Beauty

[CherryHugs]

I have a hard time picking the right color foundation. Is there a way to get what looks good on your skin? I have tried so many and the color is not right. 

[JeanLouiseFinch]

Foundation shades are inconsistent from brand to brand, even within the same brand that carries different lines, and sometimes they even change color on your face depending on your type of skin reacting with an ingredient.  Unfortunately it takes a lot of trial and error for some of us to find the right shade.

[jaxs mom]

Don't judge it if you're under incandescent lighting. Those bulbs make everything look yellow. You need to check with either daylight bulbs or in natural sunlight. 

[tansy]

Go to the makeup counters and get color matched.  Ask for samples.

[happycat]

I have started asking for samples, like @tansy recommended. My skin looked wonderful with an Elizabeth Arden flawless finish- now I don't remember the color. But they reformulated it and its different. Hate it when that happens. Thats been years ago, and I while I have found some I can live with, I haven't found I any loved like that old formulation.

[Trinity11]

Try and find out whether your skin tone is warm, cool or neutral. It has helped me over the years to rule out different foundations.

For example, most of Bobbi Brown's foundations are most suitable for warm tone complexions. I have just never really had luck with that line of foundations. I am now using Laura Mercier in Rose Ivory Silk Creme foundation because it is a nice match for my cool tone complexion. Lancome also have some nice foundations.

You also may wish to look into a good primer. They definitely help.....

[151949]

I like L'Oreal true match so I got my cousin to go to the drug store with me and help me choose a shade. She is a professional artist so she notices even subtle color differences. She picked one for when I'm just me and one for when I have been in the sun a lot. Now I just buy those two shades.

[ccassaday]

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@CherryHugs wrote:

I have a hard time picking the right color foundation. Is there a way to get what looks good on your skin? I have tried so many and the color is not right. 

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I think the first step is understanding the actual color and undertone of your skin. I used to think I was a medium. Nope I am light. Once I realized I was a light neutral it has been super easy to buy foundation. I make sure the brand I buy has what they call a light neutral and it always works. I stay away from brands who have no description of the color and just stupid names. Nobody can pick that way. So first make sure you know for sure you are light or medium or dark. Then figure out your undertone and it should be easy.

[suzyQ3]

I don't think that there is any good way to find your right shade without going in person and trying some on. Labels or names mean nothing, A "light neutral" in one brand may be wildly different from the same designation in another brand. Plus, the texture (liquid, cream, powder, etc.) has to be factored in as well. A shade that might work for you in a powder may not match your skin in a liquid.

[Irshgrl31201]

I find the best way to get a good match is to put it on my jawline and then go outside to check in natural light. This is what my makeup artist friends recommend as well. It is a pain so I do this not at Sephora which is usually in the middle of the mall but instead dept stores where I can walk right outside with one of their mirrors.

Using the girls or guys working at makeup counters to be just as inconsistent. I have been to MAC  (and other makeup) counters countless times and I have never been given the same foundation color twice. I use SPF year round and have for 20 yrs. My face color is consistent unless I use bronzer.

Undertones are important too. I think a quick tip is that if you look at your blood vessels and see blue, that means you are cool toned. If you see greenish, you are warm. Neutral would be you are seeing not really blue or green. 

Of course you can do all of this and find the perfect color only to find out it oxidizes.