Foundation Stripe Test - How to find the right foundation shade (with video)
The elusive perfect foundation color match.
Trying to find the perfect skin shade match can leave you feeling confused or overwhelmed– but it doesn’t have to!I am here to share with you just how easy it can be.
All you’ll need for this little “test” to figure out your perfect foundation shade is a few Simple Beauty Minerals foundation samples.Choosing Your Test Samples
Because I have a fair to medium depth of color to my skin, I have chosen a Cool 2, Neutral 2, and Warm 2 shades in the Perfect Cover Foundation formula to test out – and a bare, foundation/concealer-free face.
Swatch a Little Stripe
To get started, simply swatch a little stripe of each foundation onto your cheek, ending near your jaw bone. Give it a thick stripe, so you can really see it. To help remember which foundation stripe is which, you might want to make a little note, or lay out the sample packets on the counter in the order that you applied them. Starting nearest my chin I applied Warm 2, then Neutral 2 in the middle, and Cool 2 nearest my hairline. (And yes, I took notes).
Now, all you’ve gotta do is… wait!
Otherwise known as "Letting it Cook" Let the stripes rest and meld to your face for a few minutes. Go make a cup of tea (I did.). Or read this blog post. Then, it’s time for the big reveal!
As you can see (the light has washed out the "warm" swatch in this photo but in person you can see a big difference– it really stands out.) the two shades that have melted into my skin tone are Cool 2 and Neutral 2– but Neutral 2 is just a bit more seamless, so that’s the one I chose.
You want to choose the one the disappears into your skin the best.
Lisa's note: Abby is a Cool Bright Winter which means she has a cool skin tone- which makes sense that both the Cool and the Neutral shade worked best for her.
Side By Side Comparison
The important thing about doing the stripe test is just that. Even if you have it pretty narrowed down to two shades, it’s possible that each shade would work out pretty well and you may never know that the one works just a bit better for your skin tone if you don’t see them like this side-by-side! Congratulations, beauty! You are now the proud know-er of your perfect foundation shade, no rocket science necessary. And doesn’t it just feel good? If you want more Simple Beauty goodness, check out this post for a behind-the-scenes peek into our latest photo shoot and see how the “magic” happens! Or, if you want more Simple Beauty Blog how-to goodness, head on over and check out my DIY flower crown tutorial to keep getting into the Springtime spirit! Get your very own foundation samples here.
Abby is a recent UCSB alum and self proclaimed second-generation hippie with a passion for everything DIY, vegan snickerdoodles, and eco-friendly, sustainable living– in that order. She is happily married to all 6 ½ feet of her wonderful husband, and spends her time taking pictures and writing about about her life in tiny notebooks.
Note from Lisa: More details on foundation color matching can be found here:
Matching The Correct Foundation To Your Skin in 3 Easy Steps
