Your makeup look isn’t complete without the correct foundation. Foundation covers up imperfections and gives your skin a smooth, flawless appearance.
With that said, the wrong foundation can do more harm than good. That’s why you want to choose the correct foundation that complements your skin tone and skin type.
Read on to learn more about how to find the right foundation for your skin.
Figure Out Your Skin Tone
Nothing is more embarrassing than wearing a foundation that is too light or too dark for your skin. That’s why the most important part of finding the right foundation is to determine what skin tone you have. Skin tones are placed into four different categories consisting of:
- Light
- Fair
- Medium
- Dark
Determine Your Undertones
Choosing a foundation isn’t as simple as just choosing between these four different categories. That’s because each skin tone has a natural undertone. Undertones are classified as cool, warm, and neutral.
- The best way to determine your undertone is to observe your veins. Those with a cool undertone will have blue veins, whereas those with a warm undertone will have green veins. If the coloring is hard to determine or maybe a mix of both blue and green, you likely have a neutral undertone.
- Another way to determine your undertone is to observe what color jewelry is most flattering on your skin.
- Cool undertones look best in silver, while warm undertones look best in gold.
- Neutral tones will find that both silver and gold flatter their skin.
- Warm and neutral skin tones also tan easier, whereas cool skin tones are more prone to sunburn.
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Know What Coverage Level You Need
When it comes to choosing a foundation, you will also want to determine the amount of coverage your skin needs.
- If your skin is overall clear and you don’t want anything too heavy, a sheer, lightweight foundation is optimal.
- If you want a bit more coverage, you could opt for a medium-coverage foundation, which is still lightweight but will provide more coverage.
- For those wanting to cover up all blemishes and discoloration, a full-coverage foundation is best.
- Although, it’s important to apply this sparingly as too much full-coverage foundation may appear heavy and cakey.
Finding Your Skin Tone
A licensed cosmetologist at your local makeup store could help accurately match your foundation to your skin tone. Here are some tips to make sure your pair the right foundation with your skin color.
- Check in Natural Light When it comes to finding your skin tone and skin color, you will want to check in natural light, as certain lightings could make your skin appear different than it actually is.
- Use Online Beauty Tools Did you know that you can now use online beauty tools to figure out your skin type? Many websites offer free, virtual coloring matches to find the perfect foundation color for your skin. Apps like YouCam Makeup, Miiskin Skin Tracker & eHealth, and TroveSkin are also great guides.
Match the Shade to Your Skin Tone
- How To Choose Your Shade With so many shades to choose from, it may feel overwhelming. After determining if you have light, fair, medium, or dark skin, you will want to focus on the foundations within those categories to narrow down your options.
- The Face Method One common way to match your foundation is to apply a swatch of the color on your face. Then observe the color to see if it blends into your skin.
- The Swatches Method Another popular way to test the coloring of your foundation is to swatch different shades on your hand or jawline if you want more accuracy. This will allow you to compare different shades to determine which one is best.
Choose Liquid, Oil-Free Formulas
When choosing your foundation, you will want to look for liquids that do not contain oils as this could lead to greasy skin, redness, and acne breakouts. If you are someone with dry skin, it’s better to use oil drops or an illuminating foundation as opposed to an oil-based foundation.
Use Sample Sizes
You might be surprised to know that you could request free sample sizes of different foundations. This gives you the chance to experiment with different brands, colors, and coverage amounts before committing to a specific foundation.
Customize Your Foundation
Sometimes, it can be difficult to find the perfect match. Some people find that mixing together different foundations provides the perfect, customized color that matches your skin. Work with a cosmetologist to find two shades that match your skin and blend the two to see if the color matches. Keep in mind that when mixing foundations, they should always be the same coverage amount for a smooth and even appearance.
Adapt Your Shade to the Current Season
If you’re someone who tans during the warmer months but doesn’t want to invest in an entirely new foundation, there are a few tricks to adapt your shade to the current season. Bronzer is the best way to darken your skin during the summer. For the most natural look, apply it to areas like your cheekbones and forehead.
Become a Licensed Cosmetologist at Blue Cliff College
If you want to learn about more topics relating to makeup and beauty products, a career in cosmetology may be the right choice for you. Here at Blue Cliff College, in the Cosmetology Program, students can earn their cosmetology license in as little as 12 months with expert lectures and hands-on learning. Enroll now or contact us today to learn more about the programs we offer at Blue Cliff College.
