While many of us know our skin tones, undertones are completely different. According to celebrity makeup artist Robert Sesnek, skin tones range from very deep to very fair in color, but undertone refers to the shade that is within that color. “Your skin tone may change throughout the year, but your undertone never changes,” he says.

With the help of Sesnek and pro makeup artists Daniel Martin and Christian Briceno, we’ve compiled the best hacks for figuring out whether you’re undertones are warm, cool, or neutral. Read on for some expert-approved tips on how to identify your skin’s undertone for easier makeup shopping.

The Importance of Knowing Your Undertone

If you’ve ever struggled with finding your correct foundation shade, the process could be made easier just by knowing your undertone. “It helps to identify your undertone in order to harmonize and balance skin tone with the appropriate foundation and concealers,” says Martin. “When trying to find the right shades, I like to match from the center of the face down to the middle of the neck, as this will give you the most accurate representation and allow you to see any redness you may want to cancel out.”

One of the goals of shade matching is to avoid the dreaded line of demarcation. For Sesnek, one of the most common makeup mistakes he sees is mismatched foundation. “Neutral or cool undertones wearing yellow as well as yellow undertones wearing neutral or cool tones will always show a line of demarcation, make the skin look ashy or gray, and possibly oxidize the formula, making the color look even more unnatural,” he says.

Types of Undertones

There are three types of undertones: warm, cool, and neutral.

Warm

Warm includes golden, yellow, or peachy undertones.

Cool

Cool includes pink, red, or blueish undertones.

Neutral

You’re neutral if you’re a mixture of warm and cool.

How to Identify Your Undertone

There are a few tried-and-true tests to help you figure out your undertone.

Throw on a White T-Shirt

Grab a pure white piece of clothing or even just a piece of white paper. In bright, natural light, hold the item up to your face. If your skin looks pink or rosy by comparison, you’re cool toned. If your face looks more yellow, your undertone is warm. If you feel you look better in off-white or creamy hues rather than stark white, that’s another telltale sign that you may be warm-toned. If you can wear both colors without feeling like you look washed out, you may have a neutral undertone.

Consider Your Skin’s Reaction to the Sun

Sun exposure is very telling when it comes to figuring out your skin undertone. Martin explains: “If you burn easily, you’re a cool undertone. If you tan easily, you’re a warm undertone. If you burn and then tan, you’re likely a neutral undertone.

Try on Some Jewelry

This is very subjective, but comparing how gold versus silver jewelry looks against your skin can be a helpful way to figure out your undertone. “Gold jewelry tends to be most flattering on warmer skin tones while silver is mostly flattering on cool tones,” says Sesnek. If you don’t discriminate between gold or silver, then you might have neutral undertones—or maybe you just love all jewelry, which we’re not mad about.

Check the Color of Your Veins

Martin says that checking the color of your veins is a great way to determine your undertones in a pinch, but recommends looking at the veins in and around your face and neck to truly identify. “You have cool undertones if you can see blue veins in your skin. If your veins appear green on the skin (olive), you’re warm. Neutral is a mixture of both warm and cool undertones,” he explains.

Consider Features Like Your Eye and Hair Color

Still confused? Sesnek says to look to your eye and hair color as a guide to what your undertone may be. “Eye and hair color can have any skin undertone in it, but as a generalization, deeper skin tones and deeper eye color usually tend to have warmer undertones while very fair skin and lighter eyes tend to have neutral or cool undertones,” he says.

Makeup Tips for Each Undertone

Warm Undertones

“If your skin leans golden, peachy, or olive, you’re in warm territory. Lip shades like corals, brick reds, peachy nudes, and terracotta always pop. Eyes love warm golds, bronzes, copper, and earthy browns, think Natasha Denona Bronze Palette. Blushes in apricot, warm peach, and coral (like NARS Blush in “Gina”) melt right into your skin,” says Briceno.

“Just avoid anything with a heavy blue or cool lavender base, as it can make you look washed out instead of radiant,” he continues. “Going too cool, like icy pink blush or blue-red lipstick, can make skin look muddy. Using cool-toned contour or brow products (think: grey-based powders) can look ashy against warm skin, especially in daylight.” But that doesn’t mean warm means going all in on the oranges and golds. “Using too much orange or a super-yellow foundation can make the skin look overly golden, almost like it’s sunburned or jaundiced, instead of naturally radiant. Warm undertones still need balance, so pairing warm eyes with a cooler or neutral lip makes the whole look fresher.”

Cool Undertones

“Cool skin has pink, red, or bluish note,” explains Briceno. “Blue-based reds (like MAC “Ruby Woo”), berry shades, and soft rosy pinks make your lips look brighter instantly. Eyeshadow in cool taupes, greys, plums, and jewel tones (emerald, sapphire) really stands out—Urban Decay’s ‘Naked2’ palette is a classic. For blush, go with cool pinks, berry tones, and lilac-pink hybrids.”

The big miss for cool undertones? “Orangey makeup that can make skin look dull or slightly off-tone,” notes Briceno. He suggests steering clear of warm, orangey-red lip colors, terracotta or golden coral blush hues that “tend to overpower the natural pink of cool skin.” Eyeshadows in warm golds, yellow-based bronze, or mustard shades are also best avoided, according to the celebrity makeup artist, who also cautions against any foundation or bronzer shades labeled ‘warm’ or ‘golden’ that will often appear mismatched against your skin tone.

Neutral Undertones

While most colors work for neutral undertones, Briceno emphasizes that there’s still a need to keep them balanced and never too harsh. Flattering lip hues “can swing from warm terracotta to cool raspberry without clashing,” says Briceno, while eyeshadow shades in “neutral browns, rose golds, mauves, and soft olives are your sweet spot (Charlotte Tilbury’s ‘Pillow Talk Dreams’ palette nails this balance.)” For blush, think soft peachy pinks, neutral roses, or muted mauves. But again: Keep everything harmonious. “Avoid foundations with heavy warm or cool bias that push your skin out of balance. Try Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in Neutral Shades for a smooth, even finish that’s perfect for neutral skin.”

“Jumping too hard into one side (all warm or all cool) can make you look off-balance,” warns Briceno. “The primary colors to avoid are anything too extreme on either end: overly warm shades (like pure orange or brick red) can make the skin look yellow, and overly cool shades (like icy lavender or blue-based silver) can make you look washed out. Neutrals shine in balanced shades—think rose instead of neon pink, caramel instead of pumpkin, and champagne instead of frosty white.”