How to Choose Foundation and Concealer Shade?
Choosing the right foundation and concealer shades can dramatically enhance your makeup look. The key is understanding your skin's undertone and then selecting shades that complement it.
Before selecting a shade, determine your skin's undertone:
- Cool: Your veins appear blue or purple. You likely look better in silver jewelry. Foundation shades with pink or blue undertones will suit you.
- Warm: Your veins appear green. You likely look better in gold jewelry. Foundation shades with yellow or golden undertones will suit you.
- Neutral: Your veins appear blue-green. You can likely wear both silver and gold jewelry. You have more flexibility in choosing foundation shades.
Choosing Your Foundation Shade
- Identify your skin color: Determine if your skin is fair, light, medium, tan, or deep.
- Narrow it down: Select three shades within your skin tone range.
- Test on your jawline: Apply each shade to your jawline in natural light. The shade that disappears seamlessly into your skin is your match.
Choosing Your Concealer Shade
- Consider your needs: Are you using concealer to cover blemishes, dark circles, or highlight?
- Foundation as a guide: Generally, choose a concealer that's one to two shades lighter than your foundation. This creates a brightening effect, especially under the eyes. For blemish coverage, match your foundation shade or choose one slightly darker.
- Test on your cheek: Apply small amounts of different shades to your cheek, and assess how each one looks in natural light.
- Under-eye concealer: For dark circles, it's often beneficial to choose a shade one or two shades lighter than your foundation shade to help brighten the under-eye area.
Addressing Specific Skin Concerns
The choice between skin-tone concealer and color-correcting concealer depends on your skin concerns. Color-correcting concealers (green for redness, orange for dark circles, etc.) are used before your foundation-matching concealer to neutralize specific skin issues.
Additional Tips
- Natural lighting is crucial: Always test shades in natural light for an accurate assessment.
- Blend well: Ensure proper blending to avoid harsh lines.
- Consider the finish: Choose a concealer finish (matte, dewy, etc.) that suits your skin type and desired makeup look.
