Clients will often show me their current mineral makeup when they want to fine tune their application and colors. Typically, they have been using mineral makeup for some time but realize they are not experiencing the optimum enhancement that minerals can bestow.  One look at their foundation inevitably reveals that their mineral foundation is not a good match for their skin color.  They may be unknowingly wearing a warm (yellow-gold) foundation which competes with their own cool (blue-pink) skin tone.  The result is a flat, less flattering effect which drains their natural radiance. Or they may be a golden girl wearing pink-y foundation. Or other variations of too light or too dark for their particular skin tone.

A  golden face on top of a very pink neck is a jarring combination.  Though covering up “the pink” is a prevalent maneuver in makeup artistry, it’s a roadblock on the road to maximum glow.  When you go against someone’s natural coloring, you see the negative difference in their overall image—eyes don’t look as bright, features seem to recede, and the person looks sallow or tired.  Yes, the ill effects of Pink Camouflage can be strategically fought by strong application of eye color, blush and lipstick, but this is not everyone’s realistic everyday makeup routine.  It’s so much more harmonious to follow our innate colors and do any redness-concealing within that palette.

In fact, a basic color analysis is the first step to a perfect foundation match.  Are you warm or cool?  Here are two quick indicators:

1.  Look at the palm of your hand against a sheet of white paper: warm skin is characterized by a yellow-gold palm, and cool skin has obvious pink or subtle blue coloration in the palm.

2.  Also look at the veins in your wrist, if you can see them.  If they look turquoise or green, you’re warm; if they look blue, you’re cool.

The best method for matching foundation is making three or more swipes of possible foundation colors with a cotton-tip applicator at the jawline. The object is to identify the one that seems to disappear into the skin–that’s your match!

More to come about finding perfect mineral colors for all skin tones.   If you are in the Raleigh, NC area you can book a private color analysis consultation with Barbara Carr, Licensed Esthetician /Mineral Makeup Artist / Certified Color Analyst. Call 919-845-4385 or email: barbara@naturesface.com