We’ve all been there, right? Staring into the mirror, wondering if you’re a Spring or a Summer, squinting at your skin and thinking, “Is this warm, or is this cool?!” You try on different colors in the hope of cracking the seasonal code. Your overtone looks warm one day and cool the next, and suddenly, you feel like you’re trapped in a color labyrinth. Well, here’s the cold truth: Your overtone can’t tell you your season. And trust me, it’s not your fault. There’s a method to the madness—and it’s all about the difference between your overtone and your undertone.

A Quick Primer: What’s What in Color Analysis

Before we go further, let’s break this down. The SciART system of color analysis is a proven way of determining your most flattering colors based on your natural coloring. Here’s the key difference between overtone and undertone:

•Overtone is the color you see on the surface of your skin. It’s that visible hue that can change with seasons, sun exposure, or even stress levels. It’s basically like the mood ring of your complexion—fleeting, temporary, and ever-changing.

•Undertone, on the other hand, is the true foundation of your skin tone. It’s that deep, permanent hue lurking underneath, and it doesn’t shift based on the season or how many times you’ve re-applied sunscreen. Your undertone tells the real story of your color profile.

Understanding this distinction is crucial because when your overtone and undertone are different temperatures, it’s a recipe for color chaos. But don’t worry, we’re here to break it down.

Overtone vs. Undertone: A Clash of Temperatures

Here’s where it gets a bit tricky: your overtone can be a completely different temperature than your undertone. So, while your surface skin might be looking warm and golden from a sunny weekend getaway, your undertone could be cool and neutral underneath.

Think of it like this: You might have a warm overtone today (hello, vacation glow!), which might lead you to think you’re a Spring. But, plot twist, your cool undertone has you gravitating toward colors from the Summer palette instead. This is the subtle misalignment we’re talking about. Overtone can be a total trickster.

Why Your Overtone Can’t Be the Only Clue

Let’s face it—your overtone is constantly pulling a “Don’t Tell Me What To Do” act. It can shift with the seasons, with your diet, even with your mood. One week, you’re rocking a sun-kissed glow that makes you feel like a golden Autumn; the next week, your skin’s looking a little pale and cool, making you think you’ve accidentally joined Team Winter. But here’s the issue: your overtone is just that—surface-level. It doesn’t reveal your deep, unshakable undertone, which is where the real action happens.

Let me tell you why that matters. When you’re in the right seasonal colors, your complexion aligns with your innate pigments. Your melanin, hemoglobin, and other pigments that make up your skin’s color, come together in perfect harmony with the colors in your seasonal palette. What happens next? Your skin looks radiant, your eyes sparkle, your face has dimension, and you suddenly look… well, a little more alive. You don’t just look healthy; you look lifted. It’s like you’ve had a mini facelift, but without the knife – and I’m not even kidding.

That’s because when your colors are in harmony with your natural pigmentation, they bring out the depth and dimension that your body naturally possesses. So, if you’re trying to figure out your season based on your ever-changing overtone, you’re missing out on all of that lift. And let’s be real—who wants to look tired when they could look radiant?

The Misleading Power of Overtone

The overtone might tell you you’re one thing one day and another the next. And here’s where the confusion really sets in: Your overtone can deceive you into thinking you belong to one season, when you’re actually meant to be in another.

Here are a few classic scenarios:

•Tanning: You step outside, get a little sun, and suddenly your skin looks all golden and warm. A few days later, you’re leaning toward warm Spring or Autumn colors. But once that tan fades, you’re left wondering why those colors no longer seem to work. That’s because your overtone was lying to you—and it’s time to face the truth. You’ve probably got a different undertone that’s telling a different story.

•Illness or Stress: Your overtone takes a nosedive, and you’re left with a pale, almost greyish appearance. Suddenly, you’re drawn to cooler Winter tones, thinking that’s the fix. But again, this is a temporary shift. Your true undertone is still sitting underneath, quietly judging your color choices.

•Seasonal Changes: The weather shifts, and so does your overtone. In winter, your skin may be paler and cooler. In summer, you might get a little more color and warmth, but don’t let your overtone fool you into thinking your season has changed. It’s just the surface playing dress-up.

Why You Need a Professional Color Analysis

So, what’s a person to do in this color conundrum? Well, here’s the thing: You can’t figure out your undertone on your own. And that’s the real problem. Your undertone is subtle, constant, and frankly, impossible to spot without expert help.

Enter: The SciART Color Analyst (that’s me..!!). We trained professionals are the only ones who can truly decipher your undertones and help you identify your perfect seasonal palette. When we work together, we’ll identify your true coloring—not based on the ever-changing surface tones, but by looking at your innate pigmentation under full spectrum lighting. From there, we’ll pinpoint your season and find the colors that make you look not just “good,” but effortlessly radiant.

The Benefits of Working With a SciART Analyst

When you have a color analysis session with a trained expert, you’re aligning your colors with your natural beauty. I’ll help you discover how your personal pigments—melanin, hemoglobin, and all—determine your chroma (intensity of color), value (lightness or darkness), and temperature (warm or cool). Getting your seasonal tones right means that your face looks like it has dimension and clarity, like your skin is glowing from the inside out.

Instead of guessing what’s right for you, we’ll dive deep into your undertones, ensuring you’re in colors that highlight the best version of you. No more second-guessing whether you’re a Bright Spring or a Dark Winter. I’ll make sure that when you wear the right tones, you look healthier, fresher, and more vibrant.

Conclusion: Leave the Guessing to the Amateurs

So, while your overtone might be causing you to play dress-up with your wardrobe, it’s your undertone that tells the real story. Trying to figure out your season on your own? That’s like trying to assemble IKEA furniture without the instructions. Let me handle the heavy lifting (and the color swatches) so you can finally get the clarity you deserve. Schedule a SciART color analysis with me today and discover your true seasonal tones—you won’t regret it. Trust me, your complexion will thank you.