In our section “Help Situation” we tell you what to do in case of various beauty incidents. How to remove dark circles under the eyes, what to do if you get sunburned – in each material we will answer one question. The next problem for fans of online shopping is: how to choose a foundation shade on the Internet so as not to make mistakes?
Step 1: Determine your skin tone
When buying foundation, the first thing to do is to determine its tone. Tone is the current color of the skin, regardless of external factors; it can be light or dark. When you tan in the summer or turn pale in the winter, what changes is not the color tone, but only the shade. When buying cosmetics, it is important not to confuse these concepts: an entire nation may have one skin tone, but each person has their own color. Caucasians tend to have a lighter tone.
Step 2. Look at the shade number
On the packaging of the foundation there is a number – this is the tone identifier. In online stores, manufacturers indicate it depending on the palette assortment. The lightest shade is indicated by the lowest number; usually the identifier starts with a zero or a one. The higher the number, the darker the light. However, this advice does not always work: For some brands, the darkest shade is the sixth, for others it is the eighth. So you should pay attention to other factors.
Step 3. Pay attention to the letter in the shadow name
In addition to the number on the packaging, manufacturers also indicate the letter. The letter is the undertone, it can be cold – C, neutral – N and warm – W. The colder the undertone, the lighter the color of the foundation. For example, 0C is the lightest tone in the palette, W6 or W8 is the darkest.
To determine your undertone, you should look at the color of your veins. The veins on your wrist are the easiest to navigate because they are close together. If they are blue or purple, you have a cool undertone, and if they are green, you have a warm undertone. Or, you can take a test to determine which undertone you have.
Step 4. Look at the color swatches
Each color comes with swatches on the website. You can tell what color the foundation is by looking at the photos. Most of the time, the swatches are arranged from light to dark. Just choose the colors that are closer to your undertone. And choose the one that best suits you.
Step 5. Choose a light tone
If you can’t decide between two shades, we recommend going for the lighter one. It’s much easier to darken a light shade than a dark one. Just apply foundation, then concealer and follow with bronzer or sculptor.
If you still can’t decide after repeating all the steps, here are a few more tips.
— See product reviews. Buyers on websites often show what the product looks like. This will give you an idea of how the same product looks on different skin tones.
— Check out Blogger reviews. Beauty bloggers review cosmetics, test products and share their impressions. This can also serve as a guide when buying a foundation.
— Take the test. Many brands have a quiz on their website to help you determine the right foundation shade. Just answer a few questions and choose the best option.
In general, it is difficult to fully trust reviews. It is important to see the shade and form your own opinion about it.
Text: Nare Grigoryan
Source: People Talk
I’m Roger Gritton, and I’ve been writing for the The Fashion Vibes for over 5 years now. My specialty is beauty news; I’m passionate about covering the latest trends, products, and innovations in the industry. In my time there, I’ve become known as an authority on all things beauty-related.
I love discovering new experts to interview, researching up-and-coming ingredients and techniques that are making their way onto our beauty shelves and highlighting people who are making a difference in the world of cosmetics. My work has appeared not only on The Fashion Vibes, but also several other publications including the New York Times Magazine, Allure Magazine and Refinery29.
