Do you have a tough time finding the perfect foundation to match your skin? Do you wonder why some colors just don’t seem to look as good as others? You’re not alone. Skin tone matching is not an exact science. Your surface tone is constantly changing from both internal and external factors. Maybe you spent a lot of time outside over the summer and got a tan. Maybe you have some acne scarring. It’s natural.

So, you purchase what seems like the perfect foundation, only to try it when you get home and realize it washes you out. This could be from your skin undertone.

You may have heard of cool or warm skin undertones, but that is just scratching the surface. There are specific shades like pink or gold or peach.

To determine if you have peach undertone skin, there might be trial and error. However, there are some steps and tests that are listed below that can help you.

What is considered a peach undertone?

Perhaps someone has recently told you that you have a peach undertone to your skin. Your mind automatically goes to the fruit, and you know your skin is not that color. It’s true. They are not saying you look like a fruit. Instead, peach is used as a word for the hint of color within your skin’s undertone.

What is an undertone?

Your skin’s undertone is the prevailing tone below the surface. This is different than surface tone, which is the color only on the top of your skin.

Undertone is generally split into three categories: warm, cool, and neutral. However, it can be distinguished further into pink, blue, red, olive, yellow, gold, and peach.

What makes an undertone peach?

Peach is described as a milder warm tone. Your skin has a yellow or golden hue to it, but there’s also a hint of pink or red that is more orange than cool tones. However, it’s not quite balanced enough to be called neutral. That is peach.

A peach undertone is often found in fair to medium complexions, especially with a red surface tone.

Is peach a warm or cool undertone?

Let’s take a step back. You might wonder: what are warm and cool undertones? Here are the three general undertones:

• Warm: Warm undertones are when your skin has a golden, yellow, or peach hue to it. Warm and earthy colors like warm red or olive green pair best with these undertones.
• Cool: Cool undertones contrast to those with warm undertones. They are considered to have hues of pink, red, or blue. Pastels and jewel colors, like lavender or royal blue, compliment these undertones.
• Neutral: Neutral undertones are those that are balanced between warm and cool. They don’t lean yellow or pink. Instead, most anything works well on this skin undertone.

Peach is considered a warm undertone although it may have a hint of pink in it.

How do you determine if you have a peach undertone?

So, you understand the difference between surface tone and undertone, as well as warm, cool, and neutral undertones. Now, it is time to figure out if you have a peach undertone or another undertone entirely. Here are some ways to help you figure it out:

• Vein Test: Look at the veins on your wrist. What color are they? If they are blue-purple, then you most likely have a cool undertone. If they are green, you most likely have a warm undertone. If they are blue-green, then you are possibly neutral. If you are peach undertone, it will be green with a bluish tint.
• Jewelry Test: Try on both silver and gold jewelry. Which metal looks best with your skin tone? Gold tends to go better with warm undertones, while silver looks better with cool undertones. Neutral looks good with either. Peach undertone skin would look better with gold, but it will still look great with silver too!
• White vs. Off-White: Hold up a white cloth and an off-white cloth next to your skin. Which looks better? If you think white is better, you probably have cool undertone skin. If you think the off-white is better, it is most likely that your skin has a warm undertone. If both are good—can you guess?—neutral it is!
• Hair Test: If you’re having trouble deciding the undertone of your skin, check your natural hair color. Believe it or not, your lovely locks also have a warm, cool, or neutral undertone that is the same as your skin.

If your hair tends to have a golden shine in the sun, such as golden blondes or auburn hair, you are probably warm undertone. If your natural hair color is more silver or blue hued, like platinum blond or deep black, then you will have a cool undertone. Peach is a little more difficult with this test because it can be with any hair color.

• Color Swatching: The best tried and true method for figuring out if you have a peach undertone is to color swatch or stripe with a couple different foundations. You can go to a cosmetic store to have a consultant assist you with this. Otherwise, you can also buy a few foundations that match your shade.

Try one marked cool, one marked warm, and one marked neutral. A too cool foundation will look ashen, and a too warm foundation will look yellow or orange. Whichever one blends into your skin the best is your undertone.

How do you determine if you have a peach vs. a pink undertone?

Sometimes, it can be harder differentiating peach undertone from pink rather than other warm undertones. This is because peach undertone is often found with fair or light skin. Even more, it is often in skin with a pink or red surface tone.

At the end of the day, peach is more golden orange than pink. On the flip side, pink has a hint of red or blue. If only it was that easy to determine the difference on real skin.

Again, it’s recommended to try the above tests to determine if your undertone is warm or cool. This will help distinguish between pink if you’re cool or peach if you’re warm. Color swatching can be especially helpful. Look for foundations that specify pink or peach undertones and try both. The better fit with your skin is your undertone.

What’s the best foundation for peach undertone skin?

Foundation can be such a tricky thing to match to your skin tone, let alone your undertone. Peach undertone can be one of the toughest. While it is a beautiful undertone, it is warm with a hint of cool-toned pink. Remember: Color matching is not an exact science. So, how do you figure it out?

First, start with foundations that are labeled for warm undertones. Not all foundations do this. Some only are labeled for the surface tone. While you might be able to find the right foundation with surface tone only, it is limiting. Instead, look for foundations with a broad range of shades.

The best foundation for peach undertone would be those shades that distinguish themselves as having a peach tone. Other words to look out for are golden or beige. If you can, choose at least two that are close to your skin tone shade and undertone to try color swatching.

Can your skin undertone change over time?

You see your skin change color in the summer compared to the winter. Or you notice different coloring to your skin over time. Does this mean your skin’s undertone has changed? The answer is no.

While your skin does change shades throughout your life, this is what is called the surface tone. The change is just on the surface, so your skin changes over time.

In contrast, skin undertone does not change. You will have the same undertone throughout your life. This tone is considered underneath the surface and therefore genetic rather than environmental. While more subtle, undertone is also more central to your skin’s tone.

Which celebrities have peach undertone skin?

When trying to distinguish if they have peach undertone skin, people often look toward celebrities they think have a similar skin tone. However, as with figuring out your own skin, it is also difficult to figure out the exact undertone of someone else’s skin.

Sure, it is clear that Beyonce and Blake Lively have warm undertone skin. Also, most people would agree that Lupita Nyong’o and Emma Stone have cool tone skin. But some people may argue that Nicole Kidman or Anne Hathaway are peachy while some will disagree. As always, it is not an exact science.

Still, some celebrities you can look at for peach undertone skin could be Hilary Duff, Amy Schumer, Mandy Moore, and Scarlett Johansson. With each of these wonderful women, you can see the warmth in their skin that comes from the undertone while having the orange-pink tint that goes with peach.

Have a peachy life with your determined undertone

Determining whether your skin undertone is peach is tricky but not impossible. It is important to know the basics, like surface tone vs. undertone and warm vs. cool. Then, it is time to test your skin. Make sure to use natural light and keep your mind open to what your eyes see.

Once you determine that your undertone is peach, it is time to test color swatches of foundation. Try out a couple labeled peach in your shade to find the best foundation for you and your peach undertone!