HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT
FOUNDATION
“I applied this foundation at 6am, ready for work and it was still perfectly in place at 6pm!”
- Leigh30
About Fresh Nude Foundation
Find the right foundation shade for you
As the basis of your makeup, finding your most well-matched foundation will help you to achieve the looks that you want, but most importantly, will help keep your face looking natural, letting ‘you do you’. The Body Shop foundation shades come in hues to suit all skin tones, and we’re here to guide you to expertly find yours. With our no-sweat checklist of three tips, you’ll soon be a master of sorting through makeup mecca to find your number one. No matter your preference for powder, liquid foundation, cream or concealer, we’ve got the right foundation shade for you and here comes the fast-track to help get you there.
Step 1: Identify your undertone
Before you can find your perfect foundation shade, you need to figure out the undertone of your skin. What’s that? Well, every skin colour has a discernible undertone, most easily spotted via the vein colour on the inside of your wrist. If it appears blue or purple, you’re cool-toned. If it’s green, you’ve got warm-toned skin, and if you’re unsure, you’re likely to be neutral-toned.
Still unsure? Here’s a trick. Pop on a white T-shirt, or hold a sheet or paper to your face, and look in the mirror. If your skin then appears to be rosy, you’re cool-toned. If it’s yellow or golden, you’re warm-toned, and if it’s hard to tell, you’re neutral.
If that doesn’t work, there’s an even simpler method. Think about what kind of jewellery best suits you: gold, silver or both. If it’s gold, you’re warm-toned, silver and you’re cool, or both and you’re neutral.
Once you’ve figured out your undertone, you can find your foundation. Foundation for a cool undertone tends to look pinker in the bottle, whereas one with a warm undertone will be more yellow. And if you’re neutral? It’ll sit in the middle of the spectrum.
Step 2: Test the shades
Now you’ve identified your undertone, finding the right colour foundation should be a doddle, especially since we have 40 shades to choose from. The best way to discover your match is to test it out. But did you know there’s a right way to test foundation colours? Our number one tip is to try your shortlist when the light is right. Testing them in a natural light and when the sun is at its peak will help see your skin in its truest colour. But that’s not to say you shouldn’t check it in different lights, this’ll help make sure you’ve definitely found the right one.
And lastly, instead of testing it on your arm or hand, which is where we tend to swatch samples, apply a little foundation to your jawline. This is where your foundation will sit, so you want to make sure it matches the tone of your face and neck. This is when you’ll really see how good of a match it is. Let it sit there for a while before taking a peek of how it looks. Repeat with the rest of your shortlist until you find the perfect match.
Step 3: Watch it disappear
Like finding ‘the one’, to find a foundation shade for you, you want to look for the hue that doesn’t try to change you. That is, the right foundation shade should look, not to mention, feel like a second skin – like you at your very best. As we’ve said before and will say time and time again, this is about looking like the ultimate version of you. If a foundation shade stands out, that’ll be because it’s too light or dark. If the makeup is too light, chances are your skin will appear more ashy. If the shade is too dark, that’ll make you look overly tanned.
On the subject of tans – remember that your skin tone is likely to change within a subtle spectrum with the seasons, its tone warming up with the weather. That means, depending on when you’re searching for your best foundation shade, your skin might not be its truest tone. Ideally, you want to go for a shade that’s closest to the hue your skin is most of the year. When you try it, if the test shade seemingly disappears into your skin, it’s a match.
Compare by skin type
Like any other product from your skincare wardrobe, your foundation should be tailored to your skin type or concern. This always wise rule will give your skin a better chance of getting on with your foundation, helping your complexion to look gleaming, glowing and gorgeous. We’ve rounded up some of our best foundations to help get your skin there.
FINISH OFF WITH CONCEALER
Sometimes, your skin needs a little helping hand to achieve that even, smooth-toned look. That’s where concealer comes in. The most targeted of the face base products in your makeup kit, concealer helps to, well, conceal and camouflage dark circles and blemishes. A perfect partner for your favourite foundation, which you should of course shade match, it’s the easiest route to a flawless-looking finish.