Comments on: Foundation Fundamentals: Choosing the Right Shade for Your Skin tone

By: Shue

Shue — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 08:45:45 +0000

I went through a similar experience at MAC counter at Harrods, the sales woman matched me up with NC45 when my usual shade is NC25 ! i didnt realize it at the time and bought it as i was in a hurry! now back in Pakistan when i tried it on i look like a rotten orange!and whats worse is no one i know is dark enough to use the shade!
and now i think ok so you think Pakistani’s are dark but please give us a break we look at our complexions at least before recommending something…

By: Lipstick Masala

Lipstick Masala — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 18:31:26 +0000

Hi alias, I’m personally not a fan of Christian Dior but only because they don’t have a color match for me. However, if you can find a shade that suits your skin tone then definitely go for it. Try out the DiorSkin Nude Natural line – people seem to rave about it!

By: alias

alias — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:43:11 +0000

If NARS is not easily available to you, would you recommend Christian Dior? What is your take on that product for its foundations?

By: Lipstick Masala

Lipstick Masala — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 07:41:17 +0000

Hi there Frances!

I had a similar experience recently. NARS discontinued my shade and I’ve spent the past few days being manhandled by numerous sales people. At the end of the day stick to your instinct – you know what looks best on you so if it feels off then it probably is! I ended up buying a foundation the sales assistant was against, but I knew it was the best for my skintone. If only we could shop at our own leisure without their pushiness

By: Lipstick Masala » Blog Archive » LM’s Guide to Bridal Makeup

Lipstick Masala » Blog Archive » LM’s Guide to Bridal Makeup — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:22:12 +0000

[...] – For more information on how to choose the right color foundation for you, click HERE [...]

By: Frances

Frances — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:41:00 +0000

Totally agree with everything you said. Another irritating thing about foundation: the well-meaning sales girl who pushes you to a colour far too dark! Really, I appreciate how darker-skinned women have much more choice in terms of foundation shades now than, say, 10 years ago, but GOD, that doesn’t mean you have to slap the darkest shade on me and insist it’s a match. I was at NARS a couple of weeks ago and I asked the sales girl about getting matched for a foundation. I ended up with my face about six shades darker than my body. I looked dirty, and the shade was far too red, anyway.

By: Lipstick Masala

Lipstick Masala — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:40:22 +0000

Hi Stella, welcome to the site!

Unfortunately, because I’m not in front of you I won’t be able to tell you what your exact match would be, but I can give you a quick breakdown and leave it to you to decide with a MAC artist. I have seen NC45 usually used on lighter african american skintones so I think it may be too dark for you. NC30 is for beige-yellow asian skintones and NC40 generally looks best on those with olive skintones (which is what yours appears to be in the picture).

Again, I can’t be sure because I can’t see you in real life, but I would ask a mac artist to give you a sample of the NC40 to take home and try using the methods listed in this article.

Good luck, and you have beautiful skin by the way!

By: stella

stella — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 04:29:42 +0000

hello, i came across your page and somehow gave me the urge to ask an advice from you regarding my foundation.
lately ive been using mac since my mom is a mac user.
my mom suggests to get a NC45 from mac and i think it looks too dark for me. and i found this MAC Face & Body Foundation nc30 or c4 is commonly being used by asian makeup artist.
and i have another friend who told me nc40 or nc30 looks better on me.im kinda confused myself.
im a yellow-toned..or should i say more on the beige part.

heres the skin color
http://i38.tinypic.com/15cnd6q.jpg

my problem is, i dont know which is better to chose. nc30, nc40 or the Face & Body Foundation nc30/c4?

By: Lipstick Masala

Lipstick Masala — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 06:34:48 +0000

Hi Regine!

First of all, you have absolutely gorgeous skin – you don’t even need any foundation! That being said, if you choose to use something, do not use the one that comes out ashy in the photos – your senior picture is one that you will always look back on and you want to look good. The color shade in the photos seems good, but the pigment is a little cool toned and making your pretty skin appear a little washed out. I would recommend that you try a different line of makeup – Bobbi Brown makes great foundations for yellow toned skin as do NARS and Shiseido – a shade that gives you slighly more warmth.

If you want to stick to the Makeup Forever shade, you can fix the slight ashy-ness by using powder that’s a little warmer to counter the washed out look. But, as I said you have gorgeous skin so shouldn’t use too much product. You can also try going up a color, but more than likely it will be too dark for you.

Hope that helps some!

By: Regine

Regine — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 01:23:58 +0000

Hi. I am enlightened by your word of advice. Although you said those things I am still confused. I am taking my senior portrait and I have no idea what to use as a foundation. There are many companies out there and I am just overwhelmed by it. I have mac foundation but I got darker. So I went to Sephora and they recommend make up for ever. I am satisfied with it but when I took a picture with a regular camera, it look ashy. Is that normal? What should I do?

I am filipino, yellow undertone and clueless?

here are 3 pictures of me (no makeup, makeup forever inside with intense light and makeup forever outside)

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g7/musicrules_talaga/20090808_2720.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g7/musicrules_talaga/20090808_2719.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g7/musicrules_talaga/20090808_2713.jpg