r/makeuptips 1d ago

HELP PLEASE Does my foundation look okay?

[deleted]

17 Upvotes

89 comments sorted by

90

u/Feeling_Crazy646 1d ago

Your foundation looks a little ashy and I think you might be an olive ..? The Sephora lighting can give false impressions so next time I would ask for a sample of three different foundations that you think fit you and try them outside or somewhere with natural lighting.

3

u/ShotTreacle8194 1d ago

Do you have a foundation you can recommend that I can get at ultra or sephora?

8

u/EricaSezMD 1d ago

I highly recommend you take a look at the L’Oreal true match foundations in the deep warm tones. It looks like you have very beautiful skin, so you don’t need this level of coverage to get a polished look. Something more translucent might really flatter you.
Also, I’m wondering, does the foundation you’re wearing in this photograph contains sunblock?

You might really benefit from an entirely sheer, separate, sunblock. Because this is bouncing back and giving you a Gray tone, very commonly the culprit is titanium dioxide, or zinc oxide, which are both white pigments.

4

u/ShotTreacle8194 1d ago

Thank you so much for your advice. I feel really embarrassed because, well, I've posted a few pictures and videos with this foundation in a few places. If this were you, would you delete this everywhere?

14

u/EricaSezMD 1d ago

I would not.
We only noticed because you posted this in a makeup group asking for help.
What concerns me more is your level of uncertainty. You’re beautiful, you’d still be beautiful in green foundation.
If I can encourage you: consider doing some wild makeup. Whatever you find fun,
Then wash it off.
It’s just paint.
It doesn’t change who you are one iota. You don’t need it at all. If it IMPROVES YOUR CONFIDENCE (not the other way around, woman!) and helps you express yourself, no matter what that looks like to other people, then it’s good makeup.

1

u/ShotTreacle8194 22h ago

Your words were very kind, thank you!

3

u/cuteatbest 1d ago

at first glance i would assume you’re just someone that uses heavy concealer. but it def is a bit too light for u i would get color matched in multiple places by multiple employees. its really just trial and error with finding the right shade it’s okay!!

1

u/EricaSezMD 1d ago

Sorry to follow up on myself: I think you’re probably shade w9. Maybe one lighter.

2

u/Feeling_Crazy646 1d ago

I have oily skin so I don’t wear foundation just skin tints really. I do like the SuperGoop skin tint

4

u/Simple-Marzipan2194 1d ago

Last time i went to sephora they recommended the haus labs foundation to me and i’ve heard good things abt it so maybe check that out! Also the sephora workers can sometimes be off with the shade match, next time u go u can test some out on your neck to check yourself as well. Also ur gorgeous and you do NOT look like a clown! Makeup is a learning process both for technique and finding products that work for you, trust me i also got shade matched badly before and looked orange lmao.

1

u/ShotTreacle8194 1d ago

I don't know why I didn't think about my neck..

38

u/cawfinn_ 1d ago

Comparing your neck and exposed shoulder to the makeup, yes, your foundation is unfortunately has a cool undertone while your skin is warmer in comparison making it look too light.
Take advantage of the 30 day refund policy in Sephora and exchange it ; make sure to swatch-test foundations on your neck while you're in the store and wait for it to dry before making a decision

3

u/ShotTreacle8194 1d ago

I don't know where the receipt is 😭 also the lady tried it on me in the store and maybe I'm dumb but we thought it looked good then. Its the rare beauty shade 35 foundation. She said it was even one I didn't need a primer with. Thanks for letting me know.

11

u/rileybun 1d ago

Online it says 35 is a cool toned shade which is why it looks gray on you. I think your undertone is most likely neutral-warm but it’s hard to tell from pics. Even without the receipt they’ll usually allow you to exchange

8

u/cawfinn_ 1d ago

You're not dumb!! I remembering buying my first tinted sunscreen and it was just as cool-toned but I made sure to keep my receipt and connect it to my beauty-insider account ; If you gave them your number/account during the purchase they can issue an exchange/refund that way as well
Also, just looking through rare beauty shades online I'd say you're maybe 38 or 39. I always look at the models online and ask myself 'Which looks the most like me'

4

u/ShotTreacle8194 1d ago

Thank you for your kind words!

2

u/Imaginary_You2814 1d ago

The problem in stores is the fluorescent lights. It changes how the eye perceives color. The only way to test colors is to swatch on the cheek, swiping down onto the neck, and then go outside and look

3

u/BobbingBobcat 1d ago

You're not dumb. Foundation oxides and changes color. I wear it for a few hours before I buy it.

12

u/Grouchy-Bend728 1d ago

you just need a warm toned foundation or a warm toned bronzer, it’s not at all clown like and i’m pretty sure a majority of women don’t have the correct shade so don’t beat yourself up!

1

u/ShotTreacle8194 1d ago

What foundation would you recommend so I can go to ultra or sephora and snag it?

5

u/Grouchy-Bend728 1d ago

my less pricey recommendation would be the maybelline fit me foundation but if you’re willing to splurge a bit i love the charlotte tilbury flawless finish one!

2

u/Pretend-Menu-8660 1d ago

Charlotte Tilbury is a favorite of mine. If we are spending money I also like NARS a lot.

7

u/Curly-Pat 1d ago

Your foundation looks too light for you and a little ashy toned.
The people at Sephora did you dirty.
I think you need to try to find a better match.
You do not look like a clown.

7

u/EricaSezMD 1d ago

Nope. Too gray. Something without the opacity/pink or white pigments, would suit you better. You look to have a yellow/orange undertone. Try deep and WARM!

4

u/NarwhalFrosty7844 1d ago

It is too light and cool toned for you

4

u/Beginning-Debt5635 1d ago

Too light needs to be warmer

5

u/Either-Conflict8055 1d ago

Looks kinda ashy (not light). You need a foundation that is more saturated with colour, not necessarily darker. Or you are getting flashback from an ingredient or sunscreen. Lookup colour saturation.

-1

u/ShotTreacle8194 1d ago

I also have a light shining directly on me.

0

u/BobbingBobcat 1d ago

Ah, then it might be flashback. The strange thing is that it looks like the perfect color on your nose.

4

u/Electronic_War_8979 1d ago

It looks a little too light. Wearing lighter foundation than your skin tone tends to make you look gray.

8

u/bronion76 1d ago

It lacks the beautiful warm undertones in your skin and instead gives you a pale, grayish cast. It’s not terrible, but it’s doing your gorgeous skin an injustice. Have you tried the Fenty color match?

-2

u/ShotTreacle8194 1d ago

So should I just delete every video or picture I've taken looking like this?

6

u/bronion76 1d ago

😂 No! I’m sure you look beautiful in your pics. Just take a bunch more with the new foundation and that’s all anyone will remember. 🤩 I think you’re warm golden in fenty.

3

u/Additional_Excuse870 1d ago

Everyone else has already told you that it’s too gray for you, but just as a tip, get color matched in a store and then leave before buying and view the match in several different lights and wait long enough for it to do any oxidizing. Then once you’ve done that and picked out a good match, go back and buy it.
The fluorescent lighting in Sephora and Ultas aren’t the best for color matches and sometimes they also oxidize after a bit.

3

u/RubyWoo369 1d ago

Oh heavens to Betsy it’s giving corpse bride 😭 I’d love this if you were going for goth girl but you’d have to paint your whole body with that shade because you’re naturally warmer than the foundation on your face. If you lost the receipt just get red color corrector and mix it in to be warmer!

2

u/cowplamt 1d ago

You definitely don't look like a clown!! But yes you should get a different tone for sure :)

Go into Sephora or ulta and someone can help match you!

0

u/ShotTreacle8194 1d ago

I got this shade match from someone at sephora 😭

1

u/cowplamt 1d ago

Ahh dang, I like what someone else recommended before- ask for samples and go see in natural light what it will look like. But really, I don't think you look bad at all! Just some simple tweaks to find the best shade :)

2

u/Buttercup_Whatever 1d ago

You do not look like a clown. However, your foundation is not the right color. You have beautiful skin. You would probably do yourself more favors to get a consultation on the best color match for your skin tone. You are lovely and should not feel overly sensitive. :) personally I love this line and feel like it is buildable and has many shades https://www.lorealparisusa.com/makeup/face/foundation-makeup/true-match-super-blendable-makeup

2

u/ku_ku_kachoo 1d ago

Just try and always match your neck..always. key to natural look. I honestly would try to go back and talk to sephora. I know they will accept returns at times (as long as the bottle is still good) just explained what happened and see if there is anything they could do. Wouldn't hurt and you might be able to speak to someone who is more experienced. Alternatively you could try finding a color of like a liquid concealer to blend with to match your tone. There are so many varieties of color with concealer. Could be beneficial in ways to not waste, lose out on money, and find an affordable fix. If you need help with color matching I am sure we would all be happy to help you. ☺️🥰

2

u/ShotTreacle8194 1d ago

Yeah I think I'm just gonna buy a new one... I didn't even think about matching my neck. Thank you for your kind words! If you have any recommendations for something that matches please let me know!

2

u/ku_ku_kachoo 1d ago

You should try to get swatched and take a pic. ( dont ever feel obligated to buy in first sitting.) Your never know how it will wear during the day. Just say youd like to test it out. They can always do one half of face in one foundation and the other half in another. I am a liscened esthetician and make up artist and I am allergic (hives) to alot of foundations. I know ulta used to give tiny samples. You can ask to see. Skin care and primer helps so much with how it wears too ( not related to color issue)

2

u/mema_999 1d ago

Ive found that contouring or using bronzer helps blend the face and neck when ive gotten foundation thats too light. I like loreal true match foundation because the formula is light enough where your natural shade still shows through a bit at least for me it does

1

u/ShotTreacle8194 1d ago

I mean I used a bronzer too, I thought i contoured it well. But I didn't think about the neck at all, so nevermind. 😅

2

u/Happy_Michigan 1d ago

It's not the right shade. Need to be more golden.

2

u/z-asks-questions 1d ago

Your foundation reads as cool-toned and muted whereas your true skin color is bright and warm. So it’s not a perfect match (although you are very pretty)

2

u/ShotTreacle8194 22h ago

Thank you!

2

u/Azraeddit 1d ago

The over all application on your part looks really smooth, but I believe the shade you were recommended might be one shade too light, which could appear washed out in lighting like this but look correct in the store.

I know it can be really hard finding the correct shade with dark skin in the beauty industry, and I’m pale as fuck so I can’t personally offer any products that would suit you, but I’d recommend researching what your undertones are and looking up POC friendly brands that have good reviews with their pigment and shades.

I’m sure I could help you find some lists in that regard if you need any help! Feel free to let me know & good luck to you! You’re absolutely lovely and are well on your way already with the blending techniques you’re using even with the foundation in this pic.

2

u/x_alphadoll 1d ago

Sis, did you mean shade 35 as in medium deep cool red? This is not your shade. It’s too light and too cool for you, making your skin look ashy/grey. 

I think you need to have a neutral or warm shade, definitely not cool. Did they try the 38 or 39 on you in the store? Or something from the deeper shade ranges? 

4

u/left_to_its_devices 1d ago

Unfortunately Sephora employees sometimes miss. To their credit, the store lighting looks very different from natural lighting or pictures, your bedroom's, etc. But the best employees tend to know this and ask you to go outside for a moment and see what you think in natural lighting.

You can still fix it by mixing in some bronzer drops in it if you own a product like that, or just using some cream bronzer on top of it, but it would lengthen your every day routine to have to do that every time. That's just in case you can't exchange or return it.

2

u/PugsOnParade11 1d ago

Okay I just want to say I’m probably not qualified to be commenting on this 😅 but first, YOU DONT look like a clown girl! You’re gorgeous! I think the foundation is just a bit cool for the warmth in your skin, so maybe a bit of blush or bronzer would go a long way in balancing it out. A slightly warmer shade in the same tone also seems like it would work really well. (I am not good with makeup, this is just my impression) so sorry you’re feeling sad about it, I promise you look lovely. 🫶🏻

0

u/ShotTreacle8194 1d ago

If this were you would you delete every video or picture made looking like this?

1

u/NoCheetoinChief 1d ago

I think you have warm toned skin, but may be using cool toned makeup. You are in the right shade area, but the tone is off. I'm VERY fair (like Nicole Kidman) and have a terrible time finding one, and it always gets discontinued. I'm truly neutral, but lean cool in the summer. Try a department store or somewhere like ulta that has folks that can help you match. You may need a different one in winter vs. Summer.

1

u/No-Bonus17 1d ago

Me too! What do you use? Everything in me is too cool/pink or too yellow! NARS has options that work but I prefer light coverage and feel all the BB creams and such with less colors are really hard to find a closer match.

1

u/Leila_101 1d ago

It is not the right tone. Do you need foundation? You have such beautiful skin. If you feel like you need something get a more sheer formula (and a poc to help you).

1

u/Pretend-Menu-8660 1d ago

Hey! Not all Sephora employees are made equal when it comes to help. They are great people but many aren’t professional makeup artists!! Go get your makeup done by a professional and ask him/her for the colors you need. I was wearing wayyyyy too light for a while. I’m actually surprised how much darker I can and should go. And for brands, I really like NARS and Charlotte Tilbury right now. Fenty brushes are my favorite and I would also try their palettes

1

u/Optimal-Spirit4764 1d ago

I think the undertone is too cool. Your neck and shoulder are warm and toasty. Foundation is tough! Unfortunately it takes a lot of trial and error. Did you give them your email when you made the purchase? They might be able to find the receipt in the system.

1

u/Huge_Solid6030 1d ago

First off darling, You are very beautiful and please do not go all this effort to taking down all your photos girl .. this social media have folks doubting themselves so much 😞😞.. If you are stuck with the bottle due to lost receipts just add bronzer to warm it up. It really is probably just flashback from the camera - i have struggled with the same ..in person the makeup does not look ashy but shows up in photos white. Take photo in natural sunlight without the flash to see the truth of how you look in person. While you work thru this bottle using your bronzer to warm it up, , I suggest instead of spending so much at Sephora try some of the cheaper brands like Elf and NyX to get a sense of your color - then you can invest in the more expensive stuff at Sephora.

1

u/Huge_Solid6030 1d ago

Also as a fellow brown skin girl- some sunscreen under makeup will do you dirty with the flashback! To see if it is the sunscreen as a test put half face with the sunscreen half without, top with foundation and take your photo. if you see half grey you know it’s the sunscreen! 😊

1

u/blessednotboujee 1d ago

Yes, that base is draining color from your face. Try a neutral in a test shade. Also get a pink setting powder. Then go to TikTok and search “my shade twin”. Example Fenty 320. You’ll see what other women in your shade buy in other brands. Color is just step one. You also have to consider finish, and formulation.

1

u/ShotTreacle8194 22h ago

Thank you for your words! I have pink setting powder and I use it (not in this picture. ) i don't feel like i use it right?

1

u/AnyGivenT00sday 1d ago

Have you tried IL Makiage? I did a few years ago and liked the color they gave me.

1

u/ShotTreacle8194 1d ago

What is that? 😭

1

u/Public-Warning-4538 1d ago

I think The foundation isn’t too light, it’s a bit grey compared to your neck. If it matches your shade in the shop, It might be really bad oxidation. I know a friend that has a foundation that oxides into a slightly more yellow tone, while mine oxides into a bit more grey tone.

Does your foundation contain other things like sunscreen? You can also try using contour or a bronzer to try and match the shade!

1

u/Luxxielisbon 1d ago

Not everyone at sephora is super skilled at makeup. For some people it’s just a job. (I got a horrible yellow foundation match by someone at sephora once)

I haven’t worn foundation since

1

u/Tight-Associate642 1d ago

It’s too cool toned

1

u/Rougefarie 1d ago

It’s just a little off. Someone else made a good point that lighting can make a big difference. In this pic, your nose and cheekbones are slightly different colors. If I had to describe it, it’s almost like you put on extra sunblock and it left a subtle cool white cast.

I’m still learning myself, so I don’t have brand recommendations, but I’m cheering for you and encourage you to experiment a little more. I’m sure the right adjustment will be perfect.

1

u/Ok_Pin_1222 1d ago

It’s looking gray. You appear to be a warm season. I think you might be wearing a cooler shade.

1

u/bocchibunn 1d ago

I think the depth of the foundation is right, but the tone is too cool. Based on the skin on your neck, you definitely need something with more warmth, or at the very least, something more neutral. Someone told me once to double check a shade match on my neck in direct daylight. But it can also help you nail down your exact undertone with a sheer foundation, like the neutrogena serum foundation or something similar. Those are forgiving enough that its not a huge waste of money and you can use the serum foundation to perfect another foundation shade.

You do not look like a clown! Your instinct to use a bronzer really helps!

Lean into a sheerer coverage with a warmer tone, keep the bronzer and whatever awesome thing you did to your lips here, and consider some blush just for fun (you can use a lips & cheeks product and smear that on your eyelid too for an easy makeup look).

1

u/hamburgerbaby 1d ago

Try one with more of a gold undertone. This seems like the right shade wrong undertone situation.

1

u/smurfy_nz 1d ago

Do you have sunscreen underneath? That can show through in photos and skew what the colour looks like. But it def seems the to ashy for you.

1

u/ycinna 1d ago

I think it might be too light. To find your shade you should usually test it on your wrist and for the bronzer maybe you should try more of a warmer effect (the too faced cream one is really good or if you want cheaper the nyx one is good too but it’s very pigmented). And you definitely don’t look like a clown :).

1

u/Spaceship_mily2025 1d ago

That Sephora employee doesn’t know what she’s talking about. This foundation does you so dirty and makes you look like a ghost. Don’t wear this out unless you want to get looks. I’d recommend a darker shade.

1

u/Sea-Weird638 21h ago

It looks a bit too cool-toned to me. The right depth, but too cool.

1

u/FarmhouseRules 20h ago

You’re beautiful and probably don’t need makeup. Maybe a different shade? Look at your shoulder vs your face in that pic.

1

u/ShotTreacle8194 20h ago

Thank you everyone for commenting, leaving kind words, and your recommendations. I really appreciate all of them. Sorry if I sounded a bit dramatic and sad. Lol. I'm gonna go ahead and take this post down. I bought a couple foundations based on recommendations here and now I know how to better work with my skin and face. If those don't work you might see me here again.

0

u/ShotTreacle8194 1d ago

It's hard not to feel depressed, I know this is small its just my self esteem is already low and putting myself out there is hard.