If your makeup is too light, you will look ashy or as if you have a gray cast on your skin. If the formula is too dark, it can make your complexion look muddy. Look for the shade that disappears into your skin most is your right match.
The experts have spoken, and the answer is, foundation should be one or two shades lighter than your skin tone. This is because when you use bronzer or contour then the foundation should be able to blend and give the perfect look to your face.
Mix it with moisturizer
If you find that your foundation is a little too dark, all you need to do is take a little of it on the back of your hand, and then add a dab of moisturizer to it. Then, mix it up, check if the shade is all right, and apply it to your face.
If you're not sure, checking the color of your veins is a quick way to find out. Take a look at the veins in and around your face and neck. If you see blue veins, you have cool undertones. If your veins appear green on the skin (olive), you're warm.
If you've picked the wrong undertone:
If you are COOL and pick a WARM or NEUTRAL foundation, it will look yellow on you. If you are WARM and pick a COOL foundation, it will make your skin look pale and icy. If you pick a NEUTRAL foundation, it will look grey.
Blend The Foundation Lighter Than You
When in doubt, always pick a shade that is slightly lighter than your complexion rather than darker. This can prevent your complexion from looking darker than the rest of your body. It is the safest way to go when unsure about two shades that may look too light or too dark.
Hold a white sheet of paper against your face and look at yourself in the mirror. If your skin appears yellow next to the paper, your skin has a warm hue and undertone. If your face has a rosy blush, you're cool toned. If you can't determine between the two, you're in the middle with a neutral undertone.
Swatch the foundation on your chest because usually, it's a closer match to the color of your face. However, if you feel like your chest is very different in color, use an area of your body that is a closer match. If you can test the foundation on your face, swatch it in multiple areas of your face.
Fine, small cracks in the exterior walls or on the steps are usually nothing to worry about. Exterior cracks that are large and have a zig-zag pattern may be a sign that there's something wrong with the foundation. Brick cracks or bricks that are protruding from the wall should be checked.
An acidic pH level on your skin can trigger oxidation process which can make your foundation look darker during the day.
The pigments and oils in your makeup can react to air, your skin's acidity and natural oils, causing your foundation to turn darker.
Your neck is another place you shouldn't match with because it is literally always in the shadow of your face, and doesn't get tanned. So, it's not ideal to match your foundation to that. Instead, it's better to apply your foundation down to your neck, so that it blends into the colour of your chest.
Whether you have red hair and fair skin or black hair and dark ebony skin, the foundation must match your underlying skin color exactly. Do not buy a foundation that will make your face look even a shade or two darker or lighter or change its underlying color in any manner.
Celebrity makeup artist Frederick Sanders recommends starting with two or three shades that look closest to your complexion and blending them all in fully. "The foundation should match the side of your face and your neck to prevent you from looking like you're wearing a mask," he says.
You can mix the wrong shaded foundation with your moisturizer and make it your shade exactly. The moisturizer will help lighten the dark foundation you have in hand. Start by adding a pea-sized moisturizer to your foundation and mix it on a tray using your spatula.
Yes, many professional makeup artists and beauty gurus swear by applying liquid foundation with their fingers. This tactile approach provides a skin-like, natural makeup result since you're massaging the makeup onto your skin. Using your fingers works on all skin types and with both cream and liquid foundation.
5. Stipple, don't rub. Whether you're using a foundation brush (synthetic bristles are best) or your fingertips, apply foundation in a stippling motion, which means gently tapping it into your skin. Avoid any wiping or rubbing motions because that will only push the foundation around and cause streaks.
If we had to pick one ingredient to stay away from, parabens would be it! These are super harmful and yet found in 70-90% of cosmetics. Parabens are preservative chemicals that mimic estrogen, so they wreak havoc on your hormones. Their use is linked to breast and skin cancer as well as decreased sperm count.
First off, “oxidize,” when used in the makeup world, refers to a foundation darkening or turning orange after it's applied to your face. This may happen in minutes or it may happen in hours.
Most of the time, foundation oxidizes because your makeup combines with the oils in your skin, causing your foundation to oxidize or deepen in color.
If you already have a foundation that's dark for your skin tone, you can mix it with your moisturizer to correct the shade. Mixing the foundation with moisturizer can make it lighter. That way you don't have to buy another foundation to get the right shade for your skin.