Find your perfect match
Beauty
Maggie Gibbons
I have dozens of half-empty jars of foundation lurking in my bathroom cupboards. I’ve never been absolutely sure what colour suited me, so I try out lots. Sometime I see a colour I love on someone else and make a beeline to buy it for myself. It’s a huge waste of money.
I’m not alone though: Hundreds of women struggle to find the right shade of foundation for a few reasons. They might think they need a darker/lighter shade, or they might buy the product after trying it in artificial lighting and it looks different when they get home.
Rather than shelling out lots of money for the wrong product or wearing a shade you’re not happy with, why not take advantage of some of the recent technologies that allow you to find the perfect foundation for your skin?
Boots do a No 7 Foundation Match Made Service that uses Pantone technology to scientifically match women to their perfect shade. How does it work? Well a small hand-held device placed on the jawline does an analysis after taking up to ten readings and 227 photos of your skin! It sounds like a rigmarole, but it only takes seconds.
I was matched at Boots in Westport by Tara Fitzgerald who first removed a bit of my makeup from the jaw area. After chatting about my preferred texture and finish for foundation I was ‘diagnosed’ as ‘Warm Beige’. She then colour matched me for lipstick and concealer.
She was brilliant, and I’m thrilled to finally know my best shades for those particular products. The great thing about this service is having the knowledge that you’re investing in the right shades for your skin. You can even be made up in your properly matched colours before you leave the store. Pure genius!
Another option is to try L’Oreal True Match. This also takes the guesswork out of finding the perfect foundation shade, offering shades that precisely match your skin’s texture and tone for flawless results.
First, you need to determine your skin tone. To do this you need to focus on the area of your face near the jaw line rather than the cheek as this gives the truer match. The undertone is the colour just under your skin. It will either be ‘Warm’, ‘Neutral’, or ‘Cool’. If in doubt, ask any of the consultants to help you. Just remember, though, your skin tone can change with age, so you may need to update your foundation from time to time to make sure the shade is true to your unique skin colouring.
Catrice 3 in 1 Skin Tone Adapting Make Up will adapt to any skin colour and leave your skin moisturised, while also acting as a colour corrector for any skin imperfections. It comes out white and amazingly changes to a foundation colour that matches your skin. There are two versions, ‘Medium’ and ‘Light’. I tried the medium – the coverage was good. I’d advise you sample the tester first to make sure you choose the right match. At €7.99 it’s brilliant value. Catrice Cosmetics are widely available. Stockists include McCabes Pharmacies, Dunnes Stores and Penneys.
Now, go find your match!
Maggie Gibbons is an Image/Style Consultant based in Louisburgh. She can be contacted at living@mayonews.ie.
