How do I match my foundation myself?
- Determine your undertones. ...
- Read reviews and look for photo references. ...
- Take the finish of your foundation into consideration. ...
- Test shades on multiple spots of your face. ...
- Test it for a few hours. ...
- See how it looks in different lighting. ...
- Prep your skin properly.
You can also try holding a white piece of paper next to your face to determine your undertone. The white should create a cast of color on your skin. If your face appears more pink or blue, you fall into the cool category, and if you take on a more yellowish hue, you're warm. If your skin seems gray, you're neutral.
To find your perfect foundation shade match, start by downloading YouCam Makeup, the best free foundation-matching app for iOS and Android.
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.
- Step 1: Know your skin tone. ...
- Step 2: Identify your undertone. ...
- Step 3: Test on bare skin. ...
- Step 4: Start with options. ...
- Step 5: Check in natural light. ...
- Step 6: Update with the seasons.
- Test On Your Chest. Just eyeing the foundation in the package to find your shade will not work. ...
- Test Under Different Lighting. Be sure to look at your swatch under different lighting before doing your entire face. ...
- Use a Virtual Foundation Try-On Tool.
One of the biggest mistakes you can make is choosing a foundation with the wrong undertones. If the color doesn't match your skin, then you can wind up with a sharp contrast line on your neck where the makeup ends and your natural skin begins, and no one wants that.
PSA: The back of your hand and inner wrist are not the best places to test whether a foundation is a color match for your skin; it's actually your neck or jawline.
"A foundation in the bottle in its liquid state is a certain color, and it can oxidize on your face and change color as it dries or sets," says Troy Surratt, makeup artist and founder of Surratt Beauty.
The Slapp app.
Just take a selfie (or upload a photo,) to find your shade in: Charlotte Tilbury, Bobbi Brown, Fenty Beauty and many more!
Which part of face to match foundation?
With all this in mind, whatever foundation shade matches the high point of your cheek will look the most flattering on you. It won't be too light, too dark, too pink, or too yellow. "It's that middle-of-the-road place," Vo adds.
You can also try holding a white piece of paper next to your face to determine your undertone. The white should create a cast of color on your skin. If your face appears more pink or blue, you fall into the cool category, and if you take on a more yellowish hue, you're warm. If your skin seems gray, you're neutral.

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.
To find your perfect foundation shade, you should always dab a bit on your jawline and neck first. Checking the color match on your neck and jaw prevents jarring discrepancies and results in the ideal hue.
Product | Ratings | Coverage |
---|---|---|
Maybelline Fit Me | 4.1★ | Medium to Full |
Lakme Primer + Foundation | 4.2★ | Full |
Lakme Absolute Mousse | 4.3★ | Medium |
Mamaearth Glow Serum | 4.0★ | Light to Medium |
Take a look at the veins on the inside of your wrist. Do they appear more blue or green? If your veins appear more blue, you're cool-toned but if you see more green, you're warm-toned. If you see a fair amount of both both green and blue, you have a neutral undertone.
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.
To find your foundation color match for free, download the YouCam Makeup app, which is available for both iOS and Android.
Mix And Match With A Lighter Foundation
We've got an option. The quickest way to fix your wrong foundation shade is to mix it with light-toned Foundation. Add little by little until the formula matches your skin tone. Mixing a lighter foundation can give a radiant, smooth base while blurring signs of ageing.
Understand your undertone
"Every color that you choose will either complement or contrast the undertones of your skin," says makeup artist Amanda Bell. "So first you have to ask yourself: Is your skin undertone warm, neutral, or cool?"
Do you match foundation to your neck?
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.
Beauty editors and experts all have strong opinions about how to apply foundation (I'm team fingers), but there's a case to be made for each application method. Fingers are best for a quick and natural application; sponges are good for achieving a flawless finish; and brushes are ideal for full coverage.
PSA: The back of your hand and inner wrist are not the best places to test whether a foundation is a color match for your skin; it's actually your neck or jawline.
Instead, ask for a sample, take it home, and test it on your jawline. If the color disappears, you know you've found the right shade. Your skin looks like it has an extra layer on it – If you've chose a color that's too light, it may make your face look like there's an extra layer of skin on top of it.
More than 80% of all structural defects are caused by soil movement under the foundation. Poor soils are the leading cause of foundation issues in homes, which is something most homeowners have little control over. For example, hydro-collapsible soils collapse in the presence of water.
Right before applying your best natural looking foundation, it's important to cleanse your skin to help prevent clogged pores and remove any dirt that may be dulling your natural radiance. Next, gently exfoliate your skin to sweep away any dry, dead skin cells that may cause foundation to go on unevenly or look flaky.
Williamson recommends looking for foundations formulated with skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid, grapeseed oil and vitamin E for added hydration, as well as silicone-based formulas because they're best for filling in fine lines and wrinkles.
The general rule of thumb is that you should always opt for a shade lighter than foundation when choosing your concealer colour. Doing so helps to mask darker discolouration, but be careful not to over-correct! Knowing how to pick the right concealer is essential to ensuring that your look does not appear ghostly.
- Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick.
- Kryolan HD Micro Foundation Smoothing Fluid.
- Laura Mercier Silk Creme Oil Free Photo Edition Foundation.
Generally there will be a natural difference in pigmentation as your face is more likely to be exposed to sunlight. If the difference is marked, and you also feel cold in the hands, with restriction of movement in cold weather, this could indicate a condition called Raynauds.
Is matte or dewy foundation better for mature skin?
Should mature skin use matte or dewy foundation? While all skin is different, overall, dewy foundations may be preferable to a matte one since they may provide a more natural finish. However, the right matte foundation will provide full coverage and give you a more polished, more made-up look—if that is what you want.
What is the colour of your veins? The easiest way to determine your undertone is by opting for a closer inspection of the insides of your wrists. If they appear green, your undertone is warm while blue veins signify cooler undertones.
A foundation inspection can help identify potential foundation issues and prevent expensive foundation replacement costs. Foundation inspections typically cost between $300 and $800 but more complex and bigger foundations can cost between $1,000 and $3,000. On average, a foundation inspection will cost around $600.
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.
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.
- Know your skin concerns. Is your T-zone an oil slick by midday? ...
- Identify your undertones. Identifying whether your skin is cool-, neutral-, or warm-toned is the key to making the perfect colour match. ...
- Choose a coverage. ...
- Customise your shade. ...
- If in doubt, go lighter. ...
- Google it.
Look at Your Veins
To find your undertone, look at the inside of your arm. If your veins appear blue or purple, you're cool-toned, while green veins indicate warm-toned skin. For those who are unsure or see a mix of both, you likely have neutral undertones.
Checking the color match on your neck and jaw prevents jarring discrepancies and results in the ideal hue. Your face gets the most sun exposure while your neck receives the least, so you want to find a foundation shade that matches both areas when blended into the skin.
Our skin tones tend to vary throughout the year, so a foundation that's perfect right now might not be quite as close of a match in a couple seasons. "You can sometimes get away with a slightly off shade if you sheer it out," says Cheng. "Mix it with a moisturizer and wear it as a tint."
"Find a spot towards the center of your face and blend out towards the hairline so you match the sides of your cheeks and down the middle of your neck," instructs Martin. "If your neck is lighter than your face and you don't want your face to be as pale, choose one shade lighter than your face so it's comparable.
Do you put foundation on eyelids?
Never put concealer or foundation on your eyelids as a base, it will cause your eye makeup to crease.
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