Matching Products to Skin Tones and Undertones
A shade match that looks perfect in the store can look wrong in real light — usually because of undertone, not just depth of color.
✓Identifying Undertones
- Warm — golden, peachy, or yellow undertones
- Cool — pink, red, or blue undertones
- Neutral — a balance of both, with no strong warm or cool cast
✓What Happens With a Poor Match
- Oxidation — some formulas darken or shift orange after wearing for a few hours, which is worth testing in advance for important events
- Visible lines of demarcation along the jaw or hairline, usually from choosing a shade that matches one area but not the whole face
Always check a shade match in natural light and on multiple areas of the face, not just the back of the hand.