topic Re: Mac Cosmetics foundation colors. This may help. in Beauty

Mac Cosmetics foundation colors. This may help.

Dusty1 — Sat, 22 May 2021 15:49:16 GMT

I don't have all of the answers, but I have been using Mac for 100 years, so I know some.

Mac colors are based on the art theory that warm colors have red (so pink toned foundations are considered warm) & yellow/olive tones are considered cool, because of...who knows, but that is what they do.

Pink/Peach=NW shades

Yellow/Olive=NC shades

Very yellow=C shades=

Neutral with no strong yellow or pink tones=N

The numbers are the depth of color NW5 is very pale with a neutral leaning pink tone.

NW or NC 20 is fair to light. Pink or golden tone.

NW58 is very deep toned skin with pink/red shading.

If you go to the Mac site they give a nice description for each color of foundation-

N4-VERY FAIR BEIGE WITH NEUTRAL UNDERTONES FOR LIGHT SKIN (NEUTRAL)

Concealers are the same. So if you want to cover a spot on your face, you may want to go with an NC shade to neutralize any redness.

If you want to neutralize blue circles under your eyes, you may want an NW shade.

Or you can just match your skin tone & that is fine.

Another thing is the Back To Mac program. You collect 6 containers-foundation, mascara, blush, plastic eyeliner tubes, etc when you are done with them. Return them to a Mac counter or online & you get to choose a free lipstick!!

Re: Mac Cosmetics foundation colors. This may help.

wvumountiefan — Sat, 22 May 2021 16:35:58 GMT

@Dusty1 This is very helpful! 😊

Re: Mac Cosmetics foundation colors. This may help.

Mindy D — Sat, 22 May 2021 17:10:32 GMT

@Dusty1 MAC's system is ridiculous to me. All it does is confuse customers.

Re: Mac Cosmetics foundation colors. This may help.

rms1954 — Sat, 22 May 2021 17:40:02 GMT

@Mindy D wrote:
@Dusty1 MAC's system is ridiculous to me. All it does is confuse customers.

It is confusing but maybe because what they've been telling us all along was incorrect. I am giving this a try just to see if it works because nothing I ever tried in other brands was a huge disappointment. What's one more shot.

Re: Mac Cosmetics foundation colors. This may help.

Mindy D — Sat, 22 May 2021 18:10:13 GMT

@rms1954 wrote:
@Mindy D wrote:
@Dusty1 MAC's system is ridiculous to me. All it does is confuse customers.
It is confusing but maybe because what they've been telling us all along was incorrect. I am giving this a try just to see if it works because nothing I ever tried in other brands was a huge disappointment. What's one more shot.

@rms1954 @If you went to the counter in a department store, you'd probably find a shade for you. You can try it on Q too, but I don't know if Q carries all their shades. I found a shade for me in their liquid foundation some years ago but the foundation I was looking at was not the best for my very dry skin. Good luck.

Re: Mac Cosmetics foundation colors. This may help.

decaf — Sat, 22 May 2021 20:08:10 GMT

I didn't watch the presentation, I'm just going by what I've read here. I don't think MAC is correct. Pink is cool, yellow is warm. Always has been. If someone at Mac made a boo boo long ago, they should fix it.

Re: Mac Cosmetics foundation colors. This may help.

Dusty1 — Sat, 22 May 2021 22:24:32 GMT

@decaf It is somehow based on the actual artist color theory that makes it "right", but I agree that it is confusing.

Once you throw all of that out & just realize that C tones are more yellow/olive. W tones are more pink/peach it makes it easier that trying to understand it. LOL

Re: Mac Cosmetics foundation colors. This may help.

Dusty1 — Sat, 22 May 2021 22:32:16 GMT

@Mindy D I didn't design their system. I'm just trying to help people choose a shade.

It is confusing if you try to make it make sense (It is explained on lots of sites.)

If you want to try the foundation & you decide if you are more yellow/olive toned (NC or C) or pink/peach (NW or N), then just roll with that.

Are you very fair, fair, medium, medium deep or deep then you choose a number.

If you don't get a full coverage foundation, you can fudge the number fairly easily.

If you aren't a strong yellow or peach you can fudge the NW/NC designation, too.

They have a huge range of shades & undertones to choose from, not all here on the Q.

You can also use those tones to "adjust". You can use an NC color to tone down redness.

Or an NW color to adjust for sallowness.

It's makeup! It's fun.

Re: Mac Cosmetics foundation colors. This may help.

Shanus — Sun, 23 May 2021 13:58:48 GMT

@Mindy D wrote:
@Dusty1 MAC's system is ridiculous to me. All it does is confuse customers.

@Mindy D I agree. Even purchasing MAC at counter is a nightmare! I've been an artist most of my life and their color theories are off the wall! Warm tones are olive with yellow undertones and cool is pink undertones and neutral is in between with green and blue vein testing.

It doesn't matter to me what they call their shades or the numbers they use, it's impossible, even for professionals, to choose the correct shades. I gave up years ago. Every other makeup line divides their shades the complete opposite of MAC.

Re: Mac Cosmetics foundation colors. This may help.

Shanus — Sun, 23 May 2021 14:01:33 GMT

@decaf wrote:
I didn't watch the presentation, I'm just going by what I've read here. I don't think MAC is correct. Pink is cool, yellow is warm. Always has been. If someone at Mac made a boo boo long ago, they should fix it.

@decaf They had it "right"...same as other foundations in most lines and then several years ago, someone decided to "flip" the undertones. MAC does great shadows and lipsticks, but foundations are impossible.

Re: Mac Cosmetics foundation colors. This may help.

Chi-town girl — Sun, 23 May 2021 21:36:18 GMT

@Dusty1 wrote:
I don't have all of the answers, but I have been using Mac for 100 years, so I know some.
Mac colors are based on the art theory that warm colors have red (so pink toned foundations are considered warm) & yellow/olive tones are considered cool, because of...who knows, but that is what they do.
Pink/Peach=NW shades
Yellow/Olive=NC shades
Very yellow=C shades=
Neutral with no strong yellow or pink tones=N

The numbers are the depth of color NW5 is very pale with a neutral leaning pink tone.
NW or NC 20 is fair to light. Pink or golden tone.
NW58 is very deep toned skin with pink/red shading.

If you go to the Mac site they give a nice description for each color of foundation-
N4-VERY FAIR BEIGE WITH NEUTRAL UNDERTONES FOR LIGHT SKIN (NEUTRAL)

Concealers are the same. So if you want to cover a spot on your face, you may want to go with an NC shade to neutralize any redness.
If you want to neutralize blue circles under your eyes, you may want an NW shade.
Or you can just match your skin tone & that is fine.

Another thing is the Back To Mac program. You collect 6 containers-foundation, mascara, blush, plastic eyeliner tubes, etc when you are done with them. Return them to a Mac counter or online & you get to choose a free lipstick!!

@Dusty1 - excellent/helpful info, thank you!

This is an excellent makeup brand. I use several products and have been for years

The makeup artists that I know utilize this brand - they don't seem to be confused or challenged by using any of the products

Re: Mac Cosmetics foundation colors. This may help.

fitfuninformed — Sun, 23 May 2021 22:08:01 GMT

I've said this several times whenever the infamous MAC comments with regard to the undertones with their complexion items. Whomever marketed (not necessarily created) the line is dyslexic.

Warm = yellow/olive Cool = Red/Pink, PERIOD.

If you insist on using the line just bear this in mind while navigating through the product descriptions. They are totally reversed.

Re: Mac Cosmetics foundation colors. This may help.

Chi-town girl — Sun, 23 May 2021 22:37:58 GMT

@fitfuninformed wrote:
I've said this several times whenever the infamous MAC comments with regard to the undertones with their complexion items. Whomever marketed (not necessarily created) the line is dyslexic.

Warm = yellow/olive Cool = Red/Pink, PERIOD.

If you insist on using the line just bear this in mind while navigating through the product descriptions. They are totally reversed.

This is an excellent makeup brand. I use several products and have been for years

The makeup artists that I know utilize this brand - they don't seem to be confused or challenged by using any of the products

Re: Mac Cosmetics foundation colors. This may help.

gertrudecloset — Mon, 24 May 2021 03:46:55 GMT

@Mindy DI stopped buying MAC 5 years ago. Nars or Estee Lauder for me. I swore by MAC when I was working. had to reapply too often.

Re: Mac Cosmetics foundation colors. This may help.

gertrudecloset — Mon, 24 May 2021 03:50:40 GMT

MAC makes it even more confusing because for me I try to match my neck to my face. So the shade I buy is always lighter. I have to go into Sephora,Ulta or department stores when I want change up with my foundation. I get samples of things with help and come home and play around with everything until I decide which is best for me.

Then, I have a winter color and a summer shade of foundation.

Re: Mac Cosmetics foundation colors. This may help.

CANDLEQUEEN — Tue, 25 May 2021 12:34:13 GMT

I haven't worn MAC foundation in many years, but I remember when I did try it, it turned orangey on my medium tan skin with yellow undertones, so maybe I wasn't matched with the right color! My oldest daughter loves MAC and that is all she uses, and her makeup looks beautiful!

I do love their lippies!!!!!!