Contouring has become a popular makeup technique for sculpting and defining facial features. A key aspect of contouring is choosing colors that complement your skin’s undertones. Warm and cool toned contour shades create very different effects. So a common question many have is whether contour should be warm or cool toned.
In this article, we’ll break down how undertones work, how to determine your undertones, the differences between warm and cool contour, and recommendations for both warm and cool toned skin. With the right knowledge, you can figure out if a warm or cool toned contour is best for you.
What are warm and cool undertones?
Undertones refer to the subtle color underneath the surface of your skin. While we often focus on skin being fair, medium or dark, undertone plays a big role as well. The two main types of undertones are:
Warm undertones – Skin with golden, peach, or yellow hints. Veins appear greenish. Silver jewelry clashes. Best suited for warmer makeup tones.
Cool undertones – Skin with blue, pink, or red hints. Veins appear bluish. Gold jewelry clashes. Best suited for cooler makeup tones.
Most people fall into either warm or cool categories. But some lucky folks have a neutral undertone that can work with both!
How to determine your undertone
Here are some tips for figuring out your skin’s undertone:
Veins – Look at the veins on your wrist. Greenish veins indicate warm undertones. Bluish purple veins indicate cool undertones.
Jewelry – Try on a gold and silver jewelry. See which tone complements your skin vs. clashes. Gold flatters warm while silver flatters cool.
Foundations – Test foundations in store. If warm foundations like yellow or beige match, you are likely warm toned. If cool foundations like rose or pink match, you are likely cool.
Color pairings – Certain colors complement different undertones. Warm pops next to navy, teal, mint and magenta. Cool pops next to terracotta, coral, mossy and butterscotch.
Once you determine your undertone, you can use it as a guide for choosing cosmetics. Warm and cool toned contour work differently on warm vs. cool skin.
Warm toned contour
Warm toned contour adds definition in a natural, sun-kissed way on warm toned skin. The warm hues mimic shadows and subtly sculpt without looking harsh.
Good warm toned contour shades for warm skin include:
- Bronze
- Golden brown
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Honey
Applying a warm brown contour mimics the way light naturally hits warm toned skin. It blends smoothly to look like a shadow. Bronze and cinnamon shades give dimensional definition while still looking soft and warm.
Best practices for warm contour on warm skin
- Stick to matte formulas to avoid shimmer looking unnatural
- Apply in a “3” shape under cheekbones, along sides of nose and temples
- Blend well so no harsh lines are visible
- Add highlighter to tops of cheekbones for contrast
- Use setting powder to lock into place
When aplicated properly, warm toned contour seamlessly sculpts warm complexions for a gorgeous, natural enhancement.
Cool toned contour
Cool toned contour looks striking and chic on cool toned skin. The cool ash and gray tones mimic natural shadow while adding stunning definition.
Good cool toned contour shades for cool skin include:
- Ash gray
- Mauve
- Lilac
- Slate gray
- Cool brown
Cool toned contour immediately intensifies definition thanks to its starker contrast from the skin. Grayish hues give dimension while avoiding unnatural orange tones.
Best practices for cool contour on cool skin
- Grayish taupe matte shades work best
- Use an angled contour brush for precise application
- Sweep onto hollows of cheeks and perimeter of forehead/jawline
- Blend the edges well so no harsh lines
- Pair with cool pink or peach blush on cheeks
When done right, cool contour looks modern and chic on fair to medium cool toned skin. The definition rivals natural shadow for a striking sculpted effect.
What happens when you use the wrong tone?
Using the incorrect undertone for contour can look off. Warm contour on cool skin may seem dirty, orange or unnatural. Cool contour on warm skin can look stark, severe and muddy.
To find the most flattering shade, always go with the undertone that matches your skin. Here’s a comparison:
| Warm Toned Skin | Cool Toned Skin |
|---|---|
| Warm bronzer provides a radiant shadow | Warm bronzer may look orange and muddy |
| Cool contour can seem dirty and harsh | Cool gray contour mimics a natural shadow |
Occasionally going against your undertone can create an artistic or editorial look. But day to day, stick with warm on warm and cool on cool for natural, flawless contouring.
How to choose your best contour shade
Here are some tips for picking the most flattering contour for your skin tone:
- Figure out if your skin is warm or cool toned
- For warm, look for bronzer, taupe or brown shades
- For cool, look for gray, ash or mauve shades
- Test shades on jawline to see if natural before applying to face
- Avoid orange or red based shades if cool toned
- Avoid gray and purple shades if warm toned
- Matte finishes look most natural
Contour should mimic the shadows on your face, not stand out prominently. With the right undertone match it will enhance your features in a seamless, flattering way.
How to make cool toned contour work
If you have cool toned skin but want to make contour work, here are some tips:
- Opt for taupe shades with gray undertones
- Mix a matte navy eyeshadow with foundation to create a custom cool shade
- Use a very light hand and blend well to prevent harshness
- Add pink or peach blush to cheeks to balance
- Use a setting spray to tone down coolness
The key is sticking to cooler ash and taupe tones. Test shades below your jaw to ensure they don’t pull orange. With the right formulas and application, you can contour to perfection.
How to make warm toned contour work
To make warm toned contour work on your warm skin, try these tips:
- Use matte bronzer for a subtle shadow
- Dust bronzing powder across perimeter of face to mimic light
- Mix golden highlighter with foundation to make a custom shade
- Add warm blush like peach, coral or melon on cheeks
- Blend well and don’t overdo it to prevent looking dirty
Contouring should enhance your gorgeous warm complexion. With careful product selection and application, warm tones can add natural definition.
Conclusion
Determining your undertones and choosing a complementary contour shade is essential for seamless sculpting. Warm tones bring radiance to warm skin. Cool tones make cool complexions pop. Now that you know how to ascertain your undertones and select suitable shades, you can achieve perfectly tailored contouring.