The first step to creating a color palette for your capsule wardrobe is to discover your natural skin undertone. Your undertone may be very obvious to you, or it may be very subtle. Try these methods to help you determine your undertone! Be sure to perform each test in natural daylight without any makeup, skin tints, or tanners.

01 // The Green Test

In my opinion, The Green Test is the best way to determine your undertone that no one ever talks about. Green is a special color in that it is very easy to tell which shades of green are more blue (cool) and which are more yellow (warm). Find two pieces of clothing, one that is a cool green, like teal, and one that is a warm green, like army or khaki green. For this test, it is best to find garments that are similar in saturation and lightness or darkness to keep the focus on the undertone of the fabric. Either wear the garment or drape it across the front of your chest and neck so that it covers any other clothing that you may be wearing near your face. Which shade of green looks better on you? Which one makes you feel more vibrant and awake? If it’s the warm green, you probably have a warm undertone. If it’s the cool shade, you are likely to have a cool undertone. If you can’t quite tell, try the next test.

02 // THE VEIN TEST

Stand in indirect natural light, such as near a window during the daytime. Observe the veins on the underside of your wrist. Do they appear blue or green? If they appear blue, you have a cool undertone. If they appear green, you may have a warm, neutral, or olive undertone - continue with the following tests to further clarify your undertone.

03 // THE METAL TEST

Grab a mirror or a camera and the largest pieces of silver and gold jewelry that you can find. Find some indirect natural light and hold each metal up to your skin. Avoid making a comparison with your face, especially if you are wearing makeup or if you have a tan. I suggest using your décolletage for comparison because your skin tone is less likely to be affected by the sun in that area. If you do have a tan, try comparing with the skin behind your ears, or the underside of your arm.

Which metal best complements your skin tone? Does silver look sleek and elegant against your skin? Does gold make you look glamorous and bright? If silver is your metal, you have a cool undertone. If gold is your metal, you have a warm undertone. If you can’t tell which metal suits you best, you may have a neutral undertone.

04 // The WHITE PAPER TEST

Stand in indirect natural light and hold a white sheet of paper up to your décolletage. By comparison, does your skin appear slightly pink, or slightly yellow? If your skin appears pink or red, you have a cool undertone. If your skin appears somewhat yellowish in comparison to the paper, you have a warm undertone. Otherwise, you may be neutral.

If you are flushed, or if you have rosacea, you may want to perform this test on another area or at a time when your skin is more calm. Flushing or rosacea will affect your skin’s overtone, and may temporarily mask your true undertone.

05 // THE SUN TEST

Do you tan nicely, or do you burn quickly in the sun? If you tend to burn, you probably have a cool undertone. If you tan relatively easily, you probably might have a warm undertone. If you’re in the middle, you might be neutral or olive toned.

06 // The HAIR AND EYE COLOR TEST

If you’re still not sure what your undertone is, or if you think you might be neutral, take a look at your hair and eye color for clues. Most often, the natural undertone of your hair and eyes will be similar to your skin undertone. Do your eyes and hair look more ashy or more golden? If you have black hair, does it have a slightly blue tint to it? If you have ashy features or blue-black hair, you likely have overall cool undertones. If you have golden, red, or honey hues in your hair or eyes, you likely have overall warm undertones.

In the images above, the woman on the left has a cool undertone with dark brown hair and cool blue eyes. You can also see that her skin appears to have more of a red or blue tint. The woman in the middle has a warmer undertone. Yellow flecks can be seen in her gray eyes and her skin appears warmer in contrast to the other two women. Her hair is also more of a warm, reddish brown than an ashy brown. And finally, the women on the right has a neutral undertone, with medium brown eyes and hair that are neither warm nor ashy.