FINDING THE RIGHT FOUNDATION

UNDERSTAND UNDERTONE

Traces of gold and red are found in skin with a warm undertone that typically darkens in the sun and doesn’t burn. An equal mix of cool and warm tones characterise a neutral undertone that tends to get darker and sometimes burns. Cool undertone with hints of pink and blue tend to burn more easily.

DO A SWATCH TEST

The skin on your body may not be the same shade as your face. So swatch a few shades of the foundation directly onto your cheek down to your neck and see how each adjusts to the skin. Foundation can sometimes oxidise and get slightly darker from the mixture of elements and the oils on your skin, so wait to see how the shades actually change.

CONSIDER LIGHTING

Evaluate the swatch test outdoors as well as in the store with fluorescent lighting. It’s important to see how the pigments look in natural light. If the shade is too light, the make-up will look ashy or as if you have a grey cast on your skin. If too dark, it can make your complexion appear muddy. The perfect match is the shade that melts into the skin, without a demarcation.