The right foundation shade should be almost invisible. Foundation should blend seamlessly into your skin tone, appearing consistent no matter how much or little you apply. There are three key factors in finding the right foundation shade – understanding your skin tone and undertone, swatch testing, and updating your shade with the seasons to ensure a perfect foundation match all year ‘round.
Step 1: Know your skin tone
Learning how to find the right colour of foundation shade starts with knowing what your skin tone is. Your skin tone refers to the natural colour of your complexion, which can be fair, light, medium or deep. If the tone of your skin varies across different areas of your face, focus on your jawline away from the apple of your cheek where there is often more of a natural flush.
Step 2: Identify your undertone
The right foundation shade should match your skin’s undertone. While your skin tone is how light or dark your skin is, the ‘undertone’ refers to the colours under the surface of your skin and can be warm, cool, or neutral. While your skin tone may change with the seasons, your undertone should remain consistent.
How to tell your undertone?
1. Check the colour of your veins
Take a good look at the veins on your wrist under natural light for an easy way to determine your undertone. If your veins look green, it is likely you have warm undertones; if they are blue/purple, you have cool undertones. If they appear blue/green or match your skin colour, you most likely have neutral undertones.
2. Do you burn or tan?
First things first, always wear sunscreen. Nevertheless, how your skin reacts to UV can also be a big indicator to your undertone. Think about when you hit the beach in summer. If you easily burn your skin likely has cool undertones; where those who tan without burning often have warm undertones.
3. Can you wear silver or gold?
There are no rules when it comes to accessories, but one metal often looks the most flattering. Consider which best suits your skin tone. Those with cool undertones tend to suit silver jewellery, and warm tones often are most flattered by gold. If you suit both, your undertone is neutral.
Step 3: Test on bare skin
Next tip in learning how to pick the right foundation shade is testing on bare skin. Attempting to perfect your foundation colour match to your skin can be difficult when you are already wearing makeup, so testing foundation shades on a bare face is the key to accurate shade selection.
Step 4: Start with options
To find your perfect foundation shade match, start with a selection and narrow down your choices. Find three foundation shades that look like a good match and apply them in parallel lines on your jawline, extending the product from your cheek and onto your neck slightly. The perfect foundation shade is the one that blends seamlessly into your skin in both areas.
Avoid swatching shades on your arm. While it’s quick and easy, it’s essential to test your foundation where it will be applied, as your skin tone may significantly vary between your arm and your face.
I hope this tips will help you find the correct foundation shade! 💗
