What is Skin Tone?
The key to dividing skin tones is the undertone.
The surface color of your skin can change.
It might look pale, tanned, or darker depending on the season, sunlight, or makeup.
But the undertone, which is the natural base color under your skin, almost never changes throughout your life.
This undertone is what decides whether you are cool toned or warm toned.
For example,
two people can both have fair skin, but one may have a bluish undertone which is cool,
while the other has a yellowish undertone which is warm.
That is why the same plain white T-shirt can make one person look bright and fresh, while it makes another look dull or sallow.
Warm Tone
A warm undertone usually has hints of yellow, golden, or olive. In sunlight, the skin often looks healthy, glowing, and slightly golden.
Warm toned people usually tan more easily, and warm shades flatter them best.
Colors that suit: browns, olives, oranges, golds
Metals: gold jewelry looks natural and bright
Cool Tone
A cool undertone usually has hints of blue or pink. In sunlight, the skin may look rosy, flushed, or even slightly translucent.
Many people with cool undertones blush easily or have skin that looks clear but sensitive.
Warm colors tend to make them look washed out,
while cool colors make their skin look radiant.
Colors that suit: blues, purples, emerald, silver
Metals: silver, white gold, platinum
Easy way to remember:
Cool tones look best in blue and silver. Yellow or golden tones can make the skin look dull or grayish.
Warm tones look best in orange and gold. Blue next to the skin can make the face look lifeless.
At first, personal color was explained with the four seasons: Spring and Autumn for warm tones, Summer and Winter for cool tones.
This helped people see why certain colors made them glow while others made them look tired.
But four groups were often not enough.
Many people seemed to sit between categories.
To make the system more accurate, each season was divided into three, creating twelve types.
This added brightness (light vs dark) and clarity (soft vs vivid) as new guides.
For online quizzes and self tests, twelve types are the most practical.
They are clear enough to show real differences without being overwhelming.
Systems with sixteen types or more require tiny distinctions that usually need a professional using fabric drapes in person.
That is why twelve types are the best choice for exploring your colors online.
Once you know your type, it becomes much easier to choose clothes, makeup, and hair colors
that bring out your best.
Warm Autumn Tone
Warm Autumn skin usually looks golden, rich, and glowing.
The undertone shows a soft golden or yellow warmth
that makes the complexion appear healthy and radiant.
In sunlight, the skin often develops a golden tan rather than burning,
and this warmth reflects beautifully.
Because of this golden undertone, warm earthy colors bring vitality, while very cool shades can make the face look flat or tired.
In short,
there is a natural golden pigment under the skin that reflects light richly, much like the warm glow of autumn sunlight.
Warm Autumn vs. Warm Spring
Both are warm seasons, but they differ in depth and clarity.
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Warm Autumn (True Autumn): Best in deep, soft, earthy colors such as camel, olive, terracotta, mustard, and warm teal.
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Warm Spring (True Spring): Best in lighter, clearer, fresher colors such as peach, coral, golden yellow, and turquoise.
If a color feels deep, soft, and earthy, it belongs to Autumn.
If it feels bright, clear, and fresh, it belongs to Spring.
The Four Autumn Subtypes
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Soft Autumn
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True (Warm) Autumn
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Deep (Dark) Autumn
These differ by brightness, which is how light a color is, and clarity, which is how clean
or how muted it looks. We use these two ideas to pinpoint your best Autumn palette.
No color is forbidden.
Even outside your best palette, you can wear a shade by balancing it with the right partners like makeup, accessories, or layers. Personal color is a guide to highlight you, not a rulebook that limits you.
A gentle mist over a quiet field or the soft hues of an autumn sunset,
a Soft Autumn has a subtle and harmonious charm.
This guide is for you, a person who shines brightest in gentle, blended colors.
Core Concept
The most important characteristic of a Soft Autumn is softness.
You have a warm undertone, but your dominant feature is the delicate, muted quality of your coloring.
You look your best in colors that are soft and muted, as if they have been mixed with a touch of gray or dust.
Best Color Palette
A Soft Autumn should avoid anything that is too bright, too dark, or too vivid.
Your best colors are soft and blended.
- Foundation Colors: These are your go-to basics: Warm Ivory, Soft Coral Beige, Muted Sage Green, Olive Brown, Burnt Brick Red, Warm Taupe
Tip: It’s best to use neutrals that have a soft, hazy quality rather than a stark or pure feel.
- Accent Colors: These are the colors that add a touch of gentle life: Dusty Rose, Soft Goldenrod (Muted Mustard Yellow), Teal Green (Muted Teal), Golden Ochre, Rust Orange, Warm Caramel Brown
Tip: Adding colors from a warm, misty palette will beautifully enhance your natural sophistication.
Styling Tips
Monochromatic Styling: Soft Autumns look incredible in monochromatic outfits.
Creating a look using different shades of soft beige or muted green creates a refined, elegant vibe.
Materials
Soft, natural fabrics that have a slightly brushed or textured feel beautifully highlight a Soft Autumn’s charm.
Consider cashmere, flannel, tweed, and suede.
Makeup
For makeup, focus on soft, blended colors.
A sheer lip in a soft apricot or dusty rose and a touch of a soft blush
will enhance your natural beauty without looking overdone.
Colors to Avoid
Avoid any color that looks too strong or energetic, as it will overpower your subtle beauty.
- Harsh, Vivid Colors: Very strong, pure reds, electric blues, or neons will clash with your soft tone.
- Icy Cool Tones: Icy blues, purples, and harsh grays can make your skin look tired and lifeless.
- Stark, High-Contrast Colors: A strong combination of black and white will look too harsh for your soft coloring.
As a Soft Autumn, your best asset is your natural refinement.
Use soft and gentle colors to express your unique, understated elegance.
A rich, fertile forest or a deep, warm sunset, a Deep Autumn has an intense and elegant charm.
This guide is for you, a person who shines brightest in rich, deep colors.
Core Concept
The most important characteristic of a Deep Autumn is depth.
You have a warm undertone, but your dominant feature is the richness of your coloring.
You look your best in colors that are at their most deep and saturated, which create a striking and powerful contrast.
Best Color Palette
A Deep Autumn should avoid anything with a light or muted quality.
Your best colors are deep, rich, and earthy.
- Foundation Colors: These are your go to basics: Golden Mustard, Burnt Sienna, Golden Brown, Olive Green, Deep Burgundy, Teal Blue
Tip: It's best to use neutrals that are as deep and strong as possible to complement your natural depth. - Accent Colors: These are the colors that add a touch of dramatic life: Rust Red, Coral Red, Charcoal Gray, Amber Brown, Plum Wine, Navy Blue
Tip: Adding colors from a deep, earth-toned palette will beautifully enhance your natural elegance.
Styling Tips
High Contrast Styling: Deep Autumns look amazing in high contrast outfits.
For example, pairing a deep emerald green top with rich chocolate brown pants creates a timeless and powerful look.
Materials
Fabrics that have a luxurious and rich feel beautifully highlight a Deep Autumn's charm.
Consider velvet, suede, tweed, and leather.
Makeup
For makeup, focus on deep and clean colors. A bold, deep red lip and a smokey eye with brown tones
will enhance your natural beauty without looking overwhelming.
Colors to Avoid
Avoid any color that might look too light or soft for you.
- Light, Pastel Tones: Light or airy colors will not provide enough depth to complement
your natural richness and can wash you out. - Icy Cool Tones: Icy blues, purples, and harsh grays will clash with your warm
undertone and make your skin look sallow and dull. - Weak, Muted Colors: Soft, dusty shades and muted pastels can make your skin look tired and lifeless.
As a Deep Autumn, your best asset is your natural intensity.
Use deep and harmonious colors to express your unique, dramatic elegance.
A glowing harvest field or the richness of polished wood, a True Autumn has a warm, deep, and grounded charm.
This guide is for you, a person who shines brightest in golden, earthy, and naturally rich colors.
Core Concept
The most important characteristic of a True Autumn is warmth with depth.
You have a golden undertone, and your natural coloring thrives in shades that are warm, rich, and slightly muted rather than overly bright.
Your overall look is harmonious when surrounded by earthy tones that feel natural and organic.
Best Color Palette
A True Autumn should avoid icy or overly cool shades.
Your best colors are warm, earthy, and golden with medium depth.
- Foundation Colors: These are your go to basics: Warm Ivory, Golden Brown, Mustard Yellow, Teal Blue, Brick Red, Deep Brown
Tip: Choose neutrals that are golden and grounded, avoiding stark black and white combinations. - Accent Colors: These are the colors that add vibrancy: Warm Rust Red, Coral Red, Olive Green, Amber / Ochre, Burnt Orange, Warm Navy
Tip: Earthy brights in controlled amounts will highlight your natural glow.
Styling Tips
Tone-on-Tone Styling: True Autumns look beautiful in layered earthy palettes.
For example, combine camel, olive, and terracotta for a warm, effortless look.
Materials
Natural, textured fabrics complement your coloring best.
Think suede, leather, wool, tweed, and matte cotton for a grounded yet elegant appearance.
Makeup
Emphasize warm, rich shades.
Terracotta, coral, or brick-red lips; peach or apricot blush; and deep brown eyeliner all enhance your golden warmth.
Colors to Avoid
Avoid colors that are too cool or overly bright.
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Icy Tones: Icy blues, purples, and silvery grays clash with your golden undertone.
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Neon or Harsh Brights: Overly vivid shades (common in Spring palettes) feel artificial against your warmth.
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High Contrast Black & White: This pairing is too stark and overwhelms your natural harmony.
As a True Autumn, your best asset is your natural golden depth.
Use rich, earthy, and warmly muted shades to express your timeless, grounded beauty.
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Undertone – The natural base color beneath the skin that stays constant.
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Warm Tone – Skin with golden or yellow undertones; suits warm earthy shades.
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Cool Tone – Skin with blue or pink undertones; suits cool, icy shades.
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Warm Autumn (True Autumn) – Classic Autumn type; thrives in golden, earthy, medium-depth shades.
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Warm Spring (True Spring) – Warm but lighter and fresher than Autumn; best in peach, coral, golden yellow.
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Soft Autumn – An Autumn subtype defined by softness; best in muted, blended, hazy warm tones.
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Deep Autumn – An Autumn subtype defined by depth; best in rich, dark, saturated earthy shades.
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True Autumn – Another name for Warm Autumn; balanced warm depth with earthy harmony.
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Brightness (Value) – How light or dark a color is.
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Clarity (Chroma) – How clear, vivid, or muted a color appears.
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Foundation Colors – Go-to neutral shades for outfits (camel, olive, warm taupe, golden brown).
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Accent Colors – Highlight shades that bring vitality (rust red, teal, amber, coral, ochre).
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Monochromatic Styling – Outfits built from different tones of the same color family for elegance.
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High Contrast Styling – Combining very dark and warm shades (emerald with chocolate brown) for drama.
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Tone-on-Tone Styling – Layering earthy shades of similar warmth for harmony.
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Materials (Fabric Choice) – Textures that suit Autumn tones (suede, leather, tweed, wool, velvet).
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Makeup Palette – Suggested lip, blush, and eye colors that match undertone (terracotta, apricot, brick red, deep brown).
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Colors to Avoid (Soft Autumn) – Harsh neons, icy tones, or stark black/white that overpower softness.
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Colors to Avoid (Deep Autumn) – Light pastels, icy blues, or weak dusty shades that reduce depth.
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Colors to Avoid (True Autumn) – Icy tones, neon brights, or high-contrast black & white.
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Golden Undertone – The warm yellow base in skin that reflects light richly.
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Muted Colors – Soft, toned-down colors with gray or dusty undertones.
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Earthy Tones – Warm, natural colors like terracotta, olive, camel, and rust.
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Icy Cool Tones – Very cold, frosty shades (icy blue, icy purple) that clash with Autumn warmth.
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