- Emma
- Feb 25
- 4 min read
So, you've picked a foundation you'd like to try, and now you're standing face-to-face with a wall of foundation jars that all look the same. What now? Shade matching (successfully) is undoubtedly the most difficult part of shopping for a new foundation. In this article, I'm going to tell you how to find your perfect foundation shade, even if you don't know what your undertone really is.
Two things that come in handy when you're trying to shade match, is knowing your skin tone and your undertone.
Your skin tone is the measure of the depth of your skin tone, usually fair, light, medium, dark, and deep. Your undertone is the subtle color under your skin. These include cool, neutral, olive, and warm. Undertones do not measure how deep or fair your skin is. The biggest difference between skin tone and undertone is that undertone does not change.
For example: a person who normally falls along the “light” shade range with warm undertones may get a tan in the summer and be able to wear “medium” shades of foundation, but they will still have warm undertones, and they will need to shop for makeup accordingly.
So, what’s my undertone?
It can be difficult to judge what your undertones are, but there are some things that you can look for to give you a hint.
Warm: If your skin has warm undertones, it may look peachy, golden, yellow, or orange. If you have warm undertones, your veins (check the underside of your wrist!) may look green, and you might feel you look best with golden jewelry.
Cool: If your skin has cool undertones, it may look rosy, blue, or red. If you have cool undertones, your veins will look purple or blue, and you may feel you look best with silver jewelry.
Neutral: If you have a difficult time telling whether your veins are green or blue, and if you find yourself able to wear both silver and gold, you probably have neutral undertones!
Olive: If you have olive undertones, your skin will have a greenish tint, or maybe even grey. Your veins will appear to be neither purple nor blue, and you will find yourself able to wear both gold and silver jewelry. Olive is technically considered a neutral undertone, since it is not predominantly warm or cool, but it can be very difficult to find a neutral foundation to match olive undertones, because of the characterizing green hue. Luckily, more beauty brands are starting to recognize this and make shades specifically for those with olive undertones.
I figured out my undertone, so now what?
If you are able to take a guess as to what your undertone is, you can follow these next steps to pick out your shade. If you still aren't sure what your undertone is, don't worry. You can follow these steps anyway, and you'll still find a shade!
Figure out your skin tone. It is (usually) classified as fair, light, medium, dark, and deep. This is usually pretty easy to figure out, but if you aren't sure, just eyeball it and pick whatever seems right.
Figure out your undertone. If you aren't sure, just make your best educated guess. You'll know if you picked the wrong one.
Pick 3 colors of foundation in either your skin tone, or your undertone that seem about right. Again, your best guess is a great place to start. You'll know if you don't have the right shade.
For example: if you aren't sure about your undertone, but you know you are fair-skinned, grab a cool, neutral, and warm-undertone foundation in the fair shade range. If you know you have neutral undertones, but aren't sure if you're medium or dark-skinned, grab a neutral-undertone foundation from each range.
Swatch your prospective shades where your jawline meets your neck. This is the best place to test out foundation colors, because you will be able to tell in one swipe if the foundation matches your face and your neck (we want to find a balance between the two). Make sure that you're swatching on clean, bare skin, for the most accurate match.
Grab a mirror and take a look at your options. Does the foundation swatch look too yellow or orange? If so, you should probably veer towards a cooler or more neutral foundation. Does the swatch look beigy, pink, or ashy? You should most likely opt for something warmer or more olive toned.
Once you have a shade or two that you feel good about, I recommend swatching that shade on the front of your cheek, and on your forehead, and blending it out. This will be the true test of whether it matches or not.
Tips: Here's a few tricks to make this process a bit easier
Utilize natural light! Fluorescent indoor lighting does nobody any favors. Try to look at your foundation swatches by a window, or step outside with a phone camera or handheld mirror. This will be the most accurate way to see how each shade looks
Get a second opinion. Ask the advice of a friend, relative, or store associate for their opinion. Sometimes a bit of advice can make the decision easier, just as long as you remember that the decision is ultimately yours to make.
Don't settle for "close enough". You know your skin better than anyone, and if a shade just doesn't feel right, it probably isn't. You don't have to settle for a shade that's not quite your color. There is always another brand of foundation, with different shades to try.
Don't be afraid to guess. Shade matching isn't an exact science, and shade numbering is not universal, so you may be completely different shades across different brands. Shade matching is half guessing game, so try to have fun with it, and use the experience to learn what works, and what doesn't work for you!
You don't have to make a quick decision. Depending on the store you go into, they may be able to give you a small sample of a foundation shade for free. This way you can take it home and wear it for a day, to see if you truly like the shade. It's a big decision, so don't be afraid to think about it for a day or two.
Hopefully these tips will help you shade match with confidence. If you have any advice for others, leave it in the comments! Happy shopping!
