Undertone Guide: Olive, Muted & Neutral Explained

Understanding Your Undertone

If foundation has ever looked too pink, too yellow, or slightly “off,” undertone is usually the reason.

Most brands simplify undertones into warm, cool, or neutral. But many complexions — especially olive and muted — don’t fit neatly into those categories.

Lilac Earth was built for those in-between tones.

What Undertone Really Means

Undertone is the subtle hue beneath the surface of your skin.

It does not change with: • Redness

• Breakouts

• Tanning

Surface redness is not undertone.

Undertone affects how foundation blends into your skin — or why it doesn’t.

Olive Undertone

You may be olive if:

• Foundations pull peach or orange

• Neutral shades look pink

• Warm shades look too yellow

• Your skin has a subtle green or earthy cast

• Bright colors overwhelm you

Olive skin often needs a muted balance, not more warmth.

Muted Undertone

Muted skin is about saturation, not depth.

You may be muted if:

• Foundations look slightly “too bright”

• Your skin appears soft or diffused

• Golden shades feel overpowering

• Rosy shades feel artificial

Muted tones require softened pigment — not stronger pigment.

Refining Instead of Replacing

If your foundation depth is correct but something feels slightly off, you don’t need to replace it.

You can refine it.

Explore our professional-grade Tone Adjusters to shift undertone or depth preci sely.

[Explore Tone Adjusters]