By Bimbola Segun-Amao
Shopping for make-up could be fun; you get to try different shades of different products. The fun however ends when you discover you picked the wrong shade of foundation; it’s too light or too dark, and if you live on this side of the world, there is most times a little clause after purchase “Good sold in good conditions are not returnable” ; that rules out your chance of returning the product.
Top tips when shopping
Your first aim should be to get it right when shopping; picking the right shade of foundation is the first step towards having a flawless make-up. So here are some handy tips
* Do not shop online if you have not done a match before. If you would need to test the product go to a physical store to buy.
*Test the foundation on your face, somewhere around your jaw line or lower cheek. The right shade should closely match your neck as well as your face.
*Match your foundation in daylight and with no makeup on your face. Matching a foundation under too much of ‘beautiful’ lights would give you a different look to when you are home and applying under natural light. Walk into natural daylight and see if it really matches your skin. Then, do not try matching on an already made-up face.
*If unsure of which shade, buying a lighter one is better than the darker shade. A lighter shade is easier to fix than a dark one (for all I know )
*If for some other reasons you still got a lighter shade than your skin and you are not eager to bin it, the foundation itself may need some make-up tricks:
- You can blend it with a darker shade of foundation for a customized palette.
- If it’s just a tad lighter, opting for a darker shade of powder would tone it down. Bronzing powder or gel would make it warmer and deeper also.
- You can convert it to a highlighter. Apply it to the middle of the nose to elongate, on the upper cheeks for brightness and to the bows for definition.
For a darker shade, you may have to toss it if you do not have a lighter shade to blend it with.
Why not share some other foundation tricks with us? Leave your thoughts in the comment box!