Finding the right foundation for you

Did you know women buy around seven foundations before finding one that works for them?

Finding the right foundation for your skin is a difficult task. There are two factors to consider when choosing foundation - color and formulation. Today, we will discuss choosing the right shade for your skin tone. This is best done in consultation with a professionally-trained Makeup Artist.

Your undertone - the first step is to determine whether your skin has a yellow or pink undertone. When assessing, it is important to look at your arms and chest, as well as your face.  Foundations are designed to suit either a yellow or pink undertone.

Matching the foundation - match the foundation to your décolletage (chest), not your neck, arms or hands. The arms and hands are darker than your face and the neck is the lightest part of the body as it does not receive direct sunlight.

Testing the shades - choose three colours similar to you skin tone. Apply the different shades in a stripfrom your cheek to your jaw line and then slightly blend into your skin. One shade will blend nicely into the skin and it will be difficult to tell the difference from the foundation and your own skin. The foundation that blends in best is the right shade for you. You may need to test several shades before you get this result. Double-check the foundation in natural light as artificial light can change the colour of foundation.

Do not go darker - it is tempting to choose a shade that is darker than your skin tone to give the illusion of a tan. I do not recommend doing this as it will not look natural and actually ages the face.

Different seasons and occasions - I recommend everyone should have two foundations - one for the winter months, when your skin is naturally paler and one for the summer months, when your skin is slightly darker. You can also alternate, exchange and mix throughout the seasons - whenever your skin tone gets lighter or darker.

Fake tans - If you enjoy getting a fake tan, make sure you have a foundation shade that is suitable for tanned skin. Never wear your original foundation shade with a fake tan - this will make your face look white and appear like a mask.

When choosing foundation, your age and skin condition is also important. In future blogs we will cover choosing the right foundation formulation and how to correctly apply your foundation.