Beauty

[BostonMom 59]

Hi there, BonnieLu! I feel your pain, I really do. When I was younger, it used to be really easy to pick a foundation shade from the drugstore, but then there was a much smaller range of shades and brands and you would just wing it and learn how to blend. As I got older and had more money to spend, I turned to department stores, I was always on the palest-of the-pale shade or the one just below it. Now I'm in my 50s and am spending the majority of my money elsewhere (one son in college, the other in private high school), I am trying to go back to the drugstore now that they have more brands, more formulas and a much more expansive range of shade. Sometimes it blows my mind (I am old enough to remember when all Maybelline sold was eye products). I am still Fair, just not as fair as I was in my younger days, and I do have mild rosacea. I try to lean towards shades that are neutral, as cool makes me pinker than I am already and most warms go orange or yellow on me.Recently I've tried Maybelline Fit Me Dewy (which oxidized to orange under my chin), L'Oreal Lumi Cushion (feels dry, not much in the package, and I don't like the damp sponge delivery system) and Physicians Formula super BB Insta Ready (great texture and the Light shade works for me, but I do need a nose and chin touch up during the day sometimes). I just bought the two pack of It's Bye Bye Redness from the Q (like it so far) and also have Revlon's new Fill & Blur ($5 at CVS after Extra Bucks and coupons) and L'Oreal True Match liquid and compact in N3 (sale, store coupon, mfg coupon and Balance Rewards got me these for FREE) so the the search goes on. My last total thmbs down before the Maybelline mentioned above was Bare Minerals Bare Skin liquid- short wear time and constantly settled into the pores on my nose- foundation dots- ick! I also bought the IT BB cream at Ulta and returned it- it has ctirus oils in it which not only aren't good for my rosacea, but, to my overly scensitive (not a spelling error- just my way of combining 'scent' and 'sensitive') nose, it smelled like some kind of household cleaner.

[Jordan2]

I am always on the search for a great foundation.As far as choosing one from a shopping channel I am fair and usually go with the lightest shade offered. Usually there are maybe 5 shades to choose from which doesn't cover everyone. Then if you offer me too many shades to choose from, I get overwhelmed! I remember once going into Macy's at the Clinique counter. The sales woman was more than happy to match me and gave me a sample to try at home before I bought it.

[JustJazzmom]

Best things to do -- already mentioned 

1) get samples to take home to try of various foundations 

2) natural light gives a better idea of how a foundation looks over fluorescent lighting

3) look at wrist veins to determine cool vs, warm vs. neutral tone

4) below the jaw at upper neck is a good test area for foundation as that area gets less sun than face. If in doubt on shade best to go lighter then darker when choosing one.

5) if unable to get sample, see if store allows return, no questions asked of opened product

6) generally a 1 ounce bottle lasts about 3-4 months with daily use. It's better to apply a primer before any foundation (liquid or powder) as it fills in any fine lines, depressions on face so foundation is on top of the primer and not directly on your face 

I can usually get away without a primer on my face when using powder but not with liquid. My primer is clear -- Lancôme La Base Pro. I use about 3 drops to my face, let it dry, then apply my foundation.

[mistriTsquirrel]

Realizing what my undertone is has been the most helpful.  Then whenever there is a description of the undertone available, I know whether or not the foundation will work for me.

It's still hit-or-miss for me if I can't see the foundation in person.  I try to do image searches and look for reviews to see what others look like in the product or what others are saying about the undertone.

[Katcat1]

@bonnielu,  One easy test is to look at your veins (turn your hand over).  If they look more blue, you are cool, if they look more green, you are warm.  Sometimes you can fall inbetween, that is, you can't tell what color your veins are so you are neutral.  I can use cool or neutral.  Warm which always has yellow in it, does nothng for me.  

[kcladyz]

What I do is use findation.com or I take a bottle that works fo rme and hold it up  to  the brand I want to try and pick the closest one. In general my shade is the third one up from the very lightest shade  available.

[just bee]

L'Oreal has simplified it on their website:

Hold a white piece of paper up to your face. Determine the hue of your skin in contrast to the paper.

Warm Undertone

• Your skin has yellow, gold, peach hues
• You have green-tinted veins on your wrist.
• Your skin tans easily

Neutral Undertone

• Your skin has a mix of warm and cool tones
• You have blue-green veins on your wrist
• Your skin tans, but also burns

Cool Undertone

• Your skin has pink, blue, or red hues
• You have blue or purple veins on your wrist
• Your skin burns easily and tans minimally

 Based on this description, I feel I can confidently say I'm neutral.

[ALRATIBA]

I'm fair/neutral.  When I find it necessary to try a different brand ... I usually start with the lightest beige shade and that generally works okay. 

Occasionally, I need to go lighter and my niece gets my rejects.