The Inclusive Foundation Shade & Undertone Guide
Finding your perfect shade starts with two things: your skin tone (how light or deep you are) and your undertone (the hue beneath your skin). At Origin Beauty we believe beauty is for every complexion — this guide helps you match foundation, concealer and tinted products across the full range of skin tones and undertones.
Step 1 — Find your skin-tone depth
| Depth | Looks like | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Fair | Porcelain to ivory; burns easily | Look for shades labelled 0–1 / Fair / Porcelain |
| Light | Light beige; tans gradually | Light / Nude / Sand shades |
| Light-Medium | Warm beige to honey | Natural / Beige / Honey shades |
| Medium | Golden to olive | Golden / Caramel / Olive shades |
| Tan | Deep golden to amber | Amber / Chestnut / Tan shades |
| Deep | Rich brown | Espresso / Mocha / Deep shades |
| Rich/Deepest | Deep ebony | Ebony / Rich / Deepest shades — check brands with extended depth ranges |
Step 2 — Find your undertone
| Undertone | Quick test | Shade labels to pick |
|---|---|---|
| Cool | Veins look blue/purple; silver jewelry flatters; skin burns then stays pink | Shades with 'C', rose, pink or neutral-cool labels |
| Warm | Veins look green; gold jewelry flatters; skin tans golden | Shades with 'W', golden, honey, warm labels |
| Neutral | Veins look blue-green; both metals flatter; balanced | Shades with 'N' or neutral labels |
Step 3 — Put it together
Match the depth to your skin tone and the undertone of the shade to yours. Swatch on your jawline in natural daylight — the shade that disappears into your skin is your match. Tone shifts with the seasons, so it's normal to need a lighter and a deeper shade through the year.
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Foundation shade & undertone FAQ
How do I find my undertone?
Check the veins on your inner wrist in natural light: blue/purple suggests a cool undertone, green suggests warm, and blue-green suggests neutral. The jewelry test (silver flatters cool, gold flatters warm) and how your skin reacts to sun are useful cross-checks.
What's the difference between skin tone and undertone?
Skin tone is how light or deep your skin is (fair to rich). Undertone is the subtle hue beneath the surface (cool, warm or neutral). You match foundation depth to your tone and the shade's undertone to yours for a seamless finish.
How do I match foundation for deep skin tones?
Choose brands with genuinely extended depth ranges and pay attention to undertone — deeper skin often has warm or red/olive undertones, so avoid shades that look ashy or grey. When in doubt, swatch along the jawline in daylight.
What if I'm between two shades?
Pick the slightly deeper shade for a natural look, or mix the two. Tone can shift with the seasons, so many people keep a lighter winter and deeper summer shade.