Skin Tone Chart: Skin Color Palette with Hex Codes
Ten skin tones from porcelain to espresso, with hex and RGB codes, the Fitzpatrick type for each, and the colors that look best on every shade.
Skin tone is how light or deep your skin is. It is the first thing a foundation shade, a hair color or a clothing color has to match. This chart shows ten shades from porcelain to espresso, with the hex code for each, where it sits on the Fitzpatrick scale, and the colors that look best on it.
Tap the shade closest to yours. Check it in daylight near a window, on the side of your jaw, with no makeup on.
Skin color palette with hex codes
Artists, designers and makeup lovers use these codes to match real skin. They are averages, since real skin has more than one color in it, but they are a solid starting point.
| Shade | Hex | RGB | Fitzpatrick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Porcelain | #F6E0D3 | 246, 224, 211 | I |
| Fair | #EFD0B8 | 239, 208, 184 | I–II |
| Light | #E4B997 | 228, 185, 151 | II |
| Light-medium | #D5A27A | 213, 162, 122 | III |
| Medium | #C18A63 | 193, 138, 99 | III–IV |
| Tan | #A9714B | 169, 113, 75 | IV |
| Caramel | #93603E | 147, 96, 62 | IV–V |
| Deep | #764A2E | 118, 74, 46 | V |
| Rich | #5A3722 | 90, 55, 34 | V–VI |
| Espresso | #3B2519 | 59, 37, 25 | VI |
What the Fitzpatrick scale means
Dermatologists use the Fitzpatrick scale to sort skin by how it reacts to the sun. It runs from type I to type VI.
Type I always burns and never tans. Type II burns easily and tans a little. Type III sometimes burns and tans evenly. Type IV rarely burns and tans easily. Type V very rarely burns. Type VI almost never burns.
Every type still needs sunscreen. Deeper skin burns less, but sun damage and dark spots still happen.
Skin tone and undertone are different
Skin tone is the depth: light, medium or deep. Undertone is the color under the surface: warm, cool, neutral or olive. You need both to pick the right foundation.
Two people can share the exact same skin tone and need different shades, because one is warm and golden and the other is cool and pink. That is why a “medium” foundation can look orange on one person and gray on another. Our undertone finder sorts that part out in two minutes.
How to find your skin tone
Use daylight. Stand near a window. Bathroom bulbs make skin look warmer or grayer than it is.
Look at your jaw, not your hands. Hands get more sun than your face and are usually a shade or two darker.
Compare two shades. If you sit between two on the chart, you probably are. Most foundation ranges have in-between shades for exactly this reason.
Check again in winter. Many people drop a full shade between summer and winter, especially types III and IV. It is normal to own two foundations.
Colors that suit every skin tone
Some colors flatter almost everyone. True red, teal, soft white, navy and emerald work on nearly every shade from porcelain to espresso. They make a safe base if you are building a wardrobe.
After that, contrast is the rule. Deeper skin often looks amazing in bright, clear colors that would overpower lighter skin. Lighter skin often looks best in softer tones or deep jewel colors. For your full palette, try the color analysis quiz. For your hands, see nail colors for your skin tone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Keep going: pair your skin tone with your undertone, then get your full palette with the color analysis quiz.
