Education Portal for Students in India

03. If unsure, opt for lighter shades – Are you stuck between two foundation shades? It’s generally recommended to go for the lighter one, as the foundation can oxidize on the skin and appear slightly darker than it initially appears. If necessary, you can always deepen the finish with a dusting of bronzer. It is easier to with a bronzer than to lighten a, as it usually loses its pigment and coverage.

How do I know my skin shade for foundation?

4. White Paper Test – Hold a white sheet of paper against your face and look at yourself in the mirror. If your skin appears yellow next to the paper, your skin has a warm hue and undertone. If your face has a rosy blush, you’re cool toned. If you can’t determine between the two, you’re in the middle with a neutral undertone.

Now that you have all this information about undertones, look for a foundation shade that matches not just your skin colour but also its hue or undertone. If you’re someone with a warm undertone and you use a cool toned foundation, your face will look ashy as it won’t blend naturally with your hue. Similarly, applying a warm foundation on a cool toned skin will make you look an unnatural shade of yellow or orange, and can even make you look like you are sick.

With 18 unique foundation shades made to fit diverse Indian skin tones, the ensures a perfect match for every undertone. The natural looking matte finish of the Fit Me foundation provides buildable coverage for an array of skin tones. So head over to the Maybelline India website and get yourself your perfect foundation shade! Want even more tips to find your perfect foundation shade? Read,

How to find skin tone online?

Understand your undertone – When shopping for foundation or concealer, your undertone plays a major role in choosing the foundation or concealer shade that is right for you. But first, a clarification: Skin tone is the color we see on the surface of our skin, but the undertone is the hue under the surface.

1. Every color that you choose will either complement or contrast the undertones of your skin,” says makeup artist Amanda Bell,
2. So first you have to ask yourself: Is your skin undertone warm, neutral, or cool?” Generally speaking, you’re either fair, medium, or deep when it comes to skin tone (simple, right?).

However, your undertone requires a bit more investigation. If you’re not sure, checking the color of your veins is a quick way to find out. Take a look at the veins in and around your face and neck. If you see blue veins, you have cool undertones. If your veins appear green on the skin (olive), you’re warm.

Should foundation be lighter or darker than your skin?

Blend The Foundation Lighter Than You – Watch out for oxidizing foundation!

People do not realize that foundation tends to oxidize, which means it will turn a shade or two darker when it is exposed to the air. When in doubt, always pick a shade that is slightly lighter than your complexion rather than darker. This allows the foundation to look like a perfect shade if it oxidizes because it will become one or two shades darker from the lighter color you picked This can prevent your complexion from looking darker than the rest of your body. It is the safest way to go when unsure about two shades that may look too light or too dark.

Should foundation match skin or be darker?

Should Foundation Be Lighter or Darker than Your Skin by Anne B. Photo by from Here we are, the age where many men and women are interested in trying foundation and are perhaps wondering, should foundation be lighter or darker than your skin? The experts have spoken, and the answer is, foundation should be one or two shades lighter than your skin tone.

1. This is because when you use bronzer or contour then the foundation should be able to blend and give the perfect look to your face.
2. A trip to Sephora might sound like a good idea in hindsight, but in all honesty, it doesn’t seem quite right considering many of the staff there do not have the experience to properly test your skin type and match your shade.

So, how can you choose your foundation? Jawline and chin. The foundation shade should be the exact match to your jawline and chin area. If possible, try to go to the store and bring the bottle close to your jawline and chin area so that the exact shade can be seen.

It is cost-effective You can always do a free return

Another way to determine your shade is sunlight. A foundation is best matched when it is tested in a natural daylight position. You can test near a window to get the closest match. Just think, however, how many retailers is something like this plausible? None.

1. With online shopping, you can receive a shade, test it by a window and if it is a match, perfect, or not, return it with no hassle at all.
2. It is always a best practice to buy two shades of a foundation – our skin tone does tend to change.
3. In the summer we experience a darker shade and, in the winter, a lighter shade.

With two shades of foundation, you can always blend them to achieve a great natural look no matter the season. One thing to naturally keep in mind is that the use of foundation is not to cover up your flaws. We stress the importance of overall skincare and making sure that your skin is healthy and supple underneath all of that foundation and glam.

1. For skin imperfections with makeup it is important to use color correctors and concealer, do not rely on foundation to be the only step in your makeup or skincare routine.
2. Another note, undertones.
3. I was not educated on undertones until I was wearing my Lancôme and realized it making me very orange.
4. Depending on your skin tone, you must choose the right undertone.

For example, darker-skinned women should use products that have a red undertone. Now, how would you describe your skin’s undertone? There are three to choose from: cool, neutral, and warm. Here are a few tests you can try:

The Wrist Test: check the color of your veins. If they are purple or blue then you are cool. If they are green or olive, you are warm and if you are unable to determine the color, you are neutral. The Sun Test: If your skin turns red when you are outdoors, your skin is a cool undertone. If you get tanned in the sun, then you have a warm undertone.

If you’re still struggling to find your shade, we recommend going to makeup professional and getting matched. You can then use that knowledge to order online to save money and time. : Should Foundation Be Lighter or Darker than Your Skin

How do I choose the right shade of foundation for beginners?

What are undertones? – There may be a reason why you’re buying the wrong shade, despite its swatch matching your skin tone. While your skin tone’s surface can be defined as fair, medium, dusky or dark, you should also observe your undertone. The undertone decides the actual colour of your skin.

While your skin tone may change – thanks to tanning and sun exposure – its hue will always remain the same. This important criterion will work wonders when you’re buying foundation online. You can observe your undertones by looking at the inner side of your wrist. If your skin’s colour is yellow, peachy or golden, you have warm undertones.

If your skin has a red, pink or blue-ish tinge, you have cool undertones. What does this mean when you’re buying foundation, then? Say you swatch two foundation shades that are of similar lightness or darkness. The dealbreaker would be the hue. For warm undertones, the foundation should have a yellowish or peach hue.

How do I know my undertone and shade?

2. Check your veins – Grab your wrists and check the veins under them. Those with warm undertones have green colored veins, while blue veins are a sign of a cool undertone. If your veins look bluish-green, you may have a neutral undertone.

What is my skin undertone?

Flip over your arm and take a look at the inside of your wrist. If your veins appear to have a blue or deep purple tint, you likely have cool skin undertones. If they look more greenish, you likely have warm or olive undertones. If you can’t tell one way or the other, you may have neutral undertones.

What is my undertone online?

Skin Undertone Tips – There are a few tips when it comes to answering, “What is my skin undertone?” Look at your wrist veins under natural light. • If your veins appear to be green, you probably have warm undertones. • If they’re blue or purple, you probably have cool undertones.

1. If they are a mix of both, you may have neutral undertones.
2. Put on a piece of gold jewelry and a piece of silver jewelry.
3. Which looks better? • If gold looks more flattering, you’re probably warm.
4. If silver looks better, you’re probably cool.
5. If both look equally good, you’re neutral.
6. Put on a plain white T (OMG, remember Delilah ? That song is 14 years old, you guys).

Now go outside. • If your face looks yellow-ish or you *know* you’d look better in an off-white or beige color, you’re warm. • If your skin looks rosy, you’re cool. • If you look good in white and cream colors, you’re neutral.

Is there an app to find my foundation shade?

YouCam Makeup is the best foundation shade matching app to match your foundation shade online for free. Besides using YouCam Makeup to find your perfect foundation shade, you can also go to the YouCam website to use a powerful virtual foundation finder.

Should I match my foundation to my face or body?

You’ve Been Matching Your Foundation to the Wrong Part of Your Body Depending on who you ask, you’ll probably learn a brand-new way to find your perfect foundation match. Chances are will be about as complex as swatching it on the middle knuckle of your index finger under a blacklight at exactly 12:03 p.m.

1. While singing the alphabet backward in French.
2. Add in there, and you have an all-day foundation-matching affair.
3. Luckily,, a New York City-based makeup artist who’s this year, has an easy way to,
4. The reasoning behind it makes so much sense that you’ll wonder why you didn’t think of it first.
5. Instead of matching the shade of your foundation to the usual spots people list off — like your jaw, neck, or the back of your hand — Vo suggests swatching it on the highest point of your cheekbone, the same place where you sweep on highlighter.

She considers this area as the “median” skin tone of your complexion. This content can also be viewed on the site it from. Think of your face like a burnt piece of toast. The perimeter of your face, including your forehead and chin, are the darkest due to sun exposure.

• So matching your foundation to your jaw might look too dark when blended all over your face.
• The center of your face, on the other hand, is lighter — the high points of your cheekbones being the part of your face with the least amount of discoloration and truest to your skin tone.
• This same thought process applies to,

She finds her perfect shade by swatching under-eye concealer on the area between your nose and the apple of your cheek because it’s the part of the face with the least amount of redness. In other words, “it’s the most neutral-toned part of your face,” she told Allure,

Is foundation supposed to match your face or body?

Celebrity makeup artist Frederick Sanders recommends starting with two or three shades that look closest to your complexion and blending them all in fully. ‘ The foundation should match the side of your face and your neck to prevent you from looking like you’re wearing a mask,’ he says.

Should foundation match neck or chest?

Recently I shared my fall/winter foundation matching adventures, And, I shouldn’t be the only one doing this! I highly, highly recommend updating your foundation, BB Cream or Tinted Moisturizer match each season. Your skin definitely changes color throughout the year, and this is the best way to avoid the dreaded jaw line! I asked makeup artists for their favorite foundation matching tips.

They had a lot to say! Notice that some of this advice is contradictory (especially when it comes to matching to your face, neck or chest if they are different colors). “If someone’s face is quite a bit different from their neck, do a foundation shade match more towards their cheek. Do three tiger stripes of shades and blend to match.

Matching towards the center of the face instead of the side of the jawline is more effective in this circumstance.” – Katie Dahlstrom “Always match to your neck (it tends to naturally be lighter), and add bronzer to bring the color on your face to normal.” – Haley Kulow “An amazing tool to use is Temptalia’s Foundation Matrix,

• You can input your current foundation to find a match in another line or you can find an entirely new foundation shade by answering a few simple questions.” – Meghana Prasad “Test out the shade you believe to look the best, apply next to it one shade lighter and one shade darker.
• Let it settle into your skin for 5 or so minutes and then walk to the front of the store, where (there is) natural light from the windows, and take a selfie.

Pick the color that best matches your skin tone.” – Haley Kulow “Choose 2 to 3 shades and test on your jaw line, if possible test colors in natural light. The one that disappears into the skin and matches the neck most closely is the one for you. Mix foundation with moisturizer and smooth over neck.

Another option is to skip liquid foundation and apply a Dual Powder Foundation, Gabriel’s DPF is buildable for more coverage where needed and can be applied to neck and décolleté.” – Gabriel DeSantino is the founder of Gabriel Cosmetics “One important tidbit I’d like to share is that most women need to buy more than one foundation shade.

It’s a common practice amongst makeup artists to custom blend foundations, and that is something that will make the everyday person’s life so much easier.” – Sheila, blogs at The Painted Ladies, and she is available as a makeup artist “Look for color that will mimic the skin-tone such as Advanced Mineral Makeup choose a shade 1 to 2 shades darker than your face if body is spay tanned to have a even flow the trick is getting the right undertone of foundation Advanced Minerals makes it easy.” – Ann Mayo “If you desire a more ‘bronzed’ look or a more ‘porcelain’ look, THAT is when our powders and bronzers come in — NOT the foundation color!” – Amanda Gabbard is a makeup artist at the Guerlain Spa in the Towers of the Waldorf Astoria “You can’t tell a foundation color by looking at the bottle.” – Haley Kulow “If the coloring in your face is vastly different from the color in your neck, you really are going to need two different colors and possibly even different formulas.

The skin on the neck is different from that on the face and you’re most likely dealing with dryness, rosacea related issues and/or sun-related damage if texture is also very different. Start with Moisturizing the face and neck, apply a smoothing primer to both areas and then use a correcting foundation.

I love Lancome Visonnaire 1-Minute Blur and follow with Teint Visionnaire, Their darker ranges are gorgeous!” – Regina Ventimiglia “You can approach it two ways. The first, you can match the foundation to your chest if you will be showing your chest. You would have to apply to the face and neck and blend downward into the chest.

• Or you get a shade that matches your face and neck and then use a light, matte bronzer to blend the face and neck into the color of the chest.” – Liz Fuller “Foundation should be applied to the chin (so you can see what will match the neck) and on the nose (where most of us have a bit of redness).
• The color should literally blend into the skin seamlessly.

It shouldn’t look too ‘light’ or too ‘dark.'” – Amanda Gabbard is a makeup artist at the Guerlain Spa in the Towers of the Waldorf Astoria “In general, I recommend matching your foundation to the shade of the décolletage. It’s worth spending a little more money and visiting a makeup counter where you can sit down with a sales associate/makeup artist and get your perfect match.

It’s best to test foundation in natural light, away from the artificial store lights. Don’t be afraid to ask for samples so you can get a good feel for the wear of the foundation in your every day life.” – Sheila, blogs at The Painted Ladies, and she is available as a makeup artist “Your foundation should match your neck.

If the neck is darker than the face you can compensate with a bronzer.” – Karen Dupiche “It is important to match the undertone of the foundation to the undertone of the skin so that the skin looks most natural. Place a yellow based foundation and a pinky based foundation along the jaw line, the one that disappears into the skin is the one that matches.

When the neck and face are different colors, either match the foundation to the neck and chest or bring the foundation down to the neck and chest. I personally tend to match the perimeter of the face to the exposed skin (chest and arms) and bring it down and keep the center of the face lighter.” – Margina Dennis “Most people’s necks and faces are not the same color.

I recommend thinking about your finishing results before choosing a foundation. Makeup foundation will oxidize on your skin and the color will slightly alter after about 15 minutes, especially with an oiler skin. If you are someone who is a bit heavy handed with bronzer, this is something I would take into consideration before choosing a foundation.

• If you are going to be applying a lot bronzer, do not choose a color that is too dark, because the layering of color will make it too dark.” – Elise Brill “Normally foundations, nowadays, have a more yellow base than a pink tone to them.
• That is because most of us have a yellow base undertone.
• Some have a peach or a warm tone along with the yellow but this does not mean you should wear a pink foundation.

First analyze your skin tone. See if you have more yellow than pink or peach. Then you can start looking for the appropriate color. Osmosis makes it easy to find the right shade. First find out if you are a light, medium or dark. This will help you to find the right intensity.

• For those with yellow and some Olive tones in their skin, you can choose the Golden shades.
• For those with Yellow and some Peach you can choose the Natural shades.
• Apply foundation to the neckline if your face color is different than your neckline.
• You can also use a small amount of the Osmosis South Beach Bronzer to warm up the neckline if it is much lighter than your face color.” – Alejandro Falcon is the artistic director at Osmosis Skincare “Always match foundation on your jawline where your complexion is most even.

You want to match both the surface tone and under tone of your skin. It’s more important to match the color in your chest than your neck which is normally always slightly lighter than your face. A matte bronzer applied in the hollows of the cheeks and at the hair line will warm your complexion and create dimension in your face. Check out more tips, hacks and product reviews in the Foundation Guide! Affiliate Links

How do I know if my foundation is too light?

3. Find the Light – Just like getting the perfect selfie, lighting is everything. Once you’ve swatched, skip the fluorescent lighting in-store and head outside to see how the pigments look in natural light. If your makeup is too light, you will look ashy or as if you have a gray cast on your skin. Find your perfect foundation shade match with one of the 40 shades in our collection! This weightless, full-coverage foundation gives you a flawless finish every time–especially when you apply it with a Beautyblender. : How to Find Your Right Foundation Shade

Should foundation be exactly your skin color?

One of the most significant foundation mistakes is using the wrong shade for your skin tone. You want your skin to look like skin even when you have makeup on. However, despite your best efforts, you can sometimes get it wrong. Some people misjudge their undertones or don’t know what shade matches their skin.

The wrong shade results in your foundation standing out on your face like a mask. Your foundation should blend seamlessly with your natural skin tone. You don’t want there to be an obvious difference between where your foundation ends and your bare skin begins. Otherwise, your foundation will look unnatural and caked on.

Understanding your skin tone and shade is paramount for accomplishing a flawless-looking complexion. We will go over how to determine your skin’s undertone and shade so you can HIDE your imperfections effortlessly.

Can you test foundation on your hand?

WHERE TO TEST IT: HANDS, THEN FACE. ‘ Start with a test on the back of your hand and look for a color that feels like you—you’ll know it when you see it. Once you’re down to one or two shades, try them on your whole face,’ Yaitanes says.

How do I know what shade of foundation to get without a tester?

Download Article Download Article Foundation is the cosmetic base you use to cover blemishes and even out your complexion so that you have a uniform surface on which to apply the rest of your makeup. It’s important to use the right shade, because the wrong foundation can look obvious and unnatural, and it won’t create the proper canvas for the rest of your cosmetics.There are a few factors to consider when selecting a foundation shade, including skin type, skin tone, and complexion.

1. 1 Understand your undertone. Before trying to choose a foundation, it’s best to determine a few things about your skin, such as your undertone. While the surface of your skin can change color because of many things, such as exposure to the elements or acne, your undertone will always stay the same.
   • Cool, which means your skin is more blue, red, or pink.
   • Warm, which means your skin is more golden, yellow, or peach.
   • Neutral, which means your skin will have a combination of cool and warm colors.
2. 2 Determine your undertone. There are a few tests you can use to determine if your undertone is warm, cool, or neutral. The tests involve assessing your hair and eye color, what colors you look best in, how you react to the sun, and the color of your veins.
   • Naturally black, brown, or blonde hair combined with green, grey, or blue eyes is an indication of a cool undertone. Hazel, brown, or amber eyes combined with naturally black, auburn, or strawberry blonde hair indicates a warm undertone.
   • Silver jewelry will look best on you if your undertone is cool; gold jewelry will look best on you if your undertone is warm; someone with a neutral undertone will look equally good in both silver and gold.
   • People who are cool will tend to turn pink or burn easily in the sun, while people who are warm will bronze or tan in the sun.
   • Blue veins on the inner wrist indicate cool; green veins indicate warm; bluish-green indicates neutral.

   Advertisement

3. 3 Know the best foundation for your skin type. While knowing if you have dry or oily skin won’t help you pick a foundation shade, it will help you choose the right type of foundation. Skin can be oily, dry, or combination, and you can have normal or sensitive skin.
   • Choose a matte finish or oil-free liquid or powder foundation if you have oily skin.
   • Choose a moisturizing or hydrating cream or stick foundation if you have dry skin.
   • Choose a hypoallergenic and scent-free foundation if you have sensitive skin.
   • Choose a powder foundation if you have combination skin.
   • Choose a foundation that offers full or medium coverage if you have an uneven complexion and want to cover most of your skin. Otherwise, look for a foundation that offers partial or sheer coverage if you have a fairly even complexion and want a more natural look.
   • It’s always a good idea to buy foundation that has an SPF, because this will provide a small measure of protection against damaging UVA and UVB rays.

Advertisement

1. 1 Use your skin to narrow down your choices. You already know what to look for in a foundation based on your skin type, and now it’s time to use the knowledge you’ve gained about your undertone to select some possible shade choices. Before heading to the pharmacy or makeup store, consider what foundation bases and shades will look best based on your undertone.
   • For cool undertones: choose a foundation with a rose, red, or blue base, and consider shades like cocoa, rose, sable, and porcelain.
   • For warm undertones: choose a foundation with a gold or yellow base, and consider shades like caramel, golden, tan, chestnut, and beige.
   • For neutral undertones: consider shades like buff, nude, ivory, or praline.
2. 2 Choose a makeup store, pharmacy, or department store. When buying your foundation, look for a store that offers support from beauty experts who can help you choose the right shade and foundation. If that’s not available, look for a shop that has in-store testers so that you can determine the right shade for yourself before you buy. As a last resort, choose a store that has a return policy on cosmetics in case you buy the wrong one.
3. 3 Test a few shades. Use the information about the best shades for your undertone and select some foundations to try out. Going by eye, choose a few shades that look closest to your skin tone. Then, test them by dabbing some swatches of foundation on your jawline.
   • If the store doesn’t offer testers, hold the bottles of foundation up to your neck and jawline.
   • Whether you are using testers or just holding bottles up to your skin, find a door or window to see what the foundation shades will look like in natural light. This will also give the foundation some time to dry so that you know what it will look like all the time.
4. 4 Choose your foundation. The best foundation is the one that disappears into your skin. Foundation isn’t supposed to be seen: it’s supposed to provide an even canvas on which to work. Use the swatches on your jawline to determine which foundation blends in best with your skin. This is the foundation shade that will best cover blemishes and redness while still looking natural.
   • Consider purchasing a few shades at once so that you can try them out at home and compare them, especially if your shop doesn’t have testers available.
   • Some people insist that foundation should “give your skin a color,” but this isn’t true.

Advertisement

1. 1 Lighten foundation that’s too dark. Whether you bought the wrong one and can’t return it or you’re still finishing an older bottle, you can customize the color of your foundation to create a better match for your skin. One way to make foundation lighter is by applying it with a wet sponge instead of your fingers. You can also make foundation lighter by mixing it with:
   • Moisturizer
   • Primer
   • A lighter foundation
   • Concealer or finishing powder
2. 2 Darken foundation that’s too light. Just as you can lighten foundation that’s too dark, so too can you make a foundation darker if it’s too light for your skin. To make foundation darker, try:
   • Adding blush or concealer
   • Mixing it with bronzer
   • Combining it with a darker foundation or tinted moisturizer
3. 3 Change the color of your foundation. Foundation that isn’t right for your undertone can be customized as well. To make your foundation match a yellow undertone, add turmeric. Add a pinkish-brown blush to match a more pink or blue undertone. To make a foundation more brown, add cocoa powder.

Advertisement

Add New Question

• Question Why does my foundation get cakey? Daniel Vann is the Creative Director for Daredevil Cosmetics, a makeup studio in the Seattle Area. He has been working in the cosmetics industry for over 15 years and is currently a licensed aesthetician and makeup educator. Licensed Aesthetician Expert Answer You might be packing on the product rather than thinning it out, which causes it to oxidize and bunch up. Using the wrong foundation color could also make your foundation look cakey.
• Question Without going to the store, how do I find out what skin color I have? There are different websites that will compare a shade of foundation you already own to other shades in different brands. If you don’t have any foundation at all, it’s usually best to try out the foundation in a store to make sure the shade and the undertone are right for you.
• Question How should I choose a highlighter shade? Use a highlighter two shades lighter than your natural skin tone.

See more answers Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement

• Change makeup sponges regularly if you use them to apply foundation, because they can harbor germs and bacteria.
• Always remove makeup and apply moisturizer before bed.
• Consider tinted moisturizer instead of foundation if you have clear skin and an even complexion.

Show More Tips Advertisement Article Summary X To find the best foundation color shade for you, figure out the undertones of your skin. To do this, look at the veins on your wrist. If they look blue, your skin is cool toned, and if they look green, your skin is warm toned.

If your skin is warm toned, look for a gold or yellow based foundation. If your skin is cool toned, find products with pink or blue bases. Regardless of your undertone, test out shades by holding the bottle up your skin and, if the store offers testers, swatch a little foundation on your jawline to find a good match.

To learn how to correct makeup that is too light or too dark, keep reading. Did this summary help you? Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,209,413 times.

How do I match my foundation to my skin tone in store?

How to Find the Right Drugstore Foundation | Makeup.com by L’Oréal October 14, 2021 By: Share this page Picking out your among the many options at is no easy feat. You can’t sample the product, the color swatches aren’t always accurate and that harsh overhead lighting is not exactly flattering. To help streamline the scavenger hunt, we reached out to L’Oréal Paris celebrity makeup artist for guidance.

• Below, find his genius tips and tricks for taking the guesswork out of buying a,
• You might instinctively hold the bottle to your face or hand to compare shades, but according to Sir John, this won’t give you the most accurate reading.
• Bring the bottle up to your neck to try to match the color to your skin, as close as possible,” he says.

Then, seek out the area of the drugstore that has the best lighting and mirrors. “Sometimes this is not always the makeup aisle. Look for a place with some natural light seeping through.”