HOW TO FIND YOUR PERFECT FOUNDATION SHADE
As its name implies, foundation is the base layer for the rest of your makeup; it's the initial starting point for any cosmetic routine, and it doesn't need to stand out or sparkle in any way. In fact, the best foundation looks completely natural.
Foundation is designed to cover up imperfections and even out your complexion, providing a balanced canvas onto which you can apply the rest of your makeup. This is why it’s so important to find the right foundation shade for your skin tone.
Fortunately, finding the right foundation shade is simple when you know what to look for. This guide will go through some basic steps, covering how to find your foundation shade, understanding undertones, and choosing the best product for every occasion.
HOW TO FIND YOUR SKIN TONE
The first step to finding your foundation shade is to identify your skin tone, which is pretty simple for most people. There are three main categories of skin tone: light, medium, and deep.
Each of these categories is then divided down into smaller subcategories. For example, in the light category, you'll find tones like alabaster, ivory, and sand, while the deep category has tones like walnut, chestnut, and espresso.
You can find charts and tables of the different tones online to help you find your skin tone. Even if you aren't sure exactly which tone you have, you can usually narrow it down to a small range of a few options.
HOW TO FIND YOUR SKIN UNDERTONE
As well as skin tone, we also have to take skin undertone into account. This term refers to the skin color that seems to shine through from beneath the surface, and identifying your skin undertone is a crucial part of the process to find your body foundation shade or facial foundation shade.
Undertones are divided into three main categories: cool, warm, and neutral. Those with cool undertones tend to have pink, red, or blue shades to their skin, with purple or blueish veins. Those with warm undertones tend to have golden or yellowish colors to their skin, with olive or green veins.
Meanwhile, the neutral undertone category is reserved for those who don't fit into either of the other categories and tend to have a balanced mix of warm and cool shades.
There are a few different ways you can find your undertone. You can look at your veins to see their color, as listed above, for example, or you can consider how your skin responds to the sun. People with cool undertones tend to burn quite easily in the sun, while those with warmer undertones tan easily.
Narrowing Down Your Options
Finding your skin tone and undertone can help narrow down your possible options when shopping for foundation. Many of the best foundations are available in a range of named tones and shades for you to choose from, based on the information you've collected about your skin.
When shopping for foundation, don't forget to invest in a quality foundation brush for easy application. This will allow you to apply little patches of foundation onto your skin to test out different shades and see which ones suit you best.
HOW TO CUSTOMIZE A FOUNDATION
Even if you choose a color of foundation that isn't quite right, there's no need to panic right away. Liquid and powder foundations can be quite easily customized to suit your skin. You can add primer or concealer to lighten a foundation, for example, or mix in some bronzer or blush to darken a foundation.
DIFFERENT FOUNDATIONS FOR DIFFERENT SEASONS
It's also important to remember that different seasons may call for different shades of foundation. Skin is often a little darker and more tanned in the summer months while becoming paler when winter comes along.
FINAL WORD ON FINDING YOUR FOUNDATION SHADE
Finding the right foundation can seem tricky at first, but ultimately, all you need to do is get to know your skin a little better, figuring out your tone and undertone in order to choose the perfect shade of any foundation.