We have noticed that the most frequently asked question to our mineral cosmetics consultants is how to correctly determine your skin tone/undertone/shade and choose the right foundation? In this article we will try to help you both with determining your skin color type and with the selection of the cosmetics themselves.
So, correctly determining your skin color type can be useful in many ways: whether it’s choosing the shade of your mineral foundation, the color of your lipstick, or even choosing your clothing. To begin with, we suggest defining the conceptual apparatus: what is skin tone, undertone and shade?
What is what?
In general, there are no approved characteristics as such, and perhaps you will find completely different classifications on other sites, but in this article we will proceed from the fact that:
— there are three main skin tones: warm, cool and neutral;
— there are four main skin tones : light, medium, dark and dark;
— there are five main skin tones: beige, yellow, olive, peach, pink.
Well, at least we use exactly this classification on our mineral cosmetics website.
Now let's determine each of the listed characteristics separately.
Before conducting the experiments, tests and experiments proposed in this article, make sure that the skin is clean (no cosmetics, lotions, or masks are applied). If you have just washed your face, wait about 15 minutes, as the skin may appear pink from drying or the temperature of the water, making it difficult to determine your color type. It will be better if the hair is pulled back into a ponytail. Also try to use natural light; Lamps can affect color in different ways - they can give a yellow or green tint and will only confuse you.
How to choose a foundation shade in different lighting
There are many nuances that need to be taken into account: what time of day to go to the store, how to choose according to the season.
Season
Summer is the easiest time to find a color that suits. But here's the problem: most girls, even if they use sunscreen ointments, acquire a delicate golden tan, which fades in the autumn-winter period and then the choice begins all over again.
The only advice here is to first buy samples or ask to pour a little into a prepared bottle so that you can try the foundation at home in a calm environment and decide.
If the sellers do not cooperate, then apply a certain amount to your neck and walk for 15 minutes so that you have time to take it on. Then it will be clearer what shade the final result will be.
Times of Day
It is better to go to the store during the day, when the sun is at its zenith and illuminates the space well. You cannot rely on indoor lighting, as it greatly distorts the result. When trying on decorative cosmetics, it is advisable to go outside with a mirror.
Your location
Very rarely plays a decisive role. This indicator is mainly needed to determine the sun protection factor. In the southern regions, where the sun's rays are intense almost all year round, a great solution would be to take a texture with a high SPF, but in the northern regions, where the sky is cloudy most of the time, you can get by with minimal protection.
Determining skin tone
As we established earlier, skin tone does not refer to shade or undertone. This characteristic determines which color group the immediate color of your skin belongs to. Essentially, the tone is a consequence of the content of a certain amount of melanin or pigment in the epidermis and does not change from exposure to the sun or skin diseases (rosacea, acne). That is, even when a person’s skin becomes pale in winter or dark in summer, the skin tone remains the same.
Skin tone can be cool (often with bluish, pink or ruddy undertones), warm (yellow, yellowish, peach and gold undertones) or neutral (has no obvious undertone).
Experiment 1. Look at the color of the veins in the wrist area. If the veins look blue or purple, you have a cool skin tone; if they are green, you have a warm skin tone; if neither, then you are most likely neutral. By the way, a neutral tone is often accompanied by an olive undertone.
Experience 2. Remember how the skin usually reacts to the sun. If your tan sticks easily and you rarely burn, you have more melanin and likely have a warm or neutral skin tone. Conversely, if you burn quickly and the tan doesn't stick, you have less melanin and therefore a cooler skin tone.
Experiment 3. Hold a white sheet of paper to your face. Looking in the mirror, try to determine what the skin looks like next to a white sheet. If your skin looks sallow or sallow, you have a warm tone; if pink, blue or bluish-red, then a cold tone; if gray, then a neutral tone. If it is impossible to determine any color in this experiment, then you also most likely have a neutral skin tone.
Try 4: Use gold and silver foil or decorations to determine the tone. Hold a piece of gold foil to your face so that it reflects the light on your skin. See whether this reflection decorates the face, or, on the contrary, makes it grayish and lifeless. Then do the same with a sheet of silver foil.
If gold foil highlights look best, you have a warm skin tone. If it's silver, you have a cool skin tone. If you don't notice a difference (both have a shimmer to them), then you're probably neutral. In the absence of foil, this experiment can be carried out with jewelry: which metal (gold or silver) looks best on the wrist?
Experiment 5. Ask someone to look at the skin behind the shell of your ear, just above the lobe. If the skin there is yellowish, then the skin tone is warm, if pinkish, then the skin tone is cold.
Now that the tone has been determined, we must warn you: using mineral makeup, which we classify as cool or warm tone, does not always guarantee the best result. For example, in rare cases, foundations that we classify as "cool" tones can make the skin appear overly pink when applied, while those classified as "warm" tones can make the skin appear overly yellow.
If you have a cool tone, your chosen foundation should look a little pinkish in the jar. If the tone is warm, it will be better if the powder has a slight yellow or golden tint.
Olive (OLIVE)
Consists of two shades: yellow and green. This beautiful combination usually looks like a muted bronze with subtle hints of green coolness.
Your skin tone is a very light to medium-dark bronze, which could easily be mistaken for classic “cool.” However, what sets Olive apart is the presence of a hint of green that creates that gorgeous cool bronze hue.
You look amazing in clothes: almost any shade! light pink, light apricot, plum, emerald green, olive green, turquoise, faded blue, denim blue, sea blue and golden yellow
You don't look as amazing in neon, brown, purple and beige clothes
Suitable for you: gold and silver jewelry
Check the undersides of your wrists: your skin has a muted golden hue and your veins are more green than blue
You have: green, brown, amber, black eyes
Your hair: blonde, red, brown, dark brown or black
When you are in the sun: you tan very easily
Celebrities with Olive Shades: Eva Longoria, J-Lo, Jessica Alba, Selma Hayek, Kim Kardashian and Demi Moore
The wrong foundation will look too white, ashy or pink. Choose foundations that: look balanced or lean slightly toward gold. Stay away from any bright yellow/golden bases, cool pinks and reds.
Determining skin tone
Basically, girls don’t have any particular problems when determining their skin tone. It was previously stated that there are 4 main shades, but in fact, makeup artists distinguish a little more. In particular, the shade is:
- very light (this includes whites, snow whites);
— light (an example is most of European Russia in winter and spring);
- average (the same most of European Russia, but in the summer, rested and tanned);
- olive;
- dark-skinned (this could include mulattos and oriental girls);
— dark (African women, there are practically no cosmetics for this shade on our website).
Based on the given gradation from pale skin tone to the darkest, we think you can easily classify yourself as one type or another. It is also important to remember that even the cosmetics manufacturers themselves very often classify one or another cosmetic product to two adjacent skin tones: for example, cosmetics can be intended for medium and dark skin, or for light and very light skin. This means that the choice here is not so clear-cut, and there are borderline shades. In general, it's hard to make a mistake.
How to choose a foundation for your face based on your skin type
You need to rely on the needs specific to your dermis.
Dry needs moisturizing
The presence of absorbent particles, tea tree oil, and powdery elements is prohibited in it. It must not be too tight so as not to highlight or increase peeling. It would be ideal to have hyaluronic acid in the composition.
BB creams containing a sufficient amount of moisturizing components have been developed especially for this type. With it, the skin will not be dehydrated, but will also be protected from ultraviolet radiation, which prevents premature aging.
Oily skin should be powdered
This is the main rule. If the composition of the foundation contains reflective grains, or it has a viscous texture, then the greasy shine will not take long to appear.
A good solution would be to consider mousse foundations. In the list of ingredients they have special absorbent particles that will absorb excess sebum and prevent the appearance of a sticky film. In addition, enlarged pores, characteristic of this type of dermis, will not become clogged and provoke inflammation. Cosmetics with a lasting effect will help you avoid floaty makeup, but here you need to look for the one with the inscription mate (matt).
Normal and combination skin
There are several options here. Normal, prone to dryness or oiliness. Owners of the first type are incredibly lucky: they don’t have to think about the fact that the product can cause peeling or an oily shine. They are free to choose almost any line. But if your complexion is dull or gray, then it is better to look for bottles with reflective particles that will give a natural shine.
For the other two varieties, the search range narrows. And you will have to use the recommendations in the appropriate form.
For problem skin
This type requires special delicate care. It is believed that problems with the dermis can only occur during adolescence, but this is not true. About 38% of people who have reached the threshold of their thirties complain of rashes, blackheads, large pores, lifelessness and excess sebum.
Here you need to focus on the inscription “non-comedogenic”. It is good if the composition contains absorbent substances, tea tree oil, and at the same time the product will have sufficient elasticity so as not to float or roll down.
Sensitive skin
Most often it is characterized by allergic redness, dryness, and an immediate reaction to conventional cosmetics. In order not to irritate it, you need to look for the “non-allergenic” signature and give preference to lighter textures.
Before purchasing, be sure to test on your inner wrist and wait 30 minutes. This is necessary, since even the mildest and safest formula can contain components to which a woman may become allergic. Read the ingredients and put on the shelf those that contain products that are contraindicated for you.
Mature skin
It is very difficult for her to find a remedy. Especially if there are already deep wrinkles, the oval of the face has lost its former contour. Ordinary foundations will only emphasize the problems, will accumulate in the depressions and make the dermis even more sluggish.
Look for products whose packaging indicates the presence of a lifting effect. It would be ideal if there was also a lasting effect that would prevent the texture from spreading over a long period. Then a good tone and smooth surface will please a woman with age-related changes.
Determining skin undertone
When classifying according to this criterion, there should also be no problems if you do not suffer from color blindness. Skin undertone is the color that is closest to it from the color palette at the moment. Skin undertone, like shade, can change over time and depending on the season.
On our website we have divided cosmetics into five main undertones: for beige, yellow, olive, peach and pink. These are the colors that are most often found among our customers and are most in demand.
Review of foundations
To avoid making an unfortunate mistake, you can try buying samples so you can try them on in peace. Prepare the skin properly, wait until the surface is completely dry and only then apply the tint, waiting another 10-20 minutes. Evaluate critically, noticing the slightest deviation from the desired outcome. The foundation must emphasize the natural attractiveness, and not change it, so look for a product that is as close as possible to the natural complexion.
Long-lasting foundation Infaillible 24 hours matte finish, L'Oréal Paris
Amazing toning with a special mattifying effect and durability throughout the day. The revolutionary formula creates a flawless, weightless coverage that feels like a second skin. Suitable for absolutely all skin types, therefore it is universal. A rich palette of 9 tones allows you to try and find the best. It is not felt at all due to the preservation of breathing on the surface of the skin.
Foundation Alliance Perfect “Perfect Fusion”, L'Oréal Paris
Includes 3 hybrid pigments, which, when mixed with 4 classic ones, can adapt to the structure of the epidermis, completely restoring its natural radiance.
It is not felt on the dermis, there is no mask effect, it blends well with the tone and covers pigmentation. Having the consistency of a delicate fluid, it gently envelops the skin and gives it natural internal health, maintaining a satin effect. It contains 9 colors that can adapt thanks to the reflective particles present.
Yves Saint Laurent LE TEINT ENCRE DE PEAU
It has a silky and delicate texture, loved even by whimsical ladies. The product is developed on the basis of an exclusive formula, making it extremely stable and easy to apply. The wearing time is long, but this tint will not cause skin problems or clogged pores. There is SPF 15 radiation protection.
This is one of the most invisible foundations anyone has ever created. The palette includes fifteen different undertones, so women will not have any confusion about how to choose a foundation.
Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation
Its new structure adapts to the tone of the dermis as much as possible, giving it a flawless appearance thanks to the focal effect. It oxygenates, refreshes and protects against harmful effects with the help of the Natural Skin complex.
It contains sapphire pigments, which make the undertone more natural and fresh, and the combination with vitamin E gives hydration for 24 hours. Light consistency covers without imperfections, providing comfort and SPF 18 protection. Suitable for all types of epidermis.
Revlon Colorstay Makeup For Normal-Dry Skin Ivory
The delicate texture is applied to areas in a perfectly smooth and radiant layer, providing the necessary level of hydration. New technology maintains balance, giving peace and ease. Product No. 1 in durability for dry and normal dermis, creates reliable coverage for 24 hours without reapplication! Thanks to the SPF 20 sun protection filter, it additionally protects the skin from the aggressive effects of UV rays.
That's all the useful information on how to choose the right tone and shade of your foundation for your skin color. Use the advice, buy original products in the catalog of our website and enjoy beautiful, even makeup every day.
How to determine your appearance color type: online test
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- Your appearance color type is winter. Feel free to choose bright shades for your wardrobe: red, emerald, lemon, black, chocolate. Avoid pastel and orange tones. Read more in the article: Women of the winter color type: suitable hair color, makeup palette, clothes, perfume
- Your appearance color type is spring. Natural tenderness and femininity are emphasized by soft shades of pink, beige, lemon, soft raspberry and blue. Avoid dark and cold shades: black, purple, bright red. They will look tired. Read more in the article: Spring color type: what colors of hair, clothes, makeup are suitable
- Your appearance color type is summer. Choose calm, pastel colors: milky white, beige, pale blue, mint, gray, lavender. Among bright shades, give preference to red-coral, raspberry, light yellow, and grassy green. Avoid bright red, white, black, emerald. Read more in the article: Summer color type: what colors of hair, clothes, makeup palette, photo examples are suitable
- Your appearance color type is autumn. Natural shades of cherry, emerald, orange, and mustard will suit a bright girl like you. Avoid cold blue-blue shades, as well as cold scarlet and pink. They will blur your personality. Read more in the article: Autumn color type: what hair colors are suitable, clothes, makeup palette, perfume
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