Finding Your Perfect Foundation Shade

[christinamua]

First I want to say how excited I am that Sephora created a Deeper Shades Group!! ❤️ I’ve been a makeup artist for over ten years and majority of my clientele are POC. I get asked all the time how does one find the right shade so I want to take this opportunity to use this new group to share some tips I’ve learned over the years. 

• First you have to figure out your undertone. An easy way to do this is to look at the color of your veins on your wrist.  Green = Warm Toned and Blue = Cool Toned

• You can also take your thumb from one hand and firmly press your wrist on the other for several seconds. If your skin appears more yellow once released then BAM you are warm toned so look into yellow based foundations.

• Find a color you think is closest to your shade then also grab a color lighter and darker in the same tone. Swatch all three shades on your face NOT your hands. I usually swatch on the jawline toward the neck. 

• This next tip is super important!! Wait for the foundation to oxidize. Foundation can tend to turn a shade or two darker once exposed to the air. After swatching I usually wait a couple of minutes before making a decision. 

• The best light is natural light. Grab a hand held mirror and take a look in front of a window or outside to see if any of the colors match your skin. 

• Also don’t feel like you have to wear your foundation all over. My forehead especially around my hairline tends to get darker than the rest of my face because the sun hits that area first. I like to say we are blessed with a natural contour in that area and it isn’t necessary to apply foundation there. Chances are that same color foundation will make the tanned area look grey or pale. Just apply on the center of the forehead and lightly blend up. 

I hope you find these tips helpful!! ☺️ If you did let a girl know and feel free to add your own tips! What is your favorite foundation and why? Can’t wait to learn from you!

 Xo, 

Christina

#SephoraAmbassador

[kel70]

Thanks for the reply! I got some setting sprays as testers and I really didn't see much value in it, to be honest. But I am willing to try anything at this point. I will start searching for something suitable for my skin. Such a shame to only use an new bottle of foundation twice and then throw it into the 'DUDS' drawer! 

[MayaLeal]

Hey Kel,

Once a makeup advisor at Sephora told me that I was using too much matte item on my skin and I agreed. One thing that I learned along watching youtube videos about makeup is: PREPARE THE SKIN, this makes all the difference.

You can try a prep routine a few days and check if maybe that is the issue. Or maybe it is the foundation. I used Estee Lauder as well and I stopped.

what I'm doing right now is:

*wash the face with cold water (helped with the pores) and pat dry with paper towel (a soft one to dont be hard on you skin)

*let it dry (a use a hand fan to make things faster)

*Then I apply a vit c serum. Sephora has a bunch of them but my favorite is the vichy one with 15% of vit c + acid HYALURONIC (which I thought it was just a hippy but it is amazing)

*after your skin absorving it you can hydrate which is my go to now, even with a oily skin now I hydrate every single day at least 2x a day. For a makeup day I use Neutrogena hydro boost (which is very good. I am on my 3rd one) or La Roche-Posay Toleriane Sensitive skin 

*wait to be absorbed by you skin (help with a fan) and apply the primer. My primer I use this one and it is amazing 

#https://www.sephora.com/ca/en/product/banana-bright-face-primer-P442012?icid2=products%20grid:p44201...

or

#https://www.sephora.com/ca/en/product/hangover-replenishing-face-primer-P387589?icid2=products%20gri...

 I already used both of them but my favorite is the OLEHENRIKSEN Banana Bright Face Primer. I'm in the clean products vibe right now with the skin care kind of. The O.L. smells amazing and you feel your skin getting the hydration you need it.

About foundation on winter time I liked to use the a lot the Too Faced Peach Perfect Comfort Matte Foundation

#https://www.sephora.com/ca/en/product/peach-perfect-comfort-moisture-matte-foundation-peaches-cream-...

 Right now I'm using L’Oréal Paris Infallible 24H Fresh Wear Foundation and really liking the results.

Usually I mix products from Sephora and drugstore as well. They have a good quality and good prices. 

*For moisturizer I use 3 different ones all of them from Drugstore and the results are very good, one from Neutrogena and 2 from La Roche

Unfortunately it is a try and error situation. I already spent a lot money trying to figure out what works and what does not. 

If you want to ask me anything and if I can help more just msg me.

Sorry about my English...  

Good Luck

[kel70]

Thanks so much for replying. I have a pretty good skin care routine and it works for me so I can only assume it is the foundation I am using. I ordered Fenty Pro Filtr Hydrating Foundation the other day to try. I bought the primer and love, love it, so I am going to give it a go and see if it helps. From what I understand, sometimes it is the combination of different brands/formulas that could be the problem. My skin is well hydrated and I adhere to a skin care regimen  2-3 times daily. If that doesn't work for me, I will then move on to Born This Way foundations. Thanks for all the advice!! See you around the forums!!