be organized

foundation bag

organize your foundation shades by using this chart , insert your tubes up and down as shown above to easily read the numbers.

 be professional

natural daylight is the only accurate lighting to test your foundation color.  If you are stripe testing in the daytime- step outside and confirm the foundation blends perfectly.  If you are stripe testing in the evening- be sure to have a natural daylight bulb available to confirm the color, not daylight balanced, not full spectrum but a true daylight bulb.

How to Stripe Test:

If you have ivory or beige skin tones, conduct the stripe test from jaw to neck to get a true match to the neck. Women with these skin tones tend to have redness in their faces, but not in their necks, so it’s important to get a true match. Start by applying three stripes of the different foundation shades from the jaw to the neck and wait a few minutes to see if the oils in your skin change the color pigments.  Select the one that most closely matches your neck.

If you have bronze or ebony skin tones, conduct the stripe test from cheek to jaw to get a true match. Start by applying three stripes of the different foundation shades to the check and jaw line, wait a few minutes to see if the oils in your skin change the color pigments.  Select the one that most closely matches your check and jaw.

You are trying to achieve two things when you are stripe testing:

1. You want to match the skins depth level. depth level- the lightness or darkness of your skin and foundation. It is how light or how dark your skin and foundation appear to the naked eye.
2. You want to match the skins undertone.

Keep in mind your foundations are numbered and each digit means something. The first two digits tell you the foundations depth level. How light or dark it is. The last digit tells you the foundations undertone.

What is the depth level of your skin? The depth level of your skin is how light or dark it appears to the naked eye. The paler your skin is the lighter its depth level is, just like the darker your skin is the deeper its depth level is. It is not only important to match your undertone but you also want to match your skins depth level. Choosing a foundation that is to light in depth for your skin can actually make you look older. In contrast you also do not want to choose a shade that is a lot darker than your natural depth level because it will just make your skin look muddy and dirty.

Keep in mid that a foundations undertone can effect how light or dark it appears to the naked eye. Below I have listed your foundations from the lightest shade to the darkest, so you will know which shades will look lighter and which will look darker.

DEPTH LEVEL CHART

Pro tips:

I know seeing some ones true undertone can be difficult keep stripe testing until you find the right one. Another place other than your face or neck you can look (do not stripe test here, but you can look here to see the true undertone) is the inside of your forearm. There is less chance for discoloration there and many times it is easier to see your true undertone.

If you have ivory/ beige skin you will be one of three basic undertones (olive, yellow or pink). In my opinion one of the most common mistakes women with ivory/ beige skin make is choosing a foundation with a pink undertone. This will actually age you, because the pink undertone will actually make your skin look ashy and old. Many women think that the pink undertone is actually adding color to their skin when it is actually doing the opposite. The only women that need a pink undertone are women with pink in their face and pink in their neck.

ivory/ beige

            The majority of women with ivory/ beige skin benefit from a foundation with a yellow or olive undertone, because the majority of them who have pink in their face do not have any pink in their neck and it is always our goal to match the neck. Also using a foundation with a yellow or olive undertone will add color and life to the skin, making you look younger.

            Now if you can not see your undertone there is a question you can ask yourself that might help you determine your undertone. It is not an end all, but it might help lead you in the right direction. Ask yourself: Do I tan easily? If the answer is yes then you will probably need a shade with an olive undertone, because what it takes to tan is olive in your skin. If the answer is, I do not know about easily (I might even burn a little first) but I can get a tan, then your skin probably has a yellow undertone. If your answer is, I only burn when I go out in the sun, then your skin probably has a pink undertone. Just remember even if your skin has a pink undertone using a shade of foundation with a bit of yellow could make you look younger and healthier.

            Yellow foundations can actually counteract skin conditions such as rosacea and broken capillaries. Women with these conditions or with ruddy skin tones often feel that foundations with a yellow undertone look too yellow because they’re used to seeing all the red in their face. Give it time! Your skin will start to absorb the foundation and work with it better, and your eye will get used to seeing the red neutralized. You’ll soon notice a more even, natural, younger looking skin.

bronze/ ebony

            Women with bronze/ebony skin should match the undertones in their skin exactly because their undertones are so distinct and noticeable. They can range all the way from yellow to golden-orange to true brown. It is also quite possible for many bronze/ ebony women to have multiple shades of skin on their face. Many times there are lighter areas right above her eyebrows and in her cheek area, with darker areas around her mouth and along her jaw. You should never be afraid to use multiple shades of foundation, by doing so you can really even out your skin.  Make sure you apply the correct shade of foundation just to its appropriate shade of skin (if you do not it will not even out your skin).

Keep in mind that if you have really deep bronze/ ebony skin you could really benefit from brighten (not lighten) your skin. When I say brightening it is simple a matter of, after you have applied your appropriate foundation shade, taking a shade of foundation that is one or two shades lighter (in depth) than your natural shade and blending it into the center of your face (center of your forehead, underneath your eyes on top of your cheek bone, down the center of your nose and tip of the chin). This will give you just a slight very youthful glow, really waking up the appearance of your skin. Foundations with an intense golden-orange undertone really work well for brightening bronze/ ebony skin. You could also achieve a much more subtle version of this effect by simple using a powder to do the same thing (once again on your darker shades of bronze/ ebony skin making sure it has a golden orange undertone for the best effect).

be flawless

When applying foundation you have three basic tools to work with. All three can give you great application. I personally believe the best tool for you is the one you work best with. Here are some choices:

• In general, a sponge is the most sanitary, because I think women are more likely to wash it or throw it away after using it. You must cleanse it after every use, there is no way to get perfect application from a sponge with dried up foundation from two days ago. The more flawless the skin the younger you will look. Sponges also really help with the blending process. I love sponges because I really feel like I can get the foundation and skin to look like one because I can blend so well. You can also control your coverage by using it damp or dry and whether you stipple or wipe with your sponge. A dry sponge will give you more coverage, where a damp sponge will make your foundation go on more sheer. If you stipple (a patting motion) your sponge will give you more coverage and if you use your sponge to glide your foundation across your face it will give you less coverage. You are in control. The higher quality the sponge the more flawless the application. If you choose to use the wedge sponge, don’t scrip on the cost- a dense sponge is a better quality sponge and will not drink up your foundation.
• The beauty blender sponge was designed by two makeup artists and has been introduced to the makeup industry in the last few years- what makes this sponge so unique is the egg-shape design, where you can softly apply foundation in small areas like under the eyes, and use the bottom of the egg application around the rest of the face. You first immerse it in water and the blender expands, gently squeeze with a towel to remove any excess water, then you apply your makeup by smoothing and stippling to create an “airbrush application”- because there is a continuous round surface on the beauty blender- you will not have streaks or edges, thus creating a perfect blending of your foundation application.  The soy based, light lavender scent cleanser will clean and remove your old foundation and you will have a perfectly clean sponge to use again and again, up to 3 months or more!
• A brush blends well, so it gives you great even coverage. The head of a foundation brush is tapered in its design to promote smooth even coverage, helping your foundation to blend as you apply it. It is also great for those of you that want a little extra coverage, because with a brush it is really easy to achieve a fuller coverage finish. It’s also great for touching up the foundation you’ve worn all day, you want to go out that evening but you do not want to cleanse your face and start over, you can apply more foundation right on top of the product you have had on all day and it will go on flawlessly smooth. This is the one time a brush is the best choice, because it is the only tool you can do this with and not disturb the products you already have on your face. You must always wash your brush after every application. Foundation brushes are easy to wash with soap and water because they are made of synthetic fibers that are designed not to soak up your foundation like a natural bristle brush can.

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• Don’t have a brush or sponge handy? No problem, because the third tool is your fingertips. Just make sure to wash your hands after moisturizer and treatment products. The residue from the other products can compromise the integrity of your foundation and diminish the amount of coverage it provides. Using your fingers, is personally my least favorite tool, only because I feel you get a better blend for you foundation with a sponge or a brush. And blending will give you the flawless look you are trying to achieve!