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Finding the right foundation can take a bit of trial and error. The most important part of choosing the right color is knowing your particular skin tone.
In this article, you will learn how to determine your skin tone as well as how to find a foundation to compliment it.
How to Know Your Skin Tone
What is the undertone of the skin? Simply put, the undertone of the skin is the cool, warm or neutral hue which shows through the skin’s surface color. Your undertone remains the same even if the surface color changes due to prolonged exposure to the sun or if there are skin conditions like acne.
You need to determine if your undertone is cool, warm or neutral in order to help you find the best foundation color.
You want the makeup products that you use to appear natural. When the foundation doesn’t match the undertone of your skin, the color looks unnatural and weird (pink, orange rose, copper, etc.).
Take note that if the makeup looks odd when applied to your skin, it probably has the wrong undertone for your skin.
Warm Undertone (yellow to olive) – if the skin tans easily but does not burn, there is a naturally high level of melanin or the pigment that gives the skin its color. This is the case with most people of Indian or African-American descent. However, some African-Americans have a deeper ebony skin tone that has a cool undertone. For this skin tone, espresso-type shades are ideal and dark copper shades are not recommended.
Cooler Undertone (reddish, pink or ruddy) – if the skin tans minimally or don’t tan at all, there is a lot less melanin. Some tell-tale signs are skin that flushes easily and ruddy skin that has obvious signs of redness. There are some neutral skin tones that are under this category, such as the case of people with rosacea. For this skin tone, try cool to neutral tones to find what makes your skin look its best.
Olive Skin Tones (gray or ashen) – it is due to the combination of a natural yellow undertone and a greenish hue that is unique to people with olive skin regardless of depth or ethnicity. For this skin tone, neutral tones are recommended but warm tones may also work. Avoid cool tones since these can make olive skin appear dull.
Neutral Skin Tones (no overtones of sallow, pink or olive) – these people are lucky because finding foundation, powders, and concealer is very easy. People with neutral skin tone can usually wear more than one shade of any specific foundation.
Simple Ways to Determine your Undertone:
Pay Attention to Your Hair and Eye Color
- Cool undertones often have blue, gray or green eye color with blonde, brown or black hair.
- Warm undertones often have brown, amber or hazel eyes with strawberry, red, brown or black hair.
How do you Tan?
- If you have a warm skin tone, you will tan and your skin will turn a golden brown.
- If you have a cool skin tone, you will tend to turn pink and burn.
- Fair-skinned, cool toned ladies will simply burn, whereas medium-skinned cool toned gals will burn and then tan.
What is Your Vien Color?
If you want a shortcut, just rely on the color of your veins. Check the veins on the inner part of your wrist. If the veins are in shades of blue or purple, you have a cool tone (bluish). If it appears greenish, you have a warm tone (yellow). People who have neutral undertones will find it hard to discern whether it is blue or green.
Finding the Right Foundation for Your Skin Tone
In order to check if the shade of foundation is right for your skin tone, dip a Q-tip into the container of the foundation then apply it to the center part of your jawline. If it appears invisible, this means it is a match.
However, before you start choosing your shade, you need to know one thing: a lot of Latinas make the mistake of using a foundation that is based on how light or dark their skin is. Remember that you should be considering your undertone (cool, warm or neutral). If unsure, go back to the previous section to determine your skin tone.
Shopping For Foundation
After you determine your skin tone and have an idea of the shades that work best for it, you can start testing different products in your local department store.
Try different foundations and find the best shade that works for your skin and undertones. Regardless of your skin tone, remember that your undertone will determine the shade that you should buy.
Experts recommend having two shades of foundation – one for your skin tone and one that is two shades darker. This way, you have one for summer and the other one will be for winter.
In between the two seasons, you can try mixing the two to find the perfect shade for your skin tone. Some experimentation is necessary to find the perfect shade during these seasons. In some cases, doing a little mixing is the only way you can find the best shade for your skin tone. Just don’t get discouraged since this may take several tries.
However, if you’re not interested in mixing up a concoction of your own, you can try the shades in between your two foundations. Again, test the foundation by sweeping it across your jawline. It should not appear like just another layer of makeup but instead should look invisible.
Also, remember that natural light will always give you the best read on whether the color suits you.
Makeup tricks can look a lot different in harshly lit places which can lead to a big mistake in applying foundation.
Conclusion
It is very important to use a foundation for your specific skin tone in order to look natural. You also need to use the right type that is best for you.
- If your skin is dry, use a hydrating cream or liquid.
- If your skin is oily, a mineral or powder formula is recommended.
You also need to practice how to apply it correctly so that it will look natural and blend seamlessly. It should not be obvious where the foundation was applied. This takes a lot of practice especially if you’re still new to applying makeup.
References:
http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/beauty/makeup/makeup-foundation-tips/
http://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/advice/g2414/best-foundation-for-your-skin-tone/
Author Bio-
Hi, my name is Jazz Pollard, born and brought up in Chicago, Illinois. I write on beauty, skincare, fashion, and lifestyle. I love makeup and right now living my dream of writing. You can connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin
Great post.
Thanks for the comment, glad you liked it!