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What are your tips for adjusting a foundation shade that doesn't quite match?
What are your tips for adjusting a foundation shade that doesn’t quite match? (Assume you cannot return!) Share!
If it is lighter, then I’ll use a setting powder that more closely matches my skin tone, which tends to give me the right shade. If it is darker, I’ll use it as a sheer coverage foundation or try to see if it could mix well with another foundation I have that’s too light.
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I always tend to mix with another base! I have a lot of bases and they tend to match me at different time & are different finishes so I end up mixing most of the time.
If you’re super pale, buy a white foundation for mixing.
This is what I do – currently Illamasqua’s white foundation. I have been doing this for years. Even Bobbi Brown’s palest foundation is too dark for me!
I have different shades for summer and winter as well as bronzers and various shades of powders and highlighters, so I can custom blend whatever shade I happen to be at any given time. I prefer light coverage, usually from a TM or BB cream, or from mixing foundation with moisturizer, so there is some leeway in getting a perfect match.
If it’s too light, I will bronze up my face or will mix it with a darker foundation. When too light I’ll mix the foundation with a moisturizer so it’s more sheer on the skin.
I don’t need much coverage, so my solution is usually “wear it sheer and make sure to put some on my neck”.
I may want to consider getting tone adjusters, though, they seem useful.
I am picking up a couple of Make Up For Ever Chromatic Mixes today. Super excited! I find most foundations that are light enough to be too pink, even the ones that are supposed to have yellow undertones. I have pretty high expectations and I’m hoping I’ll get good results. Blending down the neck doesn’t really work because there is still a difference between the face/neck/chest. I don’t think that a lot of people notice it, however.
I’ve never met a foundation too light for me unless there was flash photography involved, but for those that are too dark, in the past I’ve mixed them with OCC’s Lip Tar in Feathered. Yes, really! It not only made the shade more suitable, but tended to bump up pigmentation too. I’ve been too lazy to do that in a long time though, ha ha
If it is darker usually i add a drop of Blanc de Chanel and I mix well before apply, if it’s too light I do the same job with a bit of bronzing powder ( and the Bare Escentuals one works perfectly).
I really like to use different shades to bronze, highlight and contour.
To light: use on the high points of the face for dimension. To make the color match you can mix it with a bronzing gel. It only takes a little so I find it doesn’t alter the formulation.
To dark: Use it to bronze up or shape the face as you would a bronzer.
Using different shades works really great with powder foundations!
I never have the issue of a foundation being too light. In the past, I have occasionally mixed a slightly-too-dark foundation with a lighter one to bring it closer. Sometimes sheering the foundation out with a damp sponge does the trick, too. Mostly, I’ve just given them to my mom or a friend if I can’t return them.
If it’s too dark, I’ll try using it as a tinted moisturizer by mixing with something else, or I’ll use matte highlights on the face in places I usually skip to even myself out. If it’s too light, I’ll bronze up a bit more than I usually do (which isn’t much, normally) and will not overdo the highlight.
Mix it with moisturizer or a color pigment. I use the MUFE Chromatic Mix pigments.
I am 54 years old and I still haven’t found a foundation that really ‘fits’ me 🙁 In the past I have thrown foundation away, used it only on facial brown spots, or if possible – used bronzer to make the color more natural. I have ordered and am excited to try some self adjusting foundation by Lioele. I really hope that works 🙂
In addition to Christine’s suggestion, the color can be blended with moisturizer or primer to lighten color or addgrren, yellow or another color. MUFE has ton of colors to change guessing you want to adjust that much.
Most places accept free exchanges if it’s that far off
For me, the issue is normally that the colour is too dark for my skin. I’m extremely fair, and sometimes the lightest shade available is off and I don’t really have an option to go lighter. Since my skin isn’t too bad, I’ll normally just take my moisturizer and sheer it out a tad and blend well down the neck to avoid any harsh lines. However, if I’m going for a more full coverage look and the foundation isn’t matching, I’ll just blend down the jawline and make sure I take a little bit of bronzer onto the neck area to make sure the transition is seamless.
Unless it’s pure white, I’ve never had an issue with too light of a foundation. Guerlain’s Lingerie de Peau was only available in shade 2 in Canada and I regularly mixed it with MAC’s Face & Body in White (pro-store exclusive, I think). Face & Body is amazing as it was not changing the properties of the foundation and was easy to use after thorough blending. Sometimes I mix a moisturizer with high SPF content that leaves a white cast on its own. It lightens out the foundation a bit. La Roche Posay Hydraphase UV works well since it’s pretty much a white lotion, but it plays well with others (no pilling issues).
I’m always the lightest shade in foundations so I’ve never had a problem with a “too pale” foundation, they’re always too dark. I usually mix with a white foundation (like MAC or illamasqua) and set with a light powder or a translucent one, because I find they do add a white cast which lightens my foundation.
Mixing? No, I buy another color. I don’t wear liquid foundation. I wear MAC Stuido Fix
Mix then bronze
Face Atelier makes a silicone based foundation in several shades—- but more importantly, they also make a Zero Minus (white) and a Zero Plus (dark) that can be used to adjust any foundation. It’s a Canadian company but is also available at Camera Ready Cosmetics (online). It works great to adjust anything. There is also ColorFx Drops, same principal but pure pigment on that one.
I usually mix a couple together. Even if its two differen
Foundation’s it doesnt seem to matter.
Ive been using Nar’s radiant tinted moisturizer sof 30,
With hourglass powder foundation over it.
They are both light but you get coverage.
It feels like you have nothing on your face.
Sometimes I’ll use Nar’s creamy concealer if I need more
coverage..my face gets red at times.
I find the issue tends to be tone, rather than too dark (like many others in the comments, I’m pale enough that I don’t think I’ve ever bought a foundation that’s too light). A lot of brands have formulas that lean fairly yellow, which does not suit my neutral skin. They can usually be rescued by mixing with a pink-tinted liquid highlighter – I’ve used Benefit Highbeam before, but there’s no shortage of options. Nowadays, I have two YSL Touche Eclat rose gold products, a highlighter/primer and a setting powder, that help balance out the yellow and add a nice dose of glow as well.
Ahhhh, someone else who has used Highbeam to balance the tone of foundation! It’s difficult for me to find a foundation (beside MUFE) that’s pink enough for my skin tone.
The too pink/too yellow foundation is a whole other issue for us fair neutrals, isn’t it? It’s so hard to find a true neutral that’s also light enough.
I am extremely fair and Manic Panic Dreamtone Flawless Foundation and Color Corrector in Virgin (Whitest White) is an amazing game changer for me. It’s inexpensive, does not oxidize, the texture is creamy and 1 pump with any of my various foundations creates a beautiful match. I have oily skin and it hasn’t caused me any breakouts. I have backups of my backup because I never want to be without it.
I didn’t even know Manic Panic did foundations. It sounds like I need to check out the white one.
I have been hearing about their color adjuster/foundation for a while and when I did some research online I saw that they actually have colored foundations too for us pocelain dolls. I haven’t tried any of those yet bc I am enjoying using the white to help me finish up all my open foundations. I have an order on the way for their pressed powder which I had also never heard about. Anyway, If you try it I hope you love it as much as I do. Good luck!
In the past I’d always just mix 2 different liquid foundation shades and cross my fingers! I’ve just discovered Cover FX Custom Cover Drops………can you say BRILLIANT!!?? I’d love to see a review/comparison shade swatch review Christine! (I haven’t found any reviews/tutorials yet that are in-depth enough). I really do think this stuff is a game changer! AMAZING.
~K
I am intrigued….I really like Cover FX, used to wear their powder foundation exclusively til my skin got too dry, just use it for touchups now…but I am definitely going to track down these drops!
For foundation that is either too light, a little off in shade, or not enough coverage my new go to is the Cover FX Cover Custom Drops. This is a genius product that helps many situations- I think everyone should have this in their stash- maybe the most valuable/ useful product I have bought this year. I have even mixed this into my daytime face moisturizer- works great! The ultimately flexible assist. Haven’t had this come up yet, but I am guessing it will be especially useful with transitioning summer skin tone and back to winter.
Ohhhhh, I have heard about these drops and can’t wait to try them, not so much to adjust the color bc I can use my Manic Panic for that, but to maybe bump my coverage up a notch when I need it.
Foundations are generally never light enough for me. In the past (before I read blogs like this one) I bought foundation that was yellow based and it never looked right on me. I just threw out the bottle and started again. Very expensive.
Usually my issues are products being too thick,too dark, or too pinky/peachy/not neutral enough, ..so I like using Jackie Oates Colour Supplement by LUSH to fix these issues (I have some pricey foundations I don’t want to waste) It is light in texture and has mixed nicely with everything, feels great on the skin too.
I can find the right… shade??… but it’s difficult to find the right tone. Most foundations are yellow-based and I am pink. True pink. When the SA at MAC tried to match me, she gave me a sample of NW20 which was way too yellow. =(
My perfect match is MUFE Liquid Lift #7, but I LOVE the way Guerlain’s Lingerie de Peau foundation feels and wears (flawless with no settling in fine lines for 10+ hrs). I haven’t been brave enough to mix Benefit’s Highbeam with it as I’m afraid it will alter the flawless finish of the foundation. I think I may need to invest in a pink-toned setting powder to see if that will balance things out.
And some of us find most foundations too pink! I have strong yellow undertones and light skin. I understand why brands don’t tend to cater to extremes – lights, darks, different strong undertones — because most people would be distributed closer to the average. This is why shade adjusters are so great; I wish there were more and they were more easily accessible.
I have strong yellow undertones too, but no orange, and I cannot find the right shade of foundation. What works for me well are some CCs, e.g. MAC prep-prime CC in yellow – I can use it on its own instead of a sheer foundation, or as basis combined with a neutral beige foundation for more coverage. Unfortunately, sometimes it irritates my very sensitive skin. But I reallylove the colour and the finish of the MAC CC.
Now I am hooked on trying the Cover FX drops, but I cannot find a way to buy them in Europe. Does anybody know about such an option?
The US Sephora site ships internationally to a lot of Europe. 🙂
Too light gets set with a darker powder, then I use a bronzer. Sometimes I use it as a subtle brightening concealer.
Too dark gets used as eyeshadow primer. Slow use of a big bottle but I can’t use it as a contour shade much since it’s often too subtle to be noticeable. I just feel like I have gunk on my face. 🙂
Christine, I’m with you. If the shade is too light, I’ll use a finishing powder that is a bit darker to off-set the lightness of the foundation. As for if a foundation is too dark? I have to honestly say that I have never purchased a foundation that was too dark. I have neutral tan Hawaiian skin, and I oftentimes make the mistake of going too light. But I have never gone too dark.
i have illamasqua’s skin base in the lightest shade, and i have UD’s naked skin in a shade thats like 2 darker than mine, so i’ll just mix and match for what’s appropriate because i think those 2 foundations are light [in formula] enough to not totally ruin the formula of the foundation i want to wear.
In addition to Christine’s suggestion, the color can be blended with moisturizer or primer to lighten color or addgrren, yellow or another color. MUFE has ton of colors to change guessing you want to adjust that much.
Most places accept free exchanges if it’s that far off.
Francine, I seem to have accidentally posted an earlier remark got your issue. If you canfindadeeper tone that is not chalky, I would suggest adding watercolor colors from MUFE to get the correct color to your tone. I know it’s a pain but when painting portraits, that’s what I did but with pain, not makeup. Same idea. I’m pretty fair and also have trouble with chalky colors in lips. Just makes me want to kick something.
I mix with another foundation.
If lighter, I can mix it with a bit of my darkest foundation for summer. If too dark, I have a palest winter shade for mixing. But I have yet to find an issue for foundation that oxidizes. I’d really like to get a straight yellow pigment to adjust foundations that are too pink.