The Importance Of Choosing The Right Shade
Whether you wear foundation that's too dark or too light, you put yourself at risk of more than an unnatural look; it can also add years to your face. "Wearing the wrong shade of foundation all over tends to make the skin look someone aged," Winkenwerder warns. "If your skin is light and you wear a shade of foundation that is too dark, the dark shade can make your features look dingy or unhealthy," she says, adding that a lighter foundation can cause similar issues: "Applying light shades of foundation to the face when your skin tone is dark sometimes distorts the attractiveness of your facial features. The off-color may end up making you look sick. This is especially true with olive foundation tones on light or dark skin that are applied all over." Noted!
Additionally, she points out that applying the wrong shade of foundation to your face can make your skin tone appear uneven, "making the makeup appear incomplete and imbalanced in color." We definitely don't want that!
It should also be noted that if foundation is too light or too dark for your skin, it can be difficult to clean off completely, and you could run into the issue of leftover pigment on your face, which certainly wouldn't be a great look. "If you have light skin and apply and wear a darker shade all over, you may end up with a dark foundation in your pores after a single or double cleanse," Winkenwerder says—and the same is true if you put light foundation on dark skin.
Of course, there are instances in which a slightly lighter or darker color can come in handy, such as when you want to contour your face. "If you know how to contour effectively, you can wear a foundation shade that is either too light or too dark for your natural skin tone. It may take some practice to get the application right, but when you do, your foundation—light or dark—paired with foundation shades that complement your natural skin tone, is gorgeous," Winkenwerder explains.
Finding The Right Shade
Finding the right foundation shade can be a difficult task, especially since, as Winkenwerder notes, "sometimes the skin on your face is more than one shade." However, "finding a shade that pulls all the tones of your skin together is important."
To do so, it's essential to color match at least once per season. In order to find an accurate foundation shade to suit your natural skin, Winkenwerder says you should choose four shades that are similar to your complexion. Then, "take each foundation shade and make a swatch on the upper cheek and on the jawline. Allow the swatches to set for about one minute, until the color is completely absorbed by the skin." Once the makeup has settled, take a look at each color and determine which one best suits your natural tone. It's also helpful to try out this color swatch method on your forehead, since your skin might take on different shades at different parts of your face.
Sometimes, it helps to have several foundations on hand. As Winkenwerder notes, "It is not uncommon to own more than one shade of foundation or concealer." So, if you're unsure, buy a few! "Our skin tones may change throughout the year, and moving into those tone changes seems to just happen when you least expect it. Being ready when you need to make this change makes everything run seamlessly," she concludes.
At the end of the day, what matters is that your makeup matches your natural skin tone as accurately as possible, no matter the season. Otherwise, you run the risk of looking older—so start testing out those colors!