Are Virtual Colour Analysis Accurate?

Can Virtual Colour Analysis Really Be Accurate?

No. Most virtual colour analysis tools simply aren’t accurate — and it’s not your fault.

Your skin doesn’t look the same under every light. It changes with the time of day, the room you’re in, the camera you use, and even the screen you're looking at. So when you upload a selfie and expect an app to tell you your perfect shades? You’re already starting with distorted data.

That’s why most digital colour quizzes are inconsistent at best, and misleading at worst. They’re trying to analyse your tone — when they’re not even seeing your real tone.

Why Virtual Colour Tools Miss the Mark

The concept of seasonal colour analysis isn’t new — but doing it digitally introduces problems the original method never had to deal with. Your undertone might look warm one moment and cool the next, depending on exposure and white balance.

This is why so many people bounce between “Spring” and “Winter” depending on which app or photo they use. And it’s also why the lip shade you bought online looks completely off when it arrives.

It’s not that colour analysis is outdated — it’s that most online tools haven’t evolved to meet the complexity of real skin in real conditions.

This Is the Problem We’re Solving at Joie Beauty

At Joie, we’ve been working on a system that doesn’t rely on guesswork. It’s called the Shade Discovery Test, and it’s designed to actually reflect your real colouring, no matter what your lighting setup or phone camera is doing.

The key? Calibration.

We ship you a physical colour calibration card (like the ones used in professional photography), which lets our tool correct for lighting and contrast before analysing your skin tone. It’s a small shift that makes a huge difference in accuracy.

Instead of guessing whether you're cool or warm (if you're curious, here's a simple trick for how to tell in 5 seconds), our system gives you a complete colour profile — undertone, contrast, depth, and your best palette across lips, eyes, and foundation.

Why Has Colour Analysis Made a Comeback

In a world of overconsumption, where people are buying more beauty products than ever but still feel unsure of what works for them, clarity is power. When you know what suits you, you stop wasting money, time, and energy.

Wearing your best shades means your skin looks brighter, your features more defined — and you need less makeup overall to look put together. It’s about being seen for who you are, and feeling good without the excess.

That’s the shift we’re focused on: not just selling products, but helping people know their shades before they buy, so every product they own actually works for them.

So, Can It Be Accurate?

Right now, most virtual colour analysis tools aren’t there yet.
But with better tools — ones grounded in real-world calibration and a human-first approach — we believe it absolutely can be.

And that’s what we’re building at Joie Beauty.
Not just a test — but a system that sees you, even beyond the screen. 

If you're wondering whether colour analysis is still relevant in a world of AI and filters, it’s worth asking: is it really a thing of the past?

Turns out, the answer might surprise you.