Gold or silver jewelry? A classic debate. Despite constant conversations about what the better metal to wear is, the old-age question remains – how do you know if you are better suited for gold or silver jewelry? It could be cost, a piece of jewelry passed down from a relative, or just personal preference. You might even want to wear both silver and gold at the same time. Although personal preference is still the most important factor, your undertones, hair, and eye color may uncover why you prefer one metal over the other.

Gold jewelry is better suited for warm undertones, whereas silver looks better for cool tones. If you have a neutral undertone, you look great in both silver and gold. Warm skin has yellow, peach, or golden hues, which are complemented by the warmth of the gold. Gold tones especially enhance brown eyes.

Cool undertones exhibit undertones of pink, blue, or red, which is complemented by the coolness of the silver. In addition, silver makes blue and green eyes more vibrant. Wearing gold with a cool undertone may make you look pale, and wearing silver with warm undertones may look jarring, but how do you know what undertone you are? I have 3 tips for finding your true skin undertone.

1. Shine a light on the veins in your wrist. If they look purple or blue, you have a cool undertone, but if they look green or yellow, you have a warm undertone. If you can’t see your veins, you most likely have a neutral undertone.
2. Another way to find your undertone is by comparing it to a white shirt. If you look washed out compared to the white shirt, you have a cool undertone, but if it makes you look tan, you have a warm undertone. 
3. You can also look at your natural hair color. If you have icy blonde or light brown hair, you have a cool undertone. On the other hand, if you have black, chestnut brown, red, or golden blonde hair, you have a warm skin undertone. 

In addition, you can change up your jewelry day-to-day depending on your outfit and/or makeup. Silver looks best paired with makeup with cool undertones, like baby blue, pastel green, or dusty pink eyeshadow. Whereas, gold looks best paired with warm makeup colors, for example, olive, orange, caramel, and bronze.