Makeup Shade Matcher

Understanding Undertones

Your undertone is the subtle color that comes through from beneath the surface of your skin. It does not change significantly with sun exposure, breakouts, or seasonal shifts. Most people fall into one of three categories:

• Warm: hints of golden, peach, or yellow.
• Cool: hints of pink, red, or slightly bluish tones.
• Neutral: a balance of warm and cool, with no strong pull either way.

Knowing your undertone helps you choose foundations, concealers, and even lip and cheek colors that appear more natural. A product with the wrong undertone can make you look dull, grey, or overly orange, even if the depth is correct.

Quick checks to figure out your undertone

If you are not sure which undertone you have, try a few of these simple checks. None of them is perfect on its own, so look at the overall pattern:

• Vein test: Look at the veins on the inside of your wrist in natural daylight.
  • More greenish = usually warm.
  • More blue or purple = usually cool.
  • Hard to tell or mixed = often neutral.
• Jewelry test: Hold both gold and silver jewelry against your skin.
  • Gold looks more flattering = often warm.
  • Silver looks more flattering = often cool.
  • Both look fine = often neutral.
• White T‑shirt test: Put on a plain white top and view yourself near a window.
  • Skin looks brighter and more golden = warm.
  • Skin looks rosy or slightly pink = cool.
  • Skin looks balanced, not especially golden or pink = neutral.

Use these cues to choose the undertone option (Warm, Cool, or Neutral) in the form above.

Determining Your Skin Depth

Depth (sometimes called shade level or intensity) describes how light or deep your skin appears, independent of undertone. On this tool’s scale, depth ranges from 1 (very fair) to 10 (very deep). Many people fall somewhere between 3 and 7, but there is no “better” or “worse” number—this is only a way to describe your coloring.

To use the calculator, you simply enter a number from 1 to 10. If you are unsure, think about where you might sit on this simplified range:

• 1–2: very fair to fair, may burn easily, often struggles to find shades light enough.
• 3–4: light to light‑medium; many mainstream “light” or “light/medium” shades fall here.
• 5–6: medium to tan; in many ranges this is the center of the shade lineup.
• 7–8: tan to medium‑deep.
• 9–10: deep to very deep; may find fewer options in limited shade ranges.

You can adjust the number up or down after seeing your result if it does not feel accurate.

A simple numeric view of depth

The depth scale can be thought of as a straightforward numeric line:

Each step up the scale represents a gradual move from lighter to deeper skin tones. The tool does not assign any judgment to these numbers—they are simply a way to label depth consistently across different brands and product lines.

How the Makeup Shade Matcher Works

The calculator combines your chosen undertone (Warm, Cool, or Neutral) with your selected depth (1–10) to create a simple shade code. Technically, it is doing a very lightweight mapping:

• It takes your undertone and uses it as the text part of the label.
• It takes your numeric depth and attaches it as the number part of the label.
• The output is a basic description such as “Warm 4”, “Cool 3”, or “Neutral 7”.

This label is brand‑agnostic. It does not try to guess exact shade names from specific companies. Instead, it gives you language you can use when browsing or speaking with a beauty advisor. Many brands follow a similar logic by pairing letters and numbers, for example “W4,” “C3,” or “N7.” Your result makes it easier to narrow down which of those you should test first.

How to Interpret Your Result and What to Do Next

Once you submit the form, you will see a result such as “Warm 4” or “Neutral 6.” Here is how to use it effectively:

1. Match the undertone label: Look for products labelled with the same undertone. For example, a “Warm 4” result suggests trying shades with warm, golden, or yellow undertone descriptions.
2. Use the depth number as a starting point: If you are a 4 on this scale, you can start by trying shades that sit near the light‑to‑medium area of a brand’s range. A 9 or 10 suggests focusing on the deeper end of the lineup.
3. Cross‑check with shade charts: Many websites show their foundation swatches in order. Look for the segment of the chart that roughly aligns with your depth number, then filter by undertone.
4. Test on the jawline in natural light: Swatch two or three possible shades along your jaw and slightly down onto the neck. The best match will visually “disappear” into your skin.

If a shade looks almost right but not perfect, you may only need a small adjustment. For example, if your result is “Cool 5” but every cool 5‑level shade looks slightly too pink, you might try a neutral undertone at the same depth instead.

Worked Example: From Inputs to a Practical Shade Code

Imagine a user named Taylor who has the following features:

• Their wrist veins look mostly green.
• Gold jewelry seems to flatter them more than silver.
• In most foundation ranges, they wear something in the middle, not the lightest and not the deepest shade.

Taylor uses the checks above and decides they have a warm undertone. Based on where they usually fall in foundation lines, they choose a depth of 5 in the calculator.

After submitting the form, the tool outputs: “Warm 5”.

Here is how Taylor might use that code:

1. They browse a brand’s foundation page and filter for warm undertone shades.
2. They scroll toward the middle of the depth lineup, checking shades that sit around the midpoint of the range.
3. They select two warm medium shades (for example, “Warm 4” and “Warm 5” in that brand’s naming system) and swatch them along the jawline.
4. In daylight, they notice that the lighter one almost disappears, while the deeper one looks slightly too rich. They decide the lighter option is best for all‑over foundation, and they could even keep the deeper shade for bronzing or summer.

In this way, the simple “Warm 5” result did not have to match a product name exactly—it narrowed the field and guided Taylor to shades that were very likely to work.

Comparison Table: Undertones and Depth Levels at a Glance

Use this table as a quick reference when choosing your inputs and reading your result.

Common Shade‑Matching Mistakes

Even with a good starting code, shade matching can go wrong. Watch out for these frequent issues:

• Relying only on your hand: The skin on your hand or wrist can be a very different color from your face and neck. Always test near the jawline instead.
• Ignoring lighting: Store lighting can be yellow or fluorescent, which distorts color. Step outside or near a window to confirm your match.
• Choosing only by depth, not undertone: A shade might be the right depth but the wrong undertone, which can make you look grey, orange, or dull.
• Expecting one perfect shade year‑round: Many people are lighter in winter and deeper in summer. Your depth number might shift slightly with the seasons.
• Forgetting about flash photography: Some high‑SPF products can cause a white cast in flash photos. Test with and without flash if photos are important for you.

Adjusting a Shade That Is Not Quite Right

If a foundation you bought is close but not perfect, you do not always need to replace it. You can often adapt it using a few techniques:

• Too light but undertone is good: Mix in a small amount of a deeper foundation, a bronzing drop, or apply a light layer of bronzer after foundation along the outer edges of the face.
• Too deep but undertone is good: Use it more sparingly, just where you want warmth (like a bronzer), and keep the center of the face lighter with concealer.
• Undertone slightly off: Layer sheer products. For example, a slightly too‑cool base can be warmed up with a subtle warm bronzer or peachy blush.
• Coverage feels heavy: Mix your foundation with moisturizer to create a sheer, skin‑tint effect. This can make minor mismatches much less noticeable.

Your shade code from the matcher can guide which way to adjust. If your product is cooler than your “Warm 6” result, you might focus on adding warmth; if it is deeper than your “Neutral 3” result, you might use it in smaller amounts.

Limitations and Assumptions of This Shade Matcher

This tool is meant to give you a helpful starting point, not a guaranteed perfect match. It works under several important assumptions and has clear limits you should be aware of:

• Brand‑agnostic: The matcher outputs generic labels like “Warm 4,” not exact shade names from specific brands. Shade ranges, formulas, and naming systems vary widely.
• Does not see your skin: The calculator relies entirely on the undertone and depth you enter. It cannot account for surface redness, hyperpigmentation, freckles, melasma, or self‑tanner.
• Screen and photo limitations: If you are comparing online swatches, remember that monitor settings, phone displays, and image editing can all change how colors appear.
• Lighting conditions vary: Your result assumes you will check shades in reasonably neutral lighting. Very warm or cool artificial light can still mislead you.
• Shade ranges are not uniform: Some brands offer 50+ shades with carefully tuned undertones; others only offer a handful of options. Your perfect “Warm 7” might not exist in a smaller line.

Because of these limits, you should treat your result as an informed starting point. Whenever possible, confirm your match by swatching a few shades in person and seeing how they look after sitting on the skin for several minutes.

Next Steps and Related Topics

After you have your undertone and depth code, you can:

• Use it to narrow down options on brand websites and filter by undertone.
• Bring it with you when shopping and ask beauty advisors for shades that are close to your code.
• Adjust your existing products using mixing and placement techniques if they are only slightly off.

To build an even smoother base, it can also help to learn more about skin preparation, concealer matching, and how different finishes (matte, natural, dewy) interact with your skin type. Exploring those topics alongside this shade matcher will give you a more complete, confidence‑building routine.