4-Step Guide To Finding Your Foundation and Concealer Shade
Finding the perfect foundation and concealer shade isn’t like choosing an eyeshadow or a lipstick. The hunt for ‘the perfect one’ takes some thought, a whole lot of research, and a couple of trials for you to finally find your match. Why? Because you really don’t want your face and neck looking like it’s been photoshopped onto the body of a very different skin tone. The art of finding the right foundation and concealer shade lies in finding a hue that blends seamlessly into your skin tone –– it looks like your skin, but better! We agree that this takes some work, however, once you find ‘the one’, we guarantee that it’ll be a cherished choice.
When choosing your base products aka concealer and foundation shades, there are a lot of factors that you need to keep in mind. Unlike coloured cosmetics, base products don’t follow a one size fits all mantra. Which means, only once you test it on your skin will you be able to tell whether it blends well into your skin tone or makes it look too light, dark, orange, or grey. So then how do you know what’s right for you? Here’s the ultimate 4-step guide to finding the right foundation and concealer shade –– this’ll make shopping for base products a whole lot easier and will definitely push you to find ‘the one’ that is perfect just for you.
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Step 1 – Figure Out Your Undertone
Start by understanding your undertones. This is especially crucial for when you are looking to find your perfect foundation shade. It is important to note that undertones are different from skin tones –– undertones entail the colour that is underneath your skin’s surface. There are three types –– warm, cool, and neutral. The easiest way to check your undertone is to observe the colour of your veins: purple or blue means cool, green means warm, and if you’re torn between the two and can’t quite tell, then you’re a neutral. Alternatively, keep an eye out for what sun exposure does to your skin tone. If you tend to tan easily then you have a warm undertone. If you tend to go red or pink, you have a cooler undertone.
When you’re picking a concealer or foundation shade, make sure it matches your undertones, so that it blends in with your skin tone perfectly. Warm complexions need to gravitate more towards shades with yellow undertones, while cooler complexions look out for foundations with pink undertones. With concealers, most people have yellow undertones so opt for a concealer that has a bit of yellow in it (this also adds that brightening effect your concealer, which works well for under eyes).
Step 2 – Identify Your Skin Tone
Parcos houses brands that offer a variety of foundation and concealer shades, meant for various skin tones across the board –– the three main categories being light, medium, and deep. When identifying which skin tone is closest to yours, take your pick from three consecutive shades. For both concealers and foundation, test it out on the side of your jawline and NOT your wrist. Make sure you swatch the liquid, cream, or powder on your jawline all the way on to your neck. Blend the product, so that it melts into your natural skin tone –– the one closest to it will be the winner.
In the case of your foundation, if you sit somewhere between two shades and are comfortable to splurge, then invest in both the shades and mix them together for a closer match. This comes in handy, especially during seasonal changes where you’ve either tanned or become half a shade lighter.
In the case of concealer, it’s always recommended to go a little lighter than your skin tone. This is so that you can brighten up darker and duller areas, like the under eye area or blemishes, creating an illusion of clearer and more even skin.
Step 3 – Wear It To Know It
Foundations and concealers are quite the investment, so it’s important that you go about with it wisely. Always do a test run of both products to see how it fairs in different lighting –– but, always take your pick based on what looks best in natural light. If you’re shopping at a store, swatch the foundation or concealer and step outside to see what it truly looks like. Wait for an hour to see if it becomes orange or grey, makes you look cakey, or doesn’t withstand sweat or heat. This way you’ll be able to tell if the product is closer to your shade, even after it interacts with your skin.
Step 4 – Concealer & Foundation Go Hand In Hand
While these two are two separate entities and can be worn individually, you need to make sure that they complement each other. Ensure that your concealer shade is as close as possible to your foundation shade, so that they don’t look poles apart when worn together. Your foundation needs to even out your skin tone and while your concealer needs to hide blemishes and brighten up darker areas.
