors. You can confidently wear shades from both ends of the spectrum. In the realm of foundations, feel free to select from either undertone family or specifically seek out neutral options that many brands have recently introduced, often labeled with an “N”.

If you’re trying to uncover your undertone, this skin undertone quiz will help you pinpoint if you are warm, cool, or neutral, alongside offering guidance on achieving effortless makeup color selections. Note that it’s best to take this quiz in natural light (so find a window or step outside) with a freshly washed face. Additionally, tie back your hair and keep your shoulders bare to accurately assess your natural coloring. This approach is crucial for determining your undertone.

So, what undertones do you possess? Continue reading to find out.

1. Examine the veins on the inside of your wrist. What color do they predominantly show?
A) More blue
B) More green
C) It’s hard to tell between blue or green

2. Picture yourself wearing a yellow or orange shirt. How do you look?
A) Not great. I prefer blue options.
B) Awesome — it gives me a wonderful glow!
C) I can pull off nearly any color and look good.

3. What type of jewelry metal do you like wearing?
A) Silver
B) Gold
C) Both are appealing to me!

4. Hold a piece of white paper next to your bare face. How does your complexion look?
A) Pretty good! No noticeable shadows.
B) Not so good! My complexion seems dull. Why do I have to do this?
C) Okay. Why am I holding this paper?

5. What happens to your skin when exposed to the sun without sunscreen?
A) I burn quickly.
B) I tan.
C) I tan initially but can burn if I overstay in the sun.

6. What color flecks are present in your eyes?
A) Blue or gray
B) A mix of both
C) Golden or hazel

If You Got Mostly A’s: You Have Cool Undertones
If you belong to this category, like Billie Eilish, Anne Hathaway, and Lupita Nyong’o, consider sticking with jewel-toned makeup and clothing. This includes shades like blue, purple, blue-green, green, magenta, and bluish-red hues. When it comes to foundation, you’ll likely look best in options that have a bluish or pink undertone. For eye makeup, opt for black, dark blue, or purple mascara to truly make your eyes stand out.

Click here to explore makeup recommendations for cool undertones.

If You Got Mostly B’s: You Have Warm Undertones
If you fall into this group, similar to celebrities like Jennifer Lopez and Beyoncé, aim for earthier colors in your makeup and clothing. Consider shades like yellow, orange, brown, orangey-reds, and yellow-green. For foundation, formulations with yellow or golden undertones will suit you best. When heading out at night, choose brick-red lipstick (instead of bright blue-red) to enhance your complexion.

Click here to find out what to buy and wear for warm undertones.

If You Got Mostly C’s: You Have Neutral Undertones
If you identify with Zendaya and Jennifer Aniston, your neutral undertones mean you can wear any shade that attracts you. (Lucky you!) You have the flexibility to choose between cooler or warmer makeup tones, so feel free to experiment with both or change based on the jewelry or clothing you wear. A key tip? Steer clear of foundations meant for yellow skin tones — they can make you appear sallow. Try experimenting with rose gold shades, as they blend warm and cool beautifully.

Click here to discover the makeup that suits neutral undertones.

Jessica Harrington (she/her) is the senior editor of PS Beauty, overseeing content related to makeup, skin care, hair, tattoos, and more. With over eight years of industry experience, she has engaged with numerous celebrities, reported on various beauty trends, and swatched countless lipsticks. Before joining PS, Jessica was with outlets such as Makeup.com, Skincare.com, and The Zoe Report.

Melissa Liebling-Goldberg was a former director of PS Beauty and Fashion.