What is my skin tone?

How do I describe my skin tone?

Your result names two things: your depth and your undertone. The first word tells you how deep your skin runs, from fair through light, medium, tan and deep to rich. The second word is your undertone, and it's one of these: warm, cool, neutral or olive.

Depth is how light or deep your skin looks. It shifts when you tan. Your undertone stays the same under a tan. Depth is one of the three questions that lead to your season, so it matters too.

Olive skin can look a little green or gray next to something pure white. If yours does, the test will tell you.

Skin tone finder: the three steps

One step looks at one thing, and you answer by tapping whichever choice sounds like you.

1. Depth by how you tan and burn. The way sun treats your skin places you in fair, light, medium, tan, deep or rich. Tap the answer that sounds most like you, and if the result surprises you, look at your skin by a window in daylight.
2. Undertone by your veins. Next, look at the veins on your inner wrist by a window and tap the answer that fits best.
3. Olive check. Put something pure white next to your jaw. If your skin looks a touch green or gray beside it, the test will point to an olive undertone.

Why we ask questions instead of using a photo

Phone cameras and indoor bulbs both shift skin color. So this test uses questions, a mirror and daylight instead.

There's no upload, no camera, no email and no account, and your answers never leave your browser.

Reading your result

The result is one line with your depth first and your undertone after it, like "Medium with a warm undertone". From there it points you toward the seasons that suit that combination.

Your depth is how your skin looks right now, so a tan can shift it. Your undertone stays put. If you've caught some sun, it's worth running the steps again.

Light and tanning change what you see

Indoor bulbs can make your skin look warmer than it is. Daylight by a window shows your wrist veins and jaw much more truly.

A tan can make your skin look deeper, while your undertone stays the same. Redness from sun or blushing can make skin look cooler than it is, so check your jawline or inner arm instead.

Your skin tone, the 12 seasons and the colors to wear

There are 4 season families: spring, summer, autumn and winter. Each family splits into three seasons, and each season is named for its strongest trait: light, warm, cool, bright, soft or deep.

The season quiz on our home page also asks about depth, along with gold or silver and bright or soft colors near your face. Depth is one of that quiz's three questions, and each season's palette has 60 named colors plus colors to avoid.

A quiz only gets you started. Holding colors up to your face in a mirror by a window, or sitting down with someone for an in-person draping, can confirm your result.