Makeup|Foundation
Is your makeup skin-friendly? Does it suit your skin type but also its tone? We know many of us struggle with finding the right product type when looking for the best foundation.
Finding out how to find the right foundation shade can be challenging if you don’t know how to go about it. You have to consider some different factors. One is your skin type, and the other is your skin tone.
Makeup needs to match your skin tone, not just sit on top of it. Your makeup should blend seamlessly so nobody can tell where it ends, and your skin begins. Which sometimes isn’t easy when you’re trying out some new brands.
Sadly, finding the right makeup can take a lot of trial and error.
Look in the right place
Many times this happens simply because you’re not looking in the right places. When you find a few brands that work for your skin tone and type, keep them close! It might seem like an extra step, but it will save time and money in the long run.
Also, not every brand caters to everyone with darker or lighter complexions, so be mindful of that. You may have found a brand that works perfectly at first, but try out some new shades and see what happens. Chances are they won’t blend as seamlessly as before and may look like two different colors sitting atop your complexion rather than playing harmoniously together.
If this happens, don’t be afraid to mix your old foundation with your new one! Play around with some different color combinations. If the shade of your old foundation helps even out the tone of the new one, then there’s no reason you can’t indulge in some variety without looking like a clown or wasting money on a product that doesn’t match.
Tips and tricks
There are plenty of tips and tricks out there for people wanting to make sure they get exactly what they need when they’re searching for makeup, particularly foundations, but not all of them work equally well.
It is best to try them out before buying anything, especially if they cost a lot of money. Many brands have sample packs available online where you can purchase small amounts instead of whole bottles that will allow you to test the product and see if it will work for your skin tone.
If you’ve already got a favorite outlet for makeup, it can be worth sticking with them because they’ll know what works well together. It might even help find an appropriate color match or combination of shades if you explain your problem to them.
Photo by Jessica Felicio on Unsplash
Finding the right shade
Finding the right shade of foundation is not always easy, but it helps when you have people around that understand what you’re going through. Many women say how much harder it is to find a matching shade when you have a darker complexion, also known as a woman of color.
Research shows that black women, in particular, have more trouble finding makeup that ‘works’ compared to white women, especially with darker skin tones.
If you have a medium-deep skin tone especially finding the right foundation is going to be a challenge. You can’t just buy any color and expect it to work because not every brand equally caters to women of color.
There are more shades available for light skin tones, but evidence suggests some brands don’t offer as many options for women with darker skin tones which often leads to them looking washed out or using makeup colors that do not suit their complexion.
Many brands do not even acknowledge that dark-skinned individuals might use their product too! In some cases, they’ve been known to reduce the number of darker shades to ‘standardize’ their products across different demographics and races under the assumption that darker complexions need fewer color options.
While this is generally true, some brands offer an extensive range of shades that include both light and dark colors, but it’s worth checking out the brand before you buy anything. See how helpful they are and how well their customer service department responds to queries.
It could be worthwhile to make the extra effort just so that you can find the right color, especially if your skin tone changes during summer and winter when the sun shines brighter and shadows come over everything under a blanket of cold.
If you’re spending money on makeup, it should work for anyone, not just people with fair skin tones.
Photo by LOGAN WEAVER on Unsplash
Patch tests are vital
As always, it’s important to patch test before using any new product, cosmetic or otherwise, because what you see on the label may not precisely match what happens once you get home and take it out of the box.
Celebrities like Rhianna and other women of color have tried to break down the barriers of what makeup is considered ‘in’ and have managed to make makeup for dark skin accessible. Publicity has encouraged women of color everywhere, not just celebrities, to embrace their darker skin tones and experiment with more colors without fear of judgment or any backlash for wearing something different.
YouTube tutorials
It’s worth checking out some YouTube tutorials if you are unsure how to patch test or what colors to choose for makeup in general. I hope this helps and that you have an easier time finding a shade that works for your skin tone from now on.
We love Monica Veloz or Karla Tobie on Youtube for makeup tutorials. Both women are experts in their field and can help you choose the best makeup for your skin tone or budget. We like the look of Karla Tobie, especially when she does her ‘ghetto goth’ looks which are perfect for winter, or Ellarie with her mother/daughter take on life and makeup.
Beauty comes in many different sizes and shapes, but learning how to take care of your individual needs can help you find exactly what you need when shopping for cosmetics, whether a foundation, primer, mascara, eyeliner, or anything else!
