How to Choose the Right Foundation Shade

Picking the right foundation shade isn’t an easy feat, so let’s break down the process into simple, easy tips to help you find the right shades for your complexion all year round.

TIP 1: IT’S ALL ABOUT UNDERTONES

Not only is the lightness or darkness of the shade important, but even more important may be the undertones. When picking a shade, it’s important that it blends in well with the undertones of your complexion.

There are three tradition skin undertones: Warm, Cool, & Neutral

Warm: Ranges from peachy to golden skin

Cool: Skin that has pink or bluish hues.

Neutral: Your undertones are basically the same color as your skin. There isn’t a noticeable underlying hue.

HOW TO FIGURE OUT YOUR UNDERTONE

Here are a few tips/tricks for figuring out what your undertone is. While not scientifically proven, women have stood by these tricks of the trade for ages when purchasing their trusty foundation.

• Check your veins : If the veins on your wrist look greenish, then there’s a strong chance you have a warm undertone. Purple/Blue veins are a good indicator of a cool undertone. If your veins blend in with your skin or don’t have a strong, recognizable hue, then you may have a neutral undertone.
  
  
• Look at your jewelry choice: If you gravitate towards gold/yellow jewelry or you think it looks best on you, you most likely have warm undertones. Silver & Rose Gold Jewelry tend to look best on cool-undertone skin. If both classes of metals suit your skin, then you might have a neutral undertone.

• How easily do you burn? People with a cool undertone tend to burn easily while those with a warm undertone tan when exposed to the sun for a long period. (PSA - wear sunscreen!)

TIP 2: SAMPLES & SWATCHING

Before picking up a full-size bottle of a shade you think is right, we highly suggest trying out samples to make sure the undertone is perfect. Test the shade you think is right as well as one shade lighter and one shade darker.

When swatching the color, simply blend a bit on your jawline to make sure the foundation blends seamlessly between your face and neck. It’s best to do this in natural light to get the most accurate match!

TIP 3: MIX SHADES FOR DIFFERENT SEASONS

As the seasons change, so does our skin texture and shade. Therefore, it’s highly recommended to purchase one foundation shade for the summer, one for the winter, and then to mix them during the spring and fall as our skin transitions.

Example: Your summer foundation color may be Shade 2, but in the winter, you’re Shade 0. In the in-between months when you feel like your foundation isn’t blending well into your skin and neck, mix Shades 2 & 0 to get your perfect match!

If you have any questions or need help starting the ‘matching process”, reach out to us and one of our natural beauty experts will be more than happy to help you!