1. First, what even is an undertone and why does it matter? How does it differ from skin tone?
An undertone is the color beneath the skin’s surface, which determines your general skin tone. It is significant for identifying your most suitable makeup, which eases work when shopping for beauty products, such as, foundation. It is the opposite of skin tone- external skin color.
2. What are your favorite tips and tests for determining undertone? If you had to pick just one test, which in your opinion is the most reliable?
If you need an undertone, consider the following;
What is in your wardrobe?
Check the clothes in your wardrobe. You may have a cool undertone if most of them are purple, blue, and green. Earthy types, including orange, yellow, and olive greens, match a warm undertone. Suppose they lie between both; neutral it is.
Your veins’ color
Go to the mirror and look at your face and below the neck. What veins color do you see? You can tell your undertone using them. For example, green means warm, and blue implies cool. If you cannot be sure- because you may not find both, go for a neutral undertone. I highly recommend relying on veins color to determine your undertone. It is the most reliable.
Do you tan or burn?
Check out your skin’s appearance at the end of a beach event. If you tanned, then warm is your best bet. Suppose you were burnt, your undertone is cool, and if both, then it is neutral.
3. For makeup artists: What are some tips for buying makeup (particularly foundation/concealer) for your undertone? Any recs on foundations/concealers/tinted moisturizers that are best for cool, warm, and neutral tones? (Some shade ranges seem to be particularly friendly to warm tones, etc.)
People with warm undertones should choose a yellow tone foundation, or something close to golden for a natural transformation of their skin tone.
A cool undertone goes perfectly with a slightly pink foundation to prevent any noticeable odd looks.
If you have a neutral undertone, try out a light golden color and see how it looks. If you feel confident in your complexion, go out and shine.
4. For stylists: What are some tips for dressing for your undertone? How are you supposed to find colors that look best on you?
As mentioned earlier, I highly recommend applying warm undertones if your outfits range between orange and yellow or green. On the other hand, if you wear blue and purple, foundations with a cool undertone will be seamless on your general appearance. If you mix both, then choose neutral undertones.
