How to choose the right foundation color?

Oct 4, 2011

Courtney T.

Hey everyone :)

This is the one thing I'm absolutely uncomfortable with & that is trying to pick the right shade of foundation to match someones skin. I'm familiar when it comes to mixing paints & things like that but when it comes to foundation I can't seem to wrap my head around it.
Anyone have advice?

I'd greatly appreciate it.

-Court 

Oct 4, 2011

Shelly T.

If you can test: Do a swatch on the jawline, from circa the cheeks down to the neck. If it blends in/disappears into the skin, you've nailed it. If not, make adjustments. Sometimes you may have to mix two (or more) colours together to get a match.

If you can't: Hold the bottle up to the jawline and see if it's a close match.

Oct 5, 2011

Linda D.

I agree with what Shelley said. Usually when I know that I am going to the store and shopping for foundation I try not to wear so much on my face so that I could get a better match. Wearing bronzer or blush could sometimes threw the color matching off.

You might just want to get a few colors and go home and see for yourself what matches best. With Target they are great about returns. 

Oct 5, 2011

Karma B.

Blend with the jawline and neck. It should disappear. As you work with people more you'll start to see trends and be able to just look at a skin tone and know what color to use. It takes practice and experience. There are more common colors. Also it doesn't need to match EXACTLY...you can blend and add layers and shade and highlight. Don't worry so much about the little techniques...worry about the end result. If you end up with a flawless face, it doesn't matter that you started out with a shade too light. The wonderul thing about makeup is that you can blend and mix right on the face, so you don't have to have all the right products or colors.

Oct 5, 2011

Korie S.

I agree with what everyone else says. I would also suggest getting some good lighting if possible because its better to tell which foundation shade matches better. Just be aware that sometimes you won't always find an exact shade of foundation so that would call for mixing two shades of foundations together to get the right shade for your skin tone.

Oct 5, 2011

Jane A.

Hey Courtney, I know the whole finding a foundation can be nerve wrecking. Especially when majority of things online go off of MAC's colors, then the whole NW and NC threw me off. Since I am a "warm" but in MAC I am a "NC".

Anyway -- bottom line, if you can go to a department store to buy foundation, I usually asked the workers to find me a shade. Some where a hit, and some where a miss. (I was said to be one color in MUFE Duo foundation, then another time, another girl was like "oh no no, that's not your color, this is.") So I just asked for samples -- especially when you look really good in the stores lighting, but in day light, it's like "whoa... this is so not my color". After sampling a few colors, you'll know what is best for you.

If you shop for drug store foundation -- can't really test it out at the store, I find this website to be very helpful http://www.temptalia.com/foundation-matrix <<< This is one of the website that bases your color on MAC's colors, but by far this foundation matrix is the best I've came across.

Here is a DON'T, don't swatch the foundation on your wrist, your arm, your hand... usually your face is a tad bit lighter than the rest of your body, especially your arms/hands.

Oct 5, 2011

Courtney T.

Thank you everyone for giving me some helpful advice. Practice makes perfect :P.  

Nov 22, 2011

Melissa T.

Awesome, thanks for all the tips! I had the same question. :)