Summer is ending, let us help you find your winter shade!

As the season is changing, we’re all getting our fall makeup looks ready and preparing for the change in our everyday makeup products. It’s that time to stop using your summer foundation shade and pull out your winter shade. We understand the struggles of having to buy two different shades of foundation for summer and winter. Summer is for a tanner, bronzier look while in the winter, our complexion becomes a little lighter and not as tan. Here are 9 tips for figuring out your foundation shade when shopping for your winter foundation!

You can also watch this step-by-step video of our in-house beauty expert, Barbie, going over the 9 steps to finding your shade!

Figure Out Your Undertone

• Your undertone can be determined through the color of your veins. 

• Study your arm for any veins and indicate whether they are green or blue.

• If you have blue veins, your skin has a cool undertone, which is primarily found in people with lighter, more fair skin.

• If you have green veins, your skin has a warm undertone, which is normally present in people with medium, olive-toned skin.

• If your veins look like a mix of blue-green then you are a neutral tone which is found in darker skin.

• Foundations and other face products usually are organized by their undertones and you can see which ones are for you depending on if they are cool, warm, or neutral-toned.

Stripe Method

• The easiest way to find your shade is through three stripes of different shades on your jawline.

• Find a foundation color that is slightly lighter, one that is slightly neutral, and one that is slightly darker.

• Apply these shades as three separate stripes, next to each other, on your jawline.

• You can compare the three colors to each other and blend them in a little bit to see which matches best with your complexion.

• This method helps to see if you are going too light or too dark.

Matching Your Foundation Before Buying It

• Do not buy the foundation if the store you bought it from does not accept returns.

• If it is not your shade, you should have the opportunity to get your money back.

• Do not always trust the lighting you see the foundation shade in.

• If you are matching a shade to your face at the store and it looks perfect, it may be because of the lighting there.

• Make sure to see how the foundation looks on you in direct sunlight.

Blend The Foundation Lighter Than You

• People do not realize that foundation tends to oxidize, which means it will turn a shade or two darker when it is exposed to the air.

• When in doubt, always pick a shade that is slightly lighter than your complexion rather than darker.

• This allows the foundation to look like a perfect shade if it oxidizes because it will become one or two shades darker from the lighter color you picked

• This can prevent your complexion from looking darker than the rest of your body.

• It is the safest way to go when unsure about two shades that may look too light or too dark.

Apply and Blend perfectly

• When applying the foundation, make sure you cover the entire face, blending it on all of your skin.

• You should blend up to your hairline, or if it is not needed there, a little lower than the hairline.

• You should blend down to your jawline to cover all aspects of your face and avoid any discoloration.

• The foundation should match your neck as well, which may be confusing if your neck is a different shade than your face.

• If that is the case, you should buy a foundation that matches your neck more than your face.

Don't Put Too Much Foundation On 

• The Best motto to go by is “Less is More”

• Putting on too much foundation can make your skin look dry and “cakey”

• It also makes it look obvious that you are wearing foundation which erases the whole purpose of choosing a shade that matches your complexion.

• You want to choose your perfect shade so that it is not obvious you are wearing makeup.

• The less foundation you wear, the better because it works primarily to make your skin look smoother and clear. You do not want to over-do it.

Don’t Use Expired Foundation

• Expired foundation has a variety of harmful effects on the skin.

• It can cause acne, clogged pores, and overall unhealthy skin.

• The color of foundation in any type of makeup usually changes when it becomes expired.

• Using expired foundation can damage your skin and make it look horrible

• Make sure to replace your foundation after it is expired because that can also be a reason you may notice your foundation is not matching your face anymore.

Custom Blend A Color

• A lot of times, you look everywhere and just can’t find your shade of foundation anywhere.

• Instead, you can just mix different colors together in order to create your personalized shade.

• You can play around a bit and take your time to see if you can find your shade on your own.

• People usually combine a lighter shade with a darker shade and then add whatever color that seems like it may match your complexion the best.

Don’t Sleep With Makeup On

• This is s HUGE makeup no-no. If you sleep with your makeup on you are damaging your skin in so many ways.

• This leads to so much dirty being clogged in your pores and can have an impact on the color of your skin.

• Your skin may have discoloration and acne because it was not treated or taken care of properly.

• You must wash your face every morning and night, especially after wearing makeup.

• It is also best to adopt a toner into your skincare routine, to make sure your skin looks healthier and you can see the true tone of your skin when matching foundation.

We hope this helps you in your search for your winter foundation shade! Remember to keep your skin clean and be mindful of every step we listed when picking your foundation color.