How to Find Your Perfect Foundation Colour Match

Step 1: Know your skin tone

Learning how to find the right colour of foundation shade starts with knowing what your skin tone is. Your skin tone refers to the natural colour of your complexion, which can be fair, light, medium or deep. If the tone of your skin varies across different areas of your face, focus on your jawline away from the apple of your cheek where there is often more of a natural flush.

Step 2: Identify your undertone

The right foundation shade should match your skin’s undertone. While your skin tone is how light or dark your skin is, the ‘undertone’ refers to the colours under the surface of your skin and can be warm, cool, or neutral. While your skin tone may change with the seasons, your undertone should remain consistent.

How to tell your undertone?

 1.  Check the colour of your veins
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.

 2.  Do you burn or tan?
First things first, always wear sunscreen. Nevertheless, how your skin reacts to UV can also be a big indicator to your undertone. Think about when you hit the beach in summer. If you easily burn your skin likely has cool undertones; where those who tan without burning often have warm undertones.

 3.  Can you wear silver or gold?
There are no rules when it comes to accessories, but one metal often looks the most flattering. Consider which best suits your skin tone. Those with cool undertones tend to suit silver jewellery, and warm tones often are most flattered by gold. If you suit both, your undertone is neutral.

You have a cool undertone if...

Those with a cool skin tone may come across as red, pink, or bluish, and the veins at your wrist appear blue in natural light. You tend to burn in the sun, but not tan. You look best in silver jewellery.

You have a warm undertone if…

Those with a warm skin tone could be described as yellow, peachy, and golden, and the veins at your wrist appear green in natural light. You look best in gold jewellery.

You have a neutral undertone if…

Those with a neutral skin tone can think of olive tones or a mix of those above. Neutral undertones are a balance of warm and cool tones, so you sometimes burn and sometimes tan, and tend to suit both gold and silver jewellery.

Why does undertone matter when picking the right foundation shade?

The right shade of foundation will melt into your skin so seamlessly it’s hard to know it’s there. This type of make-up magic is only possible when the undertone of your skin matches the undertone of your foundation shade. Where the undertones don’t align, the foundation will sit obviously on your skin – a cool undertone foundation may look ghostly or ashy on someone with a warm undertone, even if the depth of the shade is right.

How to pick the right foundation shade for L'Oréal Paris foundations

Once you’ve confirmed your skin tone, and figured out your undertone, knowing how to pick the right foundation shade will get a whole lot easier!

True Match Foundations

The L’Oréal Paris True Match range includes True Match Liquid Foundation which comes in over 40 true-to-skin shades in a variety of undertones. Each includes an easy marker in the shade name to identify their undertone; look for ‘C’ for cool undertones, ‘W’ for warm undertones’ and ‘N’ for neutral undertones. Discover the latest from True Match, with new True Match Nude Plumping Tinted Serum. As the perfect makeup/beauty hybrid containing 1% Hyaluronic Acid, the new formula combines the advantages of a skincare serum with the radiance and coverage of a foundation. With 9 available super blendable shades, it easily blends on to various skin tones, leaving skin with a naturally luminous finish for a flawless nude look.

Infallible Foundations

The L’Oréal Paris Infallible foundation range also offers a wide range of foundation shades to choose from to help you find your perfect foundation colour match.  This lightweight yet longwear liquid foundation is available in a variety of formulas such as the Infallible 32HR Freshwear Liquid Foundation or the Infallible 24hr Matte Cover Foundation to help you achieve your desired look.

To help you pick the right foundation shade, try our Virtual Makeup Try On tool conveniently featured on every product page that allows you to virtually see how our foundation shades will look on you - all from the comforts of your home!

Here’s a helpful guide on how to pick the right foundation shade when undertones aren’t listed:

 •  Warm undertone shades are often named beige, golden, tan, caramel, and chestnut.
 •  Cool undertone shades are often labelled porcelain, rose, sable, cocoa.
 •  Neutral undertone shades are often referred to as ivory, buff, nude, and praline.

You can also pick your foundation shade with our Live Try On functionality, Modiface, and explore our real-time foundation finder from the comforts of home!

Step 3: Test on bare skin

Next tip in learning how to pick the right foundation shade is testing on bare skin. Attempting to perfect your foundation colour match to your skin can be difficult when you are already wearing makeup, so testing foundation shades on a bare face is the key to accurate shade selection.

Where this may differ is if you frequently wear fake tan, in this instance match your foundation shade to the undertone of your skin after applying self-tanner as the undertone of the product may differ.

Step 4: Start with options

To find your perfect foundation shade match, start with a selection and narrow down your choices. Find three foundation shades that look like a good match and apply them in parallel lines on your jawline, extending the product from your cheek and onto your neck slightly. The perfect foundation shade is the one that blends seamlessly into your skin in both areas. 

Avoid swatching shades on your arm. While it’s quick and easy, it’s essential to test your foundation where it will be applied, as your skin tone may significantly vary between your arm and your face.

Step 5: Check in natural light

Finding the right lighting is an important step when picking the right foundation shade, as different light types have different tones, which may influence how the undertone of your chosen shade appears. Skip the in-store fluorescent lighting when shade matching and head out into natural light for a more accurate view.

Step 6: Update with the seasons

As the weather changes, so may your skin tone. While your summer shade may be a perfect match when you have a glowing tan, it is unlikely to still work in the middle of winter. Your undertone will remain the same, but the depth of your foundation shade will need to be colour matched again as your skin tone changes to ensure your complexion is flawless all year.

Now that you know how to choose the right foundation, read our guide on the best foundation for every skin type.

Ready to find your perfect match? Check out our huge range of foundation makeup in a variety of finishes to suit every skin type.