AIBU to be pissed off with the entire experience of shopping for foundation?

[Nicebucket]

I love makeup, but I hate shopping for it! I don't want to me harsh because I know the people at makeup counters are just doing their job, but they really upset me sometimes and it kills the whole experience.

For starters, they ALWAYS try to match me to a shade that's wayyyyy too dark for my skin. I'm a MAC NC 25/30, so I'm definitely not pale, but I'm not exactly dark either. But for some reason, the foundation shades they match me to at counters such as Bobbi Brown, Nars, Clarins etc. are proper dark.

I don't understand why this is? Is it an assumption that everyone wants to look tanned and slightly orange? Or is it because I'm of Indian origin and Indian skins are generally a bit darker so they assume I must be too?

I genuinely don't understand. Could I be blind and unable to understand my own skin tone?!

Nicola frim Girls Aloud made a range of make up for very pale skins, Dainty Doll I believe. I watched a documentary on it and they showed her going to a hundred shops trying the palest foundations on offer and they were all far too dark. I wonder if her range is still going.

Exasperated- Now why haven't I ever been to one of your counters?! I wish more salespeople were like you.

To answer your question, like I said I'm a Mac nc25. That's my perfect match. If I'm very tanned (rarely happens), then I'd go for an NC 30.

So for example, I think I'm a Bobbi brown shade 2.5. Based on feedback from other women who are nc25, this is about right! But the counter ALWAYS tries to match me to shade 4. And when I politely refuse and ask for a sample in 2.5, they get patronising and insistent.

Bobbi Brown especially seems to have crap staff. Their products are amazing, but the salesgirls are not.

One of them was easily an NC 40-45 herself and told me that I could wear a powder because she wore it too Its occasions like these when I wonder whether the world is mad, or I've lost my head.

I had a similar experience recently the BB assistant even admitted it was too dark for me and 'not quite right' still hassled me to buy it then when I declined told me to come back in a month when my summer colour had gone

OP, I'm useless with foundation, but just wanted to say you are stunning. Gorgeous eyes.

I have always had problems trying to get a decent foundation. I am dark haired, fair skinned but with rosy cheeks. Ii cannot wear gold as it just looks brassy but white metals look great againt my skin. Most foundations make me look orange. Seriously, orange. I almost gave up on foundation until I discovered Revlon Colour Adapt. I mix it about 1:2 foundation: moisturiser and find that is just right to even out my skin tones.

I also have real problems finding perfume that doesn't smell of cat wee once I have it on. Have only ever found a couple so tend to stick to them.

I agree wow..I'm very dark haired but pale. But acknowledge that I am not as pale as I think I am.
BB is too yellow.

Every time I choose my own shade it works. Every time they pick a shade, it looks hideous. But they're usually so patronising that I find it hard to insist on taking a sample of my own choice

Gobbynorthernbird- that's not me But that's aporiximately my complexion, so I wanted to use it as an example.

Come shopping with me! I always seem to get the lady who wants to put a really light foundation on me and tell me that the colour does not matter if I put a bronzer over the top!?!?! I just want skin coloured foundation that does not make me look dead! I'm sure they're not trying to sell me two products.

Sorry Nice. I'm sure you're just as lovely, but that'll teach me to skim read!

I went to the Clarins counter in John Lewis the other day and had an experience just like Exasperated decribed. The counter woman was excellent and I came away very happy with the foundation and shade I bought.

I had this problem too until recently. A lovely lady in Space NK showed me a product called Cover FX Drops - they're basically a little bottle of pigment which you can add to your moisturiser of choice or use neat, so you can get whatever density of cover you want. And for the first time ever it actually matches my skin tone! Marvellous. Don't know what I did without it tbh.

I had a very good experience in Covent Garden BB, perfect match.

OP I am a MAC NC25 too and I use Chanel shade 20 in most of their foundations, if it helps. Have to say I tried moving on from Chanel to see what's out there but kept being matched to weird shades, ended up looking jaundiced in Bobbi Brown, mortuary pale in Dior, roasted to a crisp in Benefit, Estee Lauder, Lancome... I gave up.

I'm pale but freckly and I have had someone try to match the shade of the freckles rather than my skin... My face was very very dark indeed. It was hilarious.

Bobbi brown and Estée lauder always try to match me to shades that are wayyyy too dark. And I end up looking muddy and dirty.

I've never tried Chanel- their eyeliner gave me an allergy, so I've been hesitant to try anything else from Chanel.

I actually like the yellow foundations, so would love to give Bobbi brown a go, but they don't want to give me a sample in my shade!!

Has anyone tried Charlotte tilbury magic foundation? Any suggestions for what my shade might be for nc25?

Get a sample of the CT, even if it's not your colour. I've read some awful reviews about how it sits on the skin, apparently very drying/dull.

I didn't have that problem with MAC on Friday. They suggested the lighter one. And you can always get the lighter and darker and mix them.

I agree OP. I've tried literally every foundation on the market and they are all too dark, I'm very pale and they all look fake and orange.
I quite like Maybelline Dream Fresh BB cream in "light". Its acceptable shade wise but I'd like a bit more cover.
My worst experience was at the Clinique counter. I let the girl do my make up, telling her I wanted the palest of the pale. I was orange/beige by the time she had finished, it was awful.

I have roseacea, and sensitive skin, so pretty much most foundations ahve been ruled out these days. I've ended up with a reasonable BB cream.

My problem is I have the redness from the rosecea, but my skin has yellow undertones so matching a foundation has been quite painful at times.

Maybelline Satin Liquid foundation is good for those who dont want a day glow orange - and its 8.99 so if you dither about shades you havent spent a fortune if you dont like one when you get home. I am vampire pale and their ivory looks amazing and I always get compliments on my make up. I go off what blends in on the back of my hand.

I too got fed up with sales assistants trying to match me with something vaguely the colour of creosote when I'm very pale. Currently using Face Atelier Ivory which is fantastic. Chanel was also very good and they were really helpful about giving me a couple of different samples, though the coverage wasn't as good as FA.

Ones I like for v pale skin
Urban decay naked liquid in 0.5
Dollish veil vita bb cream in purple (eBay)
Nars - in shade Siberia
Illamasqua
Too faced have just brought out new lighter colours, palest is snow