Suitable foundation for pale skin

[Jelly101]

I am after a foundation which works for pale skin. I have tried many different brands (Mac, Bare Minerals, Benefit, Max Factor, Loreal, Revon etc) with no success. All of the foundations I have tried always look orange like on my skin and are too dark, despite me purchasing the palest shade available. Is there any other brands which I could try? Or does anyone here have any recommendations? I was tempted to try the Estée Lauder double wear foundation, as I have heard good reviews about this. Any suggestions?

[Jemimapuddleduk]

Hi i use double wear light in 01. I think there is an even paler one too. I am blonde and pale skinned.

[IamSantaClaus]

I'm super pale and use clarins everlasting foundation . I've found it pretty good . I wanted to get a cheaper one actually but I couldn't find any quite pale enough

[CustardSquare]

I'm super pale with neutral undertones and I find double wear to be very orange and dark. I could never find a match.

YSL do some great pale shades with a variety of undertones. I've also had good foundations from Charlotte Tilbury, By Terry, Illamasqua, Chantecaille and Laura Mercier.

[Jelly101]

*Revlon- Sorry


Thank you Jemima I might give it a go! I'm getting fed up of spending a ridiculous amount of money and my foundation looking really thick and a weird colour

[Jelly101]

Sorry, my baby was grabbing my phone whilst I was typing my last post, hence the random bold text haha. Thank you for your suggestions. I did think about Clinique as I use their skincare products. I never thought of YSL I shall be browsing the beauty department in Debenhams tomorrow!

[DreamingOfThruxtons]

I just got a new one from a friend who sells Younique cosmetics: it's called Touch Mineral Liquid Foundation, in Scarlet, and is perfect on my very pale skin. Also easy to apply, a little goes a v. long way, etc etc.

[Helenluvsrob]

Dd is very pale and uses the lightest bare minerals loose powder foundation.
I'm pretty pale and use a no7 one - the really light weight one that feels like no make up at all

[magicpuppy]

Have you tried the No.7 Colour Match service? I am quite pale and got a very good match.

[mrsm1984]

I 2nd the No 7 match - I use the new 'Airbrush' one in 'Cool Vanilla', and it's a good match. I find the trouble is that so many shades are warm toned... no good for very pale people.

[Jelly101]

I haven't tried the No7 match service. Do they give you a sample which you can try first before buying a full size one?

[SparklyTinselTits]

I have the same problem, even the palest shade looks orange on me! The make up artist who did my makeup for my wedding gave me a tip...she said that pale shades are usually very pink-based, which paired with very pale skin looks orange. So she told me to try and find one that is more yellow-based and it shouldn't look as orange. Also, try to match your foundation with the colour of the skin on your neck, not the skin on your face to avoid looking like a floating head, which is more apparent in us snowmen pale people

[BakerStreetSaxRift]

I am beyond pale and use Laura Mercier Silk Creme.

I use (bear with me) their number 3, Rose Ivory. I baulked at the suggestion of being a number 3 rather than 1, but apparently their first 3 colours are all equally pale, but just with a different tone - so mine is pinky tinged rather than orange.

It's GREAT! I I like quite light coverage whereas this is a bit heavier, but it's easily spread with moisturiser. It's the best colour I've ever found.

[BakerStreetSaxRift]

I am beyond pale and use Laura Mercier Silk Creme.

I use (bear with me) their number 3, Rose Ivory. I baulked at the suggestion of being a number 3 rather than 1, but apparently their first 3 colours are all equally pale, but just with a different tone - so mine is pinky tinged rather than orange.

It's GREAT! I I like quite light coverage whereas this is a bit heavier, but it's easily spread with moisturiser. It's the best colour I've ever found.

[gonegrey56]

I am very pale. I wear YSL Fusion ink in shade B 10. Best foundation ever!

I think you might find the (normal) Estee Lauder Double Wear too mask-like. Try the Double Wear Light, in shade 0.5 (or Intensity 1.0). Shade 0.5 is the lightest they do. A good alternative, but I still prefer the YSL foundation.

Do ask for samples before making purchase. Both YSL and Estee Lauder give them out if you ask. I think the sales assistants realise that if you have a very pale skin, it is difficult to get the correct shades.

[Jelly101]

Thanks for the tip about the samples! I've bought so many foundations in the past which have been a waste of money. Some of them I feel like I have to use, as I don't want to chuck money away. My face always looks a different colour to my neck no matter how much I try to blend it in. Some of them have been awful. Especially in the winter months when I'm even paler!

[magicpuppy]

When I had the colour match done the sales assistant gave me a little makeover and a sample to take home. It really was a good match.

I am Cool Vanilla too mrsm1984!

[Fuzzballs]

Listen up!! I tried literally every foundation on the market, all too dark for my pale skin. I have vitiligo also so I am paler than most people who claim to be pale. The answer is to buy a pure white foundation from Mac or illamasqua and mix a small amount with any other foundation. It works a treat an I'm just sorry I didn't realise years ago

[ColeslawSandwich]

I'm very pale with dark hair and use Young Blood foundation in Pebble. HTH

[tethersend]

Fuzz balls is right- try face atelier

[mrsm1984]

Yep, No 7 does samples. I think it's worth trying a couple - I usually have a good coverage foundation, but found the smell of the No 7 matte one off-putting (can't deal with perfumed stuff on my face). The Airbrush one is ace though - covers up the red bits then I use concealer as required.

Ha magicpuppy! I was pleased to be 'diagnosed' as a cool vanilla. Makes a change from 'Ivory' or 'porcelain'

[Westielove]

I'm very pale (think translucent) with neutral undertones and wear ivory nude in Estée Lauder's double wear. Took me a while to find it but totally worth it for me. Estée Lauder give out samples so you don't have to pay for something you may not end up liking.

[Iliketeaagain]

Have you gone to a make up counter and asked you to match you?
I found bobbi brown the best, although not cheap, they have about 25 different shades and it's the only brand that I've found matches my skin perfectly. I'm quite pale, but use the 3rd palest foundation (despite me thinking I would be the palest of the bunch)

[Katarzyna79]

I think Mac liquid foundations are good I go for the light coverage ones, ive never liked maximum cover. they match you and slap it on for you to see, take 2 different samples home so you can test them in natural light, stores usually have unnatural light. The match is soo good really can't see a colour difference between my skin and the product. I am Asian but in a well known Pharmacy in most brands I am usually the second shade down from the lightest, every other shade is too dark or too orange? Also inthis pharmacy I don't think the ladies are too well trained, several times they've sold me foundations that are too dark for me.



I have sampled Chanel foundations and was impressed also, they may have a light colour for you, but if you are super pale like red heads can be, I'd go for Mac they have so many shades they should be able to match you.

[Jelly101]

I have been matched with Mac, Bare Minerals & Benefit foundation without success. They were all too dark

[StandoutMop]

I'm very pale (whenever I give blood, I have to point out my paleness on arrival or else they don't want to lete leave afterwards as I look so "ill"). I use Smashbox foundation, and am not actually their palest shade. Agree with pp though that getting the right tone is needed to avoid the orange lollipop head look.