The Jewelry Test
Gold vibrance indicates warm tones; silver radiance indicates cool tones.
Mastering Your
True Undertone
In 2026, the beauty industry has finally caught up to the complexity of our skin. Join Kenna James as we dive deep into the world of color theory, specifically tailored for melanin-rich excellence.
The Melanin-Rich Undertone Spectrum
Warm Golden
Rich Honey / Bronze
Cool Red/Blue
Mahogany / Espresso
True Neutral
Balanced Walnut
Deep Olive
Muted Khaki / Gold-Green
Mass Tone vs. Undertone
Your skin tone is the surface color. Your **undertone** is the subtle hue beneath that defines how colors react with your skin. For melanin-rich skin, identifying this "primer" is critical to avoid ashy or orange casts.
As we discuss in our Skincare Essentials, a healthy canvas makes this detection much easier.
The Four Pillars of Tone
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Warm
Think gold, yellow, and peach. Deep skin with warm undertones often radiates a honeyed or bronze glow.
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Cool
Hints of red, pink, or bluish-purple. On darker skin, this can manifest as a deep mahogany or espresso.
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Neutral
A balanced mix. Neutral skin tones have the versatility to wear almost any color effectively.
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Olive
Unique and often misunderstood. Olive tones contain a greenish or grayish-yellow hue.
Undertone Interactive Matcher
Select an undertone to see recommended color palettes for makeup and fashion.
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Discovery Mode
Select an undertone on the left.
3 Professional Tests to Find Your Hue
The White Fabric Test
Pure white highlights the subtle lean of your skin towards yellow, red, or green.
The Vein Check
Greenish veins usually mean warm; blue or purple veins usually mean cool.