By Kristi Shannon- Brooks

 

There is nothing more frustrating than going to the store looking for foundation that matches your skin, thinking you have found it, just to get home and find that what you picked is not even close to the shade that you need!  With the countless numbers of shades available today, it can seem impossible to get it right the first, second, or even third time.  Wouldn't it be great to get a sample first?  The problem is, unless you are lucky to find a sample in a magazine, or you visit a pricey makeup counter, samples are not readily available. 

  

Getting to Know Your own Skin Tone

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to narrow down your options. First, take a look at the name of the foundation you have successfully worn in the past.  Does it mention the words Ivory, Neutral, Beige or Tan?  If the name of that foundation includes numbers only, look online at the company website that manufactured the foundation, enter the shade name and see how it is described.

 

What is Your Skin's Undertone?

What is skin undertone, and how is this determined?  Let's look at an example of fair skin. If you have light skin and burn easily in the sun, chances are you are in the fair category.  We suggest taking a white piece of paper and set it on the side of your face after cleansing.  When comparing your skin to the paper, does your skin appear pink, yellow or more neutral?  If it appears more pink, you would do best with a foundation with a slight pink undertone.  If your skin appears more yellow or olive next to the paper, then you will want to consider a foundation with a more yellow or neutral undertone.  With mineral powder foundation, you have the luxury of combining shades if you find yourself in between shades. For example, if you tan easily you might lean towards a Medium or Medium Beige foundation.  If you find it a little to pink for your skin you can simply combine it with a more neutral shade to neutralize the pink undertone found in the Beige shades. The same goes for those that find a shade looking somewhat ashy on their skin.  It is most likely they have a slight pink or neutral undertone to their skin, and by adding a shade that contains one of these undertones, they will find themselves closer to a perfect match.

 

Is There a Quicker, Easier Way to Find My Shade?

The easiest and most cost efficient way to find a match is to obtain samples of foundation.  If you are unable to do so, and have already purchased multiple products, consider keeping the shades that are as close as possible, and then combine them at a later time to see if you can get closer to an exact match for your skin.

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Kristi Shannon-Brooks is the CEO and Founder of KmS Mineral Essentials Cosmetics, a leader in the mineral makeup industry. She created KmS to fill a void in the marketplace so that women with the most sensitive skin could enjoy the benefits of wearing mineral makeup. Kristi lives in Western Michigan with her husband, Phil. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, reading, and wine tasting.
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