Buying Two Foundation Shades At Once Could Be The Solution To A Common Makeup Problem

Have you ever purchased a new foundation only to get it home and find that it's the wrong shade? There's nothing more frustrating than the skin on your neck and chest area being three times lighter or darker than your face. Even more annoying is the fact that this makeup mishap is so obvious to other people, showing up in photos anytime the flash is on. Annoyingly, finding a foundation that matches your skin tone exactly is extremely difficult.

In fact, an Estee Lauder survey of 5,200 women conducted by New Beauty found that 94% of them were wearing the wrong shade of foundation. So how such a widespread issue be corrected? Well, there are always the staff makeup artists at MAC and Ulta, who'll do their best to fit you for your perfect foundation. However, depending on the lighting and current condition of your skin, this approach may not be foolproof. Thankfully, one effective remedy is buying two foundations to get the desired look.

Our skin changes depending on the season. During the summer months, most people tend to get a bit tanner due to spending more time in the sun, while the fall and winter months bring paler skin for the opposite reason. Purchasing two separate foundations can keep you covered year-round. However, be mindful that you still need to find a compatible liquid or powder by knowing your undertones.

Determining your skin's undertones is a process within itself, but it's essential when shopping for cosmetics. Though it may sound bizarre, looking at the veins in your hand can help determine your undertones. If veins appear green underneath the skin, you have a warm skin tone. However, if they appear bluer, this is typically an indicator of cool undertones. When veins appear both green and blue, this suggests that your undertones are neutral. Knowing this helps choose the correct foundation formulation for your specific skin.

Another way to determine your undertones is by examining the jewelry you prefer. People who wear silver typically have cooler tones. Those who fancy gold pieces against their skin are likely to have a warmer tone. If one goes for both silver and gold depending on their mood with no preference, that usually indicates someone with a neutral tone. 

Purchasing two foundation shades is a great start, but try blending them on a mixing palate to get the perfect finish. To pull this off, ensure that both of your foundations have the same texture and are the same brand. For instance, if you choose Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'R Soft Matte Longwear Foundation in color #385, which is geared toward neutral undertones, then you may try something along the lines of Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'R Hydrating Long Wear Foundation in color #140, which has warm yellow undertones. Combining matte with the hydrating foundation offers a look that is neither dewy nor airbrushed. Instead, you'll end up with a natural, refreshed face that will fare well throughout the day.

Keep in mind that this process will likely be trial and error, so don't get discouraged if it takes a while to get it right. Just as it's a bit difficult to find one foundation that matches your skin, finding two that achieve the best results may be even more challenging. As a rule of thumb, ​​if you want to lighten your appearance, pick a foundation shade that is two shades paler than your skin tone. Make sure the second foundation is one shade darker if you require a richer base.