Best Colours for Warm, Cool and Neutral Undertones
· 3 min read
Warm undertones usually suit earthy, golden colours such as rust, mustard and olive. Cool undertones usually suit jewel and blue-based colours such as navy, emerald and berry. Neutral undertones can wear most of both. These are tendencies, not laws, and they save you time at the rack.
If you are not sure which group you are in, start with our guide on how to find your skin undertone, then come back here.
What colours suit a warm undertone?
Colours with a yellow or golden base usually sit well: rust, terracotta, mustard, olive, camel, warm brown, coral, peach and cream. Pure bright white and icy pastels can look stark and flatten warm skin.
What colours suit a cool undertone?
Colours with a blue or pink base usually sit well: navy, emerald, cobalt, berry, plum, cool grey, rose and crisp white. Very yellow shades such as mustard can make cool skin look sallow.
What colours suit a neutral undertone?
You can wear most colours from both lists. The most flattering are often the ones in the middle: soft teal, dusty rose, sage, true red, charcoal and a warm white.
Does skin depth change which colours work?
Yes. Depth is how light or deep your skin is, and it works alongside undertone. Strong contrast tends to suit deeper skin and darker hair, so bold, saturated colours often look best there. Softer skin and hair can look better in mid-tone, blended shades. If a bright colour overwhelms you, try a muted version of the same hue.
This is why the same colour, say emerald, can look rich on one person and loud on another even when both are cool. Try the colour near your face before you decide.
How do I wear a colour that is not in my palette?
Everyone owns a favourite that is slightly wrong for their undertone. Three fixes keep it in rotation:
- Wear it away from your face, as trousers, a skirt, shoes or a bag.
- Put a flattering colour between it and your skin, such as an inner layer or a dupatta.
- Add jewellery in your better metal near the neckline.
Should I throw out colours that are not my palette?
No. A palette is a shortcut for shopping, not a rule for what you already own. Keep what you love and wear well, and use your palette when you are choosing what to buy next.
Quick reference: colour by colour
- Rust, terracotta and mustard: usually best on warm, can look harsh on cool.
- Navy, cobalt and emerald: usually best on cool, work on neutral and many warm skin tones too.
- Maroon and burgundy: work across undertones, with orange-leaning maroon better on warm and plum-leaning maroon better on cool.
- Olive and sage: suit warm and neutral, and can look muddy on very cool skin.
- Blush and dusty rose: suit cool and neutral, and are gentle on warm skin if the pink is peachy.
- Cream and off-white: soften warm skin, while crisp white suits cool.
Do black, white and grey suit every undertone?
Not automatically. Black can be heavy near the face on softer colouring, so pair it with a lighter scarf, dupatta or jewellery nearby. Warm white or cream suits warm skin better than stark white. Charcoal is often an easier, softer alternative to black for neutral and warm undertones.
Which festive and wedding colours suit each undertone?
For warm undertones, gold, rust, mustard, peach and a warm maroon tend to glow. For cool undertones, royal blue, bottle green, magenta, plum and silver-toned work tend to look rich. Neutral undertones can choose across both. Use these as a starting point, then check the colour near your face in daylight.
How can I test a colour in a shop?
Hold the cloth under your chin and look in daylight if you can. Check that your skin looks even and your eyes look bright, and that dark circles or blemishes are not more obvious. If the colour makes you look tired, try a shade lighter or a different hue.