Warm vs cool undertone: how to tell in 2 minutes

Your undertone is the single most important part of color analysis. Here are five simple tests - and how Huemate measures it from a selfie.

1. The vein test

In daylight, look at the veins on your inner wrist. Mostly green or olive points to warm; blue or purple points to cool; a mix suggests neutral.

2. Gold vs silver

Hold gold and silver jewelry against your skin. The metal that makes your skin look clearer and more even is your match.

3. White vs off-white

Hold a pure white and a cream fabric under your chin. Cool undertones look fresh in pure white; warm undertones look softer and healthier in cream.

4. Sun reaction

Skin that burns and turns pink often (not always) leans cool; skin that tans golden often leans warm. This test is weaker than the others.

5. Measure it

In the CIELAB color space, skin sits at a hue angle of roughly 45-70 degrees. Lower angles mean more red-pink (cool); higher angles mean more yellow-golden (warm). Huemate samples your cheek on-device, removes shadows and highlights, and measures this angle. Optionally include something white in the photo to calibrate the light.

Warm seasons

• Light SpringLight, warm and fresh
• True SpringWarm, golden and lively
• Bright SpringBright, clear and sparkling
• Soft AutumnSoft, warm and earthy
• True AutumnWarm, rich and earthy
• Deep AutumnDeep, warm and rich

Cool seasons

• Light SummerLight, cool and soft
• True SummerCool, calm and elegant
• Soft SummerSoft, muted and cool
• Deep WinterDeep, cool and dramatic
• True WinterCool, crisp and striking
• Bright WinterBright, cool and electric

Frequently asked questions