There’s nothing quite like finding a perfect shade match. You know, the kind that looks seamless in any light. But getting there is rarely an easy quest. From reading shade descriptions online to hand swatches IRL, discovering a shade that blends perfectly into your complexion can prove to be a challenge to even the most seasoned makeup experts in the industry. That’s why we’ve compiled some insider tips for shade-matching, whether you’re in search of foundation, concealer, bronzers, or powder.
Familiarize yourself with the basics
Obtaining the perfect shade match, in essence, is quite simple. It takes the proper skin tone category, undertone, and depth to land on the proper match. Start by taking inventory of your undertones, which can be determined quickly by using your veins. Generally, if your veins appear more green in color, you have warmer undertones, whereas blue indicates cooler undertones. If you have a combination, it’s likely that you have neutral undertones. The Triple Fix Serum Foundation comes in five categories: Light, Medium, Tan, Dark, and Deep for the most customized finish. Once you’ve established your undertone and tone category, it’s time to test the product.
Aim to match your neck
In stores, it’s common to see people testing different products on the back of their hand to get the closest match possible. But, the secret to achieving seamless coverage from the top down is matching the foundation to the neck. Instead of trying out the color on your hand, which could be significantly lighter or darker than your face, test the product on your jawline to see which shade accommodates both the face and neck well. A proper shade will appear undetectable on the jaw.
Consider oxidation
Have you ever been fooled by what you thought would be the perfect shade, but it gradually appeared darker as time went on? Us, too. We can attribute that to oxidation, or the reaction to external components, like humidity and oils, that alter the appearance of foundation. While no foundation is truly exempt from oxidation, understanding what it is can help determine which shade to go with. For instance, if you’re deciding between two shades, opt for the shade that is slightly lighter than your face, as bronzer and blush will bring additional warmth and color to the complexion.
Pro Tip: Applying a silicone-free primer, like the Secure Skin Gripping Serum Primer, can help create a barrier between the skin and complexion products to minimize the amount of oxidation.
Test under the proper lightingWe’ve all been there - trying on a shade, which appears perfect, then stepping out in natural sunlight to find out it is not a match. It’s such a bummer. To prevent this, many makeup artists recommend to test shades under white light for the truest tone.