Choosing the right BB cream shade ensures a natural-looking, flawless finish. Match your shade to your skin's undertone and current tan level for the best results.
Understanding Your Skin Undertone
Before selecting a BB cream shade, determine your skin's undertone. This is the underlying hue beneath your skin's surface – cool, warm, or neutral.
- Cool Undertone: Your veins appear blue or purple. You may look better in silver jewelry than gold.
- Warm Undertone: Your veins appear green. Gold jewelry complements your skin better.
- Neutral Undertone: Your veins appear blue-green. You likely look good in both silver and gold jewelry.
Matching Your Shade to Your Skin Tone
BB cream shades are categorized to match various skin tones. Use the Fitzpatrick scale as a guide:
- Light (Fitzpatrick Skin Types 1-3): This shade is ideal for very fair skin with a neutral skin tone and minimal golden undertones. Think porcelain to light beige.
- Medium (Fitzpatrick Skin Types 3-4): Suitable for light to medium skin with a lightly tan or golden complexion. Think light beige to medium beige.
- Tan (Fitzpatrick Skin Types 4-5+): Best for deeply tanned or olive skin tones. Think medium to deep brown.
Testing the BB Cream
The best way to find your perfect shade is to test it on your jawline in natural light. This allows you to see how it blends with your skin tone without being influenced by artificial lighting. Avoid testing on your hand, as hand tone often differs from face tone.
Tips for Choosing the Right Shade
- Consider Seasonal Changes: Your skin tone may darken in the summer and lighten in the winter. You might need to adjust your BB cream shade accordingly.
- Don't Be Afraid to Mix Shades: If you find a shade that's almost perfect but a little too light or dark, try mixing it with another shade to achieve the perfect match.
- Check Online Reviews: Reading reviews from others with similar skin tones can help you narrow down your choices.
