Ahhh, the good old annoying
foundation dilemma. It’s either too dark, too light, too yellow, too
pink, not pink enough, doesn’t give enough coverage or looks cakey. Finding a foundation that matches your skintone perfectly
sometimes seems impossible. If you’ve been applying foundation on to the
back of your hand to see whether or not it matches your skintone; you’ve been doing it wrong.
First
of all, I recommend when colour matching that you wear no makeup, have your hair tied back and wear an outfit
where your chest/decolletage is visible, this will help you match the colour accurately.
Makeup Counters
Sometimes (although not always)
a makeup artist/consultant in a makeup store or at a makeup counter
will be able to match your skin tone to foundation, whenever I’m
looking for a foundation I usually ask for a sample of the foundation in the shade
I’ve been matched to and also a shade that is similar, but slightly lighter or darker, this is because: A. Under store lighting foundation may appear to match you perfectly, but look orange the moment you step outside into natural lighting and; B. because certain foundations (especially those of the oil controlling variety) can oxidize and change to a darker colour or different undertone so you may actually need a lighter shade. Once you know your
foundation match in one brand or product, it is much easier to find other matches.
Online apps
Which brings
me to my next point; once you know your foundation shade in a couple of
brands you can start taking out some of the guesswork and get to know your skin better. Websites like http://findation.com help you find foundations that will match your skin-tone based on the current shades of foundation you use and are especially helpful when buying a drugstore
foundation or ordering a product online. Temptalia also has a great reader generated tool called the “Foundation Matrix”
Display Testers
Display testers aren’t the best or most hygienic option when it comes to testing makeup, but sometimes they can be the most convenient. I’m not an
advocate for using testers on your skin/face/eyes/lips, but this is one exception. Having a play with the testers in store can help you get a better idea of what texture and tones you like in your foundation.
The Test
When testing foundation I recommend that you take three shades that you think are close to your skin-tone and “swatch” them on your decolletage. Blend them in slightly and whichever shade blends in is your ideal shade. As a general rule your foundation should match your body but also not look obvious on your face or neck (or you will get the dreaded tide line) If you haven’t found your perfect match with the first three swatches, try some other shades and also consider looking at other brands. Not every brand and every product is suitable for everyone.
I also
recommend taking a compact mirror, heading outside and checking that the shade matches in natural light before committing to purchase. If the foundation matches in natural light it should look seamless in every light.
Also check out the following resources:
How to Prep Your Skin For Foundation
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I hope I helped you and if you need anything else feel free to ask.
If any product you use causes you irritation discontinue use immediately.
*Please view my disclosure policy regarding information and products mentioned on this blog.