What does each term describe?
| Term | What it describes | What it helps you judge |
|---|---|---|
| Skin tone | The visible lightness or darkness of skin. | Whether a tint is too light, too dark or close to your skin colour. |
| Undertone | The hue beneath the surface that influences the overall appearance. | Whether a tint's colour matches, rather than just its lightness or darkness. |
| Skin phototype | How skin reacts to sunlight, including burning and tanning. | Sun response, rather than a cosmetic shade match. |
A tint can be close in lightness or darkness without being the best colour match. Matching skin tone alone addresses only one part of the choice; undertone also matters. A shade match has two jobs, even if the bottle would prefer to call the interview over.2
How do you use the difference when choosing a tint?
- 1Start with skin tone: look for a tinted sunscreen shade close to your skin's visible lightness or darkness.
- 2Then consider undertone: judge the colour match as well as the shade depth.
- 3Check protection before settling on the shade: choose a broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.
Tinted sunscreens labelled "universal shade" generally suit most skin tones, but both tone and undertone still belong in the decision. "Universal" is a convenient label, not a reason to retire the mirror.2
Can ethnicity tell you your skin tone?
Broad racial and ethnic categories do not describe skin colour precisely. Labels such as Asian or Hispanic encompass wide variation, and mixed ancestry adds further diversity. Describe the colour you can see rather than using ethnicity as a shade category. Colour scales can describe skin from very light beige through light, medium and dark brown to very dark brown without assigning a racial or ethnic label. Those descriptions concern visible colour, not undertone.14
Can your visible skin colour change?
Yes. Melanin is the pigment that gives skin its colour. Producing more melanin makes skin darker; producing less makes it lighter. Sun exposure, injury, inflammation and some medications can change skin colour. A new darker or lighter patch is a change in pigmentation, not something to classify automatically as an undertone. Discolouration can also appear red, pink, purple or other colours, depending on its cause and your skin tone.5
Contact a healthcare provider or dermatologist for new or changing moles, markings or skin discolouration. Mention when the change started, whether it has changed further and any other symptoms. Treatment depends on the cause, so choosing a different cosmetic shade is not a substitute for assessing a new colour change.5
Is skin tone the same as Fitzpatrick skin type?
No. Fitzpatrick skin phototype classifies skin by its reaction to sunlight. It considers natural skin colour and tanning response, rather than undertone. Pale skin generally burns more easily and tans poorly; darker skin generally burns less and tans more readily. Photosensitivity, meaning increased sensitivity to sunlight, can cause easier burning because of a condition or medication without changing tanning ability.3
Every skin tone needs sun protection. Tanning from UV exposure is a sign of skin damage. For darker skin, tinted sunscreen containing iron oxides adds protection against visible light, which can cause skin darkening. Apply sunscreen to exposed skin and reapply every two hours outdoors.2
Where this answer comes from
- 1Colorimetric Scale for Skin of Color: A Practical Classification Scale for the Clinical Assessment, Dermatology Management, and Forensic Evaluation of Individuapmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 2The latest in sun protectionaad.org
- 3Skin phototype (Fitzpatrick skin type)dermnetnz.org
- 4International Expert Consensus on Defining Skin of Color and Delivering Equitable Dermatologic Carepmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 5Skin Discoloration: Causes, Conditions & Treatmentsmy.clevelandclinic.org
