If you've picked the wrong undertone: If you are COOL and pick a WARM or NEUTRAL foundation, it will look yellow on you. If you are WARM and pick a COOL foundation, it will make your skin look pale and icy. If you pick a NEUTRAL foundation, it will look grey.
Your makeup could also look orange if you're wearing a foundation that's too dark for your skin tone or applying one with the wrong undertone. If you have a cool or neutral undertone, using a foundation with a warm tone can cause your makeup to look orange.
If you think only knowing how light or dark your skin tone is will help you get the right foundation shade for a flawless makeup base, think again. Your foundation shade does not just depend on your skin's colour, it relies heavily on your skin's undertones as well.
Makeup is all about self-expression. You should wear it the way you want to, in whatever way makes you feel good. But when it comes to finding the perfect foundation match, most of us can agree on one goal: it should match your skin tone (which isn't always an easy task).
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.
Your foundation looks grey or ashy because it is much lighter than your skin tone. Using a lighter foundation on your skin can highlight the foundation thus making your skin look unnatural. In order to prevent your foundation from looking ashy, you should add 2-3 drops of darker shade foundation and blend it well.
What is the colour of your veins? The easiest way to determine your undertone is by opting for a closer inspection of the insides of your wrists. If they appear green, your undertone is warm while blue veins signify cooler undertones. If you can see a mix of both, you likely have neutral undertones.
As per beauty experts, your foundation must be one or two shades lighter than your skin tone. This is because when you use bronzer or contour then the foundation will blend it all together and give the perfect look to your face.
If you know your undertone shade, you'll be able to choose the right foundation and concealer to match your skin, and the most flattering (and natural-looking) colors for your blush, lipstick, and eyeshadow.
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.
If you've made the mistake of buying a shade darker, simply blend it with your concealer or mix it with a moisturizer. A little moisturizer can lighten your foundation and you can set it with finishing powder. But if you've bought a way darker shade and it has become impossible to use, worry not.
This usually means your skincare products underneath are clashing. Always leave enough time for your serums and moisturisers to dry between layers. Applying hydrating serums to damp skin can also help. If foundation separation is your issue, try to use products with similar textures.
No, says Gafni. “Undertones do not change. They may become more noticeable over time. For example, if someone has pink undertones and they get sunburned or develop rosacea, then pink undertones may become more visible, but the undertone itself remains the same.
Lightening: Dilute With Moisturizer
Mixing a bit of moisturizer is one of the best ways to lighten the pigment of foundation. The method sheers out the formula, allows your true skin tone to shine through, and adds a dewy finish, which is perfect for when your skin looks slightly dry and dull.
How do you know if your foundation is too dark? If you use the wrong foundation shade, your face will appear tanned, but the rest of your body will not, and your skin will appear as if it has an additional layer.
If your foundations are too yellow on you, you need to add pink to make it cooler. Add a small amount of your foundation on the back of your hand. Scrape a bit of your pink eyeshadow (Marlena uses Olive You) with a clean, dry spatula.
Flip over your arm and take a look at the inside of your wrist. If your veins appear to have a blue or deep purple tint, you likely have cool skin undertones. If they look more greenish, you likely have warm or olive undertones. If you can't tell one way or the other, you may have neutral undertones.
The best colors for cool skin tones are on the cool end of the color spectrum. The top colors to wear include emeralds, deep purples, lavender, pink, ice blue and bright blues. If you want to incorporate a warmer color into your outfit, you can use extremely pale yellows, rose reds and rubies.
'Beige' and 'Sand' foundation shades have warm tones.
Mistake #2: You apply foundation all wrong.
Wearing way too much, wearing none at all, or wearing a color that doesn't match your skintone are all big no-no's. Why? Skipping it completely while still adding other makeup (like mascara) can make your skin look washed out.
Without proper hydration, makeup will cling to any flakes or patches, leading to an uneven finish that looks dull rather than vibrant and dewy. To avoid this issue, make sure you use a good quality facial moisturizer with SPF daily before applying any other products to your face.
If your foundation frequently looks cakey, the problem might actually be connected to your skin care routine. After you apply moisturizer, it's important that you jump skip straight to smoothing on foundation. Instead, you'll want to give face lotions and creams a minute or two to dry before moving on.