Gold or silver: which suits me?

What the test asks

The test asks three questions so you can consider more than one clue. There's no photo involved. A phone camera or a room bulb changes how skin looks, so a mirror and natural daylight tell you more.

1. Metal against your skin. Put a gold piece and a silver piece next to your face in daylight. The one that suits you brightens your face, while the other can leave your skin looking dull.
2. Vein color. Check the color of the veins inside your wrist. Vein color is one clue to consider alongside how the metals look by your face and how you tan.
3. How you tan. Think about how your skin usually reacts to the sun. This clue only counts alongside the other two, and it never decides the result alone.

What your answers mean

Gold suits you best. You likely have a warm undertone, which points to spring or autumn. Yellow gold and brass are good metals to try.

Silver. Your undertone likely runs cool, which points to summer or winter. Silver and white gold tend to look clean and clear against cool skin, while yellow metals can look a little out of place.

Both? Rose gold is a safe bet. Your undertone is likely neutral, so both metals can work. This result does not name a season; the home quiz can help you explore that next.

Where does rose gold fit?

If gold and silver both look good on you, rose gold is a gentle middle choice to try. It's also one of the metals we suggest for light spring.

Which metals suit the twelve season types

All twelve grow out of four families: spring, summer, autumn and winter. Each family splits into three seasons, and each one is named for its strongest trait: light, warm or cool, bright, soft or deep.

• Light spring: light gold and rose gold
• Warm spring: yellow gold and brass
• Bright spring: shiny yellow gold
• Light summer: silver and white gold
• Cool summer: silver and white gold
• Soft summer: brushed silver and pewter
• Soft autumn: brushed gold and bronze
• Warm autumn: yellow gold, copper and brass
• Deep autumn: antique gold and bronze
• Deep winter: silver, platinum and gunmetal
• Cool winter: bright silver and platinum
• Bright winter: polished silver and white gold

Matte or polished metal?

Finish can matter too: brushed metals may suit softer coloring, while polished metals can complement brighter coloring. Brushed metal has a soft, matte surface rather than a mirror shine. It works for soft summer and soft autumn, since a strong shine can overpower muted coloring. Bright spring and bright winter do best with polished pieces, which match their clear, vivid look.

What can throw off your result?

Lighting indoors is the biggest culprit. Yellow bulbs can fool you into reading cool skin as warm, so stand near a window in daylight with bare skin showing around your face. Move bright clothing away from your neck while you check, because the color can bounce up onto your face and mislead you.

Redness can fool you too, so judge by the metals in daylight rather than by pink cheeks.

Wearing gold or silver jewelry

What sits closest to your face matters most. Earrings and glasses frames land right beside your cheeks, so wear your best metal there.

Hands and wrists give you room to play, since they sit a good way from your face. A watch, some bracelets and a few rings are easy places to mix metals. If you like wearing both, try a watch that links the two tones, or stacked chains mixing both colors in a single piece.