The process of determining a suitable foundation match can be daunting particularly when you’re standing in front of a wall of similar-sounding bottles that have a similar name. Fortunately, L’Oréal has simplified the process by categorizing shades based on two factors: skin tone and undertone. Here’s what you should know about choosing the perfect L’Oréal foundation colour for your skin.

Step 1: Understand Your Skin Tone and Undertone

The complexion of your skin is your surface skin tone, which you can see when you look at your skin, it is fair, light, medium, or deep. The most apparent layer. However, the magic comes in your undertone, which is the slightly deeper shade behind the lighter or darker color you are wearing. There are three types of undertones:

Neutral Balanced mix of warm and cool N (Neutral)

Undertone test: Turn your wrist over to examine veins. The color of blue or purple veins suggests cool undertones. Green veins indicate warm hues. If you observe a mixture or are unsure, it’s probably neutral

Step 2: Make the most of a color wheel

Choosing the best shade is so easy with L’Oréal True Match and L’Oréal Infallible foundations, both of which have a code of W (warm), C (cool) and N (neutral). Knowing your undertone, find the matching letter, then check the corresponding undertone depth range from fair to deep that corresponds to your surface tone

For instance, if you have a medium skin tone and warm tones, you would look for a medium skin tone colour such as Golden Sun or Golden Amber, which are W colored.

Step 3: Right Testing of Shades

Never test foundation on your hand or arm your face is where it counts. Best place is the jawline, which is the area between your face and neck, thus it gives one the most “true” reading.

Correct switching methods:

Place a small sample of product on finger.

Then swatch three shades in the direction of your jaw line (one lighter, one darker) – your guess, that’s how you’ll do it.

3. Mumble a bit and move into natural light (stores’ lights are misleading!)

Your winner is the deepest shade that blends in smoothly with your skin tone.

Take into account the season, too. If you test at the end of summer when you have a tan, you may want to go a little darker as the skin will lighten as the fall progresses.

Step 4: Match Your Skin Type and Finish Preference

L’Oréal offers foundations for different skin types and desired finishes. Before narrowing down shades, consider:

Finish Glowy, matte, natural or longwearing?

L’Oréal’s website offers a Foundation Match Finder tool that enables you to narrow down your search for shades that suit your needs.

The top L’Oréal foundations and their shades

True Match: With 40+ shades of fair to deep, each with a W or C or N to distinguish the tone.

Infallible 24HR Fresh Wear: 40 different colors, lightweight buildable coverage and 32 hours wear. Ideal for combination and oily skin.

They have the same undertone labelling system, so that once you know your W/C/N, you can change between formulas without having to learn the shade chart again.

With L’Oréal’s organized shade system and these testing tips, you’ll find your ideal tone faster than ever. And if you’re drawn to products with beautiful packaging makeup, L’Oréal’s sleek bottles and clear labeling make both the shopping experience and daily application feel

Mistakes to Avoid:

Testing under artificial light: How lighting looks in store can be very different to how it looks in the real world. Please check-in during daylight hours.

Too light or too dark: If you are in the mood for Golden Sun, try Golden Amber (darker) and Radiant Sand (lighter) to make sure.

Not taking seasonality into consideration: Skin tone varies with the seasons. You may require two shades; one for summer and one for winter.

Working with dirty hands: Wash hands prior to switching to prevent contamination of the product.

When you have a choice between two shades, L’Oréal has a virtual try on tool to help you test colours virtually before you purchase them. Their shade finder app can also be used to take a 360° selfie video by comparing your tone and undertones with a database of known shades.

L’Oréal has a particular shade match guide that suggest more specific options when you have a deep brown skin tone with a warm neutral tone, making it easier to find true-matching shades for deep-toned skin.

Last tip: Believe your jawline, not your mirror

A store mirror may show a flawless image of the foundation, while in the natural light it may appear orange or ashy. Your match is the one that seamlessly blends in your jawline without showing up. Take your time, try three options and keep in mind that the best foundation should make your skin look like better skin, not like you’re wearing cosmetics.

Thanks to the organized shade system of L’Oréal, and these testing tips you’ll find your perfect tone in no time at all. Plus, if you’re a proponent of good packaging makeup, L’Oréal’s chic packaging and easy-to-understand labels will make shopping and application feel