Picking the perfect foundation shade can feel as confusing as navigating the stars. You test a few shades, make your choice, and once you get home, it looks completely different. Too orange, too pale, or just not quite right. According to makeup artist Charly Salvator, the problem isn’t your skin or the product. It’s the method. And he believes anyone can learn how to get it right every time, whether you’re shopping in person or online.
Why Foundation Matching Often Goes Wrong?
Foundation is supposed to disappear into your skin. But for many people, it stands out for all the wrong reasons. Even with store consultants or detailed shade charts, finding the right match can feel impossible. Salvator explains that most mistakes come from skipping two essential steps. First, understanding your skin’s intensity. Second, identifying your undertone. Once you figure those out, matching becomes much easier.
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How To Identify Your Skin Tone And Undertone
Most beauty brands group shades into levels like light, medium, and dark. Some people fall between these categories, such as light-to-medium or medium-to-deep, which is completely normal. Charly Salvator explains that this is usually the simplest step, as it helps eliminate a large number of shades that are clearly too far off.
Once you know your intensity, the next step is figuring out your undertone. Unlike surface color, undertone is the subtle hue beneath your skin that doesn’t change with sun exposure or skin conditions. She divides undertones into three families: cool, warm, and neutral. Cool undertones often appear in people with blue veins and skin that burns easily in the sun, and they tend to look more natural in silver jewelry. Warm undertones are usually found in people who tan quickly, have golden or olive hints to their skin, and suit gold jewelry better.
Shopping Online? Here’s What To Look For
Buying foundation online might feel risky, but it doesn’t have to be. Once you’ve identified your intensity and undertone, you’ve already narrowed your choices to a small, more manageable group. From there, Salvator recommends paying close attention to how brands present their products.
A good brand will show each foundation shade on different models with labeled tones. This allows you to visually compare your skin to theirs. If models aren’t used, check for swatches, which are samples of the shade applied to a white background or real skin. These tools help you see the actual color and undertone of each product, even through a screen.
