How to find the right foundation shade?

Sep 18, 2015

Sara R.

Hi everyone! I have a lot of trouble finding the right foundation shade, especially when I don't have a lot of money to spend on it and my skin is slightly tanner (bc summer). I also have more of an olivey/yellow tinge rather than pink, which makes it harder to find a good shade. Any suggestions on finding the perfect foundation shade?

Sep 18, 2015

Sam R.

You can use findation.com if you already have at least 1 foundation that matches you, does it have testers in stores? if you go to mac or sephora they can find your shade

Sep 18, 2015

Emma S.

Don't ever try to match a foundation to your hand! That is a big mistake! I always try to match my skin to my neck. I don't self tan or anything but I do that because then it looks cohesive. Your face and your body will never be the same color simply because your body tans differently from the sun. You can go into Sephora and they can color match your skin and find the exact foundations that match! They use this cool little machine and it basically pulls your skin color almost like a paint swatch. Then they search for the foundations with your shade! Hope this helps!

Sep 18, 2015

Hailee M.

Match it to your neck.

Sep 18, 2015

Kat H.

Hi, Sara! Found this info at a beauty site - I have olive skin with warm undertones and I've never had a problem finding the right color, even at my local drug store. There are MANY highly-rated foundations available for under $20 if you're on a budget! Hope this info is helpful. Good luck! :-)

Work With Your Undertones
No matter your skin tone, the key to finding the right makeup is dependent on your undertones. And when it comes to shopping for the right foundation, things can get a little confusing, as most brands will offer two or more colors that look almost identical. For example, Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra 24H comes in Bisque W and Bisque N — warm and neutral. What does this mean? Beneath your specific skin tone lies a subtle hue of one of the following undertones:

Cool: Pink, red or blue undertones
Warm: Yellow or golden undertones
Neutral: A balance between both cool and warm

Typically, olive skin is known for either having warm or neutral undertones, with a greenish cast. And while most olive skin tones have yellow hues, that’s also dependent on where you fall on the olive skin tone spectrum — the lighter your olive shade, the cooler your undertones are, while darker olive shades have a deeper, more golden undertone.

Not sure what your undertones are? Here’s how to find out:

The White Vs. Cream Test: Grab two articles of clothing (or even a towel) — one white and the other off-white. While wearing NO makeup, decide which color complements your skin tone best. If it’s the pure-white shade, your undertones are warm. If the cream color suits you more, then you have cool undertones. If both flatter you just the same, you’re neutral!

The Vein Test: Look at the veins on your wrists. If they’re green, then you have warm undertones. If your veins are blue, then you have cool undertones. Do you have both colors or do they appear to be blue-green? Then you have neutral undertones.

The Jewelry Test: If gold jewelry enhances your complexion, then you’re likely on the warmer side. If silver jewelry looks best on your skin tone, then you have cool undertones.

Still not sure? Here’s one more for good measure!

The Sun Test: When you’re out at the beach, does your skin tan and turn golden-brown, or do you turn pink first? If you tan immediately, you’re most likely warm-toned. If you burn first, you’re probably cool-toned.

Foundation for Olive Skin
Working with your exact undertone will help you determine which foundation is perfect for your olive complexion. Check out our favorite foundations and pinpoint your exact shade based on your findings above. Unless you have specific skin concerns you’d like to conceal, you don’t need to go heavy-handed with the foundation (lucky you!). A lightweight formula or a BB or CC cream will deliver just enough coverage to give your olive skin a flawless finish. And if you’re still unsure of your skin’s undertones, have a makeup expert at your go-to beauty department help you solve the mystery!

Sep 19, 2015

Sara R.

Thank you so much everyone!

Sep 19, 2015

Sara R.

Emma, I've actually gotten matched at sephora before, however the shade they gave me was COMPLETELY off. But it could've just been the person who did it. I'll definitely look at trying it again:) thank you!