The Big Misconception: Are All Asians (and Indonesians) Really Warm-Toned?

Palette Pals
Jul 19
2 min read

When people first hear about personal color analysis, one of the most common myths we come across is this: “All Asians have warm undertones, right?”. And if you’re Indonesian, you’ve probably heard this even more: “Oh, we’re tropical people, we must all be warm!”

Well, here’s the truth your undertone is not decided by your nationality or race alone.

Undertone vs. Skin Color: Two Different Things

First, let’s clear this up: your skin color (fair, tan, medium, deep) is the surface tone we see which can change with sun exposure, skincare, or age.

Your undertone (cool, warm, or neutral) is the subtle hue underneath your skin. It stays mostly the same no matter how tanned or pale you get.

Why So Many Indonesians Assume They’re Warm

In Indonesia, many people naturally have golden, olive, or yellow-based skin which can be warm. But here’s where it gets interesting:

Some people have neutral undertones, a balance of warm and cool.
Some Indonesians, especially from regions with more Chinese, Korean, or mixed ancestry, may actually have cool undertone, pinkish or rosy hues.
People with darker hair and eyes but fair skin often lean cool or neutral too!

Why It Matters

Wearing colors that don’t match your true undertone can make you look dull, tired, or washed out. That’s why someone who assumes they’re warm-toned might wonder why warm orange or mustard makes them look sick, when a cool pink or icy blue would actually brighten their whole face!

So… How Do You Know for Sure?

Do a quick self-check:

Vein test (blue/purple veins = cool, green veins = warm)
Jewelry test (silver pops? You might be cool. Gold pops? Warm!)
White vs. cream test under your chin

But remember, these DIY tricks are only a clue. A real personal color analysis looks at your undertone, contrast, and overall harmony to find your true palette whether that’s Spring, Summer, Autumn, or Winter!