5 Best Ways To Find A Foundation That Actually Matches Your Skin

Foundation can be a very important part of someone’s makeup routine. No matter what skin color we have, we have all faced at least some problems when looking for a foundation shade that actually matches our skin color and type. Even if you aren’t an avid user of foundation, it’s always nice to know how to match your skin to a product, and it’s also nice to know that there is definitely a product out there for you.

Here are a few tips and tricks you can use the next time you go out to buy a new bottle of foundation. 

Research the brands you choose.

It’s 2020, and it’s unfortunate to say that there are still many brands out there whose foundation line isn’t diverse at all. 

Drugstore brands are both fairly diverse in terms of skin tones and undertones and are easy on the wallet. High-end brands have been beginning to catch up. The goal is to be updated on the beauty community and keep up with any new or well-known diverse brands if you have a history of having a difficult time finding a foundation that matches your skin. 

Fenty Beauty made a huge impact after the release of its foundation line because of the range of skin colors and undertones that are available, having launched with 40 shades. Since then, Fenty Beauty has extended to 50 shades, all ranging in skin colors and undertones. 

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna is considered a high-end brand. A bottle of the Pro Filt’R Foundation is $35 and available at Sephora. Or you can purchase it online. 

Meanwhile, other brands have faced scrutiny for not extending their shade range, even after the launches of diverse brands with diverse shade ranges. 

In 2018, Colourpop Cosmetics released their first foundation line, which includes a range of 42 different shades.

This brand isn’t considered a drugstore brand, but its prices are around the same area as drugstore brands. The Colourpop No Filter Foundation is only $12 a bottle. 

Determine your undertone.

Look at the veins on your wrist. If your veins are green, you have a warm undertone. If they’re blue, you have a cool undertone. If there’s a mix of both, you have a neutral undertone.

This makes it way easier to find a foundation that actually matches your skin. Sometimes, we’ll stumble across a foundation that matches your skin color, but doesn’t match your skin tone. This usually happens when the foundation resembles how dark or how light your skin is, but looks a bit off.

If your skin has a warm undertone and you wear a foundation with a cool undertone, your skin may appear to have a grayish tint. On the other hand, if your skin has a cool undertone and you wear a foundation with a warm undertone, your skin is going to have an orange or red tint. If you have a neutral undertone, you are able to wear a foundation with either cool or warm undertones. 

Pay attention to the climate.

Your skin may change due to the temperature outside and recent weather trends. I’ve noticed that most people tend to have a winter foundation and a summer foundation — this is because we become tanner in the summer due to sun exposure, and lighter in the winter.

You may find yourself buying a foundation during December based on the last bottle you bought, which could’ve been in August or September. The issue here is that it’s very probable that your skin no longer matches the bottle you bought during the warmer months. Be sure to adjust the foundation you buy based on possible changes in your skin. 

From personal experience, I have a summer and winter foundation color, since my skin tends to become a lot tanner over the summer. Wearing my winter foundation during the summer would make me literally look washed out. 

Determine your skin type.

There are four basic skin types: normal, dry, oily, and combination.

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Normal skin isn’t either dry or oily, being in the middle instead. People with normal skin don’t usually have issues related to their skin type, and hardly have extreme forms of blemishes or other imperfections that may cause an issue when looking for a good foundation for them. 

Dry skin causes flaking or patchiness. People with dry skin should tend to look for moisturizing foundations or even avoid them — BB or CC creams are more likely to perform the functions of foundation without potentially damaging your skin.

Oily skin causes shininess. People with oily skin are more prone to breakouts. It is recommended to use a matte or generally dryer foundation in order to combat the shininess and neutralize the skin type. 

Combination skin is just what it sounds like — a combination of both oily and dry patches of skin. The most likely combination of this being an oily forehead or t-zone, while the rest of the face is dry. 

Determining your skin type is important when looking for a foundation because you may discover a foundation that fits your skin tone perfectly, but doesn’t last very long on your face or may cause damage to your skin. 

Figure out what kind of look you’re going for.

Makeup is an art form. Different types of foundation provide different levels of coverage and create different finishes. 

If you’re going for a natural look, look for a sheer foundation or a foundation that just isn’t matte. If you’re going for a dramatic or going out look, find a full coverage foundation. Skin tone plays a role in this when looking for a full coverage foundation that successfully matches the person wearing it. Full coverage foundations are the least forgiving type of foundation.

The look you’re going for will definitely determine the sort of foundation you end up purchasing.

As an everyday user of makeup, these tips have definitely helped me.

Always make sure to do some more research on the brands you use and brands that are inclusive and provide a wide shade range.