Unlocking the magic of neutral undertones with color confidence!If your skin doesn’t lean too pink (cool skin tones) or too yellow (warm undertone), you likely have a neutral undertone. This balanced skin undertone lets you opt for a versatile colour palette, including earthy, pastel, and bold shades. With neutral undertones, you can choose from a wide range of colours, but determining which ones are the right colors for your complexion is key to enhancing your natural look.
From foundation to fashion, neutral undertones give you the freedom to experiment, express, and glow with confidence, perfectly complementing your unique complexion. Neutral undertones allow you to wear the best colours from both warm and cool families, and determining your undertone helps you find your most flattering shades.
What’s My Skin Tone?
Your skin tone is the pigment of your skin, which is exposed to the outside world. Your skin may vary in shade from light to dark or fall somewhere in between — but that’s just the surface layer of the overall picture. It is your skin’s undertone that tells you the best vibrancy of colors for you. When determining your undertone, note the natural colors underneath your skin’s surface, as these underlying hues are key to accurate identification. The three main undertones are:
- Warm undertone
- Cool undertone
- Neutral undertone
Olive skin is a unique combination that can have both warm undertones and cooler undertones, often with a distinct green hue.
Overtones and contrast, such as comparing your skin to white paper, can also help in determining your undertone by highlighting subtle differences in color.
Congratulations on probably having a neutral skin tone, if you are somewhere in the middle of golden and pink or blue hues, and thus the two elements are equally present.
Skin Tone ≠ Undertone
There’s a need to clear up the confusion. Your skin color (the color on the surface) can be changed through sun exposure, beauty treatments, or health operations, but your undertone always stays the same. The subtle tint beneath your skin’s surface is known as the undertone.
Tip: To determine your skin undertone, look at your veins under natural light:
- Blue or purple veins: likely cool undertone
- Greenish veins: likely warm undertone
- A mix of both: you probably have a neutral undertone
When determining your undertone, note the natural colors underneath your skin and observe the contrast between your veins and your skin in natural light. This helps you accurately identify your undertone for better foundation and makeup choices.
Skin Tone ≠ Overtone
The overtone is the color that can be observed on the skin and that may be the result of a facial blush, sunburn, or other factors that are not permanent. While the overtone can change, your underlying tones—your undertones if you will—remain the same.
Key Traits of Neutral Skin Tones
The following are some signs of neutral undertones that you might be affiliated with:
- You tan and burn equally.
- You can effortlessly pull off both gold and silver jewelry.
- It’s hard to tell if your veins are blue or green.
- You are neither too pink nor too yellow.
- Your undertones are a combination of both warm and cool elements, making your skin versatile.
What’s your superpower? Adaptability! You can wear a wider colour range, borrowing from the cool and warm worlds. You can also highlight your features by choosing colors that bring out the best in your unique combination of undertones.
Creating Your Perfect Color Palette
When it comes to neutral skin tones, the world of color is truly your oyster. Creating your perfect color palette isn’t just about following rules—it’s about enhancing your natural beauty and expressing your unique style. The secret? Start by tuning into your skin’s undertone and letting it guide your choices.
Neutral undertones are the ultimate chameleons, able to wear both warm and cool shades with ease. To build your ideal color palette, pay attention to how different colors make your complexion look in natural light. Does a certain shade of navy make your skin glow? Does a pop of pink or a touch of olive bring out your eyes? These are clues that you’re on the right track.
Begin with a foundation of neutral colors—think navy, grey, off white, and beige. These timeless hues work as the perfect backdrop for layering in bolder shades and playful patterns. Don’t be afraid to mix in bottle green, soft peach, or even a dash of violet. With neutral skin, you can experiment with a wide range of colors, from earthy browns and golden tones to cooler blues and purples.
Your hair color and eye color can also influence which shades make you shine. For example, caramel or ash brown hair might pair beautifully with blush pink or stone grey, while darker hair colors can handle richer jewel tones. The key is to try different combinations and see what feels most “you.”
As you shop or plan outfits, always check your color choices in natural light. Some colors may look stunning under store lighting but fall flat in daylight. Notice which hues make your skin look brighter and more radiant, and which ones you might want to avoid.
Remember, your color palette is as individual as your fingerprint. Whether you love classic neutrals or crave a splash of bold color, let your neutral skin tone be the canvas for your personal art. The best palette is the one that makes you feel confident, comfortable, and ready to take on the world—one fabulous outfit at a time.
Neutral Skin Tone Dos
To complement a neutral skin tone with makeup, choose a foundation that blends both warm and cool undertones, and consider trying different foundations and different shades to find the best match. A combination of warm and cool tones in your makeup can create a harmonious look. Using light reflective products, create a natural, dewy look.
Try out a variety of colors from the color wheel—light-warm tones such as peaches, olives, navies, and blush work well, and copper tones can be especially flattering for neutral skin. Additionally, experiment with highlight products to accentuate your features and achieve a radiant finish.
1. DO Choose a Foundation That Matches Your Undertone
Many foundations offer a combination of pink and yellow pigments to suit neutral undertones. Pick a foundation whose colors are evenly composed of these pigments. Typically, those are known by brands as “neutral,” “beige,” or “medium.” The correct shade will accentuate your skin’s natural radiance and prevent you from looking like a dead frog or Cheeto.
Trying different shades of foundations across brands can help you find the perfect match for your undertone.
Pro Tip: Always test under natural light and swatch on your jawline or wrist to find the perfect match.
2. DO Embrace That “Living Skin” Glow
Healthy skin looks the best when its natural color is visible. Beaming skin glow, the softest shade of peach, or the smallest amount of golden highlighter can bring out the best version of you without overpowering it. Using highlight products can accentuate your natural glow, adding a luminous and radiant finish to your look.
- Think lightweight foundation
- Radiant blush in pink, apricot, or mauve
- Subtle bronzer with a soft beige hue
3. DO Play With Colors
Your neutral undertones allow you to experiment with the full range of colours. Some flattering choices include:
- Bottle green, navy, violet, and burgundy
- Soft off white, peach, olive, beige
- Natural colours like taupe, ivory, and stone grey
Opting for different colours that complement your undertones can help you discover new favorites.
Whether it’s your outfit, lipstick, or hair color, your skin can handle a surprising range of shades. Just find your favorites and layer creatively!
Neutral Skin Tone Don’ts
Try to use fewer foundation coats, which hide the natural glow of your face. The bronzers, which are especially warm and do not make you comfortable, should be left aside. It’s better not to restrict yourself to specific colors, as neutral undertones can wear the most diverse shades.
You can also be more audacious and make your appearance more creative and colorful, rather than sticking to rather matte or too subtle colors.
1. DON’T Pile On the Foundation
A lot of makeup on your face could hide the natural beauty of your skin. Your skin looks okay, and you don’t have to cover a lot of things. The formulas that you use should be light and let the daylight on your skin.
2. Don’t Go Heavy on Bronzer
A little warmth goes a long way. Using too much bronzer can give your skin an orange tinge, especially if it has an orange tinge. Go for neutral tones or light golden shades to shape or create a visual illusion of more volume.
3. Don’t Forget to Have Fun
Neutral skin color tones have the best perk, which is the ability to be used with different color clothes and on different occasions. Don’t feel like you’re walking on the edge of the world of beauty.
Change it to be near neutral, if you’d like, where garments are just your friend but not your enemy. Experiment with other colors, try a mix of bold shades such as purple and green to check how they fit.
Makeup and fashion are forms of expression. Feel free to experiment, combine your favorites, and let your style shine!
Wake Up That Neutral Skin!
Need a quick glow-up? Try these ideas:
Accentuate your cheekbones using a rose-gold or champagne-toned highlighter.
Try a bold lip color in red, coral, or berry.
Wear earrings in both gold and silver to see how you’re feeling that day.
Pick a hair color like caramel brown, ash blonde, or warm espresso — all suit neutral skin beautifully.
And do remember one last important thing: good lighting is worth the effort! Always examine your color collection under daylight to ensure the perfection of the color.
What colors look best for neutral undertones?
Shades like olive, navy, bottle green, blush pink, peach, violet, and off white are among the best colours for neutral undertones. These colours balance both warm undertone and cool undertone elements, making them perfect for a neutral complexion. When choosing the right colors, consider what complements your skin tone and personal style—there are many colours to explore, so focus on what makes you feel confident and enhances your overall look.
What shade suits a neutral undertone?
Opt for foundations labeled “neutral” or “beige,” as many foundations offer a combination of pink (for cool skin tones) and yellow (for warm undertones) pigments—ideal for a balanced skin undertone. It’s also important to try different shades across brands to find the best match for your unique complexion.
Does black suit neutral skin tones?
Yes, black is universally flattering and looks elegant on neutral undertones. Pair it with beige, off white, or olive for a well-balanced colour palette.
Which colors are best suited for someone with neutral undertones?
Go for light purple, grayish brown, pale orange, light pink, turquoise, dark blue, and light brown. These are some of the best colours for neutral undertones, as they complement both cool and warm undertones. When choosing the right colors for your complexion, consider a wide range of colours and select those that enhance your natural features and personal style.
Which hair color complements a neutral skin tone in women the most?
Try golden brown, ash blonde, chestnut, dark chocolate, or caramel. These flatter neutral undertones by highlighting the skin undertone mix beautifully. The combination of warm and cool undertones in neutral skin allows for a wider range of flattering hair colors, making it easier to find shades that enhance your natural radiance.
What colors go best with a neutral undertone?
Choose from the earthy colour palette—burnt orange, bottle green, plum, rose pink, violet, charcoal grey, and cobalt blue. These are some of the best colours for neutral undertones, as they offer a wide range of flattering options. Remember, choosing the right colors for your complexion is about finding the shades that make you feel confident and complement your unique skin tone, so explore different colours to discover what works best for you. Perfect for cool skin tones and warm undertone balance.
What are neutral colors for guys?
Men with neutral undertones look great in olive, navy, grey, ivory, taupe, charcoal, and pink. These neutral colors enhance a balanced complexion across occasions. Building a wardrobe around neutral color staples like navy, camel, and black creates versatile, harmonious outfits and makes it easy to mix in other colors or patterns.
For a man, what does the term “neutral skin undertone” signify?
It means the skin has a balanced mix of warm and cool hues. Understanding your skin’s undertone is key to making the best color and style choices. Men with neutral skin undertone can wear both gold and silver, and usually see both blue and green veins in natural light.
