How To Pick The Right Foundation Shade Once And For All

If there's one makeup product you have to get right, it's foundation. Laying down the base for the rest of your makeup is essential, as the wrong shade can throw off your whole look. For example, you may have the perfect concealer or blush shade, but there's no guarantee those will look good on the wrong shade of foundation. Too light and you look like a floating head, while a too-dark color will make your face look completely different than the rest of your body. 

Thankfully, one of the first things I learned as a makeup artist — and I now have over 15 years of professional MUA experience — was to match foundation to a T, and an essential step in doing so is determining your skin undertone. To figure out your skin undertone, wear a white T-shirt and look at your skin tone in natural lighting. If you veer on the pink side, your undertone is cool. Do you see a more yellow cast? If so, your undertone is warm. If it falls somewhere in the middle, you have neutral undertones. Easy-peasy!

Once you've honed in on your undertone, it's time for the fun part. With cosmetics companies making online shopping so easy, it might be tempting to let a computer match your shade. However, I advise going in-store to get your perfect match, and with my tips, finding the right foundation will be a breeze.

Beauty brands have really upped their foundation shade ranges, which is awesome for inclusivity. However, that also means there's a dizzying array of colors to choose from. Don't get discouraged, though — brands usually categorize them into light, medium, and dark to give you a head start. Once you've honed in on the right undertone and tone, choose three shades that you think are closest to your skin. Swatch them along your jawline and see which one disappears. Be sure to check your face in natural lighting, as indoor lights tend to cast shadows that can throw off your assessment.

Many make the mistake of matching the shade exactly to their face without taking into consideration the rest of their body. Your face and chest may be two different colors, especially if you wear facial moisturizer with SPF and skip sunscreen on your body. If your neck and chest are slightly darker than your face, choose a foundation a shade or two deeper. Once you've determined the right color, don't hop on over to the checkout line right away. You'll want the foundation to settle for a bit, and only then can you decide if it's the perfect match for you.

After finding the perfect foundation match at the store, you may be surprised and disappointed if the color looks off later on. This happens when the foundation oxidizes, which causes the color to look darker or more orange as the product comes into contact with air. Other factors that cause oxidation include your skin's pH balance and sebum. You can prevent your foundation from oxidizing by making sure your face is clean prior to testing your shades. Some brands, like NARS and Kat Von D, even have formulas that oxidize very little, if at all. However, the best way to test your new shade is to wait a few hours — or even all day — to see if that happens. Yes, that unfortunately means applying your samples and then leaving the store for a while — ergo not instantly getting your hands on your new go-to foundation — but the wait will be worth it.

If the foundation looks a tad darker later on, you'll want to go a shade lighter (or with another brand altogether). However, if you're happy with how it sits on your skin, you've found your shade. Those who live in a seasonal area will want to have a different foundation for winter than the one they wear in the summer. After all, your skin's bound to change as you soak up the summer sun or stay inside more throughout the chillier months. And while having more than one might seem excessive, you'll be able to stretch the products for longer and even mix the shades through transitional weather. Basically, having two or more foundation bottles will ensure that you'll always have the right custom-made shade just for you.