Color analysis quiz › Different skin tones, and the colors that suit each one
Different skin tones, and the colors that suit each one
Every skin tone has two parts: depth (how light or dark) and undertone (the color beneath the surface). Depth sets how much contrast you carry; undertone decides warm vs cool colors. Together they point to your color season.
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The two parts of every skin tone
Depth runs from fair to deep. Undertone is cool (pink, rosy, blue), warm (golden, peachy, yellow), neutral (a balance of both) or olive (a green-grey cast that sits over a warm or neutral base). Two people with the same depth can need opposite colors because their undertones differ.
Skin tone types by depth
| Depth | Sun response | Seasons it most often maps to |
|---|---|---|
| Fair | Burns quickly, rarely tans | Light Spring, Light Summer, Bright Winter |
| Light | Burns, then tans lightly | Light Spring, True Summer, Soft Summer |
| Medium | Tans steadily | True Spring, Soft Autumn, True Autumn |
| Olive | Green-grey cast, tans easily | Soft Autumn, Soft Summer, Deep Autumn |
| Tan / brown | Tans deeply | Deep Autumn, True Autumn, Deep Winter |
| Deep | Rich brown to ebony | Deep Winter, Deep Autumn, Bright Winter |
Undertones: cool, warm, neutral and olive
| Undertone | Signs | Best metals | Color families |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cool | Veins look blue-purple; pure white flatters; you burn easily | Silver, platinum | Summer and Winter |
| Warm | Veins look green; cream flatters; you tan golden | Yellow gold, brass | Spring and Autumn |
| Neutral | Veins look blue-green; gold and silver both work | Rose gold, mixed metals | Soft and True seasons on the warm–cool border |
| Olive | Green-grey cast; pinks look odd; foundation often looks orange or pink | Antique gold, bronze | Soft Autumn, Soft Summer, Deep Autumn |
How to identify your skin tone in 3 checks
- Daylight vein check. Look at your inner wrist next to a window: blue-purple reads cool, green reads warm, a mix reads neutral.
- White vs cream. Hold optical white and cream fabric under your chin. The one that makes skin look clear and even reveals your undertone.
- Gold vs silver. The metal that makes your skin glow, rather than look grey or sallow, confirms it.
From skin tone to color season
Skin tone is the starting point. Your color season adds hair and eye color, contrast and chroma (clear vs muted), which is why two people with medium warm skin can land in True Spring and Soft Autumn. The 16-season system splits the strongest undertones into their own types, such as Warm Spring and Cool Winter, so every skin tone gets a precise palette.
Get the palette for your exact skin tone
The 16-season color analysis places your skin tone, hair and eyes into one of 16 types. Pick your type below to unlock the 16-season report: 36 wardrobe colors with hex codes, your 16-drape set, metals, makeup and hair, and a printable color card.
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Questions
What are the different skin tones?
Skin tones vary in depth (fair, light, medium, olive, tan, deep) and undertone (cool, warm, neutral, olive). Both together decide which colors suit you.
What is the difference between skin tone and undertone?
Skin tone is the surface depth, which changes with a tan. Undertone is the hue beneath it, which stays the same all year.
Can olive skin be warm or cool?
Olive skin carries a green-grey cast over a warm or neutral base, which is why muted seasons such as Soft Autumn and Soft Summer often suit it best.
How do I find colors for my skin tone?
Run the three daylight checks above, then place yourself in one of the 16 seasons. Your season's palette is the full list of colors built for your skin tone.