Foundation is a cosmetic base that you use to cover up flaws in your skin and even out your complexion so that your face looks the same and you can apply other makeup well. It's important to make sure you use the right shade of foundation because the wrong color can look real and unnatural and won't provide a good canvas for other makeup products. There are several factors to consider when choosing a foundation color including skin type, skin tone and complexion.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Studying Your Skin
Step 1. Understand your undertone
Before choosing a foundation, you should know a few things about the skin such as undertones. The surface of your skin can change color due to many things such as exposure to various elements or acne, your skin undertone will remain the same. Therefore, knowing your undertone will help you choose the right foundation color. In general, there are three categories of undertones.
- Cold, which means your skin tends to be blue, red, or pink.
- Warm, which means your skin tends to golden, yellow, or peach tones.
- Neutral, which means your skin has a combination of cool and warm tones.
Step 2. Know your undertone
There are several tests you can use to find out if your undertones are warm, cool, or neutral. In this test you observe the color of your hair and eyes, which color works best for you, how your skin reacts to the sun, and the color of your blood vessels.
- Usually black, brown or blonde hair color combined with green, gray or blue eyes is an indication of cool undertones. A mix of gray, brown, or amber green eyes with black, auburn or strawberry blonde hair indicates warm undertones.
- Silver jewelry looks great if your undertones are cool; gold jewelry looks great if your undertones are warm; someone with neutral undertones will look great in silver or gold jewelry.
- People with cool undertones tend to turn pink or burn easily in the sun, while people with warm undertones darken when exposed to the sun.
- The blue veins on the inside of the wrist indicate cold undertones; green veins indicate warm undertones; Blue-green veins indicate a neutral undertone.
Step 3. Know the most suitable foundation for your skin type
Knowing whether your skin type is dry or oily won't help in choosing a foundation color, but it can help you choose the right type of foundation. Your skin can be oily, dry, or combination, and you can have normal or sensitive skin.
- Choose a matte finish or an oil-free liquid or powder type if your skin is oily.
- Choose a stick or cream foundation that moisturizes or hydrates your skin if you have dry skin.
- Choose a foundation that is hypoallergenic and free of fragrances if you have sensitive skin.
- Choose a powder foundation if you have combination skin.
- Choose a foundation that covers full or medium skin if you have an uneven complexion and want to cover most of your skin. Otherwise, look for a foundation that provides partial or sheer coverage if your complexion is fairly even and you want a natural look.
- It's a good idea to buy a foundation that contains SPF as it can provide some protection against damaging UVA and UVB rays.
Part 2 of 3: Finding the Right Foundation Color
Step 1. Use a leather template to narrow the selection
You already know what type of foundation to use for your skin type, and now it's time to use your knowledge of skin undertones to choose from some of the available color options. Before going to the pharmacy or makeup store, think about what base and shade of foundation will best suit your skin undertone.
- For cool undertones: choose a foundation with a rose, red, or blue base and choose colors like cocoa, rose, sable and porcelain.
- For warm undertones: choose a foundation with a gold or yellow base and choose colors like caramel, gold, tan, chestnut and beige.
- For neutral undertones: choose a color like buff, nude, ivory or praline.
Step 2. Choose the right makeup store, pharmacy or department store
When buying foundation, look for a store with an expert waiter who can help you choose the right shade and type of foundation. If you don't have one, look for stores with try-on products so you can figure out which color is right for you before you buy. The last option, look for stores that allow consumers to return or exchange the products they purchased if you buy the wrong product.
Step 3. Test some colors
Use the information you have on the best colors for undertones and pick a few foundations to try. With your eyes, pick a few colors that look closest to your skin tone. Then, test this product by applying it to your jawline. The skin tone at the jaw line is very representative of your skin undertone and besides this this test will show how foundation looks like near your neck.
- If you don't have a product to try in the store, lift the bottle of foundation close to your neck and jawline.
- If you're using a product you can try at a store or lifting a bottle of product to your skin, search the door or window in the store to see what this color looks like on your skin when exposed to natural light. It also gives the foundation time to dry so you will know what color the product will look like once it dries on your skin.
Step 4. Choose your foundation
The best foundations are products that disappear when applied to the skin. Foundation should not be visible because it makes the face into a flat canvas. Use a foundation template applied to your jawline to find out which foundation blends best with your skin. This foundation color will cover imperfections and redness on the face well while still looking natural.
Try to buy several shades of foundation in one purchase so you can try them at home and compare them, especially if the store you go to doesn't offer a product to try
Part 3 of 3: Modifying Foundation
Step 1. Lighten the foundation color that is too dark
Maybe you bought the wrong product and can't return it or you've finished a bottle you bought, you can modify the color of your foundation to better suit your skin tone. One way to lighten your foundation color is to apply it with a damp sponge instead of your fingers. You can also make your foundation lighter by mixing it with:
- Facial moisturizer
- Primary
- A lighter foundation
- Concealer or powder
Step 2. Darken the foundation color that is too light
Just like explaining a foundation color that is too dark, you can also make the foundation color darker when the product is too light. To darken the foundation color, try:
- Adding blush or concealer
- Mix it with bronzer
- Combine it with a darker foundation or a moisturizer for colored skin
Step 3. Change the color of your foundation
Foundation colors that are not right for skin undertones can also be modified. So that the foundation can be in harmony with the yellow undertone, add turmeric. Add brown blush with pinkish brown to make the foundation just right for undertones that tend to be pink or blue. Add cocoa powder to make the foundation more brown.
Tips
- Replace your makeup sponge regularly if you use it to apply foundation because it can become a breeding ground for germs and bacteria.
- Always remove makeup and apply moisturizer before going to bed.
- You may be able to purchase a lighter shade of foundation for the rainy season and darker for the dry season if you spend a lot of time outside during the dry season and your skin tends to darken.
- If your skin is clean with an even complexion, try using a light-colored moisturizer instead of foundation.
