How to Choose the Right Foundation For Your Skin

When it comes to makeup, picking the right foundation is paramount. It is the building block of your elaborate glam routine and is available in a plethora of shades, finishes, and coverage levels. Hence, pinning down on the perfect one—as per your skin type, tone, and undertone—is no short of a challenge. 

But the good news: a foundation is as customisable as your Starbucks order. 

While finding your match may require a li'l bit of digging, you'll eventually narrow it down to 'the one'. But no joke, it can be a daunting, confusing task. To guide you in the right direction, we spoke to two makeup experts who share tips on how to choose the correct foundation shade. 

Before you begin the search for the ideal foundation, ask yourself three important questions:

1. What’s my skin tone? Fair, Light, Medium or Dark?

2. What’s my skin type? Oily, Dry or Combination?

3. What’s my skin’s undertone? Cool, Warm or Neutral?

While you may have the slightest clue about your skin tone and type, you're likely to stumble at the third question. "Hold a pure white fabric or a piece of white paper to the natural light. If your skin looks rosy in comparison, you're cool-toned, if it seems yellowish, your undertone is warm, and if you notice hints of both, you are neutral. One must also factor in the depth of pigment in the foundation and how deep your skin tone is—very fair, fair, medium, tan, deep, or deepest," explains Amanda Bell, Global Director of Education & Artistry, Pixi Beauty. 

Concerning the kind of formula, you can pick from four different types of foundation: liquid, powder, stick, and cream. Mamta Naik, Associate Vice President, Product Development, SUGAR Cosmetics, says, "Begin by shortlisting the foundation shades that you believe suit your complexion. Swatch each shade across your jawline and check for the one that blends seamlessly with your face and neck. Bear in mind, a few formulations tend to oxidize and may slightly change colour on your skin. Hence, swatch a foundation and wait for 5-10 minutes for it to settle in. You can follow this trial-and-error method until you find the shade you're looking for."

According to Amanda, you must also discern the amount of coverage you need by viewing your skin under direct sunlight. "To achieve a skin-like, natural finish, pick a foundation with a light texture and tap on a concealer wherever you feel you require extra coverage. Specific ingredients in foundations can also help your skin achieve the textural finish that you desire. For instance, a light-diffusing pigment will give way to a glowy finish, while a moisturising foundation will lend a dewy finish. On the other hand, mattifying ingredients such as kaolin will offer a velvety-matte finish."

Take note of all these points to find a foundation that is a custom fit for your skin.