A model wearing foundationA model wearing foundation

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT FOUNDATION

Are you on a search for the one? The right foundation is like a BFF for your face, helping make your skin look like your skin but on a really good day. A bit of ‘lean on me’ magic, the perfect foundation will help you present your best self to the world – kind of like a pal at your side giving you a swell of confidence to take on anything. Want to find your match? We’ve got everything you need to know right here.

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BUILD YOUR FOUNDATION WARDROBE

In your makeup kit, foundation is like the pillar of your ideal beauty look. It’s called foundation for a reason, right? It’s foundational to your look. A smooth canvas on which to add colour and shapes from flicks to frills, and perhaps give some thrills. Within our arsenal of amazing foundation products we’ve got all you could need and desire. Pop in your bathroom cabinet and makeup kit, and discover how each helps you get a pore-blurred finish or feel fresh faced, or mattified.

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Fresh nude foundation swatch

“I applied this foundation at 6am, ready for work and it was still perfectly in place at 6pm!”

  • Leigh30

About Fresh Nude Foundation

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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.

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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.

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Fresh Nude Foundation bottle and lid laying on surface

Step 2: Test the shades

So you’ve been thinking how can I find my foundation shade? There’s no better way to discover if you’ve found the foundation shade for you than simply trying it out. But did you know there’s a right way to test foundation colours? Take our tips in-store next time you’re on the hunt for your perfect shade. Numero uno is to try your shortlist of shades only when the light is right. Look for the sun at its peak, as the midday light will help you see your made-up skin to the fullest extent.

You might even want to check it in different lights, check it in different mirrors, from your pocket mirror to the in-store ones, and take a selfie – all those different ways of checking your skin will help ensure you have found the right one. And forget testing on your arm, hand or anywhere else – swatch onto your jawline, as this is that tricky area where you’ll see how good a match you’ve found. Let it sit on skin a sec before you sneak a peek to see how it adjusts to your skin.

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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.

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The Body Shop Matte Clay Skin Clarifying Foundation

Foundation for oily skin

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The Body Shop Fresh Nude Foundation

Foundation for sensitive skin

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The Body Shop Second Skin Tint

SKIN TINT FOR ALL SKIN TYPES

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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.

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Woman applying colour matched foundation to under eye skin

Liquid concealer