Makeup for Women of Color

Find out how to pick a foundation that looks absolutely flawless. This simple foundation shade finder guide will help you confidently select a shade from any brand.

Every makeup wearer wants a foundation that matches their complexion perfectly. Unfortunately, that is seldom the reality. Oftentimes, people end up wearing foundations that either look orangey or ashy. Not a great look. Just because we’ve all been there-doesn’t mean we have to do it again. Picking the perfect foundation can be difficult, but it’s possible and definitely worth the effort. 

After you learn how to select your perfect foundation shade, check these other easy tips fo makeup beginners.

Find Your Undertone

The first step to finding your perfect shade is finding your undertone. This is the tricky part. Your undertones are either cool, warm, or neutral. People with cool undertones have pink or blue tones that show through their skin tone. Those with warm undertones have hints of yellow, peach or gold. People whose undertones are considered neutral have a similar level of warm and cool hues. The key to finding the right foundation is finding one with the right depth ( light, medium, dark, deep) and undertone.

Most women can easily identify their skin tone. Most foundations are categorized as light, medium, dark and deep). You’ll want to identify which shade range you’re in. From that category, you’ll select the shade with your undertone.   It sounds easy, but it’s a challenge for many women. 

Essence Magazine has a fantastic article on undertones tackling common misconceptions about undertones. Any skin tone can be warm, cool or neutral. You can also be the same level of depth as someone else, but have different undertones.

While the idea of undertones is fairly simple, finding them can be a bit difficult. Here are a few ways to find out what type of undertones you have.

Look at Your Veins

Examine the veins on your forearms. What color do they appear? If they look blue or purple, you likely have cool undertones. If they have a greenish appearances-you have warm undertones. If you’re unable to tell what colors your veins appear (ie. it looks both blue and green), there’s a good chance you’re neutral. The next test will provide further clarity.

Jewelry Test

Certain colors tend to look better on different undertones. You can use silver and gold jewelry to better understand your undertones. Do you typically wear silver or gold jewelry? Which one makes you look more radiant?

If you look better in gold, you have warm undertones. If silver brings out your inner glow, you have cool undertones. Neutral girls look equally radiant in either option and tend pick their jewelry based on their outfit rather than their skin tone. 

White Paper Test

Hold a white piece of paper next to your face. This will help you better detect the hues in your skin. 

Make sure you’re in natural lighting. If you see yellow or golden tones- you’re warm. If you see a pinky, rosy or reddish tone- more than likely you’re cool. If none of these tests provide a clear cut answer, your skin probably has neutral undertones. 

Many foundations let you know what undertone the shade is for. This makes it super easy to pick a flawless foundation. 

A few extra tips to help you find a foundation match that makes you look like you “woke up like this”

Swatch your neck and chest.

It’s not unusual for your face may be a different shade than your body. Swatch the foundation against your neck and chest to make sure it’s an accurate match. 

Watch out for oxidation 

Many foundations oxidize. That means that the color darkens as the foundation dries. Base your foundation match off of how it looks on you after it has a chance to fully dry. 

Don’t force it

Unfortunately, not all brands offer a comprehensive selection of foundation colors. Don’t try to force a shade to work. It won’t. Instead, DO THIS!

Mix shades. Sometimes you have to combine shades to find the right shade and undertone combination. If you’re okay buying two foundations, go for it. 

Switch Brands

If you’re not finding the perfect shade and don’t like the idea of mixing, look at other foundation lines. Thankfully, there are a lot of options these days. It’s likely that another company carries your perfect foundation match.