The Foundation Guide Part 3 - Finding Your Perfect Shade

The Calla Lane Foundation Guide Part 3
Finding your Perfect Shade

Welcome to Part 3, the final part of our Foundation Guide where we look at finding the perfect shade. Before we start, we want to remind you of something we mentioned in each of the guides....“Makeup is not a tattoo”. It’s ok to go through some trial and error to find the perfect match for your already fabulous face. At the end of the day, you can always wipe it off and start over.

Also, we've noticed that it's common for women to have uncertainty when it comes to picking their foundation shade and identifying their undertones. If that describes you, don’t worry. Color is subjective and undertones are subtle.

With that said, here are our top tips for pinpointing your perfect shade:

So, how do you know where you fall? Below are several techniques for determining your undertone(s). These suggestions may not work for everyone—you may need to experiment to discover your true undertone.

• Vein Color. One common way of determining your skin undertone is by looking at the veins on the inner wrist or elbow in natural sunlight. If they look bluish, your undertone is cool, and if they look more green or yellow then your undertone is warm. If they are a mix, or you can't really tell, then you probably have a neutral skin tone.
• Jewelry. Silver, white gold and platinum accentuate cool undertones, while yellow gold accentuates warm undertones. The metal that harmonizes with your undertones will give you a fresh, bright look. Neutral undertones are complemented by both silver and gold.
• White Cloth. First pull your hair back and put a white cloth, like a towel or T-shirt, around your neck and shoulders. The white fabric will draw out a subtle cast of color in your face. Look at your bare skin and think about how rosy (pink toned) or golden (yellow toned) it is. Blue or pink indicate cool undertones, while yellow and peach indicate warm undertones. If it's a combination of the two – or you simply can't identify it as one of the other – you have a neutral undertone. Neutral undertones tend to look greenish next to the white cloth.

Pro tips:

• Remember that your skin tone can vary in different areas of your face. Areas where the sun hits your face (such as the nose and forehead) may be more  tanned than your cheeks for example. You may need to decide which shade you would like to match. 
• It’s not accurate to assume skin undertones are based on race. For example, we can’t assume all Asians have warm undertones. The surface yellowness of skin does not necessarily mean warm undertones—there are warm yellows and cool yellows. There’s also a difference between brown skin with warm orange-red undertones, and brown skin with cool, jewel undertones. This also applies to olive-toned skin.
• If you regularly self-tan, take this into account and don't shop for your shade on an unusually pale day.
• Don't rush into buying a foundation - you might want to get a sample and test the shade out in different lights, mirrors and see how it photographs. 

We really hope that these posts have helped to take the guess work out of finding your perfect foundation. Remember that you can always consult a professional if you're in doubt. A consultant can help you choose the perfect shade in your preferred coverage and finish for your skin type.

The Calla Lane Clean Beauty Bar sample and consultation services will be launching soon, so watch this space. We can't wait to be a part of your journey to finding your most confident self!