Take a good look at the veins on your wrist under natural light for an easy way to determine your undertone. If your veins look green, it is likely you have warm undertones; if they are blue/purple, you have cool undertones. If they appear blue/green or match your skin colour, you most likely have neutral undertones.
People with warm undertones look great wearing foundation with orange and gold hues. If you have cool undertones, then your skin has more blue or pink in it. In this case, you'll want to look for a foundation that has more of a bluer-base in shades of red and pink. Neutral undertones have a mix of both.
Typically, you should aim to either match your face to your neck or keep your face one shade lighter than your neck. Reason being, once you apply bronzer, powder, and blush, your face may appear darker than it does with foundation alone.
When In Doubt, Always Go Lighter and Use Bronzer. If you're stuck between the lighter and the darker shade, it's much easier to create a darker-looking complexion with the help of bronzer than it is to lighten up a darker hue.
If you're not sure, checking the color of your veins is a quick way to find out. Take a look at the veins in and around your face and neck. If you see blue veins, you have cool undertones. If your veins appear green on the skin (olive), you're warm.
Take a look at the inside of your forearm or any area of skin where you can easily see your veins. If they look blue or purple, you probably have cool undertones. If they are green, your undertones are warm. If they're a mix between blue and green, you probably have neutral undertones.
“Your foundation should match your neck. If the neck is darker than the face you can compensate with a bronzer.” “It is important to match the undertone of the foundation to the undertone of the skin so that the skin looks most natural.
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.
Foundations are meant to make skin even and either luminous or matte, depending on skin type, and both of these formulas will do nothing to help you under your eyes. While it doesn't hurt to put foundation under your eyes, it certainly doesn't help. Skip this move and only add concealer and/or corrector under the eyes.
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.
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.
The makeup should look flawless, it should be like your second skin. And people who think that using a lighter foundation will make them look fairer, they are completely wrong. It will only give them a white cast and it will make them look zombie-like in photos."
As per beauty experts, your foundation must be one or two shades lighter than your skin tone.
Choose a Darker Foundation
No matter what your natural skin tone may be, it will look washed out once you're under the stage lights. This means that you must wear a darker foundation than you ordinarily would. A good rule of thumb is to use a foundation that is one or two shades darker than your natural skin tone.