Finding the perfect foundation shade can feel like an impossible task, but knowing how to choose the right foundation shade can make all the difference in your makeup routine.
Foundation is the base of any makeup look, and the right shade can enhance your skin's natural beauty, while the wrong one can leave you feeling self-conscious.
With so many options available, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.
In this blog post, I’ll provide you with practical tips for finding your perfect foundation shade, understanding your undertones, and avoiding common mistakes.
CONTENTS
WHY IS CHOOSING THE RIGHT FOUNDATION SHADE IMPORTANT?
DON'T WORRY ABOUT YOUR SKIN UNDERTONE
TIPS FOR TESTING FOUNDATION SHADES
#3 - LET IT SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES
HOW EEZY PEEZY MAKEUP CLASSES CAN HELP
Q1: HOW DO I KNOW IF MY FOUNDATION IS THE WRONG SHADE?
Q2: SHOULD I HAVE DIFFERENT SHADES FOR SUMMER AND WINTER?
WHY IS CHOOSING THE RIGHT FOUNDATION SHADE IMPORTANT?
The right foundation shade enhances your natural beauty and creates a flawless base.
Wearing the wrong shade can make your skin look washed out, overly orange, or patchy.
The perfect foundation should seamlessly blend into your skin, even out your skin tone and match both your face and body.
On the job as a professional makeup artist, I usually use 2-3 different foundation shades in different areas of the face to get a very realistic skin tone.
The face will naturally have several different shades because the face doesn't sun tan evenly, lighting and bone structure will also affect the lightness or darkness of the face.
It's important to remember that not everyone can easily wear just 1 shade of foundation and may need 2-3 foundation shades to get a nice finish or to compromise on their main foundation shade.
Here are three reasons why choosing the right foundation matters:
Seamless Finish: The right shade blends naturally with your skin tone.
Even Complexion: A good foundation conceals imperfections without looking heavy.
Confidence Boost: When your foundation matches perfectly, it enhances your overall look.
DON'T WORRY ABOUT YOUR SKIN UNDERTONE

Many websites will say knowing your skin undertone is important and you will see many foundation brands with different undertones for foundations.
My belief as a professional makeup artist is not to worry too much about skin undertone.
Specifically a cool undertone.
The vast majority of people with cool undertones will wear a warm toned foundation anyway and it will look good.
I personally prefer to wear on myself a warm toned foundation even though, I am cool toned naturally.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
FOR PALE PEOPLE:
Cool toned foundation will have added pink to it.
Warm toned foundation will have added yellow to it.
When you squint your eyes it will look yellow or pink or hard to tell (neutral).
FOR MID TONED PEOPLE:
Cool toned foundation will have added red to it.
Warm toned foundation will have added yellow to it.
FOR DEEP TONED PEOPLE:
Cool toned foundation will have added red to it.
Warm toned foundation will have added yellow to it.
WHAT DOES THIS REALLY MEAN?
If you wear cool toned foundation you are ADDING PINK/RED to your face.
Most of us have enough red and pink on our face.
Warm/yellow will cancel out any blemishes, broken capillaries or other redness on our face.
So for the majority of us, warm toned foundations will look more flattering.
Whereas cool toned foundation doesn't look good on warm toned skin and it doesn't even look that good on a lot of cool toned skin either.
P.S. If you wear fake tan, its best to choose the warm toned foundation.

So don't sweat the small stuff and focus on the bigger picture.
At Eezy Peezy Makeup, I'm aiming to make learning to use makeup easy and not the complex science it has become.
So I focus on the parts of makeup that really make a huge difference while skipping over the small stuff.
TIPS FOR TESTING FOUNDATION SHADES
Testing foundation shades correctly ensures a perfect match.
Here are three tips for testing foundation shades:
#1 - TEST ON YOUR FACE
Always swatch foundation on your face instead of your hand.
Your face and hands often have different tones, so your face is the most accurate area for testing.
When testing foundations its important to also consider what type of foundation look you are aiming for.
I generally say there are a few shades of foundation everyone can wear quite comfortably and there should be more emphasis on what makes you the wearer feel comfortable and confident.
I like to say a shade or half a shade lighter or darker to what is your skin tone can look really nice also.
This is important for people of Indian, Asian and African culture who generally prefer to wear lighter foundation shades and Westerners who generally prefer to wear darker shades of foundation.
When in doubt my rule of thumb is always pick the slightly darker shade of foundation.
This is ideal for when you have 2 foundation shades that you are unsure about.
The reasoning being, as we age we loss colour in our face and if a foundation is too light on the skin it can look grey.

#2 - CHECK IN NATURAL LIGHT
Lighting makes a huge difference in how foundation looks on your skin.
Artificial lighting can distort the shade, so always step outside or near a window to see how the foundation looks in natural light.
TIP:
Aim for your foundation to match your overall body skin tone.
For many people their forearms are very tanned while their face is very light. In a case like this its best to pick a foundation in between the face and arms.
I like to use a squint test to see if the foundation looks good.
Squint your eyes while standing so at least your arms and face are in a mirror to see if it all looks the same.
There is no point having a perfect match to your face and neck if your arms and the rest of your body is a different shade completely.
#3 - LET IT SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES
Foundation can oxidise and change colour slightly after application.
Wait 5–10 minutes after applying to ensure the shade remains a good match.

HOW EEZY PEEZY MAKEUP CLASSES CAN HELP
At Eezy Peezy Makeup Classes, I make foundation matching easy and stress-free.
Here’s how we can help:
Product Recommendations: Simply send in a selfie and I will colour match you from the photo to the Eezy Peezy Makeup foundation range.
Personalised Guidance: I will help you identify your undertone and ideal foundation shade.
Hands-On Practice: Learn how to swatch, test, and apply foundation correctly.
FAQ
Q1: HOW DO I KNOW IF MY FOUNDATION IS THE WRONG SHADE?
If your foundation looks noticeably different from your body or neck, or it leaves a visible line along your jawline, it’s likely the wrong shade.
If you don't feel comfortable and confident in it.
You are the person who has to wear it and there is no point wearing a foundation shade that you don't feel comfortable in regardless of if it is or isn't technically the right shade.
Q2: SHOULD I HAVE DIFFERENT SHADES FOR SUMMER AND WINTER?
Yes! Your skin tone can change with sun exposure, so having separate shades for summer and winter ensures a consistent match.
If you don't want to buy 2 bottles of foundation though, simply buy the lighter shade and apply bronzer over the top for summer months.
Q3: WHAT IF I CAN’T FIND THE PERFECT SHADE?
If you're between shades, mix two foundations to create a custom blend that matches your skin perfectly.
WRAP-UP
Choosing the right foundation shade doesn’t have to be intimidating.
By understanding your undertone, testing correctly, and seeking expert guidance, you can find a foundation that feels like your second skin.
Ready to master your makeup skills?
Join Eezy Peezy Makeup Classes today and let us help you find your perfect foundation shade!