Finding the right foundation can be difficult regardless of your complexion, but for darker-skinned women it can be even more so. For a long time, cosmetic companies have offered a rather limited range of colors. Dark skin is characterized by various shades regarding tone and undertone, but only recently have companies begun to study and take care of these characteristics. Nowadays, the range of tones is much wider, but selecting the perfect foundation still takes some effort. The first thing to do is to identify your tone and undertone. Once these two aspects have been defined, it will be easy to choose the right wording.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Define the Undertone
Step 1. Learn to distinguish tone and undertone
The undertone is the color of the skin below the surface layer of the skin. The tone is instead influenced by factors such as exposure to atmospheric agents, acne, scars and other skin disorders. Such variables can alter it. The undertone, on the other hand, never changes. The secret to finding the perfect foundation is finding out what your undertone is.
- Don't rely on your skin tone to choose a foundation.
- Do not try to change the undertone with makeup, otherwise you will get an extremely artificial effect.
Step 2. Examine your overall skin tone
The undertone can be divided into three macro categories: warm, cold and neutral. If you have a tan or amber complexion, your undertone is likely to be warm. If you have a medium to dark complexion, it is likely to be neutral. Dark skin is less likely to have a cool undertone, but that's not impossible.
- For example, ebony skin can have a cool undertone.
- Most cosmetic companies divide their products into the following undertone categories: warm, cold and neutral.
Step 3. Examine the color of the veins
The coloration of the veins under the skin can help determine your undertone. The best point to observe them is located in the area under the wrists. Be sure to carry out the procedure in natural light. Look closely: do they look blue-green or blue-purple?
- Veins with blue-green undertones are associated with a warm undertone.
- Veins with blue-purple undertones to a cool undertone.
- If you can't figure it out or see both shades, it's possible that you have a neutral undertone.
Step 4. Run the metal test
He wears a gold bracelet on one arm and a silver bracelet on the other. Which one suits you best? Don't judge by the material you prefer: which one best enhances your skin? If silver turns it off, while gold makes it glow, chances are you have a warm undertone. If gold bangs you, while silver makes you radiant, chances are you have a cool undertone.
If the result is more or less the same, chances are you have a neutral undertone
Method 2 of 3: Locate the Tone
Step 1. Examine the body instead of the face
The tone, or the surface color of the skin, determines whether the foundation should be light or dark. The skin of dark-skinned people is lighter on the face than on the rest of the body. When determining your tone, don't just look at your face color. Even hands are not reliable to find the right color. Instead, look at the body as a whole, especially the area between the thorax and the jaw.
- When choosing a foundation, the goal should be to homogenize the color of the face with that of the body.
- Be sure to examine the skin in natural light.
Step 2. Go to the perfumery to request samples
To identify your skin tone you need to make several attempts. The best approach is to go to a perfumery so you can try various products in the shop or ask for samples. Be sure to consider various tones.
- At home or in the shop itself, apply the product in front of a mirror by exposing yourself to natural light to test it effectively.
- Make sure your skin is clean, hydrated, and make-up-free before you start testing a product.
Step 3. Try each tone
Apply the product by drawing a line from the cheek to the jaw. Don't shade it. Wait for about 10 minutes and examine the skin. The right foundation should fit your complexion perfectly. Narrow down the selection, try them on the chest to make sure that the result is natural in this area too.
- If you have oily skin, try a foundation that is lighter than expected. In fact, an oily skin makes the complexion appear darker.
- If you're having a hard time finding the right tone, try mixing two to make your own.
Method 3 of 3: Choose a foundation
Step 1. Go for a liquid formulation with a full-bodied consistency
Liquid foundations tend to create a fresher result on dark complexions, this is because they adapt more easily to the skin, enhancing its natural color. Furthermore, dark-skinned people are often affected by phenomena such as hyperpigmentation and irregularity, especially around the mouth.
The liquid foundations with a full-bodied consistency allow you to stratify the coverage, in order to even out the complexion where it is needed
Step 2. Choose a semi-opaque formulation
Dark skin reflects light very well, showing a natural and radiant complexion. Avoid illuminating formulations, which can make it appear greasy instead. Opt for a foundation with a semi-matte finish, which helps to balance the natural glow while avoiding polishing the skin.
- Read the product label to know the finish it offers.
- A completely matte formulation can cause the so-called mask effect on a dark complexion. A semi-opaque seal is preferable.
Step 3. Choose the most prestigious brands to have a wider range of shades available
Unfortunately, many of the cheaper brands are still limited when it comes to the range of tones, which is well known to those with darker complexions. For years, the lack of options has been a problem in cosmetic lines because dark complexions have many shades in terms of color and tone.
- However, some of the more prestigious brands are starting to substantially broaden the range of tones available for darker complexions.
- If you're having a hard time finding the perfect tone, consider more reputable brands, usually sold in perfumery rather than grocery or drugstore.
Step 4. Select a lighter concealer than your foundation
It is often believed that the tone of the concealer should match that of the foundation. However, since uneven pigmentation and dark circles are typical problems of dark complexions, it is not recommended to use the same color.
