The Foundation Matrix Updates: Better Results, Faster Matching
We’ve made a major update to the way the Foundation Matrix works and how you can use it, but it should still look very familiar to those who have used it in the past. You can still choose whether to start off by sharing your existing shade match or by selecting your skintone/undertone.
Add Multiple Existing Shades
You can now input up to five existing shade matches, which will help us narrow the skin tone and undertone range by getting more insight into the matches that already work for you. It helps us refine your pool of matches and makes them more tailored than they would be with one shade. But if you only know of one shade that’s a good match for you, no problem — you can still get matched!
Concealers & Foundations, Types
As I went through shades or formulas that needed to be added, I saw two things: too many requests for formulas already in it (which means it’s not obvious that they’re there) and requests for concealers (which have been in there for years!). You will now find formulas are broken out into Foundations and Concealers as well as foundations are also organized by type, such as Liquid or Cream. This way when brands use the same name, or nearly the same name, it will be clearer which one you want.
To that end, you will start to see more formulations with (UK), (Australia), (Canada), or another country in parentheses, and this is our attempt to start pulling out/adding formulas that have different shade ranges in other regions. Formulas that have little to no variance from region to region will not be marked as country-specific. You will see this reflected should you send us a request to add a foundation/shade, as we’ll ask for your region, which helps us go to the right site to make sure it’s not just a shade missing but potentially several, region-specific shades.
Find a Match by Formula
Something I noticed as I would get requests to add a new shade or formula to the foundation was a lot of requests also included saying “I wanted to find out what I shade I was in X foundation.” We wanted to make that easier for you. You can still get all possible matches and then refine by brand, price, type, coverage, and so forth, but you can also just tell us the formula you want your match in, and we’ll give you the closest that we can. If we can’t find a close match, all shades found in that foundation will show as a list so you can read through it (this is most likely to happen for skin tones that have a harder time finding a foundation, e.g. very fair and darker skin tones).
Here’s an example where I’ve added three existing shade matches, and then wanted to get a match in MAC Studio Sculpt SPF 15 Liquid Foundation. Now you don’t have to refine or tease through pages of results if you know exactly what you’re looking to try next!
P.S. — The Matrix is currently updated once every four to six weeks with missing shades and formulations. Sometimes if it is a brand that we’ve missed entirely that has a lot of shades, it may take longer to research and try to figure out how to categorize shades.
I cannot wait to try this revamped Foundation Matrix site! Not that I’m giving up on what I’m currently using, but hey, options!
lol!
COOL! Thanks. I haven’t played around with this yet but am happy it’s gotten tweaks. When you’re a NARS Siberia and a website or blogger tells you that you’re a MAC SFF NC15… nay nay, my friend. Sigh.
My guess is that it’s the closest, but it’s usually not a match BUT that being said, that’s why we put out the voting system (it helps us make corrections as well). It’s funny, but say NARS Santa Fe – that’s a good match for me and I’m about light-medium in most instances… but it is (by votes) an equally good match for light-medium, medium, and medium-tan, which continues to puzzle me!
Is there a way to give less than an 80% or vote that there isn’t a match at all? Like… If you plug in NARS Siberia Sheer Glow and Chantilly concealer, it’s IMMEDIATELY apparent scrolling through that foundations are on the list that are pretty far removed from those two.
You can report an error about a shade to alert me to re-evaluate whether it is mis-categorized (either by us or votes suggest different characteristics), but I know part of the reason you’re getting shades that are one darker is because Chantilly is a 90% match for Fair as well as Fairest (it is a stronger match for Fairest). The “Top Matches” data displays skin tones and shows them in order of best match by votes, which is how we anticipated users would read the results to rule in/out shades.
I wonder if people are picking the shade categories based on the names or descriptions the manufacturers issue. I can see that — a shade that Hourglass, for example, calls 0 — Porcelain MUST be very pale, right? Except no. Or that is, in fact, the “fairest” shade Dior makes…. But again, no!
Man, this is why I just keep pure white mixer to hand. New foundation looks like orange paint on a white canvas? No problem! Mix mix mix! No more high-blood-pressure bug-eyes about wasted time and money! 🙂
I’m not sure if you’ve seen the latest model rant about makeup artists not having dark enough / correct foundation (this time for the stunning Leomie Anderson), but forrealz, that is an even bigger horror than my own pasty girl problems. I get jealous of anybody with a roughly “medium” skintone sometimes. Y’all have it made!
Eventually, we are going to switch to a system that will try to classify users’ skin tones/undertones based on an existing shade (if they know one) vs. self-selection. Voting is based on whatever you have on your profile, and we do have checks in place – e.g. if you tell us you’re medium, you can’t vote as fairest. But something that exists on the fairest and darkest end of the spectrum is that those who self-select as darkest then seem to find the majority of the shades too dark AND to that end, some think they are the very lightest but they’re really closer to fair.
I do go through every single skin tone and undertone pairing periodically and try to assess if everything should stay the same, undertones should change, or the range should change. A lot of the shades have a range, and that’s kind of why we added multiple existing shades, but if you only give one shade, and say it’s Fairest, Fair, then we’ll give you Fairest, Fair results, as well as shades classified just as Fairest OR as Fair, but you will also get Fair, Light classified shades. The reason behind this is “Fairest, Fair” is really a range, and that shade might be exactly in-between or closer to Fairest or closer to Fair, and since we don’t know, we don’t rule out that the person is closer to Fair than Fairest (so then Fair, Light might work) – but you shouldn’t then start seeing like, Light, Light-Medium results.
In general, unless I can find confirmation via reviews/blogs/forums that a shade is Fairest (or Deep Dark), it doesn’t usually get categorized as such – it would default to Fair or Dark Tan (which was originally designed around MAC’s system of NC/NW15 through NC/NW50)! Historically, the average foundation range does not accommodate for very fair or dark tan/deep dark shades so we do make that assumption that the lightest shade is not actually the lightest that could be available. But if you really go through and look at the voting, you can see why it’s hard to narrow a range or even define undertones sometimes!
Oh, this is great! I find the matrix handy, and now it’s even better. Thanks to your and your tech staff.
Thank you, Rachel!
Thanks for breaking it down for us, Christine!
Of course! 🙂 I hope people like the changes!
Since I don’t have an exact shade match in existing foundations, I tried starting from scratch. It would be super-helpful to me to be able to screen out results that contain fragrance or chemical sunscreens. I know that would be a ton more work, but it’s a thought for future updates, since those are such common allergens. Or some way to link to sites where ingredients are listed (so many manufacturers make it difficult to find out what the ingredients are unless you’re looking at the packaging), for people who struggle with other common allergens, like soy. At present I look for base products with mineral sunscreens and then hope to find a shade that matches (or two shades I can mix to match) and a finish I like, with minimal transfer to clothing… Or a formula with no fragrance or sunscreen that applies well over a (colorless) mineral sunscreen…
Hi Fran,
That’s definitely not something we have the capability of at all at this time, but I will definitely keep it in mind. We are starting to add ingredient lists, but many products do not provide them, unfortunately. We are probably 1-2 years away from being able to do anything with ingredients – if I am lucky! Thank you for your suggestion!
I totally understand, Christine! Many brands make it quite difficult to find out what the ingredients are unless you’re looking at the packaging, and I don’t know of any that provide easy links, except maybe a few specialty brands that retail their own products (like Paula’s Choice). Clinique is especially annoying to me, because it makes hypoallergenic claims, but you can’t get the ingredients without physically looking at the packaging or asking someone who has the packaging to copy it out for you, and they do use lots of chemical sunscreens, which my rosaceic face and chest don’t like. It’s really crazy, when so many people have allergies and sensitivities, that companies want to make things so difficult for their customers.
One piece of advice I have for you is that any product with SPF in the U.S. always has a listing via dailymed.nlm.nih.gov — http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/fda/fdaDrugXsl.cfm?setid=46dce810-dbcb-482b-88a5-e63eacec39a9&type=display (Clinique Acne BB w/ SPF 40).
Right now, when I am adding new products to the database, I am trying to get ingredients in when they’re in text format (like on the brand’s website), but we haven’t figured out how best to display or handle the data yet. We only just got the database ready to accept the data, but on the user-end, we are still figuring out how to display it – especially because some brands have a universal list (covering all shades) vs. others have shade-specific lists. I hate relying on lists on retailers that aren’t the brand, because I have seen them be quite wrong (vs. actual packaging that I purchased from said retailer!). I would 110% love to have ingredients in and let people use that data somehow, but it is a very long road ahead, unfortunately! 🙁
Oh, I understand, it’s an enormous undertaking! Thank you very much for the link — that should be helpful 🙂
That already was such a helpful tool, I cant wait to see how it has evolved now.
Yay!
Shoutout to you for including an olive undertone/fair skin option – I’ve had trouble convincing some make up artists that it’s even a real thing. I recently discovered this is why my 4y03 Pantone match regularly recommends foundations either too light and yellow, or dark and cool, and had a couple of my favorite foundations I’ve gotten since my revelation pull up when I searched your matrix. I, and all other ladies with one English pink parent and one Eastern European olive parent, thank you 😉
Yay! I am glad some of your foundations showed up on your results list 🙂
Fantastic – Christine – you are a legend! I can’t wait to try it out.
Thank you, Genevieve!
It’s been some time since I played around in the Foundation Matrix. I surely will when it’s time to get, or try a new one. I just have to finish a bottle first 🙂
Thank you for the support, Helene!
I can’t thank you enough, Christine, for your unwavering dedication to passing along useful and relevant information to your readers. I know I’m not alone in saying that you have made my decision making and life immeasurably easier by using the information and reviews you provide!!! Much love <3 <3 <3
Thank you so much, Jenny!!
Great matrix! Although when I search by scratch and enter light-medium pink, the Match By Formula button freezes and I’m not able to go on to the next page. I’m specifically looking for BB creams in that color combination. When I try to search Match By Formula by my foundation of Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in Nude it freezes again. Am I searching correctly? I’m excited to use the updated Matrix!
Hey Kay,
Will have my team look at it first thing Monday – I’m not getting freezing per se, but I am having issues with the search form working (if you type in “Laura Mercier” it should drop down an option for you to select) after I click the “Match By Formula” button – that does load a page for me with a search box for brand. If I click on one of the popular brands, it definitely works for me, so something is up with the search portion. But if you are having a different difficulty, let me know as well as what device/browser you’re using!
Are you able to few all matches for Light-Medium/Pink? That was working for me when I checked just now, and then I refined results by BB creams – http://www.temptalia.com/foundation-matrix?ft%5B%5D=BB+Cream&skintone=Light-Medium&undertone=Pink
When I start with existing shade (http://www.temptalia.com/foundation-matrix/match), I type in Laura Mercier, select the brand, and then select SPF 20 Tinted Moisturizer -> Nude, and I was able to successfully go through! Your result link would be: http://www.temptalia.com/foundation-matrix/laura-mercier-spf-20-tinted-moisturizer/nude
I tried it on desktop/Chrome, so let me know if you’re using something else and I’ll have my team make sure to check that device more specifically as well.
Thank you!
Thanks so much for the prompt reply! Searching through a specific brand is no problem at all. For example I’m able to key through to L’oreal True Match Lumi Cushion Foundation using Light Medium Pink and get a match for C3 Creamy Natural! But I’m unable to get the list you did for all matches for Light Medium Pink. I tried on my Samsung Galaxy S5 and then both Explorer and Firefox on my PC. None pulled up general matches. When searching by my shade of LM, Laura Mercier dropped down in the menu no problem. So it’s only if I search by Pink Light Medium or LM TM Nude and leave the brand open ended which is why I wondered if you had to specify a brand rather than say BB creams in general. Thanks again for addressing my issue. Off to watch the Oscars so enjoy your evening!
Thank you, Kay! We will look into it!
For the search field, you just give us the brand, and then we’ll show you the list of formulas (it’s the same process as when you start by giving us the brand to enter in your existing shade). For match by formula, it is a specific formulation – e.g. Light-Medium/Pink undertones and then looking for a match in Laura Mercier SPF 20 Tinted Moisturizer – it’ll give you possible shade matches. If you just want to see BB creams generally, you’d have to click show all matches, and then you should be able to refine by the type (BB Cream) and see ALL shades in BB Creams.
We will look into this on Monday! Thank you again!
My team has let me know that there should any issues re: refining/sorting results should be resolved. Please let me know if you continue to have issues! Thank you for your patience!
When I get my matches, and I choose to sort by anything other than the default, it just gives me a blank page with no content (the site header/footers are there but nothing else). It just says “Are we missing your shade or foundation? Please let us know so we can add it!” I’ve tried multiple times over the last week using Chrome as my browser. Is this a known issue?
Hi Kristen!
We are looking into this now, thank you!
Hi Kristen!
My team has let me know that there should any issues re: refining/sorting results should be resolved. Please let me know if you continue to have issues! Thank you for your patience!
Sooooo a massive thanks are due to the revamped Matrix. I needed a new foundation because mine of late has been discontinued and probably for good reason–really thick, almost like a paste, and clings to all dry patches but separates easily with oil. It’s probably half the reason my skin has been going through hell, tbh. Five minutes in a Target and I got my shade matched to near every foundation they carried thanks to the handy dandy price restrictions. Ended up getting both Fit Me formulas from Maybelleine and the Dewy and a Smooth has been a wonder for my skin and a really close match, all things considered. Thank you so much for the easier interface and updates!!!
YAY!!! That is fantastic to hear, Sarah! 🙂 Seriously, your comment has made my (and my team’s!) day – not only was it easy for you to get your matches but they ended up being good matches, too!
Thank you!