HOW TO MATCH YOUR FOUNDATION LIKE A PRO 💆🏽♀️
If you already have a foundation that matches you, check out findation.com — You upload a foundation shade that matches you & it shows matches in other foundations!
When swatching foundations, pick 3 shades that seem closes to you. Swatch them, blend them out a tad, and see which one disappears into your skin.
Looking for your undertone? Check your veins. If they’re green, you’re warm toned. If they’re blue or purple, you’re cool toned. Can’t tell? Neutral toned. Too dark to see the veins in your wrist? Check your palms.
Cool Undertones: Foundations will have red, pink or blue undertones. You look great in magenta and silver jewelry. Your foundation is usually described as “bronzed, mahogany, C, pink or red” on the label.
Warm Undertones: Foundations will have yellow, peachy, or golden undertones. You look great in gold jewelry. Your foundation is usually described as, “yellow, golden, peach, honey, caramel or W.”
Unsure of a foundation? Ask for samples at Sephora or have an artist demonstrate on you before you waste your money.
Got the wrong shade? CVS, Ulta, Rite Aid and Sephora allow you to return used makeup.
Foundation too dark? Mix in some moisturizer to help break up & lighten the pigment.
When swatching a foundation, let it dry down. Some foundations oxidize or dry down darker like paint
“Should I swatch my foundation to the chest?” Here’s my thoughts: The center of your chest should match the highlighter areas of your face, the outer areas of your chest (neck, shoulders, collarbones) should match the perimeter of your face.
“Should I match my foundation to my neck?” A lot of women of color have hyperpigmentation on their neck, so I don’t always use that method.
Does your skin tan easily and rarely sunburn? You might have a warm undertone. Sunburn easily and rarely tan? Cool undertones. Sunburn THEN tan? Neutral.
Does your foundation look grey?
- The undertones could be wrong (too olive or too pink).
- The shade could be too light.
- Hyperpigmentation could be the problem, and you need to color correct.
- The undertones could be wrong (too olive or too pink).
- The shade could be too light.
- Hyperpigmentation could be the problem, and you need to color correct.
Does your SKIN look ashen or gray? You might have an olive undertone-combo of the natural neutral, slightly yellow undertone everyone has plus the GREENISH ashen hue that’s unique to olive skin. Olive skin tone is specific, but not neutral.
Sometimes brands make undertone too strong. Ex: foundations labeled cool-toned look overly pink. Those labeled warm can look overly yellow.
General goal: Select neutral foundation shades that have the slightest hint of your skin’s undertone.
General goal: Select neutral foundation shades that have the slightest hint of your skin’s undertone.
Exceptions: If you have a medium to deep skin color with a reddish undertone, you might look better with a foundation that has a hint of brownish red (but not copper, orange, or peach).
