Celebrity makeup artist Frederick Sanders recommends starting with two or three shades that look closest to your complexion and blending them all in fully. "The foundation should match the side of your face and your neck to prevent you from looking like you're wearing a mask," he says.
Blend The Foundation Lighter Than You
When in doubt, always pick a shade that is slightly lighter than your complexion rather than darker. 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.
Instead of matching the shade of your foundation to the usual spots people list off — like your jaw, neck, or the back of your hand — Vo suggests swatching it on the highest point of your cheekbone, the same place where you sweep on highlighter. She considers this area as the "median" skin tone of your complexion.
Daniel Chinchilla, Ariana Grande's go-to artist, advocates for matching your foundation with your face, because your neck often gets less sun exposure and is therefore too light.
Apply Foundation to Minimise Face and Neck Colour Differences. Once you've got that new foundation at home, don't apply it just to the face. Blend your makeup, preferably with a blending sponge, all the way down, over and beneath the jawbone, to the neck. This creates a seamless look.
A general rule to live by: If you're wearing anything other than a turtleneck and you're wearing base makeup, you should blend your foundation downwards past the jawline to ensure your head and neck don't look like separate entities.
Your ideal foundation shade probably won't match your face or hands or neck exactly. The idea is to find an undertone match with your body, and pick a foundation which is a cross between your face's colour, and that of your chest. This is because the skin on the chest reflects your undertones better than your face.
Our face skin produces more melanin compared to the rest of the body parts, so our face skin is generally a bit darker. The harmful rays of the sunlight can damage the melanin cells and as the face is more exposed to sunlight, it is the first to be impacted.
The experts have spoken, and the answer is, foundation should be one or two shades lighter than your skin tone. This is because when you use bronzer or contour then the foundation should be able to blend and give the perfect look to your face.
"If your neck is lighter than your face and you don't want your face to be as pale, choose one shade lighter than your face so its comparable. (You can always 'warm up' the face with bronzer if your complexion still appears light.)
To identify what type of undertones you have, examine the inside of your wrist. If your veins are blue, then you have neutral undertones, which means you can wear both cool and warm foundation shades (lucky you!). If your veins look purple-ish, then you have cool undertones, giving your skin a pink tint.
Pick the right foundation shade and your skin shouldn't look made up at all. Instead, it should just look like great skin—luminous, healthy, and flawless. Counterintuitively, finding an exact match with foundation or tinted moisturizer isn't the goal, explains Kosas founder Sheena Yaitanes.
If your makeup is too light, you will look ashy or as if you have a gray cast on your skin. If the formula is too dark, it can make your complexion look muddy. Look for the shade that disappears into your skin most is your right match.
Remember, there's no “best way” to apply your foundation, as both application techniques have their perks and unique touch. Applying foundation with a brush achieves flawless coverage and a precise, even finish. When you apply foundation with fingers, you tend to get a more natural effect that mimics your skin.
Fingers are best for a quick and natural application; sponges are good for achieving a flawless finish; and brushes are ideal for full coverage. And sometimes, a little mixing and matching can go a long way.
When used properly, a brush is one of the fastest ways to apply foundation. They blend foundation seamlessly giving skin an even, airbrushed finish. They provide great coverage. Hygienic.
Properly cleansing your neck and chest is as important as cleansing your face. Use a quality anti-aging cleanser on these areas as well. But remember that this skin is more delicate than your face. Avoid harsh peels and exfoliants, instead choosing gentle exfoliation or a body brush to buff away dead skin cells.
Start by applying your foundation in single pea-sized amounts to each area of the face you're covering: generally the forehead, nose, chin, and each cheek. To blend your makeup, use gentle dabbing motions and upward strokes that match the natural contours of your face to create the most even look.
Never put concealer or foundation on your eyelids as a base, it will cause your eye makeup to crease.
Using a face cream on this delicate skin can nourish and moisturize, but it won't give the skin on your neck what it needs to be its healthy best. Only a targeted formula, like StriVectin's TL Advanced Tightening Neck Cream Plus, can do that.
Foundation can make wrinkles look worse for so many reasons. Applying makeup on dry skin, using a high end or drugstore full-coverage foundation, and applying the wrong amount of foundation can all accentuate the look of wrinkles and fine lines.