How to Determine Your Undertone for Gold, Silver, or Rose Gold Jewelry
What metal type is right for you? Aside from personal preference, it really depends on your complexion. One of the key factors in making this decision is understanding your skin’s undertone. Here’s a guide to help you determine your undertone and choose the perfect metal—gold, silver, or rose gold.
Understanding Skin Undertones:
Your skin’s undertone is the underlying hue that affects how colors appear on you. Undertones generally fall into three categories: cool, warm, and neutral.
- Cool Undertones: Your skin has hints of blue, pink, or purple. You may notice that silver jewelry tends to look better on you than gold. While rose gold might initially seem less intuitive, it can actually provide a lovely contrast to cool tones. The pinkish hue of rose gold can add a touch of warmth that complements the cooler undertones in your skin.
- Warm Undertones: Your skin has yellow, peach, or golden hues. Gold jewelry usually complements your skin tone better. Regarding rose gold, its blend of gold and pink complements the natural warmth of your skin.
- Neutral Undertones: Your skin has a mix of both cool and warm hues, and you can often wear both gold and silver jewelry. The balanced nature of rose gold complements a range of undertones, making it a flexible and flattering choice for neutral skin.
How to Determine Your Undertone
- Vein Test: Look at the veins on your wrist in natural light.
- Cool Undertones: Your veins appear blue or purple.
- Warm Undertones: Your veins appear greenish.
- Neutral Undertones: Your veins might look both blue and green or be hard to distinguish.
- White vs. Cream Test: Hold a piece of white clothing and a piece of cream clothing next to your face in natural light.
- Cool Undertones: White tends to look better against your skin.
- Warm Undertones: Cream or off-white generally enhances your complexion.
- Neutral Undertones: You feel good wearing both white and cream.
- Sun Exposure Test: Pay attention to how your skin reacts to the sun.
- Cool Undertones: You might burn easily and have a pinkish hue.
- Warm Undertones: You tend to tan more easily with a golden or olive hue.
- Neutral Undertones: Your winter skin might burn but it eventually turns to a tan.
What metal is right for you can also change seasonally, or over time. I used to alternate between all three metals for necklaces and earrings, but as I’ve gotten older, for whatever reason, I stick to gold year round. On my hands and wrists, however, I strongly prefer the pop of bright silver. While determining your undertone is a helpful step in choosing the right metal, ultimately what makes you happy and feel good is most important because that’s what jewelry is there for!